US08251151B2
Apparatus and methods may be used to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. Additionally, the apparatus and methods may be used for running in casing, wellbore components, or a drill string.
US08251144B2
A downhole tool comprises a body defining a fluid inlet and two or more fluid outlets. A valve arrangement cycles the proportion of fluid directed from the inlet to each of the outlets. One of the outlets may be associated with a fluid pressure responsive device, such as a cleaning blade.
US08251141B2
Methods comprising providing a carrier fluid comprising an aqueous-based component, a water-soluble relative permeability modifier, and gravel particulates wherein the water-soluble relative permeability modifier suspends at least a portion of the gravel particulates; and introducing the carrier fluid into a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation, such that the gravel particulates form a gravel pack near the well bore. In some embodiments, the carrier fluid is substantially free of a viscosifying agent.
US08251140B2
A wireline logging tool and method for fluid monitoring and flow characterization in individual zones of controlled salinity is disclosed. The tool and method advantageously facilitate zone-specific testing. Sets of packers are used to create hydraulically distinct zones proximate to the tool. Coiled tubing and isolation valves are used to selectively introduce and remove an electrically conductive fluid such as brine to and from a selected zone. Individual sensors are disposed near each zone to make zone-specific measurements while fluid properties are changed, e.g. while salinity is changed to cause salinity fronts in the formation.
US08251137B2
A geometrically optimized expansion cone for radially expanding a tubular member. In some embodiments, the expansion cone includes an annular body having an outer surface. The outer surface includes a linear surface having a constant diameter, a curvilinear surface extending from the linear surface, a recessed surface having a diameter less than the diameter of the curvilinear surface, and a chamfer between the recessed surface and the curvilinear surface. The diameter of the linear surface is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the tubular member after expansion, while the chamfer has a maximum diameter less than an inner diameter of the tubular member prior to expansion. The curvilinear surface has a diameter defined by a radius of curvature which is tangent to the chamfer at the maximum diameter and tangent to the linear surface.
US08251136B2
A control device accommodating unit (15) is provided in a section (50) accommodating an indoor air blower (7) adjacently to an indoor air flow-in port (16), and an impeller (7c) of the indoor air blower (7) is sequentially opposite to the indoor air flow-in port (16) and the control device accommodating unit (15) by rotation of the impeller (7c), and a space (51) is formed between the indoor air flow-in port (16) and the control device accommodating unit (15). In this configuration, it is possible to obtain a cooling device decreased in drop of air flow rate and drop of cooling performance due to mounting a control device (14).
US08251135B2
The invention relates to a fixing device (8) for a expansion valve (4) of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system (1), said expansion valve (4) being connected to two lines (5, 6). The two lines (5, 6) are positioned in relation to each other by means of a line positioning element (7) which is embodied as a sheet metal stamped part, said line positioning element comprising two slits which are used to receive the lines. The expansion valve (4) can be arranged on the housing (2), with the aid of the line positioning element (7), and can be fixed in an at least rotationally fixed manner, wherein one part of the motor vehicle air-conditioning system (1) is arranged.
US08251133B2
A coil on tube heat exchanger is provided that uses multiple parallel helical coil tubes to limit liquid pressure losses while providing similar performance and production times to previous coil and tube designs. Two or more coil tubes are wrapped together around a center tube in a helical fashion, permitting the heat exchanger to be used in a counter-flow, or contra-flow, implementation. Use of the heat exchanger includes flowing a first liquid, such as waste water, through the center tube and flowing a second liquid through the plurality of channels. Embodiments of the present invention provide reduced pressure loss, higher performance and are generally faster to manufacture than prior heat exchangers.
US08251124B2
A molding machine that defines upper and lower mold cavities while cope and drag flasks, having a match plate sandwiched therebetween, are rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position. An upper squeeze member is insertable into the cope flask. A pressure-applying plane of the upper squeeze member defines an upper mold cavity together with the match plate and the cope flask. A pivoting frame supports the cope and drag flasks, having a match plate sandwiched therebetween, and the upper squeeze member, such that they rotate in unison between a horizontal position to a vertical position. A fixed filling frame abuts the drag flask when the cope and drag flasks are in the vertical position. A lower squeeze member has a pressure-applying plane that is oriented horizontally. The pressure-applying plane of the lower squeeze member defines a lower mold cavity together with the match plate, the drag flask, and the filling frame.
US08251117B2
A tool and method for removing a film from a surface is provided, wherein the tool can include a frame, a handle operably coupled to the frame, a number of wheels operably coupled to the frame, a cylinder rotatably coupled to the frame, an arm rotatably coupled to the frame, and a number of separating devices operably coupled to the arm. In some embodiments, the wheels can rotate about one or more axes parallel to the surface. The cylinder, which collects the removed film, rotates about an axis that can also be parallel to the surface. The arm can rotate about an axis that can also be parallel to the surface.
US08251115B2
A postage label dispensing system for dispensing adhesive-backed labels includes a conveyance system for displacing a supply of label material along a feed path wherein the label material includes a face material having an adhesive backing and a liner material detachably bonded to the adhesive backing. The adhesive backing defines a pair of longitudinal adhesive strips and a non-adhesive region disposed therebetween. The liner material has a longitudinal cut disposed adjacent to, and aligned with, the non-adhesive region to define a pair of liner strips. A peeler plow is disposed downstream of a bending means which induces a bend in the label material along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal cut, i.e., in an area corresponding to the non-adhesive region, which bend produces an opening between the face material and the liner strips. The peeler plow includes a tip portion operative to penetrate the opening between the face material and the liner strips, and an arcuate blade, disposed to each side of the tip portion, operative to peel the liner strips from the adhesive backing of the face material. A processor is operative to control the conveyance system such that the tip portion of the peeler plow penetrates the opening and the liner strips are peeled from the face material to dispense an application ready printed label. Alternatively, the peeler plow may be repositioned, from a first to a second position, such that the label material is conveyed over an upper surface of the peeler plow to dispense a plurality of lined labels.
US08251114B2
Provided is a pneumatic tire having an improved driving stability with reduced weight by use of an inner liner layer including a film made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer. A pneumatic tire of the present invention includes: a pair of bead portions; a carcass layer bridged between the pair of bead portions; a belt layer disposed on an outer circumferential side of the carcass layer; an inner liner layer disposed along an inner surface of the carcass layer, the inner liner layer including a film made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition that is obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer; and bead cores buried in the bead portions, respectively. The inner liner layer is wound up around the bead cores from an inner side of the tire to an outer side thereof. At least one wound-up part of the inner liner layer extends to a position where the wound-up part overlaps the belt layer.
US08251108B2
A food dispensing apparatus includes a refrigerated cabinet having a dispense aperture, a hopper, an accumulator assembly, a weighing system, and a flap door. The hopper is positioned in the cabinet and configured to hold food articles. The accumulator assembly is positioned vertically below the first hopper and includes an accumulator bin and a door assembly. The accumulator door is positioned in the cabinet and arranged to receive food articles dispensed from the first hopper. The door assembly is configured to retain the food articles in the accumulator bin and is actuatable between an open position and a closed position. The weighing system is configured to determine an amount of food articles held in the accumulator bin. The flap door is positioned adjacent to the door assembly and is movable between a closed position substantially sealing closed the cabinet dispense aperture, and an open position. The flap door automatically closes upon actuation of the door assembly into the closed position.
US08251107B2
A bottle or container filling system for unpressurized hot filling of beverage bottles or containers in a bottle or container filling plant. The bottle or container filling system comprises an unpressurized hot liquid reservoir, at least one filling element, and a controller.
US08251100B2
The invention in question relates to a needle-type stepped cylindrical stopper for automatic control of water consumption in pipelines, of two types, each type having two sections for automatically controlling water consumption, irrespective of the water pressure in the line or when the taps are opened, for use in automatic water-saving devices and pressure-sensitive flow controllers, such as to enable, with a single automatic water-saving device, incorporating the needle-type stepped stopper of this invention, automatic control of minimum water consumption, from 4.0 liters per minute as a minimum at a maximum static pressure of 0.2 kilograms per square centimeter up to a maximum water consumption of 10.0 liters per minute at a maximum static pressure of 6.0 kilograms per square centimeter.
US08251093B2
A fuel supply apparatus for a combustor configured to prevent or substantially prevent a flashback from being generated from the combustor. A fuel supply apparatus includes a fuel distribution part having a first opening part and a second opening part, the fuel distribution part configured to alternately discharge a fuel from the first opening part and the second opening part; and a housing having a first channel and a second channel, wherein an intermediate part of the first channel is coupled to and in fluid communication with the first opening part, and an intermediate part of the second channel is coupled to and in fluid communication with the second opening part.
US08251082B2
A dual valve assembly for limiting flow into a toilet tank comprises a fill valve, such as a float valve or ball cock valve, and a piston valve positioned between a water supply line and the fill valve. The piston valve operates independently of the fill valve, and is designed to shut off water flow after an approximate flow volume or time. The dual valve assembly may be provided in a single housing replacement part. The dual valve assembly may be provided as an adapter kit comprising a housing and piston valve which is installed in a toilet tank to accept a fill valve.
US08251075B2
A cosmetic compact comprising a lid (2) hingedly connected to a base (3), a dispensing orifice (20) and a cosmetic dispenser (10) for dispensing liquid cosmetics disposed in a recess in the base. The cosmetic dispenser (10) comprises a pump mechanism (14) and an actuator (12). The pump mechanism (14) being operatively connected to the actuator (12) so as to actuate the dispenser (10). The actuator (12) being attachable to a plunger (35) of the pump mechanism (14) and comprising an actuating linkage (23) having a portion offset to the plunger axis such that when pressure is applied to the actuating linkage (23) in a direction transverse to the plunger axis the plunger (35) moves axially. The compact further comprises an inner lid (11) hingedly connected to the base (3), the inner lid (11) comprising a button (7) in cooperation with the actuator (12) such that when pressure is applied to the button (7) the plunger (35) moves axially to expel liquid from the dispensing orifice (20).
US08251071B2
A contrast media injection system includes detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes. Additional features include using historical data to provide optimum pressure limit values during an injection protocol, a removable memory device for storing and transferring information such as injection protocols and injector statistics, and password protection of such protocols.
US08251070B2
This relates to a method of treating airways in a lung to decrease asthmatic symptoms. The method also includes steps of measuring a parameter of an airway at a plurality of locations in a lung, identifying at least one treatment site from at least one of the plurality of locations based on the parameter, and applying energy to the treatment site to reduce the ability of the site to narrow.
US08251068B2
A device for inserting a tracheal tube into a tracheostomy has as insertion aid with a shaft (6, 6′, 14) which can be inserted through the tracheal tube, and a conical tip (2, 13) which is or can be joined to the tracheal tube. In order to provide a device for inserting a tracheal tube which considerably reduces the risk of injury when inserting the tracheal tube, which makes the insertion process easier, the inserted tube being highly comfortable even with a long-term use, keeping low the danger of injuries or sore points in the trachea, the insertion aid according to the invention has a conical tip (2, 13) which can have a small base diameter in a first state and a large base diameter in a second state. The insertion aid includes a section (6′, 14) adjacent to the conical tip (2) whose diameter corresponds at the most to the inner diameter of a tracheal tube (1) to be inserted by means of the insertion aid, the small base diameter of the conical tip also being at the most equal to the inner diameter of the tracheal tube, while the large base diameter of the conical tip is larger than the inner diameter of the tracheal tube and preferably corresponds to approximately the outer diameter of the tracheal tube to be inserted with the insertion aid.
US08251059B2
The subject invention provides a powder inhaler enabling the user to complete powder drug inhalation with fewer steps, for improved user convenience.A powder inhaler of the present invention comprises: a housing 1A having an admission port 2f on one end; a supplier having a drug-discharging hole, provided inside the housing 1A with a capacity sufficient to contain plural doses of a fine powder drug; a drug carrier having a measurement concave portion for receiving a single dose of a drug from the drug-discharging hole, the drug carrier being supported inside the housing 1A while being movable between a drug-receiving position for allowing drug supply from the drug-discharging hole to the measurement concave portion, and a drug-inhalation position for allowing drug inhalation from the measurement concave portion through the admission port; a cover cap C2 pivotably mounted to the housing 1A; and a vibrating means 60 brought into operation by pivoting the cover cap C2 so as to vibrate the supplier.
US08251055B2
A drug delivery system, which includes an aerosol generator unit, a pumping unit, a flow tube, at least one condensate collector and an aerosol transition adapter. The aerosol generator forms an aerosol from a liquid formulation, which is partially volatilized. The pumping unit supplies the liquid formulation to the aerosol generator unit and a flow tube having an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet of the aerosol generator unit and an outlet adapted for connection to a patient interface, which supplies ventilation gas to a patient's lungs. The system also includes at least one condensate collector adapted to collect condensed liquid or liquid produced by the aerosol generator unit, and a transition adapter arranged to mix aerosol produced by the aerosol generator unit with heated air or ventilation gas and direct the mixed aerosol into the inlet end of the flow passage.
US08251053B2
The invention relates to equipment and related methods for producing concrete blocks. The equipment and methods described herein utilize splitting assemblies having larger projections and/or smaller projections or peaks disposed on at least one side of a splitting line and which engage the workpiece as it is split into at least two pieces.
US08251046B2
A fuel system for a diesel engine has both a low pressure pump, which extracts fuel from the fuel tank, and a high pressure pump, which is fed by the low pressure pump and supplies fuel to fuel injectors. The fuel injectors supply fuel to the engine cylinders, with a small portion of fuel routed back into the fuel system. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the injector return fuel is routed into a low pressure fuel line between the low and high pressure fuel pumps, with return fuel from the fuel rails returned through a fuel cooler to the fuel tank. The low pressure fuel line has a filter disposed therein and the injector return fuel is returned to the low pressure fuel line upstream of the filter.
US08251044B2
A method is provided for controlling an engine via an outlet control device of an intake manifold, such as via variable valve lift operation. The engine may further include an inlet control device, such as an electronic throttle, as well as coordination between the inlet and outlet control devices for controlling airflow in the engine.
US08251042B2
When a fuel-supply cutoff condition is satisfied, an ECU executes a program including: calculating the target torque; detecting the engine speed NE; calculating the target KL based on the target torque, NE and MBT; controlling an engine using the throttle valve opening amount based on the target KL, the base fuel ignition timing, and the fuel injection amount based on the current KL until the target KL becomes equal to or lower than the KL lower limit; controlling the engine using the throttle valve opening amount based on the KL lower limit, NE, the target ignition timing calculated based on the current KL and the target torque, and the fuel injection amount based on the current KL when the target KL reaches the KL lower limit; and actually starting a fuel-supply cutoff when the target ignition timing reaches the retardation limit timing.
US08251027B2
A variable valve lift apparatus may include an input unit, a control link disposed to a control shaft, a driving cam that is provided with a contact portion and pivotally disposed to the control shaft, a valve opening unit that contacts the contact portion and is opened and closed in accordance with pivoting of the driving cam, wherein the control link, the input unit and the driving cam are connected by a connecting unit, and contact positions of the valve opening unit and the contact portion are variable according to a relative rotation angle of the control link around the control shaft.
US08251024B2
An expansion tank for an engine cooling system comprises a housing forming a main chamber and a swirl chamber, the swirl chamber being defined by a cylindrical wall. An inlet connection discharges through an inlet orifice towards a collector duct having an entrance. From the inlet orifice the coolant is directed as a stream or jet along the adjacent surface of the cylindrical wall towards the entrance of the collector duct, guided by circumferential ribs. The kinetic energy of the stream is converted into pressure energy so that the pressure delivered from the outlet connection is slightly above the pressure at the top of the swirl chamber, above the level of liquid. This swirl chamber pressure is set by the relief pressure allowed by a filler cap, the gain in pressure helping to avoid cavitation in a coolant circulation pump.
US08251023B2
A cooling arrangement for a vehicle which is powered by a combustion engine. The cooling arrangement includes an air passage through which air flows in a specific direction, and at least three cooling elements to effect cooling of a medium. The three cooling elements are arranged one after another in the air passage such that at least part of the air which flows through the air passage flows successively through all of the cooling elements and cools the media in the respective cooling elements. The cooling elements are arranged one after another in the air passage in a sequence which is related to the temperature of the media in the respective cooling elements such that the air which flows through the cooling elements in the air passage cools a succession of media, each media in succession is at a higher temperature than the one preceding it.
US08251022B2
A system for storage and delivery of a fuel additive on-board a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle having a purely electric mode of operation and a hybrid mode of operation and having a fuel tank configured to store a fuel includes a reservoir configured to store the fuel additive, a pump that delivers the fuel additive to the fuel tank, a first and second conduit, a controller that actuates the pump to deliver the fuel additive from the reservoir, an electric motor, a battery, and an internal combustion engine configured to consume the fuel during the hybrid mode of operation. A method of storing and delivering the fuel additive on-board the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes storing the fuel additive within the reservoir and actuating the pump via the controller to deliver the fuel additive from the reservoir to the fuel tank.
US08251020B2
An apparatus, a system and a method have a speed-limiting braking mechanism. The apparatus may use a leash to limit a velocity of movement of a pet relative to a velocity of movement of a user of the apparatus. The speed-limiting braking mechanism within the apparatus may prevent the relative velocity from exceeding a predetermined threshold without abruptly stopping unwinding of the leash. The speed-limiting braking mechanism may have a rotatable pinion component connected to one or more brake shoes. The leash may be connected to a spool. Unwinding of the leash may rotate the spool, and rotation of the spool may rotate the pinion component. If the relative velocity exceeds the predetermined threshold, the one or more brake shoes may engage a braking liner to maintain the relative velocity at the predetermined threshold.
US08251017B2
A biome in a box system comprising a transparent external container having a first size and a top edge and a transparent internal container having a second size configured to fit within the external container. The internal container is for placement of a habitat and has at least one handle configured to hang over and suspend from the top edge of the external container. The system further includes a hinged lid having a side wall extending over the at least one handle and the top edge and a drain assembly under the transparent internal container.
US08251016B2
An animal litter composition including geopolymerized ash particulates having a network of repeating aluminum-silicon units is described herein. Generally, the animal litter is made from a quantity of a pozzolanic ash mixed with a sufficient quantity of water and an alkaline activator to initiate a geopolymerization reaction that forms geopolymerized ash. After the geopolymerized ash is formed, it is dried, broken into particulates, and sieved to a desired size. These geopolymerized ash particulates are used to make a non-clumping or clumping animal litter. Odor control is accomplished with the addition of a urease inhibitor, pH buffer, an odor eliminating agent, and/or fragrance.
US08251015B2
A birdbath is disclosed that recirculates water and includes a substantially hollow pedestal that supports a basin. The pedestal forms a water reservoir therein and has an open top end and a sealed bottom end. The basin has an inner wall and an outer wall, both of which are joined at least at a peripheral edge of the basin and separated by a distance sufficient to allow the water to flow therebetween. The outer wall is open at a central portion and is adapted for engaging the open top end of the pedestal for attaching the basin thereto. The inner wall has an aperture formed therethrough at a center portion thereof, and at least one drainage aperture formed proximate the peripheral edge of the basin. A water pump is disposed within the reservoir of the pedestal for pumping water from the reservoir through a basin supply conduit, through the aperture of the inner wall, and into the basin. Once the water reaches the at least one drainage aperture, it drains between the inner and outer walls, and flows through the central portion of the outer wall and back into the reservoir.
US08251013B2
A vapor deposition device includes a holding compartment and a reaction device. The holding compartment defines a receiving chamber and includes a number of inner side surfaces and a number of holding plates disposed on the respective inner side surfaces, each holding plate defines a number of holding grooves for holding substrates. The reaction device is rotatably received in the receiving chamber and includes an outer barrel and an inner barrel received in the outer barrel, the outer barrel and the inner barrel cooperatively defines a first room, the inner barrel defines a second room; the reaction device includes ion nozzles communicating with the second room and precursor gas nozzles communicating with the first room; the outer barrel includes at least one crucible and at least one electron beam gun received in the first room, the inner barrel includes an ion source received in the second room.
US08251007B2
A restraint system for securing a user on a watercraft, on which the user at least partially rests. The restraint system has a belt strap which is passed around the body of the user. Also, the restraint system has two stepped straps which are fitted onto the belt strap in the area of the stomach of the user and also in the area of the back of the user and are each passed through the step of the user. A connecting strap, one end of which acts on the belt strap in the area of the stomach of the user, can be fitted at its other end to the watercraft. Also, this invention relates to a watercraft having such a belt system.
US08251006B2
A trim tab apparatus capable of causing the stern of a vessel to be raised or lowered relative to the surface of the water in which it rests. A trim tab plane can be pivotally attached to one or more arms that can be attached to a vessel by one or more brackets. When the trim tab plane is rotated in an aft direction as a vessel is moving, the force of water passing under the trim tab plane causes the vessel stern to be raised. If the trim tab planes are rotated in a fore direction as the vessel is moving, water is forced across the top of the trim tab planes causing stern-drag, so that the vessel stern is lowered in the water.
US08251005B2
A spar platform comprising a deck; a buoyant tank assembly, comprising three spaced buoyant sections connected to the deck; a counterweight; and a counterweight spacing structure connecting the counterweight to the buoyant tank assembly.
US08251004B2
A device for transporting structures on water, as well as dismounting or installation of the structure(s) includes an elongated tilting frame (8) hingedly connected at a pivoting point (10) to a water vessel (6). The tilting frame (8) holds one or more support cribs (5) designed for being displaceable relative to the tilting frame and possibly relative to each other, the tilting frame further being designed to be able to assume an essentially horizontal or slightly tilted position, corresponding to a transport position, and being designed for being able to be tilted about the hinge connection to an essentially vertical position by suitable means, the vertical position corresponding to a lifting or operating position wherein the structure(s) carried by the support crib(s) may be lifted or lowered up from or down into the water, respectively, or up or down above water level.
US08251003B2
An offshore structure having a vertically symmetric hull, an upper vertical wall, an upper inwardly-tapered wall disposed below the upper vertical wall, a lower outwardly-tapered wall disposed below the upper sloped wall, and a lower vertical wall disposed below the lower sloped wall. The upper and lower sloped walls produce significant heave damping in response to heavy wave action. A heavy slurry of hematite and water ballast is added to the lower and outermost portions of the hull to lower the center of gravity below the center of buoyancy. The offshore structure provides one or more movable hawser connections that allow a tanker vessel to moor directly to the offshore structure during offloading rather than mooring to a separate buoy at some distance from the offshore storage structure. The movable hawser connection includes an arcuate rail with a movable trolley that provides a hawser connection point that allows vessel weathervaning.
US08251002B2
A pontoon-type floating structure comprising an upper deck that is to be maintained above water level and that is to receive and support a load by the load resting thereon; and a horizontal array of chambers disposed underneath the upper deck, with the chambers providing a first set of chambers that provide the structure with buoyancy, and a second set of chambers with water having access thereto so that the second set of chambers, under steady state conditions, do not provide buoyancy.
US08250995B2
A Log Cartridge Burning System is provided comprising a simple, convenient and manageable wood burning system which can easily be applied for use to cook and heat. The log cartridge is comprised of a flammable body of compressed material and a bore formed and sealed by the use of a protective outer paperboard tube and a protective inner paperboard tube together with a top and bottom paperboard cover which serve to hold and maintain the integrity of the entire cartridge without the use of any wax binders. The flammable body of compressed material may be made partly or entirely from natural combustible materials such as sawdust or wheat hulls. The burn pot is specially designed to accommodate the log cartridge of the present invention. The log cartridge burning system can easily be utilized in a variety of appliances such as a patio heater or fireplace, barbecue or grill, or other cooking and heating appliances.
US08250987B1
A Kinetic Energy penetrator round is shown effective in neutralizing incoming air borne threat munitions such as rockets, artillery, or mortars for instance, without posing a threat in urban environments to harm bystanders on the ground. There are also no hazards or expense with this round of cleaning up unexploded ordnance, which might have occurred with other types of rounds due to unreliability of self destruct mechanisms. Shown herein is a kinetic energy penetrator for air defense that merely self destructs beyond its operational range into fragments that are not lethal to personnel on ground; no pyrotechnic or energetic materials means are used to activate this self destruct process. A full bore projectile structure is shown that is composed of plural axi-symmetric circular disks stacked on each other and tied by a shape memory metal wire of Nitinol. While operational as a joined group, the disks are a formidable round to kill an incoming air target. After the self destruct phase however, each disk is separated from adjacent disks on either side by a spring mechanism that enables separation after the process is initiated in flight when the Nitinol wire deforms due to heating from air drag. Each disk then proceeds alone with low enough terminal kinetic energy on the ground to be less than lethal.
US08250985B2
A munition is described including a reactive fragment having an energetic material dispersed in a metallic binder material. A method is also described including forming a energetic material; combining the energetic material with a metallic binder material to form a mixture; and shaping the mixture to form a reactive fragment. The munition may be in the form of a warhead, and the reactive fragment may be contained within a casing of the warhead.
US08250978B2
The invention provides a semiconductor bridge, an igniter, and a gas generator each of which satisfies a high-speed responsiveness required of, for example, an automotive side inflator. The semiconductor bridge includes a bridge part heated by being supplied with a current. The bridge part is disposed on a substrate. The bridge part includes a first layer and an ignition bridge layer. The first layer is formed on the substrate and has insulating properties. The ignition bridge layer serves as a second layer disposed on the first layer. The width of the bridge part at the first layer and the width of the bridge part at the second layer are substantially equal to each other. A space is provided around the bridge part. With this structure, the diffusion of current and heat into the substrate can be restricted to the minimum level, and the ignition time can be quickened as an ignition characteristic. Each of the igniter and the gas generator includes the semiconductor bridge.
US08250975B2
A container is provided. The container includes a lid, a bottom and a compactor. The compactor is contained within the container and serves to collect, accumulate or compact any loose products within the container. The compactor and lid can mate such that rotation of the lid can transfer torque to the compactor to adjust a storage portion of the cavity of the container to collect, accumulate or compact the loose product.
US08250971B2
A device with an infusion chamber defined by at least two parts movable in relation to each other to close and open the infusion chamber; a duct to supply pressurized hot water to the infusion chamber; at least one pump to supply pressurized hot water to the infusion chamber; and a dispensing unit to dispense coffee from the infusion chamber. The dispensing unit has at least a first configuration and a second configuration, according to the type of coffee to be dispensed; the two parts defining the infusion chamber have at least a first reciprocal position to define a larger infusion volume and a second reciprocal position to define a smaller infusion volume and the dispensing unit is switched to one or other of said at least two configurations when said at least two parts are in the second reciprocal position.
US08250967B2
A servo for hydraulically operating a brake band of an automatic transmission includes a housing having a bore engaging portion for engaging an existing servo bore in a case of the automatic transmission and an external portion for positioning externally of the servo bore, the external portion of the housing including an interior bore. The servo also includes a piston disposed in the interior bore of the external portion of the housing for reciprocating movement, the piston being externally remote from the servo bore and having an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the servo bore. An actuator rod for engaging and operating the brake band of the automatic transmission is attached to the piston to reciprocate with the piston. The servo connects to existing hydraulic circuits within the servo bore to supply pressurized fluid for operating the servo.
US08250962B1
A bullet velocity enhancing rifle attachment assembly a sleeve having a first end, a second end and a perimeter wall. The sleeve has an aperture therein extending into the first end and outwardly of the second end. The aperture is defined by an inner wall including a first portion adjacent to the first end, an second portion adjacent to the second end and a central portion positioned between the first and second portions. The central portion has an toroidal shape. A coupler attached to the second end of the sleeve is releasably engageable with a gun barrel to align the aperture with the gun barrel. Pressure from a front side of a bullet traveling down the gun barrel is forced into the central portion to travel around the toroidal shape and back into the aperture toward the first portion, behind the bullet, as the bullet travels through the central portion.
US08250959B2
A dicing element assembly comprises a dicing element having multiple elements defining multiple openings through which food may pass and a management tool having multiple projections sized to be received by the dicing openings, with at least some of the projections having a coupling element for releasably coupling the dicing elements when the projections are received within the dicing openings. When the projections are received within the dicing openings, the coupling element couples with the dicing element and a user may move the dicing element by moving the management tool without touching the dicing element.
US08250956B2
A miter saw with work surface extensions comprises a base with a rotatable table positioned on the base. The miter saw further comprises a bevel support is that is pivotable with respect to a table surface. A cutting blade is supported by the bevel support. A work surface extension is moveably connected to the base between a retracted position and an extended position. The work surface extension provides a work surface that is substantially planar with the table surface. At least one elongated member is fixed to the work surface extension and moveably engages the base. A substantial portion of the at least one elongated member is positioned within or under the base when the work surface extension is in the retracted position. The substantial portion of the at least one elongated member is positioned between the base and the work surface extension when the at least one elongated member is in the extended position.
US08250955B2
An automated sequenced food article tray loading method and apparatus for a slicing machine where food articles can be loaded sequentially into designated and separated lanes of a lift tray and automatically sequentially assume a preload condition. Food article separation is maintained on the lift tray after the food articles are loaded. A food article sweep mechanism receives the food articles on the lift tray in their separated positions and transfers the food articles into the food article feed mechanism while maintaining the separated positions. The food article sweep mechanism is a substantially open structure without enclosing walls.
US08250954B2
A band saw, a band saw assembly, and a method of spatially positioning a band saw blade are suggested. The band saw comprises a band saw blade against which a sawing material is adapted to be guided in a feed direction. A guide for the band saw blade has at least one magnet exerting a force on the band saw blade determining the spatial position thereof. The at least one magnet is adjustable in its force effect and the force is directed transversely to the feed direction. The guide, as viewed in the feed direction of the sawing material, has a front magnet and a rear magnet, the magnets facing a front area and a rear area, respectively, of the band saw blade. A method of spatially positioning a band saw blade is executed while a sawing material is guided against the band saw blade in a feed direction. A magnet force is exerted on the band saw blade. The magnet force, and thereby the position of the band saw blade is adjusted transversely to the feed direction. The magnet force, as viewed in the feed direction of the sawing material, is exerted on a front area and on a rear area of the band saw blade.
US08250950B2
The hand tool (1) has a body (7), and a chuck (4) with an axial opening (3) on an axis of the tool. A tool element (2) is movable between a retracted position generally within the body, and an extended operative position wherein the tool element extends through the axial opening and chuck, the chuck having a stop (15) for blocking further extension of the tool element once in its operative position. A movable means (16) blocks the tool element against retraction when in the operative position, the movable means being dislodgeable when retraction is desired, to a position where the movable means no longer blocks the tool element against retraction. In the preferred embodiment, the hand tool has multiple tool elements (six for example), spaced around the axis of the tool. Each tool element, when extended, has a proximal end which abuts the distal end (14) of an axial post in the handle of the tool. The actuation mechanism (5, 8, 9, 10), in addition to moving the tool elements axially, preferably provides means (9, 10) for moving the distal end of the axial post radially, i.e. Away from axis and the tool element, for retraction of the tool element.multiple-bit hand tool with locking axial post.
US08250943B2
An actuating device for motor vehicle transmissions, especially for automatic transmissions has a selector lever (1), a transmission structure for sensing and transmitting the shift commands from the actuating device to the motor vehicle transmission, as well as a hinge structure with a four-bar mechanism (2) in which the selector lever (1) is mounted in such a way that it can perform shifting motions. The actuating device presents a small space requirements for installation with good ergonomic properties, good force-displacement curve at the selector lever qualities, as good sensing and signal transmission aspects. Visual shift gates and gear shifting gates can also be embodied at actuating devices of very compact design.
US08250939B2
A transmission for a vehicle for performing a shift manipulation at a desired time while ensuring a favorable operation feeling. A lost motion member is arranged in a shift drive force transmitting mechanism arranged between a shift spindle and a shift drum, and a rotary position of the shift drum is resiliently held by a shift stopper mechanism in a state where one of a plurality of gear trains is established or in a neutral state. A state which allows a changeover operation of an established state of a plurality of gear trains due to an action of a shift drive force which is temporarily accumulated by a lost motion means and a state which interrupts the changeover operation can be changed over by a shift restricting mechanism which is provided as a part separate from a shift stopper mechanism.
US08250933B2
A system for measuring a flow rate of a fluid through a plurality of tubes sharing a common flow orifice, the system includes an ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of sensors in communication with a plurality of tubes sharing a common flow orifice. The system includes an electronic module coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, the electronic module connecting selected sensors to a flow rate analyzer for determining a flow rate of fluid through the plurality of tubes on which the sensors are in communication with.
US08250932B2
The present invention is intended to make it possible to set security functions as necessary depending on usage environment, etc. and to improve the security functions; a function setting section 1116 sets security function information received from the outside via a communication line as security functions regarding the user of gas. According to the set security function, in the case that the operation conditions of the security function are satisfied, a monitoring section 112 detects a problem during the use of gas and outputs a security signal to a control section 114. Based on the security signal from the monitoring section 112, the control section 114 shuts off the supply of gas in the case that a phenomenon satisfying an operation condition of the set function having been set has occurred.
US08250927B2
Methods and systems for sensing strain are disclosed. A thin film sensor includes a thin film polymer matrix that has two electrical terminals, conductive nanoparticles dispersed within the polymer matrix, and carbon nanotubes dispersed within the polymer matrix. The thin film sensor has a resistivity across the two electrical terminals that varies with a magnitude of strain applied to the thin film sensor. Strain may be sensed by applying a voltage to the thin film sensor, and an electrical response of the thin film sensor may be detected due to a strain present across the sensor. A magnitude of the strain can be determined based on the electrical response. Methods and systems for a memristor are also disclosed. The memristor has a resistivity that varies with a time-varying voltage input and with a time-varying strain input.
US08250926B2
The invention relates to a capacitive pressure sensor and a method for fabricating thereof. The capacitive pressure sensor comprises a cover, a plurality of first electrode, a substrate and a plurality of second electrode. The cover owns an upper wall and a plurality of side walls. The plurality of first electrode is disposed on the inside of the upper wall of the cover. The side walls of the cover are connected to the substrate to form a space. The plurality of second electrode is disposed on the substrate. The plurality of first electrode and the plurality of second electrode are both in the space. In the invention, the material for cover, the plurality of first electrodes and the substrate are all flexible polymeric material.
US08250924B2
A process device for coupling to an industrial process for use in monitoring or controlling the process includes a device housing configured to physically couple to the industrial process. A process variable sensor is configured to measure a process variable and measurement circuitry coupled to the process variable sensor provides an output related to the sensed process variable. A piezoelectric transducer provides an electrical output related to pressure pulsations in the industrial process. Electrical circuitry in the housing includes an input configured to receive the electrical output from the piezoelectric sensor.
US08250922B2
An apparatus for identifying the modulus of elasticity of logs includes a device (2) equipped for detecting at least one log (T) eigenfrequency (natural frequency) and with a plurality of supports (10) able to move by rotating between a pick up position, in which they are located at a loading station (7), and a release position in which they are located at an unloading station (8) which is on the opposite side of a supports (10) axis of rotation relative to the loading station (7). A method for identifying the modulus of elasticity of logs includes the steps of picking up a log (T) while it is fed along a first direction (A1) on a first conveyor line (102); subjecting the log (T) to a step of detecting at least one natural frequency; and a step of releasing the log (T) on a second conveyor line (103) defining a second feed direction (A2) which is transversal to the first conveying direction (A1).
US08250921B2
A module operable to be mounted onto a surface of a board. The module includes a linear accelerometer to provide a first measurement output corresponding to a measurement of linear acceleration in at least one axis, and a first rotation sensor operable to provide a second measurement output corresponding to a measurement of rotation about at least one axis. The accelerometer and the first rotation sensor are formed on a first substrate. The module further includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to receive both the first measurement output from the linear accelerometer and the second measurement output from the first rotation sensor. The ASIC includes an analog-to-digital converter and is implemented on a second substrate. The first substrate is vertically bonded to the second substrate.
US08250916B2
One inertial sensor detects an acceleration in a driving direction as well as an angular rate about one axis and an acceleration in a detecting direction at the same time. A driving-direction acceleration detecting unit is provided to members vibrating in mass members on the left and right via an elastic body. In this manner, when an acceleration is applied in the driving direction, the mass members on the left and right normally vibrated with a same amplitude and in opposite phases have displacement amounts in a same phase, and the driving-direction acceleration detecting unit detects the displacement amounts in the same phase as a capacitance change, thereby detecting the acceleration in the driving direction.
US08250915B1
A tire changer with a controller includes a with a mount assembly adapted for contacting a wheel assembly to mount the wheel to a rotating spindle. The tire changer controller is configured to regulated the operation of a motor, which may be hydraulically driven, and which is operatively connected to the rotating spindle to rotate the wheel assembly. A sensor coupled to the controller provides a data representative of the rotational position of the wheel assembly about a rotational axis. The controller is further configured to regulate the operation of a hydraulic actuating means for engaging a load roller with the wheel assembly to apply a radial force to a tire mounted on a rim of the wheel assembly during rotation of the wheel, and to regulate the operation of a tire handling means adapted to hold the tire during rotation of the wheel rim enabling automated adjustment of the tire angular mounting position relative to the wheel rim.
US08250912B2
Four cases are to be distinguished from one another for an exhaust gas line of a motor vehicle with an oxygen storage reservoir and a lambda probe located downstream from at least part of the oxygen storage reservoir, specifically in each case, whether or not the oxygen storage reservoir has sufficient storage capacity and whether or not the lambda probe is fully serviceable. For this purpose, the exhaust gas line is supplied in an alternating sequence with rich and lean exhaust gas, in two different passes the degree of oxygen filling being varied differently. For a minor variation of the degree of oxygen filling, the serviceability of the lambda probe can be deduced on the basis of certain criteria. If the lambda probe is fully serviceable, the sufficiency or insufficiency of the oxygen storage capacity of the oxygen storage reservoir can be deduced for a greater variation of the degree of oxygen filling.
US08250908B2
Disclosed is a wave sensor apparatus including a unit for removing a gas and a method of detecting a target material in a liquid sample, the method including removing a gas in the liquid sample.
US08250907B2
A system and method for determining the atomization characteristics of fluids is disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid is emitted through a nozzle at controlled conditions. Vibrations occurring within the nozzle are sensed while the fluid is being emitted. An atomization characteristic of the fluid is predicted using the sensed vibrations. In one embodiment, the sensed vibrations are converted into a spectral density that is used to calculate a vibration power spectrum. In one embodiment, the atomization characteristic is the droplet size of the fluid with respect to the controlled conditions, and the droplet size is predicted based on a relationship between a descriptive attribute of the fluid and the vibration power spectrum of the fluid. In one embodiment, the descriptive attribute is the volume median diameter of the fluid.
US08250903B2
Provided are devices and methods for the collection of bioaerosols (such as viruses, bacteria, and proteins) from the exhaled breath of humans and/or animals, for the purpose of determining, for example, particle size, generation rate, diseases and interventions for particle release.
US08250902B2
A system and method for measuring aeration of a liquid in a liquid channel operates by sending an ultrasonic wave into a liquid channel, receiving a signal corresponding to the echo from the liquid channel and calculating a level of aeration of the liquid in the liquid channel based on the reflected signal.
US08250899B2
A dent removal tool for removing dents from automobile panels is provided. The tool includes a body with a handle on one end and a rest plate for contacting the body panel on the opposite end. A clamp for gripping one or more studs which have been welded to the body panel is located between the handle and the rest plate. The tool gives an automobile repair technician a high degree of mechanical advantage and control in removing dents from body panels.
US08250898B2
A brake disk producing method, comprising a periphery pressing step for forming an outer peripheral shape (5) of a rotor plate (2) into a peripheral shape having recesses and ridges (5a, 5b) repeated in a radial direction, and a chamfering step for forming a chamfered surface (6) by pressing, against a corner portion (2d) on an outer peripheral edge of the rotor plate (2), a die (7), and a brake disk made by the method. Accordingly, it is possible to improve heat radiation capability, reduce the weight and moment of inertia, improve safety in handling, and suppress increase in production costs. Furthermore, by forming the chamfered surface (6), the amount of wear of a brake pad pressed by the brake disk (1) can be reduced, and durability of braking performance can be maintained or improved.
US08250896B2
A movable die is provided to be displaceable in an upper die. When the upper die is moved downward to press a steel plate together with a lower die, only the movable die first abuts on the steel plate to carry out forming together with the lower die. Then, the upper die is further moved downward to form a part which has not been formed by the movable die.
US08250889B2
A compact power lock is provided for use in a pickup truck tailgate with a key lockable latch that relies on a lock lever for its operation. The power lock includes a linear power actuator attached to a sliding actuating link with two tabs that engage the lock lever of the key lockable tailgate latch. The actuating link is arranged alongside the linear power actuator so as not to add to its length and to attain maximum compactness. The spacing of the two tabs is such that the lock lever can move freely between the locked and unlocked position when it is activated by the key lockable tailgate latch. When the actuator is energized by voltage pulses of alternating polarity its motion is transferred to the attached actuating link and the tabs push the locking lever to or fro to lock or unlock the tail gate.
US08250887B2
A tamper resistant lock is provided. The tamper resistant lock comprises a primary locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the tamper resistant lock with an appropriate key. A secondary locking mechanism is engaged and prevents unlocking when a sufficient force is applied to the tamper resistant lock. The force may be the result of driving a screwdriver into a keyway of the lock in an attempt to forcefully unlock the lock.
US08250878B2
A system (20) for conditioning air (30) includes conditioning circuits (26, 28). Each of the circuits (26, 28) includes a heat transfer coil (54, 60) residing in a supply section (22) of the system (20), and a heat transfer coil (56, 62) residing in a return section (24) of the system (20). A controller (50) in communication with the circuits (26, 28) determines one of a heating mode (78, 110) and a cooling mode (148, 150) for an interior space (34). The controller (50) selectively actuates the conditioning circuits (26, 28) to condition outside air (30) entering the supply section (22) to produce conditioned supply air (36) for provision into space (34) and to recover heating and cooling energy from return air (38) entering the return section (24) from the space (34) prior to its discharge from the system (20) as exhaust air (44). An additional cooling circuit (218) residing in a cooling section (214) pre-conditions outside air (30) by reducing the temperature of outside air (30) before supply section (22) of system (20) conditions outside air (30) for interior space (34).
US08250876B2
A modular cooling system includes a positive displacement compressor and a microchannel heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device such as a semiconductor.
US08250870B2
A vortex reducer for the guidance of bleed airflows (21), is arranged in an inter-disk chamber (3) between two rotor disks (1, 2) of the compressor of a gas turbine with at least one shaft, and includes at least one ring (11) with circumferentially disposed hole passages, in which bleed air tubes (15) are arranged. In order to provide a vortex reducer, which requires small material input and, therefore, has low weight, while producing directed bleed airflows with low pressure losses, the hole passages include first hole passages (13) and second hole passages (14), and bleed air tubes (15) are provided only in the first hole passages (13), with the bleed air tubes (15) being evenly distributed on the circumference of the ring (11), and the second hole passages (14) being devoid of bleed air tubes (15).
US08250854B2
The self-starting turbineless jet engine has fuel delivery, fuel combustion and airflow components, but it does not contain and therefore avoids the limitations associated with turbines or other moving parts other than those associated with the fuel delivery. The jet engine provides inlet louvers or vanes which direct air through an internal restriction to before mixing it with a fuel for combustion in a combustion chamber. While most of the combustion gases are exhausted through an outlet portion of the turbineless jet engine, a portion of the combustion gases are mixed with air received from an aft inlet duct in sixteen thermodynamic air compressors and back through a centrally located hot gas and fire pressure conduit where the gases are further redirected by a high temperature insulated nose cone back into the air flow received by the inlet louvers, thereby providing heat and air compression, even at zero airspeed.
US08250853B1
A hybrid expander cycle rocket engine with separate turbopumps for a fuel and an oxidizer, where the fuel pump is driven by gaseous fuel passed from the fuel pump and through a heat exchanger formed within the nozzle or combustion chamber and passed through the fuel turbine and then into the combustion chamber. The oxidizer turbopump is driven by the gas generator with the fuel diverted from the fuel pump and burned with some of the oxidizer from the oxidizer pump.
US08250846B2
A push-pull chain that can bend in one direction only, and is provided with at least two rollers on each of the driving pins, one of the rollers engages a drive sprocket and the other of said at least two rollers engages a chain guide surface. An actuator for e.g. opening and closing a window that uses this dual-roller push-pull chain. A link driven push-pull chain that can bend in one direction only, with links that is shaped as an engagement surface for engaging a drive sprocket. An actuator for e.g. opening and closing a window that uses the link driven push-pull chain.
US08250842B2
A cutting device for crop has a cutting tool which can be set into rotation, and a shear bar which can be displaced relative thereto, each of the two diametrically opposed ends of which is coupled to a control unit, thereby enabling the clearance position of the shear bar relative to the cutting tool to be changed, and a control device which activates the control units in order to change the clearance position of the shear bar, and to move the shear bar toward the cutting tool, the control device can be operated to activate the control units to each perform a working step in alternation, so that within this working step the particular activated control unit initially moves the end of the shear bar assigned thereto toward the cutting tool by a first adjusting distance, and then away from the cutting tool by a second adjusting distance, wherein the second adjusting distance is smaller than the first adjusting distance.
US08250837B2
A water-soluble pouch suitable for use in machine dishwashing and which comprises a plurality of compartments in generally superposed or superposable relationship, each containing one or more detergent active or auxiliary components, and wherein the pouch has a volume of from about 5 to about 70 ml and a longitudinal/transverse aspect ratio in the range from about 2:1 to about 1:8, preferably from about 1:1 to about 1:4. The water-soluble pouch allows for optimum delivery of dishwashing detergent. A process for the manufacture of multi-compartment pouches and a pack to contain the pouches are also disclosed.
US08250824B2
The floor member, in the form of a floor tile or a floor plank, that is formed of a flexible, non-rigid material, has a bottom portion formed with a plurality of moisture dispersal pathways that lead toward peripheral side edges of the bottom portion. The moisture dispersal pathways permit any moisture that develops between a floor base and the bottom portion of the floor member that is installed on the floor base to flow in the moisture dispersal pathways toward at least one of the peripheral side edges of the bottom portion, for passage beyond the one peripheral side edge of the bottom portion. Adjacent tiles of a floor tile installation have communicable moisture dispersal pathways such that moisture is not entrapped below the floor member and can migrate through the communicable pathways to an outermost peripheral side edge of the floor tile installation for dissipation of moisture into the ambient air.
US08250821B1
A ceiling drainage system disposed beneath an outdoor deck wherein the deck includes a frame structure supporting multiple parallel deck floor panels and the drainage system includes a U-shaped frame structure secured to the deck frame with multiple interlocking drain trays having one end secured to the drainage system U-shaped frame structure, a gutter extending between the free ends of the U-shaped frame structure, and the opposite ends of the drain trays interlocked with the gutter.
US08250819B2
An association formed from two hollow section ends, the inside of which is based on a plastic that are butted together by a connector, the connector including a body with a central part and two flanges made of plastic that are engaged in the hollow section ends respectively and that have an anchoring mechanism capable of keeping the hollow ends in place around the connector. The anchoring mechanism of the connector is made of plastic and includes at least one element that is flexible and comes into friction contact with the inside of the hollow section ends.
US08250818B2
The present invention generally relates to a self-centering energy dissipative brace apparatus. A bracing system is often needed to stabilize, strengthen or stiffen structures such as buildings which are subjected to severe or extreme conditions. The brace apparatus may be installed in a structure to dissipate input energy and minimize residual deformations related to exceptional loading imposed on the structure by winds, earthquakes, impacts or explosions. The apparatus integrates self-centering properties and energy, dissipative capacities which help minimize structural damage.
US08250815B2
A window well cover that is universal to the extent that it will work on different sizes and shapes of window wells within a certain range for each size of window well cover produced.
US08250802B2
A cage-type animal trap with two opposed animal access openings that can operate in a one-door-opening configuration or a two-door-opening configuration. The trap has a set mechanism for holding one or both doors open to allow access through the corresponding trap access openings. The set mechanism includes a pivotally mounted set lever coupled to the doors of the trap by an actuating member. Upon actuation, the set lever pivots from a set position to a tripped position to allow movement of the actuating member which enables one of the doors to move from an opened position to a closed position when the trap is operating in a one-door-opening configuration, and both of the doors to move from the opened position to the closed position when the trap is operating in the two-door-opening configuration.
US08250801B2
A bird decoy system comprising: a transducer located on a housing; a switch located on the housing; a transmitter located within the housing, and in communication with the transducer; an electronics compartment comprising: a receiver located in the electronics compartment; a receiving antenna in communication with the receiver; a CPU located within the electronics compartment, and in communication with the receiver, the CPU configured to send a signal to cause a decoy motor to activate causing the decoy to move; a connection plug attached to the electronics compartment and in communication with the CPU; and a motorized bird decoy with a plug removeably attachable to the connection plug. A bird decoy system comprising: a decoy stand base; a decoy stand rod extending generally orthogonally from the decoy stand base; a rotatable sleeve in rotatable communication with the decoy stand rod; a bird shaped decoy fixedly attached to the rotatable sleeve.
US08250794B2
An emergency information sign (10) comprising a base substrate (12) and an indicia layer (14) positioned over the base substrate (12). Exposed areas (24) of the base substrate (12) and covering areas (26) of the indicia layer (14) together form emergency information indicia. The base substrate (12) and the indicia layer (14) each carry phosphorescent materials (20, 22), which absorb and store light from a primary light source (16/18) and emit this stored light during dark conditions.
US08250792B2
An electric multiplayer frame fireplace with an internal charcoal bed and an external charcoal bed comprises a housing, an imaging light source arranged on the lower side of the housing, a light processing device and simulated charcoal beds arranged above the imaging light source and an imaging screen, the imaging screen is arranged close to the simulated charcoal beds, a front simulated charcoal bed is arranged on the front side of the lower end of the imaging screen, and a rear simulated charcoal bed higher than the front simulated charcoal bed is arranged on the rear side of the lower end of the imaging screen. In addition, the electric fireplace can simulate the sound of charcoal combustion.
US08250789B1
The ironing board having extendable ironing surfaces includes a traditional ironing board, a plurality of extendable ironing surfaces, a rear detachable basket, and a detachable leg basket. The plurality of extendable ironing surfaces attach to and rotate about a hinge that is also mounted to the undersurface of the main ironing surface. The rear detachable basket connects onto a clip mounted at the rear, underneath surface of the main ironing surface in order to prevent reduction in the surface area of the main ironing surface. The leg basket connects via attaching arms and rotates about one of the intersecting legs, and rests upon a second leg.
US08250787B1
One embodiment of an improved method for removing a post from the ground, the method including inserting a spike tool into the ground around the perimeter of the base of the post, reducing the lifting force required by creating a layer of reduced friction mud surrounding the base of the post, supplying of pressurized fluid through the spike tool to the base of the post within the ground, and neutralizing the suction force created when the post is lifted from the ground.
US08250783B2
A method and apparatus for supplying a customer with a footbed. A kiosk provides measurements of a consumer's feet with a self-guided display by using both pressure measurements and scanning of the feet. The measurement information is converted to identify which of the preselected and stocked components proximate the kiosk can be combined to provide an appropriate footbed for the consumer.
US08250782B2
An article of footwear with an inflatable system may have a valve incorporated therein to adjust the level of cushioning in the article of footwear. The valve may be in communication with an inflatable bladder and may have a body, a piston, and an interface. The body may have an interior chamber, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. The piston may be located within the interior of the body and can be spring actuated. The interface may be connected to the body such that movement of the interface between a first position and a second position results in the piston moving between a first position wherein fluid is permitted to enter the interior chamber at a first rate and a second position wherein fluid is permitted to enter at a second rate, wherein the first rate is greater than the second rate.
US08250779B2
A sandal type overshoe for releasable mounting on primary footwear, e.g., a boot or shoe, is disclosed. The overshoe comprises a sole with a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a hindfoot portion. Toe, side and heel anchor pieces are disposed along the perimeter of the sole and accept two removable lace pieces, one of which connects the front anchor piece and the side anchor pieces, and one of which connects the heel anchor pieces to the side anchor pieces. The sole portion has a ground engaging surface that can provide enhanced traction or other functionality.
US08250776B2
A method of operating and managing a laundry room machine that performs a washing operation and a drying operation according to a payment made by customers is provided. The method includes setting information of payments and operating conditions and setting operating conditions according to a payment additionally inserted while a drying operation is performed, receiving information of a payment insertion from the payment device and operating a predetermined operation according to the set operating conditions, and receiving information of an additional payment insertion from the payment device while a drying operation is performed and performing an additional drying operation according to the information of the additional payment insertion based on the setting operating conditions according to the payment additionally inserted while the drying operation is performed.
US08250775B2
The present invention discloses an automatic plant and a method of stockage in a covered yard of petcoke fuel with high humidity-contents, natural dehumidification up to set humidity values and subsequent reuptake for conveyance to the silos feeding a thermal unit.
US08250771B2
A multifunctional ruler and protractor tool with the ability to form and scale a near infinite number of geometric shapes. The tool comprises both a standalone ruler and protractor unit. Rulers are capable of being added to each other successively, creating straight ruler assemblies of virtually any length. The protractor unit can be slid onto a single ruler or a straight ruler assembly containing any number of consecutively connected rulers, and is capable of fastening another ruler to its sides by a quick connect/disconnect mechanism. The protractor component of the protractor unit pivots, allowing for the creation of angles between rulers that are laterally fastened and slidably engaged to it. The sliding lock on the protractor unit can arrest both rotational and translational motion of the protractor unit along any ruler, if it is manipulated to do so. Multiple rulers and protractors can be connected to form both open and closed, regular and irregular, polygons, and other sided geometric shapes. Geometric configuration can be scaled to larger or smaller sizes.
US08250769B2
A distance indicating mechanism can be used in combination with a bow sight to quickly determine distances to targets from an elevated position. The distance indicating mechanism has a generally circular, fluid-filled tubular device with one or more adjustable indicators located thereon. The indicators are positionable to correspond with the fluid level in the tubular device to indicate the orientation of the mechanism when aiming at a known distance. Each indicator generally corresponds to a sight pin of a bow site that indicates a corresponding linear distance for which an arrow will be at a desired vertical position when shot by a bow operator.
US08250767B1
The tile knife apparatus provides a specialized blade particularly useful in tile work, coupled with an ergonomic handle which provides maximum leverage with a comfortable grip and natural alignment with the blade. The apparatus is especially suited to tile spacer removal and adhesive removal. The blades are provided in varied embodiment widths, including 1 millimeter, 3 millimeters, and 5 millimeters. The blade has a flat edge so that prying and scraping are best facilitated, without excessive injury risk to hands or tile. Each feature of the handle works in coordination with the blade features to facilitate natural hand alignment with work to be performed, while ensuring against hand fatigue. The handle enables easy grip and provides gradually coordinated surfaces and rounded convex ends to avoid user fatigue and hand injuries such as blisters and undue callusing. The ergonomic handle provides for ambidextrous use.
US08250764B2
A knife includes a handle enclosing one or more of a blade, a blade shuttle, a transmission, and a trigger, where the handle includes a blade aperture. The blade shuttle is longitudinally moveable relative to the handle from a rest position to a first extended position and the blade shuttle is moveable longitudinally from the first extended position to a cutting position when the blade is engaged in a workpiece. The blade shuttle is automatically retracted from the cutting position to the rest position when the blade is disengaged from the workpiece. The blade is detachably secured within the blade shuttle and protrudes a first distance through the blade aperture at the first extended position. The blade is extended from the first distance a substantially fixed length when engaged in the workpiece. The blade is adapted to automatically retract within the handle when disengaged from the workpiece.
US08250750B2
A method for manufacturing a tape wiring board in accordance with the present invention may employ an imprinting process in forming a wiring pattern, thereby reducing the number of processes for manufacturing a tape wiring board and allowing the manufacturing process to proceed in a single production line. Therefore, the manufacturing time and cost may be reduced. A profile of the wiring pattern may be determined by the shape of an impression pattern of a mold. This may establish the top width of inner and outer leads and incorporate tine pad pitch. Although ILB and OLB process may use an NCP, connection reliability may be established due to the soft and elastic wiring pattern.
US08250740B2
In a method for making an inspection fixture, a detachable mold assembly and a hardenable fluid are firstly prepared. Secondly, the hardenable fluid is poured into the mold assembly, and a plurality of molding pins are inserted into the mold assembly. Thirdly, a main body with a plurality of positioning holes corresponding to the molding pins (i.e., the locations thereof) are formed in the mold after the hardenable fluid hardens. Fourthly, the mold assembly is detached, and the part is removed from the mold. Finally, a plurality of positioning pins is mounted into the positioning holes of the molded part, the positioning holes having remained upon removal of the molding pins.
US08250735B2
A motor adopting an improved mechanism is composed of a stator having a shaft and a rotor provided with a sleeve and a hub, wherein the shaft is inserted into the hub and the hub is fixed on an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve. The outer circumferential surface of the sleeve is provided with a first outer circumferential surface, a second outer circumferential surface and a receiving surface that links between the first and second outer circumferential surfaces. The hub is provided with a base section, a through hole and a first protruded section protruding downward from the base section. A tip end portion of the first protruded section is provided with a hitting surface that contacts with the receiving surface of the sleeve and a second protruded section that links to the contacting surface and protrudes downward from the contacting surface.
US08250734B2
A method for manufacturing a motor stator including individually mounting second and third coils on second and third teeth that are located on both sides of a first tooth, deforming a first coil with an air core before it is mounted on the first tooth, and inserting a first part of the deformed coil into a slot on one side of the first tooth, and inserting a second part of the deformed coil into the slot on the other side of the first tooth.
US08250720B2
There is disclosed a roller burnishing apparatus including a first member moved relative to an object to be burnished, a second member movable relative to the first member in a relative movement direction, a burnishing roller held by the second member such that the burnishing roller is rotatable, a biasing device which biases with a biasing force the second member relative to the first member in one of two opposite directions along the relative movement direction, and a pressing-force detecting device that detects a pressing force with which the burnishing roller is pressed against the object and which is based on the biasing force of the biasing device.
US08250718B2
The disclosure relates to a reclosable zipper for a package or bag wherein apertures are formed at periodic package-width intervals passing through the interlocking elements of the zipper profiles in order to minimize the mass of zipper material in areas where side seals of packages or bags will be subsequently formed. The otherwise interlocking elements upstream of, or at the trailing edge of, the apertures are deformed so as to prevent interlocking of the elements through a limited area. This allows a separator pin to pass through the area of the apertures and pass between the zipper profiles, eliminating or reducing the collision of the separator with the zipper profiles and subsequent potential damage to the zipper profiles.
US08250717B2
A bonding clip formed of a metal and having unitary or multi-part construction is used to electronically bond together wires of adjacent wire mesh cable trays. The bonding clip binds the wire mesh cable trays by penetrating the protective coating one the wire mesh cable trays with teeth-like projections in order to permit conductive contact between the wires. The bonding clip has a profile that permits maintenance of the cross-sectional area formed by the wires of the wire mesh cable trays.
US08250715B2
A tool system is disclosed having a body including a handle extending therefrom, a detachable head including a working tool, and a multi-part connector for detachable connecting the head to the body, the connector including opposed, flexible members positioned on the body towards an end of the body and means on the head for connecting with the opposed flexible members, the opposed flexible members and the means for connecting with the flexible members working in concert to detachably secure the head to the body. The handle of the tool system can be offset with respect to the axis of the body and the detachable head.
US08250708B2
A hinge includes a fixing frame, a rotating frame, a support, and a connecting member. The rotating frame is pivotally joined to the fixing frame. The support includes a first connecting portion for joining to the base and a second connecting portion. The connecting member is mounted between the rotating frame and the support. Furthermore, the connecting member is operably moved between an extended position and a retracted position in response to two opposite pivoting directions of the rotating frame with respect to the fixing frame. In addition, the support moves away from the rotating frame in response to the connection member moving from the retracted position to the extended position thereof.
US08250703B2
A utility vacuum that may be configured to employ a disposable bag or removable and reusable container for the collection of dirt and debris that are drawn into the utility vacuum. The utility vacuum may employ one or more movable legs that are movable between an extended position, which provides relatively stable operation of the utility vacuum, and a retracted position, which reduces the footprint of the utility vacuum so that it is easier to store.
US08250698B2
A device comprising an absorbent structure and one or more wiping elements integrated into the absorbent structure is disclosed. The absorbent structure is preferably a sponge or foam structure and the wiping elements are squeegees, nodules, or combinations thereof. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the wiping elements include anchor features that are embedded within the absorbent stricture.
US08250688B2
A bedding straightening system attached to a base of an ordinary bed, including a blanket air distributor, bottom sheet side air distributors, connectors, bottom sheet, top blanket and sheet. A series of ducts or hoses which carry the air expelled from the air compressor or air expelling turbine towards different outlet points are located around the perimeter of the bed and connected to the bedding by a blanket air distributor and bottom sheet side air distributors. The bedding includes at least one bottom sheet and one bedspread. The bottom sheet when inflated produces tension on the sheet structure causing the straightening thereof. Air outlets protrude outwardly from the base of the bed through hoses disposed beneath the bottom sheet in order to lift and ventilate the bottom sheet.
US08250686B2
An apparatus comprises an architectural system and a patient adjustment device. The patient adjustment device is coupled to the architectural system and adapted to pull on a patient receiver to move a patient received by the patient receiver and located on a bed relative to the bed to adjust the position of the patient.
US08250684B2
A baby bathing apparatus comprising an easily stored, relatively planar expanse of material configurable into a relatively concave configuration for deployment at least partially within a basin, and a method of forming the same. A material and configuration of a deployed bathing apparatus comfortably and securely retain a baby during bathing. One or more fastening means can be employed to securely yet detachably retain the expanse in a deployed configuration, while also allowing the bathing apparatus to resume a non-deployed, relatively planar configuration.
US08250673B2
An improved process and material for making elastomeric nitrile rubber articles is disclosed. In particular, the process and material formulation can produce nitrile rubber based articles, which exhibit force-strain characteristics that are comparable to those of natural rubber latex articles, while maintaining the tensile strength properties of nitrile rubber. The process includes an accelerator composition at the pre-cure stage having a dithiocarbamate, a thiazole, and a guanidine compound. The invention also includes an elastomeric nitrile rubber product made by the process, such as examination, surgical, or work gloves.
US08256009B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for managing rights object of SRM in a digital rights management system. The method for managing rights object bound to the SRM, comprises: transmitting ROAP trigger from a rights issuer to a terminal; transmitting an RO request message from the terminal to the rights issuer and transmitting a response message to the RO request message from the rights issuer to the terminal; and transmitting the rights object included in the response message from a DRM agent of the terminal to a DRM agent of the SRM and installing the rights object in the SRM. Accordingly, the SRM can receive its own rights object from the rights issuer through the terminal.
US08256005B2
Method and apparatus to prevent hacking of encrypted audio or video content during playback. Hackers, using a debugging attachment or other tools, can illicitly access encrypted data in memory in a playback device when the data is decrypted during playback and momentarily stored in digital form. This hacking is defeated here by methodically “poisoning” the encrypted data so that it is no longer playable by a standard decoder. The poisoning involves deliberate alteration of certain bit values. On playback, the player invokes a special secure routine that provides correction of the poisoned bit values, for successful playback.
US08255989B2
A session rights object and authorization data are used for defining a consumer's access right to a media content stream. The access rights are determined at a caching server remotely located from the consumer rather than locally at the end user site. In a first aspect, in a computing network having a content provider, a key distribution center, a caching server and a client, a method for controlling client access to a real-time data stream from the caching server, is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by the client, a session rights object from a content provider, the session rights object defining access rules for accessing the real-time data stream; receiving, by the client, authorization data from the key distribution center, the authorization data defining the client's access rights to the real-time data stream; forwarding to the caching server the session rights object and the authorization data; comparing, by the caching server, the session rights object with the authorization data to determine client authorization; and if the client is authorized, streaming, by the caching server, the real-time data stream to the client.
US08255972B2
A method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device for transforming a high-level policy associated with a high layer to a low-level policy associated with a low layer. Mapping between high-level objects in a high layer and low-level objects in a low layer is derived by an automated discovery tool. The high-level policy is mapped to the low-level policy according to the mapping (e.g., by substituting the high-level objects with the low-level objects and by performing a syntax transformation). In one embodiment, a low-level policy is transformed to a high-level policy according to the mapping. As exemplary embodiments, policy transformations in traffic shaping and data retention are disclosed.
US08255966B2
A method and system for the creation of interactive programming incorporating viewer interactions. An interactive program includes moderator content generated by the moderator and edited participant commentary, such as interactive messages, and is served by a moderator server. Moderators create and manage interactive programs using a Web site. Viewers register to be participants in interactive programs using the Web site as well. The interactive programs can be distributed as electronic documents written in a markup language such as HTML or XML over a communications network such as the Internet. The interactive programs can also be converted to conventional interactive television content for distribution over an interactive television network. The interactive programs can also be distributed over a virtual private network for use as a collaboration tool by an enterprise such as a business concern. The interactive programs require few processing resources so the interactive programs can be embedded within other Web processes such as electronic commerce and television commerce transactions.
US08255953B1
Techniques for content arrangement with a custom television (TV) channel in a custom TV system for providing a viewer with custom channels of content based on viewer preferences is described. Various examples of channel content ordering criteria upon which arrangement of content selections within a custom TV channel is based are also described. The custom TV system is suitable for execution on a digital video recorder.
US08255952B2
An interactive television system with programming-related links is provided. The system may include user television equipment on which interactive program guide and non-program-guide applications may be implemented. Information that is displayed in a display screen for a non-program-guide application may be related to programming. A display screen or overlay for programming that is related to the information may be displayed when a user selects the displayed information. The display or overlay for the programming may include advertisements, video, graphics, options, or programming descriptions. The display screen or overlay may have been displayed by the program guide application.
US08255949B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products are provided for television advertisement bidding that allows advertisers to target and/or exclude specific television programs. Advertisers can search for television programs and in response be provided with a list of scheduled air times for television programs. Additional programs can also be identified for advertising based on similar targeting criteria, such as demographics, ratings, and genre.
US08255948B1
Methods, systems and computer program products for classifying incoming data and identifying relevant demographic information from the incoming data. The incoming data may include media content, and the media content may be classified to determine demographic information such as the audience of the media content associated with the media content related to a topic. A content item presented in another medium on the same topic also may be identified. Subsequently, appropriate advertising based on the demographic information to be associated with the content item may be provided.
US08255946B2
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for authenticating local and remote devices associated with a broadcast area. In one embodiment, an authentication server can transmit a unique broadcast identifier to a broadcast system and a local device. The broadcast system can then transmit a broadcast that includes the unique broadcast identifier. Once the local device receives the unique broadcast identifier from the broadcast and the authentication server, it can be authenticated as being in the broadcast area.
US08255944B2
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for authenticating local and remote devices associated with a broadcast area. In one embodiment, an authentication server can transmit a unique broadcast identifier to a broadcast system and a local device. The broadcast system can then transmit a broadcast that includes the unique broadcast identifier. Once the local device receives the unique broadcast identifier from the broadcast and the authentication server, it can be authenticated as being in the broadcast area.
US08255943B2
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for authenticating local and remote devices associated with a broadcast area. For example, in one embodiment, a broadcast station can broadcast a first over-the-air broadcast that includes a token. A local device can scan for and identify the token in the first over-the-air broadcast it receives. The local device can then transmit the received token and user registration to an authentication server. The authentication server can use the token and user registration information to create a unique broadcast identifier. The authentication server can then transmit the unique broadcast identifier to the broadcast station and the local device. The broadcast station then broadcasts a second over-the-air broadcast that includes a unique broadcast identifier. Once the local device receives the unique broadcast identifier from the second over-the-air broadcast and the authentication server, it can be authenticated as being in the broadcast area.
US08255941B2
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for authenticating local and remote devices associated with a broadcast area. For example, in one embodiment, a broadcast station can broadcast a first over-the-air broadcast that includes a token. A local device can scan for and identify the token in the first over-the-air broadcast it receives. The local device can then transmit the received token and user registration to an authentication server. The authentication server can use the token and user registration information to create a unique broadcast identifier. The authentication server can then transmit the unique broadcast identifier to the broadcast station and the local device. The broadcast station then broadcasts a second over-the-air broadcast that includes a unique broadcast identifier. Once the local device receives the unique broadcast identifier from the second over-the-air broadcast and the authentication server, it can be authenticated as being in the broadcast area.
US08255937B2
A spindle motor is disclosed which is configured such a manner that a rotor is press-fitted into a portion of a rotor fastener corresponding to a radially thicker portion out of outer portions of the rotor fastener of a clamping device, and a portion of the rotor fastener corresponding to a relatively thinner radial portion is filled up with an adhesive to adhesively couple a case with the rotation shaft side. Consequently, even if the rotation shaft side is coupled with the case, the case is not damaged to therefore enhance the reliability of the product.
US08255933B2
A system for receiving data, such as data from streaming protocols arranged in client requests, includes a plurality of worker threads for receiving the data; a master thread configured for assigning a given worker thread to handling an incoming client request; a parser module configured for parsing the data of the incoming client request received via the assigned thread, and identifying when a complete client request has been received. The master thread is configured for releasing the given worker thread from assignment to handling the incoming client request when the parser module indicates that the complete incoming client request has been received.
US08255927B2
An event control section 210 receives an event notification from an input operation control section 212. If the received event is a user ordered event based on an operation by a user 215, the event control section 210 gives the received event to a GUI content reproduction section 209. On the other hand, if the received event is a logic ordered event based on an order from a logic 201, notification of future generated user ordered events are temporarily stopped and the logic ordered event is notified to GUI content reproduction section 209. The temporary stop of notification of the user ordered event is released after completion of the logic ordered event at the GUI content reproduction section 209.
US08255926B2
Virus notifications based on social groups are provided. When an anti-virus program is updated, the anti-virus program informs its peers within the social group of the update. When a particular peer computing device is infected, it notifies the other anti-virus programs in the social group. The notification to the other anti-virus programs may identify which particular patches/updates are required for that particular peer computing device's anti-virus program based on the data structure that maintains the update status of the anti-virus software on each of the peer computing devices. The anti-virus programs in the social group, based on the notification of the infection from the infected computing device, may automatically perform operations for downloading any required patches and performing a scan of the peer computing device in order to isolate and remove the virus if the peer computing device has become infected.
US08255923B2
A computer-implemented method and system organizes communications by combining and integrating distinct communication events conducted through diverse communication modes into to a single conversation. Notification of an occurrence of an event is received and, in response to the notification, a conversation object representing a conversation is generated. A plurality of participants is associated with the conversation. A communication entry is associated with the conversation object. The communication entry has a message for at least one of the participants. The conversation object and the communication entry are stored in persistent memory. Shared access to the conversation object stored in persistent memory is limited to the plurality of participants associated with the conversation.
US08255913B2
In a global shared memory (GSM) environment, a method provides local notification of completion of a global shared memory (GSM) operation processed by a first task executing at a local node of the distributed system. The system includes multiple nodes on which different tasks of a single job execute and perform GSM operations that are received from a second task via a via host fabric interface (HFI) and associated HFR window assigned to the first tasks. The local task initiates execution of a GSM operation on the local node. The task then monitors for and detects a completion of the execution of the GSM operation on the local node. When the task detects completion of the execution of the GSM operation, the task issues an internal notification to inform the locally-executing tasks of the completion of the GSM operation.
US08255908B2
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating the management of tasks in a distributed system with modular service architecture and distributed control functions are provided. The system includes an Application Manager, an Application Node, a Service Manager, and a number of Service Nodes that are capable of executing certain services. Upon receiving a task request from the Application Manager, the Application Node generates a task identifier associated with the particular task. The Application Node may then communicate with the Service Manager using the task identifier to receive a designation of a Service Node capable of executing the service required to complete the requested task. The Application Node can then communicate the service to the designated Service Node, including the task identifier. Once completed services are received from the various Service Nodes involved, they are assembled into a completed task using the common task identifier.
US08255903B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a data processing system comprising a receiver to receive a first entity comprising first meta-data, expressed using a semantic web language, defining at least one relationship between first software and at least one associated patch for the first software; means to receive a second entity comprising second meta-data, expressed using the semantic web language, defining at least one relationship between installed software and at least one installed patch for the installed software; and a semantic web query language engine for subjecting the one or more of the first meta-data, second meta-data and an ontology, expressing concepts and relationships between software and at least one patch for said software, to an analysis; and means to output data representing the result of the analysis; the result providing data relating to at least one of the first meta-data and the second meta-data.
US08255899B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for managing dependencies between data upgrade files included in an application upgrade. According to one set of embodiments, the data upgrade files are grouped into functional upgrade groups. A dependency hierarchy for the functional upgrade groups is then created based on dependencies between the data upgrade files. The dependency hierarchy provides a high-level, functional view of the overall dependency flow of an upgrade. In various embodiments, this allows for greater insight into existing and potential dependency issues, leading to more robust and efficient upgrades. In further embodiments, an upgrade tracking system is provided. The upgrade tracking system is configured to track and report detailed analytics related to an upgrade run. In various embodiments, the upgrade tracking system may leverage the grouping of data upgrade files into functional upgrade groups to provide intelligent reporting at a functional level.
US08255895B2
A method and apparatus for distributing and synchronizing objects. One or more embodiments of the invention provide for distributing copies of the objects locally. By copying objects (including the data and behavior for the object) into local address space, the object's methods may be executed locally thereby avoiding excessive network traffic. The state of the various object copies across a network may not be synchronized due to local changes and modifications. To synchronize the objects, one or more embodiments of the invention provide for the use of a policy that specifies conditions as to when objects are synchronized. Embodiments of the invention provide flexibility in setting the policy to accommodate varying applications. For example, a policy may provide for synchronization that is based temporally (e.g., every 10 minutes or daily at 10:00 P.M.). Alternatively, a policy may provide for synchronization based on the type or number of messages transmitted. In one or more embodiments, a default policy may be utilized that provides for the synchronization of local objects whenever a client issues a request from the remote server. In such an embodiment, the remote server transmits any updated object information when it responds to the local object request. The updated object information may be utilized to synchronize the objects.
US08255888B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for developing an application. The development includes the use of a data model (e.g., a metamodel represented using UML) from which an API is derived. The API can include features derived from customizable extensions within the data model.
US08255884B2
Mechanisms for optimizing scalar code executed on a single instruction multiple data (SIMD) engine are provided. Placement of vector operation-splat operations may be determined based on an identification of scalar and SIMD operations in an original code representation. The original code representation may be modified to insert the vector operation-splat operations based on the determined placement of vector operation-splat operations to generate a first modified code representation. Placement of separate splat operations may be determined based on identification of scalar and SIMD operations in the first modified code representation. The first modified code representation may be modified to insert or delete separate splat operations based on the determined placement of the separate splat operations to generate a second modified code representation. SIMD code may be output based on the second modified code representation for execution by the SIMD engine.
US08255883B2
There is alteration of a late-bound expression produced by a compiler into an early-bound structure. Alteration of the late-bound expression can occur at runtime and a visitor pattern can be used to create the alteration. In one instance, a conversion from late-bound to early-bound takes place through replacing a late-bound property with a statically typed call. The early-bound structure can translate into an expression tree to enable an implementation of a store specific query operated upon storage.
US08255880B2
Illustrative embodiments cover a data processing system for processing instructions and monitoring accesses to memory location ranges. An instruction for execution is identified. A determination is made as to whether the instruction is within a contiguous range of instructions. Execution information relating to the instruction is identified if the instruction is within the contiguous range of instructions. With memory location accesses, an access to a memory location is identified. A determination of whether the memory location is within a contiguous range of memory locations is made. Access information is identified if the memory location is within the contiguous range of memory locations.
US08255876B2
Displaying instrument output is disclosed. Instrument output data is received. A difference between two or more corresponding portions of data included in the received instrument output data is determined. At least a selected part of the received instrument output data is displayed in a manner that highlights the difference.
US08255874B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for automatically extracting an interface of embedded software. The method defines an interface of embedded software as a test item for test of the interface of the embedded software, and generates an interface symbol corresponding to the defined test item. The location of the interface symbol is determined, and a test case is generated based on the interface symbol and its location in the software. Embodiments of the invention thus facilitate the testing of software at interfaces between layers in the software.
US08255873B2
A media and method for detecting third-party content in web pages is provided. Computer software operates on a server or a client-side computer to identify and analyze third-party links and contents in web pages to determine if a third-party content sill exists, is available, has changed, or disrupts a web browser. A third-party link or content can be removed, changed, or replaced. A user can be notified or given an option to handle changed third-party content. The server may remove the third-party link or content by changing an HTML file for the web page. The client-side computer may remove the third-party link or content by dynamically changing the rendered web page before it is displayed to the user.
US08255866B2
A computing device and a method involves selection of one or more transmission lines from a printed circuit board (PCB) layout file, reading a transmission line from the one or more selected transmission lines, and determining neighboring anti-pads of the read transmission line in the PCB layout file. The computing device and method further determine an actual distance between the read transmission line and a neighboring anti-pad. If the actual distance is less than a preset standard distance, the computing device and method determine that the read transmission line and the neighboring anti-pad do not satisfy design requirements, and highlight the read transmission line and the neighboring anti-pad, to prompt a user to amend design of the read transmission line and the neighboring anti-pad.
US08255864B2
A computing device and a method selects a signal transmission line from a circuit board, computes an actual length of each line segment of the selected signal transmission line, and computes an actual distance between each line segment of the selected signal transmission line and a corresponding line segment of each neighboring signal transmission line. If each actual length is less than or equal to a corresponding reference length and each actual distance is more than or equal to a corresponding reference distance, the device and method determines a design of the selected signal transmission line satisfies the design standards. Otherwise, if any actual length is more than a corresponding reference length, or if any actual distance is less than a corresponding reference distance, the device and method determines the design of the signal transmission line does not satisfy the design standards.
US08255862B2
A system and method that can analyze a temperature rise of a printed circuit board (PCB). The system and method receives attribute parameters of the PCB from an input device, and generates a temperature rise formula according to the received attribute parameters. Additionally, the system and method calculates a temperature rise of a local area surrounding each component on the PCB according to the temperature rise formula.
US08255858B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for adjusting geometry of a capacitor includes fabricating a first composite capacitor residing in a first standard cell with a first set of process parameters. The method further includes using a second standard cell having substantially same dimensions as the first standard cell. The method further includes using a capacitance value from the first composite capacitor to adjust a geometry of a second composite capacitor residing in the second standard cell, wherein the second composite capacitor is fabricated with a second set of process parameters. The geometry of the second composite capacitor can be adjusted to cause the second composite capacitor to have a capacitance value substantially equal to the capacitance value from the first composite capacitor.
US08255854B2
A method for reducing delay in an integrated circuit by compensating for differences in rise and fall delay times comprises creating a timing graph; computing minimum delay tuples for nodes in the timing graph; if there is not at least one feasible delay tuple, determining a longest path and computing minimum delay tuples for the longest path; changing polarities on the longest path to reduce delays; updating the timing graph by transferring new polarity and delay values; performing timing analysis to determine a new longest path if the new longest path is shorter than the prior longest path, accepting a resulting polarity selection and computing minimum delay tuples for the longest path; if the new longest path is not shorter than the prior longest path, accepting a resulting polarity selection and implementing changes in a user-program bitstream.
US08255852B2
A distributable and serializable finite state machine and methods for using the distributable and serializable finite state machine are provided wherein finite state machine instance can be location-shifted, time-shifted or location-shift and time-shifted, for example by serializing and deserializing each instance. Each instance can be located-shifted between agents, and a persistent memory storage location is provided to facilitate both location-shifting and time-shifting. Finite state machine instances and the actions that make up each instance can be run in a distributed fashion among a plurality of agents.
US08255850B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, statistical timing analysis is applied with respect to a stress degradation that occurs in fabricated integrated circuits (IC) when used for a long duration. The circuit design may be suitably modified to account for the degradations (e.g., those caused by NBTI and CHC for transistors, those caused due to electromigration in case of interconnects). As a result, the fabricated ICs may be less susceptible to such degradations. The features are extended to model complex circuit blocks and also account for different degrees of stress that different circuit blocks are subjected to, in a same age of operation.
US08255849B1
Systems and methods for modeling a multilayer integrated circuit include three-dimensional interconnect models in multilayered substrates for greater accuracy. Mesh models are used to resolve effects of nearby elements and grid models are used to resolve effects of far-away elements. Sidewall mesh elements of three-dimensional interconnects are projected onto parallel (or substantially parallel) grids between the top and bottom walls of the interconnects so that grid models can be used to resolve three-dimensional effects of interconnects in multilayered substrates.
US08255846B2
System, method, and program product analyze netlists for related electrical circuit designs by comparing predefined physical characteristics between the netlists. A baseline reference score is generated for one of the netlists and a normalized score is generated for the other netlist. The baseline reference score and the normalized score are used to generate a similarity score that is displayed on a display monitor. Preferably, the similarity score is displayed as a percentage.
US08255838B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system that constructs and calibrates an etch-aware photolithography model. During operation, the system constructs an etch bias model which models a critical dimension (CD) difference between a measured CD value of a feature after the photolithography process and a measured CD value of the feature after the etch process. The system then fits the photolithography process model based at least on the post-lithography measured CD data and the etch bias model, thereby causing the photolithography process model to be aware of etch effects. The present techniques facilitate bridging the gap between the photolithography and the etch process in the OPC modeling flow. In particular, these techniques can be used to modify conventional staged OPC model or to construct a model based rule table for correcting a retarget model.
US08255835B2
The presence of new unread electronic messages received, that is, messages received since unread messages were last reviewed, is provided by indicia presented to the user. These indicia can take various forms, such as by bolding, flashing, changing the size or color of a count of unread messages, and/or the unread message icon. Alternatively, a separate indication, such as a second count representing the number of new unread electronic messages received, or some other symbol, such as an explanation point, can be displayed.
US08255832B2
When an N-upped paper document was viewed by previewing, visibility thereof was poor because contents corresponding to N pages are displayed collectively. Expansion thereof for improving the visibility makes the operability poor. An image processing device of the present invention includes: a determining unit for determining whether or not image data corresponding to an inputted document is image data of an N-up document in which contents corresponding to N pages (N≧2) are arranged in one page; a first thumbnail generating unit for generating a first thumbnail of 1-up that is a thumbnail of any of the N pages when the image data corresponding to the inputted document is determined to be the image data of the N-up document by the determining unit; and a display unit for preview-displaying the first thumbnail.
US08255820B2
A system for and method for tracking events occurring on an electronic paper display device is presented. The system and method may include detecting an event occurring at the electronic paper display device, identifying the event and a status of the electronic paper display device, wherein the identification of the event comprises using a data structure mapping electronic content structure to one or more identifiers, and transmitting the one or more identifiers associated with the event via a network to a network accessible device.
US08255816B2
An example method of modifying a model of a field includes presenting a representation of field data in a first window and receiving a selection of a portion of the representation of the field data. The method further includes presenting the portion of the representation in a second window, creating a magnified portion, where the representation and the magnified portion are presented concurrently. The method further includes receiving a request to modify the field data presented in the magnified portion, modifying the field data based on the request, and based on the modified field data, updating the magnified portion and the representation to obtain a modified magnified portion and a modified representation, respectively. The method further includes concurrently presenting the modified magnified portion in the second window and the modified representation in the first window.
US08255814B2
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to temporarily display information relating to an object manipulator. A graphic object is displayed in a computer graphics program. An object manipulator is then displayed on the graphic object. Cursor input where a cursor is placed over the object manipulator is received. In response to the cursor input, information relating to the object manipulator is temporarily displayed.
US08255812B1
A computer-implemented method of serving content includes receiving information identifying one or more content items in a content feed. The one or more content items have been individually selected by a first user at a first client. Code is provided that, when incorporated into a webpage, instructs the webpage to display or list the selected one or more content items.
US08255805B2
A Java applet program loaded initially from a remote server is configured to receive additional user annotations for data displayed in an already opened applet window located at the user's client system. To increase the usefulness and flexibility of such program, the user is permitted to preserve/capture, during an interactive session, the modified applet window containing any such input or modifications to the applet window data. Because the updated applet window data cannot be written to the user's client system, however, (due to security restrictions), the present invention instead causes such modified window data to be converted to a standard compressed graphics file format (such as GIF for an image file for example), and then uploaded to the remote server. From there the applet can then open another applet window within a browser program pointing to the location of such file on the remote server. At that point, the user can then perform any desired operation on the file (i.e., such as printing or saving to a local file system) since the browser has access to the local system resources.
US08255804B2
A system and method for managing the allocation and utilization of user interface resources in a communication system. Various aspects of the present invention comprise establishing a wireless communication link between a user interface resource and a system with which the user interface resource may be used. It may be determined that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system. Various aspects of the present invention may communicate that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system. A request may be made that at least a portion of the user interface resource be allocated for use with the system. The allocation request may be received, and at least a portion of the user interface resource may be allocated for use with the system. The allocated user interface resource may be utilized with the system.
US08255800B2
Computer network systems and related methods enable interactive legal document assembly by one or more persons working independently or collectively. The disclosed system facilitates optional lawyer engagements, attorney representations, review of documents, finalization of documents and nonjudicial dispute resolution in the event of disputes.
US08255796B1
Some embodiments provide a method that efficiently designs a document. The method initially provides the user with a selection of templates, each with a default configuration for content. After the user selects a template, the method provides the user with a selection of page designs to add to the selected template. When the user selects one of the page designs, the method adds the page design to a document that it presents to the user based on the selected template. Some embodiments provide methods for modifying default content of template documents that have several default text fields. When a user selects a default text field, the method of some embodiments selects the entire default text field for immediate editing by the user. In some embodiments, the method highlights a text field selected by the user. Also, in some embodiments, the method deletes the entire default content of the text field when the user provides new content for the selected field. In some embodiments, the new content can be text, image, or other type of content.
US08255795B2
A system and a method are disclosed for optimally viewing a non-square aspect ratio photo or video within a non-square aspect ratio display area of a screen. In addition, a system and a method are disclosed for positioning and storing a reference point (e.g., a relative center point) of an image within a display area of a screen. Further, in a slideshow configuration, a system and a method allows for transition between images using sound annotations associates with a particular image.
US08255783B2
An apparatus, system, and method for providing error protection for data-masking bits in a memory device of a memory system are provided. The memory device includes a memory core to store data, and a data interface to receive the data and data-masking bits associated with a write command. The memory device also includes a gating block to control writing the data to the memory core, where the writing of the data to the memory core is inhibited upon detecting an error with one or more of the data-masking bits.
US08255778B2
A method for decoding of multiple wireless signals by a chase combining hybrid-automatic-repeat-request CC-HARQ receiver includes demodulating wireless signals received from respective mobile sources using an effective channel matrix and decision statistics; updating log-likelihood-ratios LLRs and decoding the received codewords using the corresponding updated LLRs; determining set of correctly decoded codewords using a cyclic redundancy check; updating the effective channel matrix and decision statistics responsive to the step of determining; and resetting the effective channel matrix and decision statistics in the event that the number of decoding errors for a codeword exceeds its maximum limit after storing the updated LLRs of all remaining erroneously decoded codewords for which the number of decoding errors is below the respective maximum limit.
US08255764B1
A decoder system comprises a tensor-product code (TPC) decoder that decodes a received data stream to generate a decoded signal. A mark module that replaces low-density parity check (LDPC) parity bits of the decoded signal with 0s to generate a reset output signal. A deinterleave module deinterleaves error correction parity bits that are within the reset output signal to generate a deinterleaved signal that comprises a decoded portion and a concatenated portion. The concatenated portion comprises the error correction parity bits. A parity decoder module removes the concatenated portion from the deinterleaved signal.
US08255763B1
An error correction system includes an iterative code that employs an interleaved component code and an embedded parity component code. On the transmission side, input signals received at an input node are encoded based on the interleaved code, which encodes an interleaved version of the input data to produce a first set of codewords. A portion of the first set of codewords is divided into a plurality of symbols which are encoded based on the embedded parity code. On the receiving side, received data are detected to produce detected information and soft outputs. The detected information is decoded based on the embedded parity code to obtain decoded information. The decoded information is used with other soft information by an interleaved decoder to generate reliability metrics for biasing a subsequent decoding iteration.
US08255756B2
A wireless communication apparatus, a wireless LAN system, an interference detecting method, and an interference avoidance method which detect the occurrence of a communication error caused by the occurrence of interference. A wireless communication apparatus (100) comprises a transmitted packet interference error detecting circuit (120) composed of an ED value detecting circuit (105) for measuring the ED value prior to packet transmission, an Ack error detecting circuit (106) for detecting an Ack error in the transmitted packet, and a transmitted packet interference error determining circuit (107). When the Ack error is detected in a packet transmitted on condition that the measured ED value exceeds the threshold value of interference determination, the apparatus (100) determines it to be an interference error.
US08255753B2
When retransmitting lost packets of data to multiple devices in a wireless network, the original sequence of packets containing all the lost packets may be encoded into a smaller number of packets for the retransmission. These encoded packets may be collectively addressed to all the intended receiving devices through broadcast or multicast addressing. These encoded packets may then be selectively decoded by the receiving devices, using the successfully received previous packets as part of the decoding process. Repetitive exclusive OR algorithms may be used for encoding and decoding.
US08255734B2
A signaling system employs parallel termination for a timing reference signal and series termination for information signals that may be sampled using the timing reference signal. In this way, the system may provide desired levels of signal performance and power consumption. In addition, the system may be configured such that the initial wavefronts of these signals may travel in opposite directions along complementary signaling paths. For example, a timing reference signal that travels from a driving device (e.g., a memory controller) to several destination devices (e.g., memory devices) in a multi-drop/fly-by fashion may arrive at the destination devices in a given order. In contrast, associated information signals may travel from the driving device to the destination devices such that they arrive at the destination devices in the opposite order.
US08255733B1
A method of providing a clock signal for an embodiment includes performing a calibration for a closed loop control system to determine a control signal value that provides a desired tuning of the closed loop control system. The control signal value is stored and provided to a delay circuit, wherein a delay range and a delay step size of the delay circuit is based on the control signal value. A delay select control signal is provided to the delay circuit to select a specific delay within the delay range.
US08255724B2
Control of awake time in mobile device with event based time period followed by sleep mode algorithm
A method of operating a mobile device comprises operating the mobile device in a low power mode, switching the mobile device to a high power mode in response to an event, identifying the event as specific type of event, selecting a time period according to the identified type of event, preventing an algorithm for switching the mobile device to the low power mode from executing, for the time period, and (ultimately) executing the algorithm.
US08255723B2
A multiple instruction execution modules device that comprises a first instruction execution module and a second instruction execution module and a context switch controller; wherein the first instruction execution module is logically identical to the second instruction execution module but substantially differs from the second instruction execution module by at least one power consumption characteristic; wherein the context switch controller controls a context switch between the first instruction execution module and the second instruction execution module; wherein an instruction execution module that its context has been transferred is shut down.
US08255722B2
The disclosed implementations provide for power reduction in microcontrollers by reactivating a clock in the microcontroller for one or more peripheral modules in response to an internal or external trigger event, thus allowing the one or more peripheral modules to respond to events while operating in a low-power sleep mode. In some implementations, one or more peripheral modules in a microcontroller provide a clock request signal to a clock generator in the microcontroller. In response to the clock request signal, the clock generator reactivates one or more oscillator sources. The clock generator resumes clock generation only for the one or more requesting peripheral modules, keeping power consumption in the microcontroller to a minimum and not disturbing other modules in the microcontroller.
US08255720B1
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for performing power management. A computer process that requires, to be performed, substantial portions of battery storage on the mobile computing device is identified. Execution of the identified process can be deferred while the mobile computing device is not connected to a power source that is for charging the battery storage and that is external to the mobile computing device. Connection of the mobile computing device to the power source is sensed. Performance of the process is triggered in response to sensing that the mobile computing device has been connected to the power source.
US08255716B2
Systems and methods for optimizing the power of a battery in a mobile device are provided. The systems and methods include receiving a request from at least one of a plurality of applications running on the mobile device. The systems and methods further include determining user characteristics from interacting with at least one of the applications and determining a user dwell time threshold based upon the user's interactions with an application. The systems and methods further include buffering requests if the user dwell time is less than the user dwell threshold level.
US08255714B2
A system and method for wireless communication over multi-rate channels are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a first wireless device; a second wireless device; and an access point that can communicate over high-rate and low-rate channels. One or more of the first and second wireless devices and the access point can include neighbor information on the wireless stations in the wireless network. One or more of the first and second wireless devices and the access point may be configured to transmit a frame in an attempt to establish a direct link over the first channel between the first and second stations. Before transmitting the frame, the one or more of the first and second wireless devices and the access point may determine whether a direct link can be established over the first channel between the first and second stations, based at least partly on the neighbor information. This scheme can significantly reduce time wasted for unsuccessful direct link setup attempts for the high-rate channel transmissions.
US08255711B2
A power supply circuit for a graphic card on a motherboard includes first to fourth electrical switches. The first electrical switch is connected to the motherboard to receive a power good signal from the motherboard. The second electrical switch is connected between the first electrical switch and each of the third and fourth electrical switches. The third and fourth electrical switches provide power to the graphic card. The first electrical switch is turned on or off according to the voltage of the power good signal. The second electrical switch is turned on or off by the first electrical switch, so as to selectively control one of the third and fourth electrical switches turn on to output power to the graphic card.
US08255700B2
A system and method of ensuring hardware security of a device, such as an integrated circuit having secure data stored thereon. The integrated circuit or other hardware device can implement one or more configurable fuses that limit access to one or more secure locations within the device. The secure locations may contain secure data. The state of the configurable fuses can be ensured, thereby limiting access to secure locations, by forcing the occurrence of a logical state prior to allowing access to hardware locations configured by the fuses. A configurable non-secure access code can be used to force the occurrence of the logical state. Receipt of the non-secure access code by the hardware device forces the occurrence of the hardware state, thereby ensuring access only to those secure locations configured by the fuses.
US08255694B2
A method, system, and apparatus for authenticating transactions and records is disclosed. An information-based indicium includes an article bearing a first identifier, wherein the first identifier substantially prevents a single user from accumulating multiple articles bearing the same first identifier, and a first digital certificate that is derived in part by encoding the first identifier, wherein the first digital certificate and the article may be presented together to authenticate the indicium by comparing the first digital certificate and the first identifier.
US08255692B2
Field devices used to measure process parameters can also function as a data historian by storing process data and associated time stamps. In response to a request for stored process data, the field device uses a cipher and a secret method to generate an encrypted validation string that is provided along with unencrypted information including the process data and time stamps. A validation service that maintains a secure database of field devices and their associated ciphers and secret methods can validate the unencrypted information by using the validation string.
US08255691B2
A batch verification apparatus and method wherein, the method includes: generating a plurality of secret keys, a plurality of public keys corresponding to the plurality of secret keys, and a plurality of verification values corresponding to the plurality of public keys; calculating a first batch verification value based on the plurality of verification values; calculating a second batch verification value based on the plurality of secret keys and the plurality of verification values; comparing the first batch verification value and the second batch verification value; and determining that a batch of the received plurality of verification values is verified when the first batch verification value is equal to the second batch verification value.
US08255681B2
A network and associated methods and apparatus are described. The network includes a wireless access node which is operable to receive first packets from a plurality of wireless computing devices attempting to access the network. Each of the first packets corresponds to one of a plurality of traffic types. At least one of the traffic types corresponds to an encrypted wireless protocol. The wireless access node is configured to associate one of a plurality of identifiers with each of the first packets. Each of the plurality of identifiers corresponds to one of the plurality of traffic types. The wireless access node is further configured to transmit all first packets received from the wireless computing devices to a gateway on the network regardless of destination addresses associated with the first packets. The gateway is operable to determine that a particular one of the first packets from a first one of the wireless computing devices is directed to a second computing device on the network. The gateway is further operable to prevent the particular first packet from reaching the second computing device in response to determining that the particular first packet is directed to the second computing device.
US08255678B2
A method for booting a processing device, the processing device comprising a first and a second processing unit, the method comprising: detecting by the first processing unit, whether at least one boot configuration parameter is accessible from a non-volatile storage medium of the processing device, the at least one configuration parameter being indicative of a boot interface; if said at least one configuration parameter is available, forwarding at least a part of the detected at least one configuration parameter by the first processing unit to the second processing unit; otherwise detecting by at least one of the first and second processing units whether a boot interface is available to the processing device; booting at least the second processing unit from the indicated or detected boot interface.
US08255676B2
A non-disruptive method for updating firmware in a first controller 210 of a redundant controller 200 in a storage subsystem 120 is disclosed. This updating occurs while the storage subsystem 120 presents data to a host system 130 in response to a host request 132. During the non-disruptive updating, the updating first controller 210 redirects the host request 132 for data, e.g., drive-A volume 252 normally owned by the first controller 210, to second controller 220 of the redundant controller 200. After the second controller 220 obtains data 134 identified in the host request 132, the operating second controller 220 transfers the data 134 to the updating first controller 210 via an inter-controller channel 202. Once the updating first controller 210 receives the data 134, the first controller 210 presents the data 134 to the host system 130. The host system 130 does not detect that the first controller 210 is updating because the updating process is invisible to the host system 130. The above process is also applied when the updating is simply a reboot command for the first controller 210.
US08255674B2
A logic arrangement and method to support implied storage operation decode uses redundant target address detection, whereby target addresses of previous instructions are compared with the target address of the current instruction, and if equal, and the target addresses of previous instructions are not used as sources, the current instruction is decoded as a store instruction. This allows a redundant operation in an instruction set architecture to be redefined as a store instruction, freeing up opcodes normally used for store instructions to be used for other instructions.
US08255672B2
A processor includes: a plurality of registers; an instruction readout circuit configured to read out an instruction from a memory; an instruction generation circuit configured to generate instructions for saving data into a predetermined storage area, for the respective registers, if the instruction read out by the instruction readout circuit is an instruction causing the data stored in each of the plurality of registers to be saved; and an instruction execution circuit configured to execute the instruction read out from the memory and the instructions generated by the instruction generation circuit.
US08255671B2
In an embodiment, a scheduler implements a first dependency array that tracks dependencies on instruction operations (ops) within a distance N of a given op and which are short execution latency ops. Other dependencies are tracked in a second dependency array. The first dependency array may evaluate quickly, to support back-to-back issuance of short execution latency ops and their dependent ops. The second array may evaluate more slowly than the first dependency array.
US08255669B2
An information handling system employs a processor that includes a thread priority controller. An issue unit in the processor sends branch issue information to the thread priority controller when a branch instruction of an instruction thread issues. In one embodiment, if the branch issue information indicates low confidence in a branch prediction for the branch instruction, the thread priority controller speculatively increases or boosts the priority of the instruction thread containing this low confidence branch instruction. In the manner, should a branch redirect actually occur due to a mispredict, a fetcher is ready to access a redirect address in a memory array sooner than would otherwise be possible.
US08255665B2
A single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) processor including a plurality of addressing register sets, used to flexibly calculate effective operand source and destination memory addresses is disclosed. Two or more address generators calculate effective addresses using the register sets. Each register set includes a pointer register, and a scale register. An address generator forms effective addresses from a selected register set's pointer register and scale register; and an offset. For example, the effective memory address may be formed by multiplying the scale value by an offset value and summing the pointer and the scale value multiplied by the offset value.
US08255663B2
A system for processing a read request for maximizing host read performance in a flash memory-based storage device is provided. The system for processing the read request solves a bottleneck phenomenon caused by a processor by adding an independent automatic read request processor, different from a conventional system in which a processor of a storage device processes the read request. Also, when processing the read request, a storage device using a write buffer may control a process of merging data of the write buffer and a flash memory and transmitting the data to a host based on a descriptor array, thereby minimizing processor overhead.
US08255662B2
A reference-capacity calculating unit calculates a reference capacity of each of storage devices storing therein data on the basis of an actual capacity of each storage device. A difference calculating unit calculates a difference value between the reference capacity calculated by the reference-capacity calculating unit and the actual capacity of each storage device. A maximum-value retrieving unit retrieves the maximum difference value out of the respective difference values of the storage devices calculated by the difference calculating unit. A defined-capacity determining unit determines a defined capacity, which is an actually-used capacity of each storage device, on the basis of a value obtained by subtracting the maximum difference value from the reference capacity calculated by the reference-capacity calculating unit.
US08255657B2
To provide a move function that can restore copy-once contents even if the contents are failed to be moved midway, an information storage device 10 comprises data moving unit 14 for making program data 12 stored on a first storage medium 11 unreproducible and for moving the program data 12 to a second storage medium 13, abnormality detecting unit 15 for monitoring an abnormal termination of the data moving unit 14, storage medium verifying unit 16 for verifying whether or not the second storage medium 13 is the same as the second storage medium 13 used when the abnormality detecting unit 15 detects the abnormal termination of the data moving unit 14, medium initializing unit 17 for initializing the second storage medium 13, and reactivating unit 18 for making the program data 12, which is made unreproducible by the data moving unit 14, reproducible.
US08255645B2
In order to provide a more efficient persistent storage device, one or more long-term storage media are included along with a non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, one portion of the non-volatile memory is used as a write buffer and a read cache for writes and reads to the long-term storage media. Interfaces are provided for controlling the use of the non-volatile memory as a write buffer and a read cache. Additionally, a portion of the non-volatile memory is used to provide a direct mapping for specified sectors of the long-term storage media. Descriptive data regarding the persistent storage device is stored in another portion of the non-volatile memory.
US08255615B1
Methods, systems and computer program products for sending one or more commands to one or more flash memory devices using a solid state controller and receiving information associated with the commands from the flash memory devices are described. In some implementations, the solid state controller includes a sequencer to forward the commands to the flash memory devices on behalf of the firmware.
US08255609B2
A switch apparatus includes first to third video graphics array (VGA) interfaces, first to sixth universal serial bus (USB) interfaces, a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch, and first to eighteenth electronic switches. The first VGA interface is connected to the second and third VGA interfaces through the electronic switches. The first USB interface is connected the second and third USB interfaces through the electronic switches. The fourth USB interface is connected to the fifth and sixth USB interfaces through the electronic switches. The SPDT switch is used to control the first VGA interface to be selectively connected to the second or third VGA interface, and control the first USB interface to be selectively connected to the second or third USB interface, and control the fourth USB interface to be selectively connected to the fifth or sixth USB interface.
US08255595B2
A method of enabling access to resources includes detecting an input to access a resource of a multi-mode processing module coupled to a host processor and a control module. The method can further include detecting an operating mode of the host processor and the control module and an availability of independent peripheral resources of the multi-mode processing module. Additionally, the method can enable the multi-mode processing module in response to the detecting the operating mode and the availability of the independent peripheral resources.
US08255587B2
A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between networks within a vehicle and a host computer. The protocol adapter operates as a voltage translator to support J1708 software. The protocol adapter also recognizes when the protocol adapter is connected to a host computer running the J1939 and/or J1708 protocols and automatically switches to that protocol.
US08255584B2
System and methods for managing I/O throughput for large scale computing systems are provided. In one embodiment, an operating system for a computer system having a processor, a memory and at least one data storage device is provided. The operating system comprises: an operating system kernel; at least one filesystem controlling access to the at least one data storage device; and a toolkit module installed within the operating system kernel. The toolkit module monitors input/output (I/O) calls communicated via a datapath between at least one software application being executed on the processor and the filesystem. The toolkit module inserts one or more tools into the datapath, the one or more tools each executing a predefined function based on observation of a first set of the I/O calls being communicated in the datapath.
US08255579B2
A device control apparatus in a video image display system including a plurality of connected devices. The apparatus includes an obtaining unit which obtains a logical address of a first device connected to the device control apparatus as a control object, a specifying unit which specifies the device type of the first device if the obtained logical address of the first device is not a logical address according to the device type, a selection unit which selects a second device which is connected to the device control apparatus and is of the same device type as the first device, and a control unit which controls a logical address assigned to the selected second device according to the device type thereof so that the first device obtains a logical address.
US08255578B2
Prior to customer use of a device, communication with the device is allowed via multiple pins of an external interface of the device. One or more pins of the multiple pins via which communication with the device is to be prevented during customer use of the device are identified. The one or more pins are monitored, and a remedial action is taken if particular activity is detected on the one or more pins. Various different remedial actions can be taken, such as resetting or disabling the device.
US08255566B2
A system and method for enabling the interchange of enterprise data through an open platform is disclosed. This open platform can be based on a standardized interface that enables parties to easily connect to and use the network. Services operating as senders, recipients, and in-transit parties can therefore leverage a framework that overlays a public network.
US08255563B2
A method for optimizing traffic flow through a web network including collecting data corresponding to the content elements, determining a revenue value for each content element, calculating an overall content value for each content element based on the corresponding revenue value and revenue generated from subsequent flow of a user during a visit to the network, and modifying the network based on the overall content value and the content data, so as to maximize the value of the network. Also disclosed is a system for determining overall content values for a plurality of content elements including an analytic server for receiving content data corresponding to the content elements, and a processor determining a revenue value for each element and calculating an overall content value for each content element based on the corresponding revenue value and revenue generated from subsequent traffic flow of a user during a visit to the network.
US08255561B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request to modify a subscriber connection to a network element. The method also includes modifying attributes of the subscriber connection, within a memory of the network element, without disconnecting the subscriber connection from the network element.
US08255558B2
Methods and systems for distributed infrastructure for streaming data via multiple access points. Aspects of one method may include apportioning multimedia information among a plurality of transmitting devices based on feedback channel information received from a destination receiving device by, for example, a transmission controller device. The transmitting devices may transmit the multimedia information to the destination receiving device. A transmitting device that may not be apportioned multimedia information may transmit a probing signal. The destination receiving device may generate feedback channel information for a transmitting device, for example, based on the multimedia information or the probing signal received from the respective transmitting device. The apportioning of the multimedia information may be dynamically adjusted based on updated feedback channel information received from the destination receiving device.
US08255557B2
Techniques for the distribution of content objects in a content delivery network (CDN) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a CDN distribution server detects the availability of a content object and determines whether the content object is a candidate for distribution. The distribution server may detect the availability of the content object in response to a provider making new or updated content available at a content site or a location within the CDN. The distribution server obtains identifying information for a candidate content object and determines a select portion of the content object to be distributed within the CDN. The select portion can be a predetermined number of bytes located at a predetermined position in the content object, the size and location of which may be determined according to content-specific mapping data. The distribution server may push the select portion of the content object to one or more groups of CDN edge servers absent an end-user request.
US08255556B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure emulate multicast by generating and synchronizing multiple unicasts of a single content in different encoding formats to multiple devices on a shared network. In one embodiment, a method for multicast emulation includes receiving a request to join an active stream containing a media content. The method also includes identifying a position of the active stream from which to start a new unicast stream of the same media content. The method further includes providing the new unicast stream starting from the identified position, where the new unicast stream is in a format independent from the format of the active stream and the new unicast stream is synchronized to the active stream.
US08255552B2
A system for providing interactive collaboration between a plurality of users. The system includes a profile respository for storing a priority level for each of said plurality of users and providing addresses for accessing each of said plurality of users. A media content server indexes audio and video data within the system. A data server stores the audio and video data at locations identified by indexing data located at the media content server. An acquisition processor provides audio and video data streams to requesting ones of the plurality of users. Audio and video data streams are located based on indexing data within the media content server and accessed according to a priority level for each requesting user. A communication processor controls bidirectional communication between requesting users according to the priority level for each requesting user.
US08255548B2
Methods and systems for simulating an online session between the client and a remote server when the client is offline including simulating a web services API to access information when the client is offline. The client includes a local interface that can communicate with the remote server. During an online session, the data and the functional logic that is invoked to manipulate the data reside on the remote server. As such, the user transmits instructions to view, create, update, delete, or otherwise modify portions of data through the local interface and subsequently through the underlying network. These instructions are ultimately received at the remote server, which then invokes the proper functional logic to perform the instructions in order to manipulate the data. An API is provided that is substantially identical to the web services API that is typically accessed over the internet, but which simulates online functionality when offline. The client program talks to a single API, and in certain aspects that API determines whether to direct requests to a local database (which can later be synchronized with the online system) if the client is offline, or directly against the online system (e.g., if the client is connected via the Internet).
US08255546B2
An application program interface (API) for sending and receiving endpoint registration data and peer-to-peer network cloud data has a registration call for adding endpoint data to a peer-to-peer network. The API may receive explicit data regarding address information or may be instructed to select and maintain suitable address information as the topology of the peer-to-peer network changes. Blocking and non-blocking calls are exposed for retrieving information peer-to-peer network endpoint data.
US08255545B1
Metadata is synchronized between a mobile device and a remote node over a first network, where the metadata specifies media content to be synchronized between the mobile device and the remote node. Subsequently a network connection is established with the remote node over a second network. The media content is bi-directionally synchronized between the mobile device and the remote node over the second network based on the metadata that was synchronized over the first network.
US08255543B2
A network device may include logic to establish an IP session, establish a BFD session within the established IP session, transmit BFD packets within the established BFD session, and determine that the established IP session is active based upon reception of the BFD packets. In another embodiment, the logic may also determine that an IP session is active using an inactivity timer that may also trigger transmission of BFD packets.
US08255541B2
An apparatus for finding resources on a network comprises a finder server having access to: (a) a database including: (i) an index of resources available on network of interconnected computers on which a plurality of resources reside; and (ii) information regarding user feedback gathered from previous operations of the apparatus by a user and plural previous users; and (b) a learning system operable to access and learn from information contained on the database. The finder server is operable to locate, in response to entry by the user of a resource identity signifier, a single intended target resource intended by the user to uniquely correspond to the resource identity signifier, from among a plurality of resources located on the network, by: receiving a resource identity signifier from the user; accessing the database to determine, based on the information in the database, which, if any, of the indexed resources is likely to be the intended target resource; and directing a computer of the user so as to cause that computer to connect the user to the address of the resource, if any, determined as likely to be the intended target resource.
US08255536B2
Systems and methods described relate to controlling bandwidth and latency in a remote computing environment. A controller establishes a remote session between a client and a remote server. Data transfer between the client and the remote server is routed through the controller. The controller regulates bandwidth consumption and latency in the remote session by simulating a session bandwidth that can be less than the available bandwidth and by injecting delays into data packets transferred in the remote session. Such systems and methods can be used to prioritize remote client sessions and test deployment of applications in a remote computing environment.
US08255535B2
A method and system to profile applications are provided. The system may include a capture module to capture resources consumption data for an application and a requirements generator to generate resources requirement data for the application. The resources requirement data may be generated by the requirements generator utilizing the resource consumption data. The system may further include a profile generator to generate a profile for the application. The profile may comprise the resources consumption data and the resources requirement data.
US08255534B2
Systems and methods are provided for analyzing policy rules defined for a subscriber and determining packet treatment in a network. Definitions are retrieved pertaining to policy rules for a subscriber. At least one policy point in a network is determined based on the retrieved definitions. The packet treatment is determined at each of the at least one policy point. The packet treatment is shown for each of the at least one policy point. Packets may be injected into the network at injection points and statistics may be collected. The statistics may be compared with results of analyzing policy rules for the subscriber.
US08255531B2
An apparatus for providing mobile device interoperability with other devices may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least receiving a frame buffer update request from a remote environment, determining a scan interval defining a first portion of the frame buffer over which scanning to determine data changes is to occur and a second portion over which scanning to determine data changes is not to occur, identifying whether a data change occurs in the first portion of the frame buffer by comparing relatively newer data to relatively older data, and updating a selected portion of the frame buffer to the remote environment based on the identifying. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided.
US08255524B2
The present invention relates to an arrangement for monitoring performance in a network comprising a number of network devices or nodes, services and users, in real-time. The arrangement comprising information collecting means, generating means for generating performance KPI indicators depending on a number of definition performance parameters for one or more of said network nodes. The generating means comprise or communicate with decision graph generating means adapted to generate decision graph structures representing respective KPI values and combination probabilities in dependence of KPI definition performance parameters and in dependence of additional or correlation parameters. The generating means comprise decision graph content updating means adapted to update the decision graph structure or structures using said collected information to enable prediction of KPI status/behavior and message sending means are provided which are adapted to send out messages or notifications relating to one or more prediction results.
US08255519B2
A system comprises a packet data processing element; first network resource tracking logic operable to perform monitoring data packets as the packets pass through the network element; detecting network resource identifiers within the data packets; forming network resource identifier report messages that carry the network resource identifiers; forwarding the network resource identifier report messages to a bookmark processing server; storing records of each of the network resource identifiers carried therein; storing counters that identify numbers of times that associated network resource identifiers were requested; determining interesting network resource identifiers based on the records and decision steps; generating and providing a report of the interesting network resource identifiers. As one result, interesting network resource identifiers can be automatically found in network traffic and provided to a social bookmarking site.
US08255517B1
A method, system and computer-readable medium for securing access between a mobile computing device and a network computer is described. The method comprises upon a connection by the mobile computing device to a network or a device, recording the connection in a history database and processing the history database to assign a risk level to the mobile computing device. The system comprises the mobile computing device comprising a connection history collection agent for collecting information about a computing environment and the host computer comprising wireless environment data derived from the collected information where the host computer uses the wireless environment data to grant or deny a connection to the mobile computing device.
US08255515B1
A network device for use in a networking system. The network device includes a packet processor adapted to receive control packets at a network port of the network device. The packet processor is also adapted to assign a CPU code to the control packets. The network device also includes a CPU in communication with the packet processor and a lookup table indexed by the CPU code and in communication with the packet processor. According to embodiments of the present invention, one or more entries in the lookup table define a rate limit in accordance with which packets characterized by the CPU code are delivered from the packet processor to the CPU.
US08255514B2
A system for monitoring Internet use of a selected computer user includes a remote server and a computer having a monitoring program voluntarily installed thereon by the user communicatively connected to the remote server. The monitoring program is configured to monitor various Internet access activity of the computer user and record the Internet access activity on the remote server. The Internet access activity includes access of at least one Internet protocol from the group consisting of newsgroups, file sharing programs, file transfer programs, chat rooms, peer to peer chats, and electronic mail activity. A method of using a monitoring system includes the steps of a computer user voluntarily installing a monitoring program on a selected computer, recording the Internet access activity, and providing the recorded information to a third party recipient. A report may be provided that includes a variety of information and may include a plurality of portions.
US08255512B2
A multi-media information system enables tracking of user interactions to media presentations. A content creation phase enables a creator to specify presentation events or user interactions that can be tracked. A token(s) is introduced into the content by the creator to represent each piece of information to be tracked. A deployment delivery phase delivers the presentation to a web page for a user experience phase and interaction. Trackable information is communicated by the user to the tracking server at different instances of time. Each pre-authored trackable information can be flagged to be “real-time” or otherwise at the granularity of the token or at the granularity of each trackable context. When trackable information is not “real-time”, the information is put into one of several information clusters of different priority. When each cluster achieves a critical mass, the cluster moves to a ready state for transmission to the tracking server.
US08255509B2
The system remotely manages the configuration of one or several network services (20). The management server (10) has access to a database (12) which stores a representation of the configuration of the network service (20). An agent software component (18)—running preferably on the network device providing the managed service (20)—has access to the configuration in the native language of the network service (20). The management server (10) and the agent software component (18) communicate synchronization information to each other and synchronize the representation of the configuration of the network service in the database (12) and the native language configuration of the network service (20) with each other based on the synchronization information. The synchronization information is in a language different from the native language of the configuration of the network service.
US08255508B2
Administration of virtual machine affinity in a data center, where the data center includes a plurality of virtual machines (‘VMs’), each VM being a module of automated computing machinery installed upon a computer in the data center and characterized by a Universally Unique Identifier (‘UUID’), at least two of the VMs having an affinity requirement to be installed on separate computers, the data center further including a data center administration server operably coupled to the VMs, including communicating, by at least one of the VMs having an affinity requirement to the data center administration server, the UUIDs of the VMs having an affinity requirement; and moving by the data center administration server the VMs having an affinity requirement to separate computers in the data center.
US08255504B1
Systems and methods for data source management using custom data sources are described. The system includes a custom data source created in response to a data source request, and a number of configuration modules to handle obtaining a connection with a data source. Other embodiments are also described.
US08255501B2
An apparatus and method for establishing an IP session between a host 105 using a session initiation protocol and a device or mobile station 103 without an IP address is described. The apparatus includes a network interface 405 for receiving, via an IP connection, a session request that includes a host contact corresponding to the host and a device identifier corresponding to the device; a controller 407 for parsing the session request to determine the device identifier; preparing a message for the device that includes the device identifier and the session request, and presenting the message to the network interface, the message to be delivered to the device via a non-IP connection and to result in the device obtaining a device IP address and sending an acknowledgment of the SIP session request that includes the device IP address.
US08255500B2
A user device for interfacing predetermined external services provided by third party service providers to a user at a fixed location includes a processing platform running an operating system, a plurality of physical system resources associated with the remotely configurable user device, physical system resource interfaces for interfacing the operating system with the available physical system resources, a data store for storing ones of multiple configuration information associated with and identifying the external services that are available to a user with the user device and one or more of the available physical system resources required for ones of the external services and a communication resource for interfacing with the operating system to allow communication of the operating system with a central office for downloading of configuration information to remotely enable a selected one or ones of the predetermined external services provided by third party service providers.
US08255499B2
A system for interfacing predetermined external services provided by service providers to a user at a fixed location includes a processing platform running an operating system and a plurality of physical system resource interfaces for interfacing with available physical system resources allowing a user to gain access to the predetermined external services, a data store associated with the processing platform stores configuration information defining ones of a plurality of external services, a communication interface enables the operating system to communicate with a central office to download of configuration information for one or more of the external services and to facilitate access to a selected one of the external services.
US08255489B2
A content delivery network (CDN) service provider extends a content delivery network to gather information on atomically identifiable web clients (called “user agents”) as such computer-implemented entities interact with the CDN across different domains being managed by the CDN service provider. In one embodiment, a set of machines, processes, programs, and data comprise a data system. The data system tracks user agents, preferably via cookies, although one or more passive techniques may be used. A user agent may be a cookie-able device having a cookie store. As the user agent navigates across sites, a CDN-specific unique identifier used by the system to correlate user agents is generated. Preferably, the unique identifier is stored as an encrypted cookie. The unique identifier represents one user agent (and, thus, one cookie-able device's store). The system tracks user agent behavior on and across customer sites that are served by the CDN, and these behaviors are classified into identifiable “segments” that may be used to create a profile. CDN customers use the data system to obtain information that characterizes the user agent.
US08255478B2
A method includes receiving, from a first user, first location data identifying a first storage location at which a first image is stored, The first image is retrieved from the first storage location identified by the first location. A first reduced-size image is generated using the first image. The first reduced-size image is aggregated with a second reduced-size image for presentation at a remote site, the second reduced-size image being generated using a second image retrieved from a second storage location identified by second location data received from a second user.
US08255472B2
Electronic mail messages are tracked for the sender by allowing the sender to flag the electronic mail messages. Flagging the electronic mail messages allows for various notifications to be provided to the sender. For example, notification may be provided to the sender by placing an item in a to-do bar for the sender that corresponds to the electronic mail message. As another example, notification may be provided to the sender by firing a reminder at some future time that corresponds to the electronic mail message. As another example, notification may be provided to the sender by including an indication in a related incoming electronic mail message that the incoming electronic mail message is related to the electronic message sent by the sender.
US08255464B2
A computer-implemented contact management method includes creating a contact record in a contact management system, generating a unique serial number corresponding to the contact record, conveying the serial number to a recipient, entering, by the recipient, the serial number into an internet-enabled computer application, requesting, by the application, the record from the contact management system corresponding to the serial number, and receiving data associated with the contact record. The received contact data may be automatically updated through an update function. A contact management system includes a data storage and a contact management server. A plurality of internet-enabled computer applications associated to the same user account may receive the same information using a synchronization function without further user input.
US08255463B2
A method of processing multi-media service requests received at a multi-media services provider computer system, including a processor coupled to a media gateway controller and to a media server. The method includes receiving a message from a SIP INVITE-enabled communication device at the media gateway controller. The message is processed at the media gateway controller and at the processor for generating an instruction message with unique indicators, which is communicated to the media server in a SIP INVITE format. The media server processes the instruction message to provide media services and collect user-information from the communication device. The media server processes the user-information and generates a first message in an HTTP form POST format with unique indicators, which includes the user-information and which can be processed at the processor. In this manner, the multi-media services provider computer system is compatible with the SIP INVITE-enabled device.
US08255453B2
A system for managing the use of BOTs by computer network users, the system including a gateway-to-BOT communications manager configured to relay communications to a BOT on behalf of a computer user in a manner that prevents the BOT from associating the communications with the computer user, and a gateway-to-user communications manager configured to relay the communications from the computer user to the gateway-to-BOT communications manager, and relay to the computer user communications received from the gateway-to-BOT communications manager that originate from the BOT.
US08255451B2
Technologies for enabling a continuation based runtime to accept or reject external stimulus and, in addition, to determine if an external stimulus may be valid for processing at a later point in execution.
US08255449B2
A high-speed continuous-time FIR (finite impulse response) filter comprises a plurality of processing cells configured in a cascade topology. Each processing cell receives a first signal and a second signal from a preceding circuit and a succeeding circuit, respectively, and outputs a third signal and a fourth signal to the succeeding circuit and the preceding circuit, respectively. Each processing cell further comprises a delay cell and a summing cell. Each of the delay cell and the summing cell performs a high speed signal processing using a combination of a feedback loop and a feedforward path.
US08255448B1
Division can be performed in a programmable integrated circuit device by computing a relatively small number of bits of the inverse of the divisor, and then programming multipliers in a specialized processing block of the device to perform multiplication of the dividend and the inverted divisor. The specialized processing block is constructed to be able to be programmed to support such asymmetric multiplication by providing programmable shifting of partial products, so that the partial products can be shifted one number of bits for symmetric multiplication and a different number of bits for asymmetric multiplication. The process is performed recursively, by chaining a plurality of the specialized processing blocks, so that the result converges notwithstanding the relatively low precision of the inverted divisor.
US08255442B2
This invention is to provide a parallel efficiency calculation method, which can be applied, even in a case where a load balance is not kept, to many parallel processings including a heterogeneous computer system environment, and quantitatively correlates a parallel efficiency with a load balance contribution ratio and a virtual parallelization ratio, as parallel performance evaluation indexes, and parallel performance impediment factor contribution ratios. A parallel efficiency Ep(p) is calculated by using a load balance contribution ratio Rb(p) representing a load balance degree between respective processors included in a parallel computer system, a virtual parallelization ratio Rp(p) representing a ratio, with respect to time, of a portion calculated in parallel by the respective processors to processings executed in the parallel computer system, and a parallel performance impediment factor contribution ratio Rj(p) representing a ratio of a processing time of a portion of each parallel performance impediment factor to a total processing time of all the processors included in the parallel computer system as follows: E p ( p ) = R b ( p ) · 1 R p ( p ) · ( 1 - ∑ j = 1 j Others R j ( p ) ) ( 4 - 4 ) J is the parallel performance impediment factor number.
US08255438B2
The storage control device includes: a control unit that stores a data file that includes main data and file information in a write-once type storage medium having a data information area containing a plurality of clusters having a predetermined size; an acquisition unit that acquire size information of the clusters from the storage medium; a calculation unit that calculates a number of clusters required for storing file information corresponding to each data file in data storing area using the number of data files to be stored in the storage medium, the size of file information, and the size information of the clusters; and a setting unit that sets a data information area corresponding to the number of clusters calculated by the calculation unit as a storage area for file information.
US08255421B2
A communication assistance device (100) enables smooth and active communication between users, and includes a topic node generation unit (103) that calculates a topic appropriateness value based on the number of pieces of content from which meta information has been extracted or the number of times each piece of content including the meta information has been viewed, and generates a first topic node including the meta information and the topic appropriateness value, an integrated topic node generation unit (104) that obtains first topic nodes for a plurality of users, and generates, for every item of meta information, an integrated topic node storing the topic appropriateness value corresponding to each user, a topic node expansion unit (105) that generates an expanded topic node as a new topic node based on the item of meta information for the integrated topic node, a common-topic-candidate extraction unit (107) that extracts a common topic candidate between the users from the integrated topic node or the expanded topic node, a display unit (108) that displays the common topic candidate, and an input unit (110) that receives input of at least one of the displayed common topic candidates.
US08255417B2
A system and method for providing definitions is described. A phrase to be defined is received. One or more documents, which each contain at least one definition, are determined. The phrase is matched to at least one of the definitions. One or more definitions for the phrase are presented.
US08255413B2
The present invention relates to an advanced search engine. The advanced search engine may include a client component for monitoring an end-user's browsing activity, a remote server (may comprise one or more computers) for storing and processing data received from the client component, and a module that process web pages and serves search results to end-users. The advanced search engine may collect web pages for keywords of proven interest, fetch web pages requested by end-users, generate snippets or abstracts of the web pages, eliminate duplicate web pages, rank the importance of the web pages, and provide relevant web pages or links to web pages in response to an end-user search request for information regarding one or more keywords, for example. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings.
US08255412B2
Model adaptation may be performed to take a general model trained with a set of training data (possibly large), and adapt the model using a set of domain-specific training data (possibly small). The parameters, structure, or configuration of a model trained in one domain (called the background domain) may be adapted to a different domain (called the adaptation domain), for which there may be a limited amount of training data. The adaption may be performed using the Boosting Algorithm to select an optimal basis function that optimizes a measure of error of the model as it is being iteratively refined, i.e., adapted.
US08255411B1
The present invention includes systems and methods for retrieving information via a flexible and consistent targeted search model that employs interactive multi-prefix, multi-tier and dynamic menu information retrieval techniques that provide context-specific functionality tailored to particular information channels, as well as to records within or across such channels, and other known state information. Users are presented with a consistent search interface among multiple tiers across and within a large domain of information sources, and need not learn different or special search syntax. A thin-client server-controlled architecture enables users of resource-constrained mobile communications devices to locate targeted information more quickly by entering fewer keystrokes and performing fewer query iterations and web page refreshes, which in turn reduces required network bandwidth.
US08255409B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating a change log for files in managed network. A set of managed machines, such as personal computers or servers, can be managed by a network management platform communicating with the machines via a secure channel. The network management platform can employ a package management tool to manage files stored or hosted in the managed network. The network management platform can further employ a change monitor or other logic to locate additional files located in the managed network but that may not be under the control of or registered to the package management tool. A systems administrator or other user can invoke both the package management tool and the change monitor logic to initiate a discovery process and locate all available files associated with the network, and generate a unified change log recording all available files and/or their changes.
US08255407B1
Method and apparatus for matching resource capabilities of data centers to resource needs of data centers. Capability data sets received from one or more of a plurality of data centers are stored by a capability-demand advertising and matching computing arrangement for a certain time. Each capability data set identifies a data center and indicates resources available at the identified data center. Query descriptors are also stored by the computing arrangement for a certain time. Each query descriptor identifies a data center and specifies resource needs of the identified data center. The query descriptors stored at the computing arrangement are applied to each newly received capability data set. To each data center identified in a stored query descriptor that is satisfied by a newly received capability descriptor, the newly received capability data set is provided to the data center identified by the stored query descriptor. Each newly received query descriptor is applied to each capability data set stored at the computing arrangement. Each capability data set that matches the newly received query descriptor is provided to the data center identified in the newly received query descriptor.
US08255403B2
Computer based systems, methods, software and databases are presented in which correlations between web item preferences and pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) attributes of individuals are used for pangenetic based web item satisfaction prediction in which a user can request and receive online predictions of their satisfaction with web items that are based on the user's pangenetic makeup. Data masking can be used to maintain privacy of sensitive portions of the pangenetic data.
US08255389B2
A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for use in a computing apparatus are disclosed. The method includes determining a context and a data requirement for a candidate action to be selected, the selection specifying an action in a workflow; and filtering the candidate actions for relevance in light of the context and the data requirement. The apparatus, in a first aspect, includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs the method. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method.
US08255383B2
A method and system for qualifying keyword(s) or phrase(s) to formulate a query string for submitting a search request when the query string contains one or more keywords that may have multiple meanings associated therewith. Database information containing keywords and associated meanings or forms of the keywords is maintained and a requester is prompted to identify one or more of the meanings of a keyword when building the query string. One or more advertisements pertaining to the associated meanings or forms of the keywords in the query string is presented to the requester submitting a search request.
US08255376B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, operable to perform operations including receiving through a user interface with an interface language a search query having query terms; using the interface language to select one or more mappings and using the selected mappings to simplify each query term; and applying each simplified query term to a synonyms map to identify possible synonyms with which to augment the search query. In alternative embodiments, the operations include generating a synonyms map from a corpus of documents; where the synonyms map maps each of multiple keys to one or more corresponding variants, where each variant is associated with one or more of document languages. In alternative embodiments, the operations include generating a synonyms map from documents by applying document language-dependent mappings to words in the documents to generate keys for the map.
US08255374B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for selecting amongst a plurality of processes to send a message (e.g. a message for updating an endpoint system, etc.). These mechanisms and methods for selecting amongst a plurality of processes to send a message can enable embodiments to utilize more than one queue for sending such message. The ability of embodiments to provide such multi-process feature can, in turn, prevent latency that typically accompanies a mounting number of messages.
US08255367B2
A disclosed method includes acquiring and a forward log and extracting forward file operations applied to files in an order of applying these from the forward log, specifying generation rules for generating backward file operations with reference to the forward file operations, generating the backward file operations by the specified generation rules and recording these, and applying the forward file operations to the files not having the extracted forward file operations applied and also applying the backward file operations to the files having the forward file operations applied to recover the files not having the forward file operations applied.
US08255364B2
A file system boundary emulation system emulates a virtual boundary of a filesystem within an existing file system for data management at a fileset granularity, within the framework of a wide area filesystem federation. The system dynamically assigns a fileset ID to the file that belongs to that fileset. The system comprises a fileset defined by the virtual boundary of the file. The virtual boundary is less than and contained within the file system. The fileset identifies the file via the file ID and the fileset ID. The system maps the file ID to the fileset ID. The filesets are dynamically created and removed based on administrative instructions. Filesets are used for fine grained data management and namespace control in a filesystem federation.
US08255349B2
In certain embodiments, a method includes accessing a number of target values. Each target value may be associated with a respective design criterion of a computer system. The computer system may be associated with one or more domains. Each domain may be associated with a respective function of the computer system. The method may include determining, based at least in part on a first set of one or more of the number of target values, a respective implementation pattern for each of the one or more domains. The one or more determined implementation patterns may represent a logical architecture for the computer system. The method may include determining a physical architecture for the computer system by determining a respective solution stack for each of the one or more determined implementation patterns based at least in part on a second set of one or more of the plurality of target values.
US08255348B2
A system includes a plurality of hierarchical layers configured to solve a decision-making problem. Each hierarchical layer is configured to generate solution data representing a possible solution to a sub-problem associated with the decision-making problem. Each hierarchical layer is also configured to receive orders and to use the orders during generation of the solution data. The orders include orders based on the solution data from a higher hierarchical layer, orders based on feedback from a lower hierarchical layer, and/or orders that are exogenously provided. Each hierarchical layer could be configured to use the orders to simplify a search for the possible solution to the sub-problem being solved by that hierarchical layer, such as by excluding solutions inconsistent with the orders.
US08255347B2
The invention provides a method and system for classifying insurance files for identification, sorting and efficient collection of subrogation claims. The invention determines whether an insurance claim has merit to warrant claim recovery efforts utilizing software code for partially describing a set of documents having unstructured and structured file data containing terms and phrases having contextual bases, code for transforming the terms and phrases, code for iterating a classification process to determine rules that best classify the set of documents based upon context, code for incorporating the rules into an induction and knowledge representation, thesauri taxonomies and text summarization to classify subrogation claims; code for calculating a base score and a concept vector to identify the selected claims that demonstrate a given probability of subrogation recovery.
US08255341B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that characterizes a computer system parameter by analyzing a target electromagnetic signal radiating from the computer system. First, the system monitors the target electromagnetic signal using a first directional antenna located outside of the computer system, wherein the first directional antenna is directed at a location inside the computer system. The system also monitors the target electromagnetic signal using a second directional antenna located outside of the computer system, wherein a receiving axis of the second antenna is oriented non-parallel to a receiving axis of the first antenna, and wherein the second directional antenna is directed at the location inside the computer system. Next, the system characterizes the computer system parameter based on the target electromagnetic signal received from the first antenna and the target electromagnetic signal received from the second antenna. Then, the system generates a request for an action based on the characterization of the computer system.
US08255339B2
To temporarily redirect a customer's mail from a current mailing address to a temporary mailing address a request to temporary redirect the customer's mail is received. The request specifies at least one type of mail to redirect, the temporary mailing address, how to redirect the mail, and when to redirect the mail. The customer's mail is directed to the temporary mailing address according to the request.
US08255336B2
A system receives account access information from a user. The account is then accessed using the received access information. Data is harvested from a web page associated with the account or received from another financial data source. The user's ability to access the account is authenticated based on the obtained information.
US08255335B1
Disclosed are systems and methods for establishing a personal identification number (PIN). The systems and methods provide techniques to begin a remote session with a customer, prompt the customer to select a PIN to associate with a financial account card during the remote session, and receive the PIN from the customer during the remote session.
US08255321B2
The present invention relates to electronic trading of securities. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for optimizing the distribution of trading executions in an investor's accounts. Pursuant to some embodiments, an integer allocation algorithm is provided.
US08255319B1
The invention provides systems and methods relating to generating a unified determination based on subdetermination, and in particular, generating a unified score based on respective scores. For example, the invention provides a method for generating a unified determination based on subdeterminations, the method including generating a first subdetermination based on first criteria; generating a second subdetermination based on second criteria; and generating a unified determination based on the first subdetermination and the second subdetermination. The generation of the unified determination includes (a) assigning, using iterative processing, an assigned weighting respectively to the first determination and second determination; (b) determining if the assigned weighting satisfies at least one constraint; (c) comparing the assigned weighting to an optimized weighting, which was previously determined, to determine if the assigned weighting is improved over the optimized weighting; and (d) if the assigned weighting is improved, then assigning the assigned weighting to be the optimized weighting.
US08255315B1
A plurality of user interfaces for facilitating efficient order management and post-trade processing in an electronic trading system are disclosed. A first user interface comprises a plurality of client buttons and a broker button. Selection of a client button shifts the user interface to a client-perspective mode in which all actions and views are from the selected client's point of view. Selection of the broker button shifts the user interface to a client-neutral mode in which the broker may enter orders in the market without specifying any particular client. An analogous user interface for use by a trader is also described. A second user interface, referred to as a blotter, is also provided that comprises four distinct views for displaying “pending,” “completed,” “all,” and “annulled” trades. Preferred embodiments for utilizing the disclosed user interfaces to process different classes of pending trades are also described.
US08255314B2
An electronic trading system is described herein. More specifically, the electronic trading system may relate to the substantially simultaneous trading of cash instruments and their related futures contracts for interest-rate related instruments. The electronic trading system may also be used to allow a user (such as a market maker or other suitable participant) to gauge his chance of success at completing both sides of a basis trade within a preferably pre-determined or pre-set interval, while knowing in advance the specific weighting algorithm that will be applied to the basis trade. The electronic trading system may also be used to allow a user to predetermine the exact weighting algorithm to be used on such a basis trade, and to adjust those preferences where necessary or desired.
US08255313B2
A margin requirement is computed while trading. The margin requirement may be calculated while trading because the preferred system takes into account working orders to generate the margin requirement. The on the fly possibility allows the preferred system to provide pre-trade risk calculations, but can also be used to provide post-trade calculations. A generic spread number and the maximum number of outright positions are determined. Using the spread positions and the maximum number of outright positions, a spread margin and an outright margin are calculated, which when summed provide a total margin requirement. Limits based in part on the total margin requirement may be imposed on one or more traders.
US08255312B2
An issuing system for issuing unmodifiable and/or unforgeable hardcopy documents or securities includes a server and a plurality of issuing machines connected to the server via a network. Each of the issuing machines receives an ID recording medium provided by a potential purchaser, retrieves an identification recoded in the received ID recording medium, requests the potential purchaser to input request for a transaction of the security or fixed rate financing instrument, processes the requested transaction by retrieving information via a network from the server, and prints out on demand a hardcopy of the security or fixed rate financing instrument as purchased by the potential purchaser and a checksum thereon. A method for forming a new market with the issuing system.
US08255310B2
A method and system for simulating changes in volatility for a price of a particular option on an underlying financial instrument is disclosed. A volatility surface model having at least one surface parameter is provided along with a set of volatilities for a plurality of options on the underlying financial instrument. The set of volatilities is analyzed to determine an initial value for each surface parameter which, when used in the surface model, defines a surface approximating the set of volatilities. The values of the surface parameters are then evolved using an appropriate evolution function. A volatility value for a particular option is extracted from the volatility surface defined by the evolved surface parameter values. The extracted volatility value can then be used in an option pricing model to provide a price of the particular option.
US08255304B1
Systems and methods for audit confirmation and other confirmation services by a financial institution are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method for automated confirmation services may comprise: receiving, by a financial institution and from a requestor, a confirmation request submitted in one or more standardized forms; parsing the standardized forms to identify: (a) an identity of the requestor, (b) an identity of an account holder whose financial data are sought, and (c) financial data fields sought by the confirmation request; determining whether the financial institution is authorized to respond to the confirmation request; retrieving the financial data from an account database based on the identified financial data fields; populating a response form with the retrieved financial data; affixing a proof mechanism to the response form for the financial institution to attest to the accuracy of the financial data; and making the response form available to the requestor.
US08255298B1
A method and apparatus for managing alerts is described, the method including receiving consumer financial data including at least one financial deadline. Alert level criteria is applied to the data in order to determine an alert level for each of the deadlines. A visual or audible alert indicator is activated which corresponds with at least one alert level. Alert level criteria is periodically reapplied to determine an alert level for each of the deadlines.
US08255296B2
A computer network-implemented system recognizes that (i) the security issuer retains (i.e. withholds) the right to lend a debt or equity security prior to security issuance, and (ii) the system allows security borrowers to request from the security issuers, through the system, the right to borrow the non-borrowable equity security from the security issuer, according to borrowing/lending rates and time periods set by the security issuer with the system, so that (iii) security borrowers can then acquire the right to lend the non-borrowable security from the security issuer, and thereafter, (iv) security borrowers can sell the non-borrowable security short in the financial marketplace and profit from a short sale, without adversely effecting the security issuer.
US08255284B1
Techniques for providing friction-free transactions using geolocation and user identifiers are described herein. These techniques may ascertain a user's location based on a location of a mobile device. A transaction between the user and a merchant may be completed with zero or minimal input from the user based on the geolocation of the mobile device and the user identifiers. In some implementations, a transaction initiated earlier is completed when the mobile device arrives at the merchant. Additionally, a parent-child or similar relationship may be established between multiple devices. Security on the mobile device based may be provided by biometric identification and calculation of variance from regular movement patterns. Advertisements may be sent to the mobile device based on bids from merchants near to the mobile device. Promotions may be sent to the mobile device when more than a threshold number of mobile devices are located at the same merchant.
US08255281B2
A service management system that enables a subscriber of a mobile telecommunication system to modify aspects of his or her service plan and have the modification to the service plan take effect immediately. The subscriber enters a modification request to an aspect of a service plan. The modification request is verified against a set of rules that defines acceptable changes to the service plan. If the proposed modification to the service plan is a valid change, the change to the service plan is immediately propagated to a billing system and to other systems that implement the service plan. The subscriber is notified when the modification to the service plan is complete, and the subscriber is billed on a going-forward basis in accordance with the rate structure applicable to the plan.
US08255278B1
Systems and methods are provided for making purchases at a merchant point-of-sale (POS) device using a mobile device. Transaction information may be communicated from the POS device to the mobile device and an authorization from the purchaser to proceed with the transaction returned to the POS device from the mobile device. After authorization, the POS device may communicate the transaction information together with an identifier of the mobile device to a financial institution to process payment. The financial institution may confirm the transaction with the purchaser at the mobile device using the identifier of the mobile device. Upon receiving a confirmation response from the mobile device, the financial institution may then transfer funds from a purchaser account to a merchant account. A confirmation of the transfer may be provided to the merchant and the purchaser, after which, the transaction may be completed at the merchant POS device where a receipt is printed and provided to the purchaser.
US08255277B1
A method and system is presented for coordinating the transmission of supplemental digital data to accompany broadcast data, and in particular, analog radio broadcasts, among a plurality of broadcasters. The supplemental digital data may provide information about the particular broadcast data being transmitted (i.e. cut data) or may be supplemental to such data (i.e. news, weather and traffic data). The supplemental digital data to be presented is sorted based on particular algorithms which may take into account broadcaster-specified criteria such as target audience, time of day, type of broadcast data presented, and the like. The supplemental digital data may be audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data for presentation with the broadcast data. The supplemental digital data may further be advertisement data. The advertisement data may be sold by the broadcasters or the party coordinating the IBOC transmission of the supplemental digital data. The supplemental digital data may play simultaneously with muted broadcast data or at a user-specified time.
US08255269B1
A processor-implemented system and method for optimizing a transaction between one or more users of a good or service and one or more suppliers of the good or service is disclosed herein. Information is received from a user indicative of conditions upon which the user intends to obtain the good or service within a given period of time. Information is received from a supplier indicative of conditions upon which the supplier intends to supply the good or service within a given period of time. The probability of the user obtaining the good or service within the given period of time is determined, and committed and non-committed users are aggregated into groups having common characteristics. An optimal transaction and a maximum transaction are determined based on information received from the users and suppliers. The optimal transaction is compared to the maximum transaction to determine the difference between the optimal transaction and maximum transaction, and the transaction is completed when the difference between the optimal transaction and maximum transaction is below a predefined threshold.
US08255266B1
A global demand forecast is generated for a product group in a computer system, where the product group comprises a plurality of products of a predefined genre. A historical relationship between an aggregate of product level demand forecasts and actual demand for the products in the product group, and the global demand forecast are used to adjust a critical ratio employed to generate a product level demand forecast in the computer system for a product in the product group. The critical ratio expresses a probability that the product level demand forecast will exceed an actual demand for a corresponding product.
US08255261B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first activity map. A first mobile client determines first positioning information based on a first position of the first mobile client. The first mobile client generates a second activity map using the first positioning information of the first mobile client as a damping factor for activity in the first activity map. The first mobile client sends the second activity map to a balancing manager. A third activity map is received from the balancing manager. The third activity map is based on the second activity map from the first mobile client and a second activity map from a second mobile client. The second activity map from the second mobile client is generated using second positioning information for a second position of the second mobile client as the damping factor.
US08255260B2
A system and method for storing, filtering, selecting and manipulating business exceptions generated by forecasting and replenishment processes and systems. When an exception is generated, it will be associated with attributes corresponding to those business objects and business areas to which the exception relates. Exceptions may also be associated with administrative attributes such as status, priority and generation date, as well as information identifying the specific business process that generated the exception. Generated forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be directed to a transitory dialog message. Alternatively, forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be logged or stored in a database for future review and treatment. Within an exceptions monitor or workbench tool, a business replenishment specialist may browse, search, select, review, filter, rearrange, edit, forward and/or respond to generated exceptions. Exceptions may be filtered tacitly according to a user profile associated with the business replenishment specialist. Alternatively, exceptions may be filtered according to explicitly supplied selection criteria.
US08255256B2
A solution for improved management of user events scheduled during a user absence period a determination module configured to determine a user absence period having a start date and an end date. A detection module configured to detect a new user event scheduled during the user absence period. A reporting module configured to report statistics on the new user events. A response module configured to automatically respond to the new user event scheduled during the user absence period, the new user event scheduled after the user absence period is defined. A definition module configured to define the user absence period having a start date and an end date. A search module configured to search two or more calendaring repositories for a scheduled user event having a start/end date during the user absence period, and a presentation module configured to present to the user the scheduled user event.
US08255255B2
Disclosed are systems and methods of making assignments, particularly of sales leads. The assignments are considered either committed or uncommitted responsive to an effective date associated with one or more assignment rule used to make the assignments. Uncommitted assignments may be used to review the effects of changes in assignment rules. Examples are provided including the use of uncommitted assignments to review the effects of changes in a hierarchical territory structure.
US08255254B2
A framework for managing a lifecycle of a program in an organization is provided. The framework includes a process module, a guiding module, a program lifecycle mapping module, and a matrix module. The process module provides a plurality of process guidelines for the one or more stages of the project management lifecycle. Further, the process module includes a strategic planning module, a financial management module, a risk management module, an organization change management module, a stake holder management module, a knowledge management module, a contractual compliance module, a governance module and a program setup module. The guiding module integrates a plurality of organizational attributes with the process guidelines of the process module. The program lifecycle mapping module maps the plurality of process guidelines with the one or more stages of the life cycle. The matrix module provides assignment of program management roles to one or more participants.
US08255252B2
A system and method for facilitating consistent management of a repeatable contract audit, resolution and recovery process is disclosed. A methodology that tightly defines the contract audit, resolution and recovery events enables an audit team to evaluate supplier performance against a contract, ascertain the existing health of a contract, and identify opportunities to improve and/or re-engineer a contracting process. The method begins with a meeting with a client, followed by a meeting with the supplier, and progresses to a process review, data collection, and a data analysis, which results in recommendations that are presented to the supplier based on the findings of the audit team. The audit team then works with the supplier to resolve any issues identified by the data analysis.
US08255251B2
The reliability of a composite service having service components is determined, where the composite service can fail only where underlying resources fail. The composite service is represented as a plurality of continuous-time Markov chains (CTMC's). Each CTMC corresponds to a resource. A product of the CTMC's is constructed. The product encompasses composite service states. Steady-state probabilities for the product are determined. Each steady-state probability corresponds to a likelihood that a corresponding state will be a steady state. For each state of the composite service, a reward structure is determined. The reward structure corresponds to a likelihood that the state will successfully use the resources without failure. The reward structure is determined for a given state based on the given state's steady-state probability and based on discrete-time Markov chains (DTMC's) corresponding to the service components. The reliability of the composite service is determined based on the reward structure of each state.
US08255249B1
A system for identifying a discrepancy between a quantity of equipment ordered for a project and a quantity of equipment used for the project is provided. The system includes a procurement module, an engineering planning module, and a comparison module, each stored on one or more computer readable media and executed on one or more processors. The procurement module promotes identifying equipment estimated to be needed for the project and creation of a first list of the identified equipment. The engineering planning module promotes creation of a detailed project design for the project and creation of a second list of equipment deployed for the project. The comparison module provides an integration of the procurement module with the engineering planning module and compares the first list with the second list, and creates a report that promotes identifying discrepancies between the first list and the second list.
US08255248B1
A method and apparatus for automatically soliciting business reviews includes a process for automatically soliciting business reviews whereby searches made, and/or reviews submitted, by individuals using a community based business listing and review system are monitored and user specific usage data is collected including: the user's identification; the business listing category in which a search was conducted and/or the business listing category in which a review was submitted by the user; and the community in which the user resides, and/or the community in which the search was made, and/or the community in which the business reviewed resides. Once user specific usage data about the user, and the searches the user conducts and/or the reviews the user has submitted, is gathered, the user specific usage data is then used to create user specific review solicitations of various types.
US08255243B2
An apparatus and method for underwriting and/or rating an insurance policy, and for generating information for underwriting and/or rating an insurance policy, are provided. The system and method may include identifying a vehicle, determining a value of at least one vehicle history data variable or a group of variables, and underwriting and/or rating the policy based on the value of the at least one vehicle history data variable or a group of variables. The system and method may also include generating a score based on the value of the at least one vehicle history data variable or group of variables.
US08255242B2
An insurance payment distribution system is disclosed for distributing data representative of money from a central station to selected individuals to be used at selected locations. The system includes a plurality of distribution payment cards and a remote card processing unit. The distribution payment cards are useable at the selected locations. Each payment card is capable of receiving information representative of a certain amount of money, and is capable of receiving information representative of permitted locations at which the each card may be used. The remote card processing unit is in communication with a computer network including a central computer system. The remote card processing unit is for modifying the information receivable on the cards responsive to information received via the computer network.
US08255237B2
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: receiving one or more requests for one or more particular templates that are associated with one or more source users, the one or more particular templates designed to facilitate one or more end users to achieve one or more target outcomes when one or more emulatable aspects included in the one or more particular templates are emulated; and providing from a plurality of templates the one or more particular templates, the providing being based at least on the association of the one or more particular templates with the one or more source users, the one or more particular templates developed based on one or more reported aspects associated with the one or more source users In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08255226B2
Presented herein is efficient background encoding/trancoding in a real time multimedia system. Encoding/trancoding of audio data is achieved by decoding a first audio frame; executing at least one encoding task on a second audio frame, resulting in a partially encoded second audio frame, after decoding the first audio frame; decoding a third audio frame, after executing the at least one encoding task; and executing at least another encoding task on the partially encoded second audio frame, after decoding the third audio frame.
US08255222B2
A speech separating apparatus includes: a PARCOR calculating unit that extracts vocal tract information from an input speech signal; a filter smoothing unit that smoothes, in a first time constant, the vocal tract information extracted by the PARCOR calculating unit; an inverse filtering unit that calculates a filter coefficient of a filter having a frequency amplitude response characteristic inverse to the vocal tract information smoothed by the filter smoothing unit, so as to filter the input speech signal using the filter having the calculated filter coefficient; and a voicing source modeling unit that cuts out, from the input speech signal filtered by the inverse filtering unit, a waveform included in a second time constant shorter than the first time constant, so as to calculate, for each waveform that is taken, voicing source information from the each waveform.
US08255219B2
A method for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include determining a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. An apparatus for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include a processor that determines a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and wherein the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor.
US08255218B1
In general, this disclosure describes techniques to direct textual characters converted from vocal input into selected graphical user interface input fields. Vocal input may be received. Textual characters may be identified based on the vocal input. A first portion of the textual characters corresponding to a first portion of the vocal input may be graphically inputted into a first input field of a GUI. While receiving the vocal input, a selection by of a second input field in the GUI may be accepted after the first portion of the vocal input has been received. After accepting the selection of the second input field, a second portion of the textual characters corresponding to a second portion of the vocal input received after the selection of the second input field may be inputted into the second input field.
US08255214B2
A first signal of two signals to be compared for similarity is divided into small areas and one small area is selected for calculating the correlation with a second signal using a correlative method. Then, the quantity of translation, expansion rate and similarity in an area where the similarity, which is the square of the correlation value, reaches its maximum, are found. Values based on the similarity are integrated at a position represented by the quantity of translation and expansion rate. Similar processing is performed with respect to all the small areas, and at a peak where the maximum integral value of the similarity is obtained, its magnitude is compared with a threshold value to evaluate the similarity. The small area voted for that peak can be extracted.
US08255210B2
An audio/music decoding device capable of improving quality of a decoded signal generated by conceal processing of a frame erase using a scalable encoding method. The audio/music decoding device includes a frame loss detector that determines whether encoded information is normally received and generates frame loss information indicating the result of the determination. According to the frame loss information, a first decoder performs decoding by using at least one of the following encoded information: the first encoded information on the frame immediately before, the first encoded information on the current frame, and the second encoded information on the current frame. According to the frame loss information, a second decoder performs decoding by using at least one of the following encoded information: the first encoded information on the frame immediately before, the first encoded information on the current frame, the second encoded information on the frame immediately before, and the second encoded information on the current frame. An adder adds the decoded signal outputted from the first decoder and the decoded signal outputted from the second decoder.
US08255198B2
Test program development for a semiconductor test system, such as automated test equipment (ATE), using object-oriented constructs is described. The invention provides a method for describing test system resources, test system configuration, module configuration, test sequence, test plan, test condition, test pattern, and timing information in general-purpose object-oriented constructs, e.g., C++ objects and classes. In particular, the modularity of program development is suitable for developing test programs for an open architecture semiconductor test system.
US08255191B1
A method is provided to coerce a wire type net in an integrated circuit design to become a wreal net in the design, comprising: running a wreal coercion process on a computer system including the acts of, identifying a wire type net that is connected to a wreal net in an integrated circuit design; and converting the identified wire type net to a wreal net.
US08255188B2
Disclosed is a system and related methodology for providing fast low frequency jitter rejection in the measurement of signals under test. A signal under test may be sampled alternately with a reference signal under similar conditions. The resulting sampled signal blocks may then be processed to subtract the known calibrated value of the reference signal from the average signal under test.
US08255176B2
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring the deterioration of a rechargeable battery. A battery monitoring system may be used to store charging information, discharge information and storage information for a rechargeable battery to a data store. The charging information may include a number of charge cycles incurred by the rechargeable battery. The discharge information may include a number discharge cycles incurred by the rechargeable battery. The storage information may include information relating to periods when the rechargeable battery is not being actively charged or discharged. The battery monitoring system may be further used to determine an amount of deterioration of a battery performance characteristic based on the stored charging information, discharge information and storage information.
US08255150B2
A map display apparatus and method for a navigation changes a map scale dynamically to help the driver visualize the environment of the destination when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The map scale is changed dynamically to display the destination along with at least one map attribute near the destination to provide more information to the driver. The navigation system includes, among others, a searching unit and a scale changing unit to change the map scale to display the destination along with at least one map attribute when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The navigation system also includes a priority table to prioritize the map attributes and the searching unit searches the map attributes near the destination according to order in the priority table.
US08255148B2
The invention relates to a method for optimizing the flight of an aircraft comprising a flight management system, the said flight management system using a first cost index (CI1) and calculating a first speed setpoint (V1) on the basis of the first cost index (CI1), the said flight management system calculating (11), furthermore, a first prediction of remaining flight time (T1) and a first prediction of fuel consumption (EFOB1) on the basis of the first speed, the said method being characterized in that it comprises, furthermore, the following steps: the selection of a second cost index (CI2), the calculation (12) by the flight management system of a second speed setpoint (V2) on the basis of the second cost index (CI2), of a second prediction of remaining flight time (T2) and of a second prediction of consumption (EFOB2) on the basis of the second speed (V2), the calculation (13) of a discrepancy (ΔV) between the first and the second speed, of a discrepancy (ΔT) between the first prediction of remaining flight time and the second prediction of remaining flight time and of a discrepancy (ΔEFOB) between the first and the second prediction of consumption, the displaying (14) of the discrepancies (ΔV,ΔT,ΔEFOB) calculated in the previous step. The invention allows vice versa the calculation and the consideration of a CI on the basis of the speed entered.
US08255147B2
An air traffic control system includes a trajectory prediction module for calculating a trajectory for each aircraft, for inputting aircraft detected position data, and for recalculating the trajectories based on said position data, and a conflict detector for detecting, based on the trajectories, future circumstances under which pairs of aircraft violate predetermined proximity tests, and for causing a display on the display device indicating said circumstances. The systems uses a first proximity test and a second, more restrictive, proximity test; and displays a symbol representing pairs of aircraft which violate the second test in a first mode, and those which violate the first set but not the second set in a second mode.
US08255145B2
A travel time calculation server is provided which comprises: a probe data reception part 31 configured to receive travel time data of an intersection node 6 through which a vehicle 3 passes as well as a traffic event of each of links 1-4 connecting to the intersection node; and a right and left turn cost generating part 33 configured to store a table, which stores the travel time data of the intersection node 6 associated with combinations of traffic events of the links 1-4, in storage means 35.
US08255144B2
System and method for conveying data between vehicles includes a data generating system arranged on a first vehicle to obtain or generate information about the first vehicle or conditions around the first vehicle, a first communications system arranged on the first vehicle and coupled to the data generating system for communicating with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) and a second communications system arranged on a second vehicle and communicating with an ISP. The first communications system enables the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet to the second communications system. The first and second communications systems can communicate with the same ISP or different ISPs linked to one another.
US08255133B2
An improper gear shift timing indicator system for a manual transmission vehicle. The system includes a gear position detector for detecting gear position information and a control unit in communication with the gear position detector. The control unit is configured to detect a gear shift event based on a change in the gear position information. The control unit measures elapsed time during the gear shift event and compares the elapsed time with a threshold value, which is based on various vehicle operating parameters and the given gear shift event. A signal system is in communication with the control unit and the control unit causes the signal system to provide a signal to a driver of the vehicle when the elapsed time of the gear shift event is less than the threshold value.
US08255129B2
An improved downshift control for an automatic transmission optimized for sequential shifting achieves a non-sequential fifth gear to third gear downshift by reducing the main pressure of the transmission hydraulic control system, allowing a offgoing clutch to slip, disengaging the offgoing clutch, using torque reduction to control engine speed, engaging the oncoming clutch, increasing the main pressure of the transmission hydraulic control system and using torque reduction to synchronize the transmission input speed with the third gear transmission output speed.
US08255128B2
An exemplary control device includes an input torque detection unit that detects an input torque input to the input shaft; and a controller that: determines torque distribution of two of the friction engagement elements that form the shift speeds; and calculates a transmission torque of the two friction engagement elements based on the input torque and the torque distribution and sets the engagement pressure to obtain a torque capacity that can transmit the transmission torque, wherein the controller sets the engagement pressure such that slippage does not occur in the two friction engagement elements in a state where engagement of the two friction engagement elements forms the shift speeds and such that, even if an additional friction engagement element engages based on the line pressure while the two friction engagement elements are engaged, one of the three friction engagement elements is caused to slip.
US08255124B2
A method of controlling the behavior of an occupant of a vehicle (20) includes sensing an auxiliary mode of the vehicle (20) and comparing a first vehicle operation mode to a predetermined threshold to determine a first incident. The method proceeds by actuating a resistive device in response to the first incident to apply a resistance to an operational input by an occupant of the vehicle. The method is characterized by monitoring a second vehicle operation mode of the vehicle subsequent to the first incident and adjusting the applied resistance in proportion to the second vehicle operation mode. The second vehicle operation mode can include monitoring the distance traveled by the vehicle, monitoring the speed or acceleration of the vehicle, monitoring the time of vehicle mobilization, or monitoring a first period of time since the first incident.
US08255114B2
A method and a measuring system determine a wheel load. These involve measuring a deformation of a tire and using a set of equations and equation parameters to calculate from the deformation the wheel load acting on the tire. In addition, a wheel load or a variable dependent on the load, which is used to calculate the wheel load, is received from an external system. Finally, the two wheel loads determined in different ways are compared, and the equations and/or equation parameters are adapted on the basis of the comparison.
US08255111B2
A gravity sensor (G-sensor) circuit system including a microcontroller that determines whether there is a failure in the G-sensor and, if it is determined that there is a failure in the G-sensor, outputs a failure signal to a controller outside the PCB, or the controller outside the PCB communicates with the G-sensor to determine whether there is a failure in the G-sensor, thus performing the self-diagnosis. The gravity sensor (G-sensor) circuit system performs self-diagnosis, zero-offset, and digital output, thereby using a more accurate sensor signal, improving the vehicle stability, and increasing the control precision and accuracy.
US08255102B2
A steering unit (1), for a steer-by-wire ship control system, comprises a steering wheel (3), a controller (11) that is connected to the electronic controller of the ship control system (ECU) via a CAN bus, a sensor (10) for detecting an angular position of the steering wheel (3), and a unit for generating mechanical resistance in the steering wheel (3), in which the unit for generating mechanical resistance in the steering wheel (3) is an electric motor (8) and the shaft (2) of the steering wheel (3), that is rotationally fixed to the steering wheel (3), is rotationally fixed to the rotor (7) of the electric motor (6), and the stator (8) of the electric motor (6) is rotationally fixed to the housing (5) of the electric motor (6).
US08255099B2
Disclosed is a system and method for diverting from a flight plan without adjusting an autopilot by treating a heading change as the new leg of a flight plan. The present invention allows the pilot of an aircraft to enter a heading to follow into a flight management system, which treats the heading as the current leg of a flight plan otherwise being followed by the flight management system. The present invention graphically displays the heading leg as the predicted track so that the pilot is able to see the airplane's expected path. Such a change allows the autopilot to continue following commands from the flight management system rather than being changed to a mode in which the autopilot follows heading commands directly from the pilot.
US08255093B2
Embodiments of a kit, automotive control pedestal and system to adapt an automotive vehicle for remote operation are disclosed. The pedestal mounts in place of a driver's seat of the vehicle to allow both human and remote operation of the vehicle. The kit includes the pedestal with a steering servo, a hydraulic brake servo, a throttle control servo, and a gear-selection linear actuator mounted thereon. The kit may also include a control system and a video transmission system for remote operation.
US08255086B2
The disclosure provides various embodiments of systems and methods of generating a heartbeat in an HVAC system and networks. In an embodiment, a method includes a heartbeat message being sent by a first subnet controller upon the first subnet controller taking active control of a subnet of the HVAC network. The active heartbeat message timer is reset. Another heartbeat message is sent if a specified amount of time has elapsed since a previous heartbeat message was sent by said heartbeat generator.
US08255085B2
A method for controlling a controlled variable of a building zone to minimize an error between the controlled variable and a setpoint includes receiving an input at a first interface regarding the controlled variable from a sensor provided in the building. The method further includes using a processing circuit to determine a sign of the error based on the input and the setpoint. The method yet further includes using the processing circuit to cause a controller configured to affect the controlled variable to respond to the error at a first rate when a first sign of the error is present. The method further includes using the processing circuit to cause the controller to respond to the error at a second rate when a second sign of the error is present, the first rate being slower than the second rate. The first sign of the error can be associated with a high energy expenditure required to minimize the error relative to an energy expenditure required to minimize the error relative to the second sign.
US08255071B2
A system and method for use in constructing a prosthesis/complete restoration that obtains a digital dentition model, such as a 3D geometric surface model or a 3D volumetric image model, processes the digital dentition model to form a virtual model, forms a virtual mold including a digital prosthesis and/or complete restoration, and uses the virtual model to construct the prosthesis/complete restoration. Processing circuitry, such as a programmed server, can be used to obtain the digital dentition model and form the virtual mold. A rapid manufacturing device can be used to construct the prosthesis/complete restoration.
US08255065B2
Methods and architectures are described that provide function block mobility between PLCs. Each PLC configured with Mobile Function Blocks (MFBs) may forward and execute MFBs from each other. To enable MFB mobility over a communication bus, each PLC having one or more configured MFBs requires a Communication Function Block (CFB) and an MFB directory data block. Each PLC maintains an MFB directory data block to store its MFB directory which is used when other PLCs send requests to check the availability of MFBs they need to run new tasks.
US08255060B2
The disclosure is directed to a user interface with a menu that facilitates stimulation therapy programming. The user interface displays a representation of the electrical leads implanted in the patient and at least one menu with icons that the user can use to adjust the stimulation therapy. The user may drag one or more field shapes from a field shape selection menu onto the desired location relative to the electrical leads. A manipulation tool menu may also allow the user to adjust the field shapes placed on the electrical leads, which represent the stimulation region. The programmer that includes the user interface then generates electrical stimulation parameter values for the stimulator to deliver stimulation according to the field shapes or field shape groups defined/located by the user. The field shapes may represent different types of stimulation representations, such as current density, activation functions, and neuron models.
US08255058B2
A magnetic alignment system that can form part of a cochlear implant system. The magnetic alignment system prevents substantial movement of a magnet of an implanted component during an MRI procedure or allows for easy removal of the magnet to facilitate the MRI procedure.
US08255050B2
In a catheter (2) to assist the performance of a heart (1) with at least one pump (7), the pump is formed as a rotary pump at the distal end of the catheter (2), the rotor (6) lying distally on the outer side being coupled via a magneto coupling with a drive wheel (21), formed as a hydraulically or pneumatically operated paddle wheel, arranged inside the catheter (2). The driving fluid is supplied to the paddle wheel via a lumen (22) of the catheter (2) and is carried off via a further lumen (23) of the catheter.
US08255045B2
The present invention relates to a system and methods generally aimed at surgery. More particularly, the present invention is directed at a system and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments involving the use of neurophysiology.
US08255039B2
In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for imaging a portion of a mammalian eyelid has an eye contact lenspiece configured to direct the light through an eyelid from posterior to anterior surface to thereby trans-illuminate the eyelid, when the light source illuminates the contact lens. An imaging device receives an image of the eyelid as it is trans-illuminated. Other methods and apparatus are presented in various embodiments, hence this abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08255035B2
A needle for a medical procedure includes a shaft with an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal section, and a distal section. The distal section has a conductive tip configured to be a first electrode for voltage measurement. The needle further includes a first electrically insulative outer layer over a portion of the outer surface of the shaft. The conductive tip is adapted for insertion through tissue into, for example, a pericardial space of a patient. A system for determining the location of a needle during a medical procedure includes the needle and an anatomical mapping and localization system electrically coupled to the needle and adapted to measure voltage at the conductive tip. A system for determining tissue thickness during a medical procedure includes the needle, an anatomical mapping and localization system electrically coupled to the needle, and an electrocardiograph operatively coupled to the needle and adapted to monitor electrical activity at the conductive tip and at the second electrode. The needle may include a second electrode.
US08255034B2
The present invention is directed to membranes composed liquid crystals having continuous aqueous channels, such as a lyotropic liquid crystal, including a cubic phase lyotropic liquid crystal, and to electrochemical sensors equipped with such membranes. The membranes are useful in limiting the diffusion of an analyte to a working electrode in an electrochemical sensor so that the sensor does not saturate and/or remains linearly responsive over a large range of analyte concentrations. Electrochemical sensors equipped with membranes of the present invention demonstrate considerable sensitivity and stability, and a large signal-to-noise ratio, in a variety of conditions.
US08255031B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08255018B2
An apparatus for holding an object has a holding piece for holding the object. A locating device is coupled to the holding piece.
US08255012B2
A mobile phone and a status control method adapted for the mobile phone are provided. The mobile phone communicates with a wireless network, such as GPRS. The mobile phone includes a data reception unit, a processing unit, and a storage unit. The processing unit records a start time and a stop time of each event which defines the running of an application program when data reception unit transfers data packet of the application program, and calculates an average interval time of the application program, and stores the average interval time. When a waiting time reaches the average interval time of the application program in the ready state, the mobile phone enters the standby state in advance, and thus the mobile phone does not need send updated location information to the SGSN and saves a lot of power.
US08255009B2
Portable electronic devices are provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more sets of radio-frequency power amplifiers. The radio-frequency power amplifiers are used to amplify radio-frequency signals that are transmitted by the portable electronic devices. Each power amplifier may have multiple gain mode settings. Gain stages within the power amplifiers may be selectively enabled in accordance with the gain mode settings. When a higher level of gain is required, all of the gain stages may be enabled. When a lower level of gain is required, some of the gain stages may be disabled to conserve power. An adjustable power supply may be used to provide an adjustable power supply voltage to the power amplifiers. The adjustable power supply voltage can be reduced when it is desired to minimize power consumption at a particular gain mode setting. Gain mode and power supply settings may be adjusted simultaneously.
US08255005B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for presenting a custom alert to a recipient of an incoming data communication. A data message is received that specifies the custom alert associated with the data communication. The customer alert is then visually and/or audibly presented to provide notice of the data communication.
US08255003B2
In one aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method is disclosed for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. A list of items comprising missed telephone calls is displayed. Upon detecting user selection of an item in the list, contact information is displayed for a respective caller corresponding to the user selected item. The displayed contact information includes a plurality of contact objects that include a first contact object, comprising a telephone number object having a first telephone number associated with the missed telephone call, and a second contact object. Upon detecting user selection of the second contact object, a communication with the respective caller is initiated via a modality corresponding to the second contact object.
US08255000B2
Process for computing an estimation of the frequency offset in a receiver for a UMTS communication network said receiver receives the signal transmitted by two antennas and including two Common Pilot CHannels (CPICH), said process involving the steps of separating the two signals by means of computation and computing the frequency offset on the base of the two separated signals
US08254989B2
Method and system for account balance restriction on application of cellular-PBX integration service
A method for using an account balance to limit application of cellular-PBX integration service. A cellular wireless communication device (WCD) will be allotted a quantity of cellular-PBX integration service, such as a number of minutes of use per month for instance. The quantity will be decremented a the WCD uses the service, and the WCD may be precluded from benefiting from the cellular-PBX integration service upon exhaustion of the balance. In one embodiment, for instance, when a radio access network (RAN) that serves the WCD receives a call request for the WCD, the account balance can be used as a basis to decide whether to pass the call to an IP PBX server that serves the WCD or whether to have the RAN handle the call.
US08254988B2
A first device transmits a training signal with a fixed beam pattern, a second device receives the training signal while scanning a beam direction, and then it obtains first AWVs each having a main beam or sub-beam beam direction in an incoming direction in the second device. Next, the first device transmits a training signal while scanning a beam direction, the second device receives the training signal with a fixed beam pattern, and then it obtains second AWVs each having a main beam or sub-beam direction in an emitting direction in the first communication device. The roles of these two devices are interchanged and similar processes are performed in order to obtain third and fourth AWVs, and then one of first AWV combinations from first and second AWVs and one of second AWV combinations from third and fourth AWVs are used for wireless communication between these devices.
US08254985B2
A While a mobile device operates for communications in a WWAN, its WLAN transceiver portion may be maintained in a low power state. During the WWAN operation, the mobile device performs one or more scanning operations with use of a WWAN transceiver portion for identifying a current set of cell site identifications corresponding to a currently-serving base station of the WWAN and one or more neighboring base stations. The mobile device compares cell site identifications of the current set with those in a stored set, and identifies if the, number or percentage of matching cell site identifications of the current and stored sets meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the predetermined threshold is met or exceeded, the mobile device exits the WLAN transceiver portion from the low power state and enables its operation for communications.
US08254978B2
Methods and systems or broadcasting the fast power control message in wireless communications systems are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods and systems can include receiving Carrier to Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (CINR) values from multiple mobile stations, determining a power adjustment value for each mobile station based on the CINR values, grouping the mobile stations based at least on the CINR values, and transmitting a fast power control message for each group with a different number of repetitions.
US08254976B2
A network entity and method for eliminating ranging collisions for a group call in a communication network includes a step 300 of provisioning a pre-established rule for all members of a group, the rule including a common random number generator seed. A next step 302 includes initiating a group communication to subscriber units belonging to a group. A next step 304 includes generating a list of unique ranging codes for the members of the group using the common seed. A next step 306 includes each member of the group transmitting on its unique ranging code.
US08254974B2
A method for facilitating transmission of data in a communication system is provided herein. In operation, a base radio of a plurality of base radios combines status information corresponding to a plurality of inbound frequencies and transmits the combined status information on a single outbound radio frequency. Further, each of the plurality of inbound radio frequencies corresponds to one of the plurality of base radios. Then, one or more radio terminals monitor the single outbound radio frequency to receive the combined status information, determine at least one available inbound radio frequency from the plurality of inbound radio frequencies based on the received combined status information, selects an inbound radio frequency of the at least one available inbound frequency, and transmitting the data using the selected inbound radio frequency to the corresponding base radio.
US08254972B2
A device, method and system for handling received messages on a portable electronic device. The device includes a message handling section 12 to handle or route messages on the mobile device based upon whether the message is addressed to a port number assigned to an application on the mobile device. If the destination port number is not addressed to a port that is assigned to an application on the mobile device, and the message includes a link, then the message is opened automatically in a browser. Optionally, the link may be opened if the destination port number is within a range of port numbers or after requesting permission to open the message from the message recipient.
US08254970B1
Systems, methods, and media are provided for facilitating bidirectional communication between a wireless device, such as cellular device, and a paging operator's network operations center (NOC). Messages from the paging NOC are received over a paging network through paging circuitry included in the wireless device. Certain embodiments are directed to systems and methods for transmitting status messages or response messages pertaining to the received messages from the wireless device to the paging NOC through an alternate network, such as a cellular network or the Internet. Other embodiments are directed to systems and methods for displaying the received messages, and for determining and displaying user response actions, based on data included in the messages and/or stored on the wireless device. These systems and methods take advantage of the benefits provided by paging and wireless devices in order to maximize the reliability and minimize the delay associated with the messaging system.
US08254966B2
A system and method to re-calibrate an area of a wireless communications network that has been exposed to one or more network configuration changes is disclosed. When one or more attributes of the wireless network undergo a change which impairs the geo-location capability to locate a mobile station, it can be detrimental to the safety and well being of the network users. Geo-location calculations rely on accurate and updated calibration data to correctly locate a mobile station. In some instances, it may be necessary to update the calibration data for areas of the network that have been exposed to network configuration changes. Modifying previously collected calibration data to account for changes that have occurred in the network may increase the accuracy of mobile station location estimation.
US08254963B2
A location-based service method may include receiving a plurality of data through a first communication equipment, wherein each of the plurality of data is related to an indicator, the indicator being configured to indicate if the data is related to the location of a provider of the data, receiving a query through the first communication equipment or a second communication equipment located closely to the first communication equipment, and searching the plurality of data to find data related to the location of the provider and also related to the query to form a search result related to the query.
US08254955B2
A base station accommodation server can appropriately set a location registration area according to an installation location of a femto base station. The base station accommodation server is coupled to a location management server accommodating at least one first base station coupled to a first communication network, and accommodates at least one second base station connected to a second communication network. The base station is configured to determine a location management group identifier of the second base station based on a location management group identifier of the first base station that is present at a location from which the second base station can receive the location management group identifier broadcast by the first base station.
US08254953B2
There is provided a wireless portable device for providing location-based data to a user in a defined geographical area including a plurality of points of interest, the wireless portable device comprising a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and an expansion bay with an attached expansion cartridge. The wireless transmitter can transmit location information to a wireless server over a wireless network. The wireless receiver can receive location-based data relating to a point of interest from the wireless server periodically and automatically, based on the location of the wireless portable device. The expansion cartridge can receive location-based data while the wireless portable device is in a low power sleep state. There is also provided a method for a wireless server to provide location-based data to a wireless portable device after a pre-determined period of time, including an interactive game relating to a point of interest.
US08254947B2
Downlink and uplink communication resources to ensure network coverage and satisfy assigned traffic requirements in a communication network are allocated by setting a given balance of downlink and uplink communication resources while leaving a part of downlink and uplink communication resources remaining to be allocated. Downlink cell radius and uplink cell radius values are then determined which ensure network coverage with the resources as previously allocated. An effective cell radius is then selected as the smaller of the downlink and uplink cell radius and then a first check is made as to whether the effective cell radius selected satisfies the assigned traffic requirements. If not, the effective cell radius is updated. If so, a further check may be made as whether the resources remaining to be allocated for downlink and uplink have a difference in excess of a given amount. If yes, the procedure is repeated by setting an updated balance of downlink and uplink communication resources reducing that difference. If not, the communication resources are allocated on the basis of the current balance.
US08254944B2
A method for coordinating beam forming between two communicating entities includes obtaining cell loading information and adjusting a number of used beam-sets at a specific scheduling time according to the cell loading information. The method further includes transmitting a common pilot that is not beam-formed together with feed-forward information according to the cell loading. A wireless communication system employing conventional CL-MIMO protocols can be adapted to employ the methodology.
US08254943B1
In various embodiments, methods and systems are provided for backhaul transport recovery. In an embodiment, a method for backhaul transport recovery is provided. The method includes broadcasting a backhaul recovery request, and receiving backhaul recovery responses from at least one wireless device. The method also includes selecting at least one wireless recovery device from the at least one wireless device based upon the backhaul recovery responses, and establishing at least one backhaul recovery channel through the at least one wireless recovery device.
US08254942B2
A system and method for resource allocation in wireless communications systems includes a method for operating a base station. The method includes receiving a resource request for radio resources for a mobile station and transmitting an indication of unallocated radio resources to the mobile station. A resource assignment is determined for the resource request, and the resource assignment is transmitted to the mobile station. The resource assignment comprises unallocated radio resources and a number of radio resources.
US08254936B2
The present invention relates to a base station and a method in a mobile telecommunication network for allocating and de-allocating uplink base station processing resources to a mobile terminal. The base station are adapted to communicate to a mobile terminal on an uplink channel supporting macro-diversity, and the base station is adapted to be a non-serving base-station without control of the resource allocation to the mobile-terminal. The base station comprises means for predicting a likelihood of successful decoding of a future transmission, and means for allocating or de-allocating processing resources based on said prediction.
US08254935B2
A packet transferring/transmitting method is provided for use in a mobile communication system 50. In this packet transferring/transmitting method, an upper node 1 determines the implementation of handover (determination step), and a handover addressing node 2 transfers, of a plurality of packets, a non-transmitted residual packet to a handover addressed node 3, and the upper node 1 transmits a new packet to the handover addressed node 3 (transfer/transmission step). This enables maintaining the number of users to be accommodated while securing a wide bandwidth, sharing a line with high efficiency at soft handover, avoiding data residual in the case of the employment of variable communication rate, and preventing an increase in retransmission.
US08254934B2
Provided are a paging method and an apparatus thereof for User Equipment (UE) in a broadband wireless communication system. In the method, a paging message is received from a macro base station. Whether there exists an accessible femto base station inside a service area of the macro base station is determined. When there does not exist the accessible femto base station inside the service area of the macro base station, the UE responds to the paging message of the macro base station. When there exists the accessible femto base station inside the service area of the macro base station, the UE waits for a paging message to be received from the femto base station.
US08254930B1
Methods and systems for a wireless communication device (WCD) to change a media session codec prior to handoff to a new wireless coverage area are presented. In particular, a WCD is served by a first wireless coverage area of a RAN, and is conducting a media session using a first codec. The WCD detects that it is about to be handed off to a second wireless coverage area, and transmits a request to a server to determine the capacity available to the WCD via the second wireless coverage area. If this capacity is less than the capacity request by the first codec, the WCD proactively renegotiates the media session to use a second codec that requires less capacity. The server may take various factors into account when responding to the WCD's query, including the sector loading of the second wireless coverage area, available capacity at a backhaul link between the RAN and a network, and/or a profile of the WCD.
US08254925B2
The present invention discloses a method for messages transmission in a simplified way, UE transmitting the messages to the network through the lower layer, the method includes following steps: if the lower layer indicates the message has been transmitted successfully, then starting timer, otherwise, ending the current procedure; if the UE has received response from the network before the timer expires, stopping the timer; otherwise, ending the current procedure. The method can effectively avoid unnecessary operations, and reduce energy consumption of the UE.
US08254923B2
A method and apparatus for performing cell selection is provided. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store basic priorities of a plurality of frequencies, and a processor configured to measure the signal strength of at least one cell in at least one of the plurality of frequencies, and perform cell selection based on an overrided priority if a cell with a highest measured signal strength is a closed subscriber group (CSG) cell and the highest measured signal strength is greater than a CSG threshold. When the quality of a serving CSG cell deteriorates, another cell from a different frequency may be selected.
US08254922B2
This invention relates to cognitive radio based wireless communications of dynamic spectrum access networks, and in particular to a method of addressing zero-delay frequency switching for cognitive dynamic frequency hopping. The method combines regular (periodic) channel maintenance with dynamic frequency hopping over a cluster of vacated channels that are initially setup such that the switching delays for channel setup and channel availability check are eliminated.
US08254912B2
A mobile application gateway configured to interconnect mobile communication devices on a cellular network with an enterprise network is provided. The mobile application gateway includes a voice and data signaling gateway configured to provide routing functionalities, service functionalities and admission control. A gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) is configured to establish a secure data session between one or more of the mobile communication devices and the enterprise network by establishing a GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP) tunnel between a carrier-hosted serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and the GGSN.
US08254907B2
A method (200) of activating or deactivating a trace session using an international mobile subscriber identifier in a long term evolution communication networks (100). The method includes receiving a trace session activation or deactivation request with an IMSI identifier by the eNodeB (104) to activate or deactivate a trace session for subscriber and forwarding the trace session activation or deactivation request and IMSI identifier to a wireless communication network entity (108). The trace session activation request including IMSI (204) and trace session activation request (304) can be forwarded over an S1 interface between network entities.
US08254898B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable: (i) applications that are external to a telecommunications terminal, rather than the user, to initiate the delivery of content to the terminal, and (ii) the terminal to determine, based on the state of the terminal, whether or not to provide the content to a user. The “state” of the terminal is determined by one or more of (i) user-driven states, (ii) data states, and (iii) call states. When the terminal's state is considered, as in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the readiness of the user and terminal to accept and process the content are accounted for, and as a result the content does not interfere.
US08254864B1
A radio frequency (RF) receiver that reduces the total time required to generate communication channel received signal strength estimates, e.g., RSSI, RSRP, etc., for a plurality of communication channels. A received RF signal may be processed in the frequency domain to generate a power density spectrum for an RF spectrum frequency range that encompasses a plurality of communication channels. A communication channel received signal strength estimate may be generated based on the generated power density spectrum for each communication channels within the RF spectrum frequency range. Receiver RF bandwidth limitations may be overcome by dividing the RF spectrum frequency range into segments which may be separately processed by the RF receiver to produce communication channel received signal strength estimates for the communication channels within each RF spectrum segment. The respective RF spectrum segments may be processed in series, and/or in parallel, depending on the RF receiver configuration embodiment employed.
US08254855B2
Techniques for identifying and suppressing frequency spurs in a signal are disclosed. In an embodiment, an incoming signal is rotated by a frequency related to a spur frequency, and an estimate of the content of the rotated signal is derived. The estimate may be subtracted from the rotated incoming signal, and the result de-rotated by the spur frequency. In an embodiment, the incoming signal may be rotated such that the spur is centered at DC. In an alternative embodiment, the estimate may be de-rotated before being subtracted from the original incoming signal. Techniques for addressing multiple spurs using serial and parallel architectures are disclosed. Further disclosed are techniques for searching for the presence of spurs in an incoming signal, and tracking spur frequencies over time.
US08254846B2
In some embodiments, a connectivity device is configured to provide electrical power to a first electrical device and facilitate communications between the first electrical device and at least one second electrical device. The connectivity device further is configured to couple to a cigarette lighter and an external electrical power source. The connectivity device can include: (a) a first removable cigarette lighter adapter having: (1) a first electrical output interface; and (2) a power interface configured to removably couple to the cigarette lighter; (b) a base module having: (1) at least one first interface; (2) a second interface configured to removably couple to the first electrical output interface of the first removable cigarette lighter adapter and configured to also couple to the external electrical power source; (3) a third interface configured to removably couple to the first electrical device; and (4) a first control configured to receive operational instructions for the first electrical device. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.
US08254839B2
A signal transmitting device of the present invention includes a plurality of drums and a sound module. Each drum has a pickup and a wireless signal transceiver, and the sound module includes several wireless signal receivers, each of which corresponds to one of the drums. While the drum is beaten upon, the pickup sends a signal to the wireless signal transceiver, and the signal is then transmitted to the corresponding wireless signal receiver wirelessly. Thereby, the complex wiring process can be significantly simplified or even totally resolved.
US08254836B2
An information exchanging apparatus capable of exchanging information with a plurality of outside apparatuses has: a first wireless communicator including a telephone transmitter and telephone receiver for wireless telephone communication with one of the outside apparatuses; a second wireless communicator other than the first wireless communicator; a transmitter arranged to transmit original information to the plurality of outside apparatuses through the second wireless communicator; a processor arranged to process response information from the plurality of outside apparatuses to be received through the second wireless communicator in response to the original information; and a distributor arranged to distribute result information from the processor to the plurality of outside apparatuses through the second wireless communicator.
US08254834B2
A radio frequency identification (RF) system includes an RF reader, an RF tag, and a network connection module. The RF reader includes a reader radio frequency (RF) bus transceiver. The network connection module includes a network connection RF bus transceiver, wherein the reader RF bus transceiver exchanges at least one of inbound RF data and outbound RF data with the network RF bus transceiver via an RF bus.
US08254832B2
A method is presented for communicating data in a multibeam satellite system utilizing frequency re-use. The method comprises establishing uplink service beams and downlink service beams between a satellite and a plurality of subscriber terminals. A plurality of the uplink service beams are transmitted to the satellite by re-using at least one common uplink frequency channel, and a plurality of the downlink service beams are transmitted from the satellite by re-using at least one common downlink frequency channel. The method further comprises establishing at least one uplink service beam and at least one downlink service beam between the satellite and a gateway terminal. The at least one uplink service beam is transmitted to the satellite by further re-using the at least one common uplink frequency channel, and the at least one downlink service beam is transmitted from the satellite by further re-using the at least one common downlink frequency channel.
US08254817B2
A transfer device includes: an electrically-conductive elastic member which carries a transfer material; a transfer material separating member which peels off the transfer material from the elastic member; a supporting member which has an elastic member supporting portion that supports the elastic member, and a separating member supporting portion that supports the transfer material separating member, and also, has electrically-conductive properties; and a transfer bias applying section which is electrically connected to the supporting member, thereby applying a transfer bias.
US08254816B2
The developing device includes a developing roller, a layer thickness regulating blade, a first supporting member, a second supporting member, and a securing member. The developing roller has a surface on which a developing agent is deposited. The layer thickness regulates blade that slidingly contacts the surface of the developing roller to regulate a thickness of the developing agent thereon. The first supporting member has a first pinching part and a first securing part oriented in different directions to have a first angle formed therebetween. The second supporting member having a second pinching part and a second securing part oriented in different directions to have a second angle formed therebetween, the second pinching part being urged against the first pinching part. The securing member secures the first securing part and the second securing part while pinching the layer thickness regulating blade between the first pinching part and the second pinching part.
US08254813B2
A multicolor imaging system includes a controller which adjusts a phase difference in rotations of photoreceptors based on information detected by a rotary position detector, and drive elements for photoreceptors which generate a velocity fluctuation in the same cycle as that of a transfer unit. The controller is configured to concurrently adjust the phases of the photoreceptors and those of the drive elements so that a registration error in four color toner image on an intermediate transfer belt is reduced to a minimum.
US08254802B2
An image heating apparatus including: an image heating member for heating an image formed on a sheet at a nip portion; a temperature detector for detecting temperature of a predetermined region of the image heating member; a cooler for cooling the predetermined region; and an activating device for activating the cooler to perform a cooling operation in accordance with an output of the temperature detector, wherein the apparatus has a first mode of stopping a cooling operation in accordance with an output of the temperature detector; and a second mode of stopping the cooling operation in accordance with an end of image heating processing irrespective of the output of the temperature detecting device. The image heating apparatus is capable of suppressing unnecessary energy consumption, and of eliminating uneven glossiness due to a reduced temperature region at a boundary between a sheet passing portion and a non-sheet passing portion.
US08254796B2
An image forming apparatus controls a sheet to be conveyed to a fixing unit with a first conveyance speed in case a charged amount of a recording agent in a developing unit is larger than a predetermined charged amount, and controls the sheet to be conveyed to the fixing unit with a second conveyance speed, which is slower than the first conveyance speed, when the charged amount of the recording agent in the developing unit is smaller than the predetermined charged amount.
US08254794B2
An image forming apparatus comprises a sheet tray to store sheets to form an image thereon; a detecting section to detect a capacity of empty space of each of the sheet tray; and a sheet managing section to compare the capacity of empty space of the sheet tray with a capacity of sheets of one or plural bundles of sheets as a unit of supply to be stored in the sheet tray, wherein in the case that the capacity of empty space of the sheet tray is equal to or larger than the capacity of sheets of one or plural bundles of sheets, the sheet managing section notifies that it is possible to supply sheets by the one or plural bundle of sheets as a unit of supply to the sheet tray.
US08254789B2
A device and method for adjusting the chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission system includes an optical element having a temperature-dependent chromatic dispersion. The device and method further include a device for adjusting a temperature or a temperature distribution of at least one region of the optical element for providing a predefined chromatic dispersion of the optical element. Therefore, the chromatic dispersion of the optical element may be regulated along an optical transmission path.
US08254784B2
The present disclosure is directed to a light source distributor for use in an injection-locked WDM-PON (wavelength division multiplexed-passive optical network). The light source distributor receives an A band and a B band injection optical signals through a single optical terminal from an injection light source for outputting both the A band and the B band injection optical signals; transmits the A band injection optical signal to a first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer of a central office and the B band injection signal to a second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer of a remote node; transmits a wavelength-locked A band optical signal received from the first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer to the second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer; and transmits a wavelength-locked B band optical signal received from the second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer to the first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer.
US08254782B2
The present invention relates to the quality monitoring of optical signals, which have different symbol rates and generated by different modulation schemes, used for example in a wavelength division multiplexing network. The apparatus according to the invention includes an optical splitter for outputting the input optical signal to a first optical route and a second optical route, an optical coupler for coupling a optical signal from the first optical route with a optical signal from the second optical route, a delay unit provided on the first optical route, and a phase shift unit provided on the first optical route or the second optical route.
US08254781B2
A receiver for a communications link includes a receiver module and a host receiver. These two components can be tested independently. In one embodiment, the receiver module is characterized with respect to noise and distortion. The noise performance can be determined by comparing input and output signals of the receiver module, to determine the relative noise of the receiver module. The distortion performance can be determined by comparing the distortion of input and output signals of the receiver module, using a reference host receiver that includes an equalizer. The host receiver can be tested by using a reference receiver module.
US08254776B2
A motion detector camera includes a camera mechanism mounted inside a housing, a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing, and a controller for controlling the camera mechanism in response to signals received from the motion detector. The camera can include an activity counter mounted to the housing. The controller activates the camera mechanism when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector, or the controller activates the activity counter and does not activate the camera mechanism when a triggering activity occurs. The camera can include digital camera electronics. A camera support can be used to removably mount the camera to an object such as a tree.
US08254771B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.
US08254770B2
A lens apparatus supported by a support member, includes a pan/tilt detection portion for determining whether or not a pan operation and a tilt operation of the support member are performed, based on pan/tilt operation information output from the support member, an image blur correction lens for correcting an image blur, a vibration detection portion for detecting vibration of the lens apparatus, and calculating an amount of the image blur, and an image stabilizing portion for driving the image blur correction lens based on the amount of the image blur. The pan/tilt detection portion resets the vibration detection portion when the pan/tilt detection portion determines that one of the pan operation or the tilt operation is performed, and releases the reset of the vibration detection portion when the pan/tilt detection portion determines that the one of the pan operation or the tilt operation is not performed.
US08254762B2
A method for managing dynamic program changes in a digital video broadcasting (DVB) system, the method including detecting a dynamic program change in a DVB transmission received at a set-top box (STB), and changing a digital video recorder (DVR) recording instruction associated with the program to record the program in accordance with a parameter of the change.
US08254761B2
Copying apparatus has a reader operable to access locations of a recording medium to read both content data and navigational command data that determines the order in which a player of the recording medium will access the content data. A navigator executes a navigation command in accordance with navigation data read by the reader. A controller controls the location of the recording medium accessed by the reader in accordance with the result of the execution of a navigation command executed by the navigator so as to cause the reader to follow a navigation path through the content data defined by the navigation data and to cause a presentation data storer to store data for enabling recording of the content data for the navigational path.
US08254757B2
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: a first data processing block configured by a virtual machine as a virtual hardware environment for executing a program read from a first recording media recording content and the program for executing data processing; and a second data processing block configured to execute data conversion of the content and copy processing of the converted content onto a second recording media. The first data processing block executes acquisition of copy permission information from a management server by execution of the program and shuts down the virtual machine after completion of the acquisition of the copy permission information. The second data processing block is configured to execute data conversion of content recorded to the first recording media and copy processing of the converted content onto a second recording media after the virtual machine is shut down.
US08254755B2
A number of cameras capture a scene and send corresponding video sub-streams to an acquisition PC. Each sub-stream is made up of a plurality of sub-frames. The acquisition PC sends the sub-streams over a network to a playback PC. The playback PC stores each sub-frame in a queue corresponding to an associated sub-stream. For each sub-stream the playback PC calculates a sub-stream average period to produce a plurality of sub-stream average periods. It then calculates a composite average period by averaging the plurality of sub-stream average periods, and calculates a playback frame rate as a reciprocal of the composite average period. The playback PC then reads the sub-frames from their corresponding queue in synchronism with the calculated playback frame rate to display the plurality of sub-streams.
US08254743B2
A holder capable of holding an optical fiber cable without breaking or damaging the cable includes a holder main body, a fiber holding portion, and a cable holding portion. The main body has a groove for receiving the optical fiber exposed from the cable sheath at an end part of the cable, and a portion for receiving the end part of the cable sheath. A positioning surface with which an end surface of the cable sheath can come in contact is provided at the boundary between the fiber receiving groove and the cable receiving part. A fiber holding portion for pressing and holding the optical fiber received by the fiber receiving groove, and a cable holding portion for pressing and holding the cable sheath received by the cable receiving part, are configured so that holding by the cable holding portion is released in conjunction with the release of holding by the fiber holding portion.
US08254741B2
[Problem] To provide an optical cable connecting closure and optical interconnection system which can easily respond to changes in required connection functions if any.[Solving Means] An optical cable connecting closure 118 has a case 121, while a plurality of connecting modules 123 are arranged (stored) so as to be erected with respect to the bottom face of a closure main body 119 along the width direction in a module storing section 122 of the case 121. The connecting module 123 has a rectangular parallelepiped board-like module main body 127, while a plurality of MT connectors 128, 129 are attached in a vertical row to one end face of the module main body 127. In the module main body 127, an optical connecting section 130 for connecting the MT connectors 128, 129 to each other is arranged. The module storing section 122 can store a different kind of connecting module having a connecting configuration (function) different from that of the connecting module 123.
US08254736B2
A prism array for collecting light is provided. The prism array includes a first prism module and a coupling joint. The first prism module includes a first guiding prism and at least one first reflective prism. The first reflective prism is close to the first guiding prism, wherein light travels from the first guiding prism to the first reflective prism, and is reflected thereby. The coupling joint includes a first light pipe, a second light pipe, a third light pipe and a light transmitting pipe, wherein the first light pipe, the second light pipe and the third light pipe are coupled to an end of the light transmitting pipe, the third light pipe corresponds to the first reflective prism, and the light travels from the first reflective prism, passing through the third light pipe to the light transmitting pipe.
US08254716B2
A filtering system and method are disclosed, to perform simultaneous, de-noising, and details enhancement tasks of a video image. The efficient filtering system includes multiple filters, which operate on a portion of the video image that has been partitioned into multiple rings. Using the filtering system, complex mathematical operations are avoided.
US08254712B2
An image processing apparatus is provided that can quickly provide an image in which a main portion has a high image quality. The image processing apparatus includes an original image acquiring section that acquires an original image; a characteristic region judging section that makes a judgment as to whether a characteristic region is present in the original image captured by the original image acquiring section; an image adjusting section that, in a case where the characteristic region judging section makes a judgment that the characteristic region is present, adjusts an image of the characteristic region in the original image acquired by the original image acquiring section based on optical characteristics of an image capturing apparatus that captured the original image; and an image output section that, in a case where the characteristic region judging section makes a judgment that the characteristic region is present, outputs an image obtained through the adjustment by the image adjusting section and, in a case where the characteristic region judging section makes a judgment that the characteristic region is not present, outputs the original image acquired by the original image acquiring section.
US08254711B2
A processing digital noise method generates a matrix according to pixel values of pixels of a digital image, and selects a sub-matrix from the matrix. The sub-matrix has the same dimensions as a digital noise sample and includes a pixel value of a pixel selected from the digital image. The digital noise sample is represented as a matrix composed of 0 and 1. The method compares the sub-matrix with the digital noise sample to determine whether or not all values in the sub-matrix and the digital noise sample are the same. If all values are the same, the method further searches 1 from the sub-matrix for locating digital noise of the digital image, and removes the digital noise of the digital image by changing the pixel values of the digital noise from 1 to 0.
US08254708B2
An encoding device includes: a color-difference signal encoding unit for encoding a color-difference signal for each processing block in multiple color-difference signal encoding modes to generate multiple color-difference signal bit streams; a color-difference mode selecting unit for selecting a color-difference signal encoding mode from the multiple color-difference signal encoding modes; a luminance signal encoding unit for calculating luminance target code amount by subtracting the code amount of the encoded color-difference signal bit stream from fixed code amount, and encoding a luminance signal to generate a luminance signal bit stream; a color-difference reselecting unit for selecting the color-difference signal encoding mode corresponding to the color-difference signal bit stream having the code amount not greater than the fixed code amount, and small deterioration as to the color-difference signal; and a multiplexing unit for multiplexing the luminance signal bit stream, and the encoded color-difference signal bit stream to generate a bit stream.
US08254704B2
A “Remote Display Generator,” as described herein, provides various techniques for providing high-fidelity displays with highly responsive interactive application experiences to clients across a wide range of network bandwidths for remotely hosted applications. In general, the Remote Display Generator uses a compression-friendly remote display architecture as a core. With this compression architecture, actual screen data from a remote server is read out from the display buffer frame by frame, and then compressed with a unified screen codec. Other technologies, including timer-driven screen update models and adaptive transmission mechanisms, are then integrated with various embodiments of the Remote Display Generator to improve overall user experience by improving display quality and responsiveness to user interaction with remotely hosted applications.
US08254699B1
An object recognition system performs a number of rounds of dimensionality reduction and consistency learning on visual content items such as videos and still images, resulting in a set of feature vectors that accurately predict the presence of a visual object represented by a given object name within an visual content item. The feature vectors are stored in association with the object name which they represent and with an indication of the number of rounds of dimensionality reduction and consistency learning that produced them. The feature vectors and the indication can be used for various purposes, such as quickly determining a visual content item containing a visual representation of a given object name.
US08254692B2
The method compares a first document 10 and a second document 20. The documents may be scanned in 110,112 or an electronic image formed in other ways 114,116. Each electronic image is then segmented into basic units 14,24 such as words, lines or paragraphs. Differences between the matched basic units 14, 24 are determined and a document 30 representing the differences is created 130 and output 132.
US08254691B2
A facial expression recognition apparatus includes an image input unit configured to sequentially input images, a face detection unit configured to detect faces in images obtained by the image input unit, and a start determination unit configured to determine whether to start facial expression determination based on facial image information detected by the face detection unit. When the start determination unit determines that facial expression determination should be started, an acquisition unit acquires reference feature information based on the facial image information detected by the face detection unit and a facial expression determination unit extracts feature information from the facial image information detected by the face detection unit and determines facial expressions of the detected faces based on the extracted feature information and the reference feature information.
US08254690B2
An information processing apparatus that compares a query image and a model image and provides support information for discriminating a subject of the model image from a subject of the query image is disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes: a feature point extracting unit extracting one or more feature points from the model image; a feature describing unit describing features of the one or more feature points extracted by the feature point extracting unit; and a discrimination capability value calculating unit generating correlation images among the features described by the feature describing unit, the extracted model image, and one or more other model images for the one or more feature points extracted by the feature point extracting unit, and calculating a discrimination capability value indicating the degree of contribution to discriminating the subject of the model image on the basis of the correlation images.
US08254682B2
The present invention discloses an image processing apparatus for processing an image. The image processing apparatus includes a line-pattern detecting module and an image processing module. The line-pattern detecting module examines how a first plurality of pixels of a first pixel line change and how a second plurality of pixels of a second pixel line change so as to determine which pattern an area of the image corresponds to. The image processing module selectively performs at least one of a plurality of image processing operations according to the pattern the image area corresponds to. The first and the second pixel lines correspond to the image area.
US08254667B2
A modeling method, medium, and system. The modeling method identifies a object within an image by detecting edges within the image, determines a complexity of the identified object based upon detected surface orientations of the identified object relative to a defined surface of the image, selectively, based upon the determined complexity, generates one or more surfaces for a 3D model by identifying one or more vanishing points for one or more corresponding surfaces, respectively, of the identified object and respectively analyzing the identified one or more vanishing points relative to respective determined points of the one or more corresponding surfaces of the image, and generates the 3D model by combining the one or more surfaces in a 3D space.
US08254666B2
The invention relates to a method for determining the wheel geometry and/or axle geometry of motor vehicles by means of an optical measuring apparatus. According to said method, at least two recording points are assigned to each other and are referenced in relation to the measuring space with the aid of an image recording system, optionally taking into account reference characteristics and vehicle body characteristics, an object segment (6) comprising the wheel (5) that is to be measured is detected from different perspectives, and the position of wheel characteristics in the measuring space is evaluated during the measurement. In order to create an advantageous procedure regarding the operation and the accuracy of the measurement, a plurality of individual 3D pixels representing the three-dimensional surface of the object segment that is detected by the at least two image recording devices (2) are determined from the object segment using image processing methods by correlating images, and the wheel characteristics and/or reference characteristics and/or vehicle body characteristics are obtained therefrom.
US08254655B2
A method for temporally registering two image series datasets, each of which images a preferably periodically moving object and consists of time-resolved single images each composed of pixels or voxels, with a single image, recorded at a first instant, in the first image series dataset being in each case assigned to a single image, recorded at the same or another instant, in the second image series dataset, with the specific single image in the second image series dataset exhibiting maximum similarity to the single image in the first image series dataset being determined for registering a single image in the first image series dataset.
US08254653B2
A method and a workstation are disclosed for visualizing a three-dimensional image data record having a multiplicity of voxels of a heart of a patient, recorded with the aid of an x-ray CT examination carried out with contrast agent present in the bloodstream. In at least one embodiment, the method includes saving the CT image data record including a multiplicity of voxels defined by absorption values, determining the voxels associated with the chamber of the heart by segmenting the chambers of the heart filled with blood containing the contrast agent, removing the image information from the voxels associated with the chambers of the heart, calculating a two-dimensional virtual projection from the remaining CT image data record, and displaying the virtual two-dimensional projection.
US08254652B2
The present invention discloses apparatus, method, and system for CT image processing; said apparatus comprises: an interface unit for obtaining CT images; a target region separation unit for separating said target region from the CT images by means of judging the CT values of voxel points in said CT images, wherein points with CT values greater than or equal to the threshold for target region separation constitute the target region, and said target region comprises at least one separate region; a false positive region removing unit for removing false positive regions from said target region and obtaining the accurate target region. The present invention can be used to quickly and conveniently determine the target region to be detected, measure the characteristic data of the target region, and display the physical and relative positions of the target region in a three-dimensional manner; with a lower threshold for target region separation, the present invention can reduce the omission rate of detection; in addition, on that base, the present invention can remove possible false positive regions, thereby describing the target region accurately and improve accuracy of target information.
US08254647B1
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for assessing image quality of captured facial images. An example method includes capturing an image, generating a facial detection confidence score based in part on a likelihood that a representation of at least a portion of a face is included in the image, generating a facial landmark detection confidence score based at least in part on a likelihood that representations of facial landmarks are accurately identified in the image, and generating a geometric consistency score based at least in part on a difference between a point of intersection between a nose base and a line segment that passes through each eye and a midpoint of the line segment. The method also includes generating an image quality score based in part on a combination of the confidence scores, and the consistency score, and classifying an image quality based on the image quality score.
US08254642B2
A personal authentication method and device capable of creating iris information enabling personal authentication even if the iris image shows light reflection. The personal authentication device comprises an imaging section for imaging an eye of the user, an iris code generating section for generating an iris code from the captured image, a determining section for comparing the iris code with a registered iris code and determining whether or not the iris code agrees with the registered code, a control section for giving an instruction to retry imaging when there is no match, a guiding section for guiding the user so that the position where there is light reflection in the iris in retry-imaging changes, an average calculation image creating section for extracting an iris image from images, if the iris code generated from the image captured by retry-imaging disagrees with the registered iris code and creating an average calculation image produced by averaging the pixel values of the iris image, and an iris code generation instruction section for instructing the iris code generating section to generate an iris code from the average calculation image.
US08254638B2
A first ranging apparatus includes a light-emitting unit for emitting a series of first through fourth modulated lights which have respective different time lengths from a reference time to respective time points at which the first through fourth modulated lights start being emitted, a light-detecting unit for detecting reflected lights from an object that is irradiated with the first through fourth modulated lights, and a calculating unit for calculating the distance up to the object based on the phase difference between the first through fourth modulated lights and the reflected lights. The light-emitting unit comprises a start time controller for controlling the time lengths. The light-detecting units samples the amounts of the reflected lights in exposure periods established at a constant cycle length from the reference time.
US08254636B2
An image processing apparatus holds a plurality of intermediate smoothed images smoothed at a plurality of preset level values, reduces the N-th frame image of a moving image received from the outside to generate a reduced image, performs a smoothing process on the generated reduced image at the plurality of preset level values to generate a plurality of intermediate smoothed images, stores the generated intermediate smoothed images in an intermediate smoothed image storing unit, acquires, when generating the smoothed images of the frames after the (N+1)-th frame, one or a plurality of intermediate smoothed images from the plurality of intermediate smoothed images of the N-th frame stored in the intermediate smoothed image storing unit, synthesizes the acquired intermediate smoothed images of the N-th frame and the frames after the (N+1)-th frame of the moving image received from the outside, and generates smoothed images.
US08254624B2
A method and apparatus for allowing applications to access edited image data from an image editing application are disclosed herein. When the user desires to export edited images, the user causes the image editing application to display a plug-in user interface (UI). The plug-in UI may allow the user to enter exporting parameters, although this is not required. After the user selects an “export” button in the plug-in UI, the image editing application confirms with the plug-in on an image-by-image basis which of the images should be exported. The image editing application then generates an export version of the image. If necessary, the image editing application applies image adjustments to the master image to generate the export version. The image editing application then makes the export version available to the plug-in.
US08254622B2
A portable electronic device includes a audio player, a speaker, a fixing member and an engaging opening. The audio player is configured for playing audio files and videos. The speaker is detachably couple to the audio player. The fixing member is connected to one of the audio player and the speaker. The engaging opening is defined in the other of the audio player and the speaker. The engaging portion is detachably engaged in the engaging opening.
US08254615B2
For a loudspeaker with a cabinet and a driver cone, an acoustic speaker lens may be positioned on the driver cone. The acoustic speaker lens may include a center post and a plurality of ribs extending radially outward from the center post. The acoustic speaker lens may reduce turbulence in air in front of the loudspeaker, thereby leading to an improved perception of audio reproduction.
US08254612B2
A sound system (30) for a portable electronic device (20) is provided. The sound system includes a sound generator (28), a sound processor (25), and a speaker subsystem (24). The sound generator is configured for generating sound recordings with single sound format. The sound processor electronically connects with the sound generator and is configured for receiving the sound recordings with single sound format transmitted from the sound processor. The sound processor is configured for processing the sound recordings with single sound format into sound recordings with 5.1 surround format. The speaker subsystem electronically connects with the sound processor and is configured for receiving the sound recordings with 5.1 surround format transmitted from the sound processor and playing the sound recordings with 5.1 surround format.
US08254600B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof. The present invention includes receiving a downmix signal comprising plural objects, and a bitstream including object information and downmix gain information, obtaining level guide flag information for all frames indicating whether level guide information is present in the bitstream, obtaining the level guide information representing a limitation of object level applied to at least one object of the plural objects, from the bitstream, based on the level guide flag information, receiving mix information, generating modified mix information by modifying the mix information based on the level guide information and the downmix gain information, and generating at least one of downmix processing information and multi-channel information based on the modified mix information and the object information, wherein the mix information is estimated using object level for at least one object of the plural objects, and wherein the object information and the downmix gain information are determined when the downmix signal is generated.Accordingly, the present invention is able to prevent distortion of a sound quality according to panning and/or gain adjustment in a manner of providing a limited rage for the panning and/or gain adjustment.
US08254594B2
Disclosed herein is an in-vehicle apparatus having an apparatus body, a loading slot formed on the front surface of the apparatus body, a front panel arranged in front of the apparatus body, and a drive mechanism for operatively connecting the front panel to the apparatus body so as to move the front panel. The front panel is movable by the drive mechanism to a normal position where the front panel is arranged in parallel to the front surface of the apparatus body, a left projected position where a left side portion of the front panel is projected frontward, a right projected position where a right side portion of the apparatus body is projected frontward, and an open position where the front panel is inclined frontward so as to open a loading slot formed on the front surface of the apparatus body for loading a recording medium.
US08254590B2
A method for processing an input signal to create an enhanced output signal includes obtaining an envelope of the input signal, determining a logarithm signal of the envelope, determining a rate of change of the logarithm signal to obtain a slope value, and applying a value derived from the slope value to the input signal to thereby generate an enhanced output signal.
US08254589B2
A noise suppressor includes a fundamental sound source (121, 122) for generating a fundamental waveform having a predetermined frequency, and suppresses that frequency component of noise which corresponds to the predetermined frequency by generating a control sound from a signal generated by multiplying the fundamental waveform by an adaptive filter coefficient (W0, W1). The noise suppressor further includes a frequency adjusting circuit (210) for increasing or decreasing, by a predetermined amount, the frequency of the fundamental waveform output from the sound source if the phase fluctuation of the control sound detected by using the adaptive filter coefficient is larger than a predetermined threshold value. The noise suppressor has improved ability of tracking the peak frequency fluctuation of periodic noise.
US08254588B2
A system and method for Acoustic Echo Cancellation. The system and method include a subband affine projection filter and a variable step size controller configured to cancel an estimated echo from a near-end signal. The system and method also include a divergence detector adapted to reset the subband affine projection filter in response to determining a divergence is occurring. Additionally, the system and method include a double talk detector adapted to transmit a signal to mask an output signal when double talk is detected.
US08254576B2
A controlling device provides conditional access to secured content renderable by an appliance. The controlling device transmits a data frame to the appliance and encrypts at least a part of the data frame that includes data to be used by the appliance to provide access to the secured content. At the appliance a decryption key complimentary to the encryption key is used to decrypt the received the data frame. The appliance allows the secured content to be rendered only after the appliance determines that the data in the received, decrypted data frame includes the data the appliance requires to provide access to the secured content.
US08254574B2
A secret stream of bits begins by receiving a public random stream contained in a wireless communication signal at a transmit/receive unit. The public random stream is sampled and specific bits are extracted according to a shared common secret. These extracted bits are used to create a longer secret stream. The shared common secret may be generated using JRNSO techniques, or provided to the transmit/receive units prior to the communication session. Alternatively, one of the transmit/receive unit is assumed to be more powerful than any potential eavesdropper. In this situation, the powerful transmit/receive unit may broadcast and store a public random stream. The weaker transmit/receive unit selects select random bits of the broadcast for creating a key. The weaker transmit/receive unit sends the powerful transmit/receive unit the selected bit numbers, and powerful transmit/receive unit uses the random numbers to produce the key created by the weaker transmit/receive unit.
US08254568B2
A method and an apparatus for executing codes embedded inside a device to verify a code image loaded in a memory of the device are described. A code image may be executed after being verified as a trusted code image. The embedded codes may be stored in a secure ROM (read only memory) chip of the device. In one embodiment, the verification of the code image is based on a key stored within the secure ROM chip. The key may be unique to each device. Access to the key may be controlled by the associated secure ROM chip. The device may complete establishing an operating environment subsequent to executing the verified code image.
US08254562B2
A port detection and protection circuit utilizes a voltage detection circuits to output a detection signal according to a voltage difference between the tip signal and the ring signal and utilizes a ring detection circuit to output another detection signal according to a voltage difference between a Subscriber Line Interface Circuit (SLIC) tip signal and a SLIC ring signal signaling an incoming call. In addition, the port detection and protection circuit utilizes at least one logic component to output logic signals according to the detection signals. The port detection and protection circuit further switches a loop of a tip wire, a ring wire and the SLIC on or/and off based on logic signals, and issues an alarm according to the logic signals.
US08254560B2
An oscillation-echo preventing circuit has a microphone/speaker unit and a voltage-canceling circuit for canceling voltages of audio receive signals. The microphone/speaker unit has a main body, at least two microphones, and a speaker or an earphone. The microphone seals a first inside space from an outside space. The microphone seals the first inside space from a second inside space. The speaker or the earphone seals the first inside space from the outside space. The voltage-canceling circuit cancels out the voltages of audio receive signals coming from the microphones, respectively, generating an output of minimum magnitude. Thus, the circuit can sufficiently suppress oscillation and echoing.
US08254558B2
Many of the improvements in contact handling systems which may result from the teachings disclosed herein relate to accessing and tracking real-time data concerning company representative performance, proficiency, training, scheduling, current workflow, response to contacts, and estimated workflow. Moreover, many of the improvements in contact handling systems disclosed herein relate to automatically improving company representative performance proficiency, training, incentives, scheduling, ensuring timely customer response, and workflow. Thus, as a result of the teachings disclosed herein, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and revenue may be improved in the contact handling industry.
US08254554B2
The application relates to a network assisted calling service comprising a service call to an assistance entity which translates an indication of a destinatin party into a destination identifier which is subsequently used for the establishment of a user call between the calling and the destination party. In the prior art the user call has either to be set up manually by the calling terminal or it is set up by the network node to which the assistance entity is connected which suffers from disadvantages with respect to routing, complex charging schemes, etcetera. In the method of the invention, this is resolved by said destination identifier being returned through a signalling channel associated with the operative connection. The destination identifier is either returned to the calling party's terminal (C) or is returned to a network node (N). Either the terminal (C) or the network node (N) subsequently set up the user call.
US08254550B1
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications. More particularly, to a method and an apparatus that would allow callers to time-share telephone, tele-communication or communication lines in order to truthfully vary the telephone line from which they are calling parties through a communication, telecommunication or Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN). The system would allow customers to utilize methods that would manage their calls in ways that would maximize the probability that a called party would answer.
US08254549B2
A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other services to the callers using a business subscriber information service, a white page database service; a yellow pages database service; a business intelligence database service; rule-based expert system service; and/or an Internet search service. The directory assistance service accepts fees from advertisers, businesses and providers of the variety of services to refer information to callers.
US08254548B2
A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other services to the callers using a rule-based expert system service.
US08254534B2
Principles of the present invention provide techniques for automatically navigating through a telephone menu system. Illustrative techniques of the invention permit a user of a telephone menu system (e.g., IVR system) to record operations needed to navigate to a particular point in a menu tree of the telephone menu system and to either gather information or perform a transaction at that menu point. The information or transaction status may be reported to the user. Part of the act of training may be the association of a command with the navigation operations, after which the automated telephone menu navigation system of the invention will repeat the procedure, in correct synchrony with the telephone menu service, when the user says the command. In addition, the techniques of the invention detect failure or loss of synchronization or changes in the telephone menu.
US08254533B2
A system and apparatus for processing a communications session is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device can have a controller element to establish a voice communication session with a second communication device, and initiate an action to record the voice communication session for translation into a text memo that is analyzed to identify one or more actionable fields. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08254532B2
A network videoconference equipment and its method of proceeding network videoconference are provided. The method implemented on a first terminal machine of a network videoconference system includes steps as follows. Directly connecting with a second terminal machine of the system when the second terminal machine requests to do so. Receiving and presenting a second location video and voice from the second terminal machine, sending a first predetermined message picture to the second terminal machine, and not sending a first location video and voice temporarily. Providing a human-machine interface on the first terminal machine for accepting an instruction of proceeding the network videoconference or not.
US08254528B2
A system, method, and media for managing messages, comprising a status push application in communication with a trouble ticket database and a work force administration and control system, the status push application being enabled to detect a status change for a trouble ticket associated with the trouble ticket database and further enabled to selectively push a message to one or more external and potentially non-compatible systems in response to detecting the status change.
US08254527B2
A method and loop qualification unit for determining loop parameters of a topology of a twisted pair loop for a digital subscriber line system. The parameters are represented by a vector that receives a measurement of a SELT parameter measured at one end of the loop and a measurement of a DELT loop transfer function measured at both ends of the loop. A first model generator generates a first model for the SELT parameter and a second model generator generates a second model for the DELT function based on the loop parameters represented by the vector. A processor then determines the parameters by minimizing the differences between the first model and the SELT parameter, and the second model and the DELT function. The determined parameters are represented by the vector that provides the minimization.
US08254517B2
CT scanning of transportation containers is performed by generating X-rays at various points at the opposite sides of the containers, detecting the X-rays passing through the containers, and analyzing the data received to determine the presence of contraband. The X-rays are generated by modulating a magnetic field through which a high-energy electron beam passes to deflect the beam successively to different targets positioned around the sides of the container, while the electron beam source remains stationary. The X-rays are detected by an array of cells using X-ray responsive storage phosphor material to emit light which is sent to analyzing and comparing equipment. The targets and detectors and the cargo container are moved relative to one another to scan a selected volume of the container.
US08254495B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying successive multi-rank beamforming strategies (e.g., successive precoding strategies) for the design of precoders over a set of parallel channels. Successive beamforming is applied to a narrow band channel model and is also applied for finer quantization of a single beamforming vector (e.g., recursive beamforming). A first embodiment provides the optimal approach with high complexity. An alternative embodiment provides successive beamforming for near optimal precoding selection with medium complexity. A low complexity method for precoder selection is also provided wherein a channel representative matrix for the set of parallel channels is determined and successive beamforming on the calculated channel representative is applied.
US08254493B2
This disclosure relates systems and methods for a high bandwidth modulation and transmission of communication signals.
US08254488B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying successive multi-rank beamforming strategies (e.g., successive precoding strategies) for the design of precoders over a set of parallel channels. Successive beamforming is applied to a narrow band channel model and is also applied for finer quantization of a single beamforming vector (e.g., recursive beamforming). A first embodiment provides the optimal approach with high complexity. An alternative embodiment provides successive beamforming for near optimal precoding selection with medium complexity. A low complexity method for precoder selection is also provided wherein a channel representative matrix for the set of parallel channels is determined and successive beamforming on the calculated channel representative is applied.
US08254482B2
A decoder adopted to receive a signal transmitted in a communication system, includes one or more of a module adopted to pre-process a received signal to reduce the effect of interference-plus-noise on the received signal before filtering the received signal, and a module adopted to post-process the result of filtering the received signal.
US08254480B2
An automatic gain control method and system for use in signal processing of OFDM symbols at a receiver. Two stages of coarse and fine automatic gain control are implemented that adjust different gains in an analog RF processing stage of the receiver. Gain of a low noise amplifier and a mixer are adjusted during a first and coarse automatic gain control stage based on feedback from a digital baseband stage. During a subsequent fine gain control period, the gain of a programmable gain amplifier is adjusted separately for each frequency band used by the OFDM symbols based on a histogram bin that counts the number of output samples of an analog to digital converter whose magnitude falls within certain ranges. Coarse and fine gains are updated after each OFDM symbol.
US08254477B2
An OFDM communication device (10) includes: an REF/IF/BR unit (11) for receiving a series of symbols; a frequency fluctuation amount information acquisition unit (21) for acquiring frequency fluctuation amount information that indicates a frequency fluctuation amount of the received series of symbols; and a GI length determination/instruction unit (23) for determining a GI length in accordance with the frequency fluctuation amount information acquired by the frequency fluctuation amount information acquisition unit (21), and instructing a transmission device to transmit symbols with the determined GI length.
US08254469B2
Systems and methodologies for concealing frame loss in a video transmission environment are provided herein. Multiple Description Coding (MDC) can be used as an Error Resilience technique for video coding. In case of transmission errors, Error Concealment can be combined with MDC to reconstruct a lost frame, such that the propagated error to following frames can be reduced. Further, multi-hypothesis decoding can be employed to enhance reconstructed video quality of MDC over packet loss networks. For instance, one or more frames after the lost frame in the same stream can be reconstructed using multi-hypothesis decoding, which combines directly decoding and temporally interpolating these frames. Moreover, output obtained from directly decoding and temporally interpolating each frame can be combined by generating a weighted sum of these hypotheses. Constant weights and/or adaptive weights (e.g., determined based on the minimum mean square error criterion) can be used for yielding the weighted sum.
US08254465B2
A picture decoding method and apparatus for decoding a bit stream, the bit stream being compatible with MPEG 1 moving picture video standard. The method includes, receiving, via an input terminal, from a bit stream that includes extension data added in a header of a picture layer of the bit stream when the header includes control data that is newly added, in MPEG 2 standard format, the extension data of an anterior header of the picture layer. The method also includes decoding the bit stream in the picture layer using the extension data of an anterior header of the picture layer when an extension start code indicating the beginning of the extension data of the current header is not received from the bit stream.
US08254448B2
Provided is a moving picture display apparatus displaying, on a liquid crystal panel or the like, moving picture data generated by encoding according to a predictive encoding method. In parallel with picture decoding processing, the moving picture display apparatus finds minimum values and maximum values of YUV data of a picture being decoded, and when the picture is being displayed, performs backlight control based on an upper bound value of RGB data found from YUV data of the picture.
US08254447B2
To provide a moving picture stream generation apparatus and the like that generates a moving picture stream that can be played back in trick-play such as variable-speed playback and reverse playback even in a coding format such as the MPEG-4 AVC in which flexible prediction structures are allowed.A moving picture stream generation apparatus includes: a trick-play information generation unit TricPlay for generating supplemental information on a random access unit basis, the supplemental information being referred to at the time of playback of each random access unit and each random access unit including one or more pictures; and a variable length coding unit VLC for generating a stream including the generated supplemental information and the one or more pictures by adding the supplemental information to each corresponding random access unit. At the top of each random access unit, an intra coded picture that can be decoded without depending on any picture is placed, and the supplemental information includes information for specifying pictures to be decoded at the time when pictures included in each random access unit are played back in trick-play.
US08254446B2
To provide a moving picture stream generation apparatus and the like that generates a moving picture stream that can be played back in trick-play such as variable-speed playback and reverse playback even in a coding format such as the MPEG-4 AVC in which flexible prediction structures are allowed.A moving picture stream generation apparatus includes: a trick-play information generation unit TricPlay for generating supplemental information on a random access unit basis, the supplemental information being referred to at the time of playback of each random access unit and each random access unit including one or more pictures; and a variable length coding unit VLC for generating a stream including the generated supplemental information and the one or more pictures by adding the supplemental information to each corresponding random access unit. At the top of each random access unit, an intra coded picture that can be decoded without depending on any picture is placed, and the supplemental information includes information for specifying pictures to be decoded at the time when pictures included in each random access unit are played back in trick-play.
US08254442B2
A real time encoder with bit rate constraint, of the type including: a capture buffer memory storing frames waiting to be processed; an encoding module receiving frames issued from the capture buffer memory and delivering compressed frames; an intermediate buffer memory, storing the compressed frames issued from the encoding module; and an emission buffer memory, storing data packets, resulting from the division of the compressed frames issued from the intermediate buffer memory, and emitting, with a controlled bit rate, the data packets on a communication channel. The encoder includes a control module, which dynamically adjusts the maximum size of the capture buffer memory, permitting the maximum size of the capture buffer memory to be temporarily increased as long as the emission buffer memory is not empty.
US08254437B2
A transmitting apparatus, receiving apparatus and communication system are disclosed, and great improvement in an S/N ratio, preventing an actual throughput from decreasing, and preventing the number of circuits for synchronizing spread spectrum signals from increasing can be expected at the receiving apparatus side. The transmitting apparatus includes a pulse generating circuit, pulse repetition cycle determining circuit, peak power determining circuit, and modulator. The pulse generating circuit generates pulse strings, pulse repetition cycle determining circuit determines, based on a clock signal, a pulse repetition cycle of the pulse string generated by the pulse generating circuit. The peak power determining circuit determines a pulse peak power of the pulse string. The modulator modulates the pulse string with transmission data, and then generates a transmission signal.
US08254433B2
Provided is a non-federated multi-function exciter. The non-federated multi-function exciter includes a waveform generator subsystem operable to provide waveforms programmable in time, duration, slope and frequency. A transmission subsystem is coupled to the waveform generator, the transmission subsystem having a first upconverter and a second upconverter coupled to the first upconverter. A communication modulation subsystem is coupled to the second upconverter of the transmission subsystem. A reference clock subsystem coupled to the waveform generator subsystem, the transmit subsystem and the communication modulation subsystem. The non-federated multi-function exciter is operable to generate interleaved radar and communication signals.
US08254430B1
A method and apparatus for enabling the operative association of electronic devices that each employ spread spectrum EMI noise reduction. The method includes the detection of frequency modulation and the generation of a modulation detection signal that conveys the modulation extent and type. The modulation detection signal is then used to accommodate the modulation technique and make it compatible with the receiving electronic device. The apparatus of the invention includes an FM modulator that creates an FM signal from an input signal, an FM detector that detects the FM content of the incoming signal and represent this information by means of either voltage or current signals, and a circuit to process this FM information and perform functions such as modification of the FM content and generating a new signal with this new content, complete removal of the content, and “no-action,” whereby the signal is passed on with no alteration to the content.
US08254417B2
The present disclosure relates to a modular fiber laser system operative to controllably guide a beam which is launched from a feeding fiber into a process fiber so that the high-aperture component is coupled and guided in cladding of the process fiber, and a low-aperture component is coupled into the core of the fiber. The laser system further has a reflective element configured with light-reflecting and light-transmitting portions. The high-aperture component at least partially decouples from the cladding into the core so that the core radiates the high-aperture and low-aperture components. The high-aperture component is incident upon the light-reflecting portion and backreflected into the process fiber so that a sensor array, which is located between the feeding and process fibers, detects the reflected light. The laser system further includes an adjustment system operatively connected to the sensor array and configured to displace the fibers relative to one another to an alignment position after the sensor array detects a maximum signal of the reflected high-aperture component.
US08254415B2
A GaN-based semiconductor laser (1) emits first laser light of a single polarization and having a first wavelength. An optical resonator (30) includes a solid-state laser medium which is excited by incidence of the laser light and which oscillates second laser light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. A polarization switch (6) switches over at least one of polarization directions of the first laser light and the second laser light to thereby change the wavelength of laser light to be emitted from the optical resonator (30) or the intensity ratio between a plurality of laser light to be emitted from the optical resonator (30). With the above arrangement, a plurality of laser light can be used effectively.
US08254413B2
Systems and methods for concatenating messages in MoCA devices that are connected via a coax network are provided. One embodiment of a system according to the invention includes a home network having a plurality of nodes. The network is implemented over coaxial cable. The network includes a plurality of networked nodes. A transmitter of at least one of the networked nodes is configurable to transmit a concatenated burst. The concatenated burst includes a preamble, a first payload frame and a second payload frame. The first payload frame and the second payload frame are separated by a cyclic prefix of a first symbol of the second payload frame.
US08254408B2
A system includes a gateway node that contains modular cards that separately implement control and data planes of a network protocol. The separate data and control cards provide for improved system reliability and improved flexibility in managing bandwidth. Control or data cards can be added to the gateway node as needed based on system load.
US08254400B2
A user equipment (UE) implementing a message recovery method is disclosed, supporting messages of both the circuit switched (CS) domain and the packet switched (PS) domain. The UE roams in a wireless telecommunications system and performs a call setup procedure. When the UE receives an NAS message comprising a domain identifier and a protocol discriminator, the UE determines whether the domain identifier and the protocol discriminator are of the same domain. If the domain identifier and the protocol discriminator are of the same domain, the UE proceeds with processes corresponding to the NAS message. If the domain identifier and the protocol discriminator are of different domains, the NAS message is determined to be an error message, and the UE modifies the domain identifier of the NAS message to generate a recovered NAS message, and determines whether the recovered NAS message is compatible to the call setup procedure.
US08254395B2
The present invention provides a computer-implemented method, system, and program product for tracking a location of a user of a wireless device in a private network environment. Specifically, under the present invention, a wireless device user will form a data connection with a private network through a public network such as the Internet. At such a time “location” information will be communicated from the wireless device to the provider of the private network, which will use the information to track the location of the wireless device user. In addition, the provider of the private network can query the wireless device when updates to the information are desired. At this or any other time, the wireless device can be queried for any such updates.
US08254390B2
A switching node is disclosed for the routing of packetized data employing a multi-stage packet based routing fabric combined with a plurality of memory switches employing memory queues. The switching node allowing reduced throughput delays, dynamic provisioning of bandwidth and packet prioritization.
US08254382B1
Wireless communication systems and methods based on network-based IP mobility that use an anchor point location preference indicator in the Network Access Identifier (NAI) used during network entry process in a wireless network to provide an indication of a preference for a mobile subscriber station to obtain an IP address; and operate the wireless network based on Proxy Mobil IP to support the preference in the point location preference indicator in the NAI.
US08254379B1
In establishing a data connection with a wireless wide area network, a wireless device may evaluate one or more factors in order to select between IP header compression methods to be used for traffic in the data connection between the wireless device and an access point for the wireless wide area network. For example, the wireless device may select the IP header compression method based on a remaining battery level of the wireless device, a type of application on the wireless device initiating the data connection or another factor. In one embodiment, the selection of the IP header compression method may also be based on an amount of available bandwidth for the access point to allocate to wireless devices.
US08254366B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for transmitting data packets in a wireless network over a multi-access channel involving sequentially sending a plurality of medium access control (MAC) data packets from a transmitter over the multi-access channel, using a physical layer protocol based on a standard physical layer protocol having a short interframe spacing (SIFS), wherein the plurality of MAC data packets includes at least a first data packet and a second data packet separated by a reduced interframe spacing that is less than SIFS, attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets at a receiver using the physical layer protocol, including the first data packet and the second data packet separated by the reduced interframe spacing, and sending from the receiver a single acknowledgement packet associated with attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets.
US08254365B2
A method for maintaining timing across discontinuous activity gaps for a non-real time data interface, in a radio frequency (RF) IC is disclosed. The method comprises starting a first receive mode in the RF IC to receive analog RF signals 210 in response to receiving a first command from a base band (BB) IC, converting the analog RF signals 215 into a first stream of digital data samples, and transmitting 225 the samples to the BB IC. Next, the RF IC stops the first receive mode 235 in response to receiving a second command from the BB IC and transmits 245 dummy data samples to the BB IC. Then the RF IC re-starts the first receive mode 275 in response to receiving a third command from the BB IC 270, converts analog RF signals received by the first receive mode into a second stream of digital data samples 285, and transmits the samples to the BB IC 298.
US08254364B2
A route protocol is established whereby a mobile device can communicate to a multitude of (receiving) base stations though a tunnel created through a serving base station. A message that includes a Route Creation Header can be transmitted by the mobile device to create the tunnel. The Route Creation Header is reviewed by the receiving base station while the mobile device is in a Waiting-To-Open State. Various errors might occur with respect to the Route Creation Header. These errors can be conveyed to the mobile device by base station by setting one or more error code fields. Once the errors are resolved, another attempt to create a tunnel with base station can be made, if desired.
US08254340B2
A code division multiplex (CDM) communication system transmits frames including a preamble and its end bit pattern followed by a CDM signal and its end bit pattern in respective time slots. A clock recovery device at the receiving end recovers a clock signal from the preamble during the preamble time slot and continues to output the clock signal in free run mode during the CDM signal time slot. The clock signal is used to gate the output of a decoder that decodes the received signal, so that the decoded CDM signal is output as a received data signal. The preamble is a bi-level signal, so an ordinary clock recovery device can be used.
US08254338B2
A method of operating an electronic billboard includes detecting a mobile electronic device within a predetermined distance of the electronic billboard, establishing an ad hoc wireless connection with the mobile electronic device, and transmitting location-specific data to the mobile electronic device over the ad hoc wireless connection. The location-specific data is associated with a geographic location of the electronic billboard. For example, the location-specific data may include advertising content, traffic and/or construction conditions, emergency information, and/or tourism information associated with the geographic location of the electronic billboard. Related methods, devices, and computer program products are also discussed.
US08254336B1
A method and apparatus for interference avoidance from independent systems in a mesh in presented. A first Mesh Point (MP) operating on a same channel as an independent Access Point (AP) avoids mesh traffic channels serving the independent AP by switching the mesh traffic channel used by the first MP, and may also request a change of control channel for the first MP. The mesh network may include a plurality of sub-meshes operating on different control channels, wherein one mesh point is common to any two sub-meshes, the common mesh point having at least two radios and uses one of its radios for control traffic exchanged one sub-mesh, and another radio for control traffic exchanged with another sub-mesh and wherein mesh traffic to or from the mesh point common to any two sub-meshes can use either of the two channels.
US08254322B2
A method and apparatus for channel management in a Cognitive Radio (CR) system supporting multiple channels are provided. The method includes generating a candidate channel set from an available channel list, configuring a backup channel set by combining at least one candidate channel, and updating the backup channel set when a channel change event occurs. Accordingly, the multiple channels can be effectively used in CR communication.
US08254316B2
A method and apparatus for multi-protocol uplink access defines two protocols and maps each to one of a user's access service class (ASC) and quality of service (QoS). A first uplink access protocol type is defined in which a random access channel (RACH) burst is sent and an acquisition indicator channel (AICH) burst is sent, and a channel assignment grant is sent on another downlink channel. A second uplink access protocol type is defined in which a RACH preamble is sent and an AICH burst is sent.
US08254311B2
Disclosed in a technique for providing a binding update method and the like capable of resolving such a situation that a BA message keeps reciprocating between HAs. According to the technique, there is provided a binding update method, in which a mobile terminal transmits, to a home agent of the mobile terminal, a first message containing an address that is the destination to that the home agent forwards, and the home agent of the mobile terminal updates, based on the first message, a cache in which a home address of the mobile terminal is associated with an address that is the destination to that the home agent forwards, and transmits a second message as a reply to the first message to the mobile terminal, wherein when receiving the second message, the mobile terminal transmits, to the home agent of the mobile terminal, a third message notifying that the second message has been received, and after receiving the third message, the home agent of the mobile terminal updates the cache.
US08254310B2
A wireless response system and method of retrieving user selections includes providing a plurality of response units, each having a wireless response transceiver and an input device and a plurality of base units, each having a wireless base transceiver. The wireless response transceiver is adapted to transmitting a response transmission in response to receipt of a base transmission. The base transceiver is adapted to transmitting base transmissions and receiving response transmissions from the response units. Each of the base units and each of the response units are assigned communication identification. Base transmissions include a unique base address of the base unit transmitting that base transmission. Response transmission includes the base address of the base transmission to which that response transmission is responding. Each of the base units processes response transmissions having its base address and does not process response transmissions not having its base address.
US08254305B1
A system is provided comprising a first bridging device associated with a first internet protocol (IP) address having a radio transceiver receiving simple service discovery protocol (SSDP) messages from devices on a first media local area network (LAN), encapsulates and transmits the messages to a second address. The system also comprises a server associated with the second address receiving the messages from the first bridging device. Based on the messages, the server constructs a list of the devices on the first network. Based on a rule, the server forwards at least some of the messages received from the first bridging device to a third address. The system also comprises a second bridging device associated with the third address with a transceiver that receives the messages forwarded to the third address, decapsulates the simple service discovery messages, and wirelessly broadcasts the messages to devices on a second media local area network.
US08254294B2
A method, apparatus and system are provided for acquiring an access point name for an application employing a local Internet protocol breakout service. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a user management subsystem (820) configured to initiate an Internet protocol application. The apparatus also includes a local breakout service monitoring subsystem (810) configured to monitor availability of a local Internet protocol local breakout service and to obtain an access point name from the local Internet protocol local breakout service when the local Internet protocol local breakout service is available. The apparatus also includes an access point name selection control subsystem (830) configured to bind the access point name to the Internet protocol application.
US08254291B2
An Ethernet device having multiple lanes and a method of operating the lanes are provided. In one general aspect, it is possible to allocate a dummy block to each of one or more lanes such that the lanes do not selectively participate in communications. In addition, on a receiving side, the dummy block can be removed from among the genuine data blocks to enable data to be decoded. In this case, an Ethernet device on a transmission side and an Ethernet device on a receiving side can exchange information of a lane to which the dummy block is allocated by use of a lane status message, and the lane status message may be based on a link fault message specified by Ethernet standards.
US08254284B2
A system and method for transmitting high speed data on fixed rate and for variable rate channels. The system and method provides the flexibility of adjusting the data rate, the coding rate, and the nature of individual retransmissions. Further, the system and method supports partial soft combining of retransmitted data with previously transmitted data, supports parity bit selection for successive retransmissions, and supports various combinations of data rate variations, coding rate variations, and partial data transmissions.
US08254283B2
A method and device for identifying degradation in service quality for a wireless media service. The wireless media service has a known expected packet generation rate, which may be determined by the device based upon the codec and payload size selected on initiating the media service. At a receiving device, the packets actually received by the device from the other termination point are counted over a time period, and this number is compared with the number of packets that were expected based upon the known packet generation rate. From this comparison a packet loss rate may be determined. If the packet loss rate exceeds a threshold level, then the device may issue a user alert, terminate the service, or take other action. The threshold level may be established based upon a packet loss rate corresponding to a significant degree of service quality degradation.
US08254275B2
A communication line is installed in a network by automating a design phase and a configuration phase for the service and by automating failure recovery in either of the phases. In the design phase, an optimal route for the communication line is found, and the network components are provisioned and assigned. If the assigned network components are not available or can not be validated, the components causing the failure are marked, and the design phase is retried without the marked components. After the design phase, the configuration phase begins. The circuit design is tested against actual network components. If the test is passed, the actual network is configured according to the circuit design and the circuit is activated. If there is a network component failure during the configuration phase, the good route elements in the design are released while the failed network components are marked. The design phase is retried.
US08254274B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of providing network information, comprising determining one or more pseudowires between nodes in a network; grouping the pseudowires, according to information associated with each pseudowire and one or more predetermined criteria, into one or more groups each representing a virtual private network (VPN); providing a graphical user interface (GUI) displaying information associated with at least one pseudowire participating in the virtual private network.
US08254272B1
In one embodiment, an interested node (e.g., a path computation client or “PCC”, network management node, etc.) may send a path computation element (PCE) monitor request along a particular path computation chain to request performance information about one or more PCEs along the chain. In response, the interested node may receive a PCE monitor reply having performance information about the one or more PCEs along the chain. In another embodiment, one or more PCEs (along the chain) may receive the PCE monitor request and forward the request downstream along the chain. Upon the request reaching a final PCE, each PCE along the chain may insert the requested performance information into the PCE monitor reply and forward the reply with the performance information along the path computation chain toward the interested node.
US08254259B2
At least one timer is used to prevent a stall condition. If a timer is not active, the timer is started for a data block that is correctly received. The data block has a sequence number higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received. When the timer is stopped or expires, all correctly received data blocks among data blocks up to and including a data block having a sequence number that is immediately before the sequence number of the data block for which the timer was started is delivered to a higher layer. Further, all correctly received data blocks up to a first missing data block, including the data block for which the timer was started, is delivered to the higher layer.
US08254251B2
A communication network comprises a plurality of physical media. The physical media may be sensitive to disturbances that are different from one physical medium to another, such that a failure in one physical medium may not effect communication in other physical medium of the communication network. The nodes of the communication network comprise a plurality of physical layers units and MAC units pairs, each pair connected to a different physical medium. The transfer of massages among the network nodes on the plurality of different physical media is done in a transparent way by upper layers of communication unit of the network nodes.
US08254250B2
Technologies for determining optimum delivery conditions associated with a restoration plan that addresses potentially troubled nodes are generally disclosed.
US08254239B2
In an optical head device which performs recording or reading of data in/from a high-density optical disc using an objective lens with a large NA, a saw-tooth shape diffraction element is used for also performing recording or reading of data in/from a conventional optical disc, such as DVD, CD, or the like. A step difference that produces an optical path length for blue light which is equal to or longer than the wavelength of the blue light and optical path lengths for red and infrared light which are shorter than the wavelengths of the red and infrared light is utilized so as to exert an inverse action on the blue light to those exerted on the red and infrared light. The effect of increasing the working distances for CD and DVD enables multiple compatibility. The above optical element is integrally combined with the objective lens to perform a tracking servo following operation.
US08254234B2
A method for rating an information recording medium according to the present invention includes the steps of: receiving a digital read signal, which has been generated based on an analog read signal representing information that has been read from the information recording medium, and shaping the waveform of the digital read signal; subjecting the shaped digital read signal to maximum likelihood decoding, thereby generating a binarized signal showing a result of the maximum likelihood decoding; and calculating the quality of the digital read signal based on the shaped digital read signal and the binarized signal. If the quality of the read signal is calculated by a PRML method in which a number of zero-cross portions are included in a merging path of a minimum difference metric, the quality is calculated by using only a state transition pattern in which only one zero-cross portion is included in a merging path of a non-minimum difference metric.
US08254230B2
A recording apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring, from an optical disc, disc-state information including at least information of an optical disc type, information of a recording format, and information indicating whether the optical disc has already been finalized, a first determining unit for determining, based on the information of the optical disc type and the information of the recording format in the acquired information, whether the optical disc type and the recording format correspond to one of predetermined combinations, a second determining unit for determining, based on the result of determination by the first determining unit and the acquired information, whether the optical disc needs to be finalized, and a display control unit for controlling, when the second determining unit determines that the optical disc needs to be finalized, display of a message representing the need of the finalization.
US08254222B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk surface, a head coupled to a distal end of an actuator arm, and a dual stage actuator (DSA) servo loop comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) servo loop and a microactuator servo loop operable to actuate the head over the disk surface. The microactuator servo loop is disabled, and after disabling the microactuator servo loop a sinusoid is injected into the VCM servo loop, wherein the sinusoid comprises a target frequency. A first open loop response of the VCM servo loop is computed. The microactuator servo loop is enabled, and after enabling the microactuator servo loop the sinusoid is injected into the DSA servo loop. A second open loop response of the DSA servo loop is computed. A microactuator servo loop gain and a VCM servo loop gain are tuned in response to the first and second open loop responses.
US08254221B2
A circuit for generating a tracking error signal is provided. The circuit includes a digitizing circuit, a short signal removing circuit and phase comparator. The digitizing circuit receives first and second pick-up signals outputted from a pick-up head, and respectively compares the first and the second pick-up signals with a reference signal to obtain a first digital signal and a second digital signal. The short signal removing circuit is used for removing pulses in the first and the second digital signals, wherein the pulse width of the removed pulses are shorter than a preset time, and the first and second digital without the removed pulses are respectively served as a first determining signal and a second determining signal. The phase comparator receives the first determining signal and the second determining signal for outputting the tracking error signal according to a phase difference between the first and the second determining signals.
US08254217B2
Disclosed herewith is a library apparatus having plural loading cells, each of which can load at least two articles and using a pushing device that pushes the articles into the loading cell from its opening. And if the moving distance of any of the articles, which is pushed into the loading cell, is smaller than a first moving distance, the library apparatus judges that the loading cell has no loading space.
US08254213B2
A near-field light generating device includes a substrate, a semiconductor laser device, a light absorbing device, and a near-field light generator. The semiconductor laser device is formed on the substrate and emits the laser light polarized in a first direction. The light absorbing device is formed on the substrate to be close to a light emission part of the semiconductor laser device and absorbs light polarized in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The near-field light generator is formed on the substrate to be close to a light emission part of the light absorbing device.
US08254212B2
An integrated heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device comprises a slider that has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a trailing end. A waveguide is carried on the trailing end and a near field transducer is positioned to receive energy from the waveguide and produce plasmons for heating a region of a magnetic medium. A write pole is carried by the slider adjacent to the near field transducer. A laser is mounted on the top surface of the slider and produces a laser beam that passes through a beam shaper mounted on the top surface of the slider that collimates or focuses the laser beam. A mirror is mounted on the slider for directing the collimated or focused light beam into the waveguide.
US08254210B2
Techniques include determining coefficients of a complex auto regression (AR) model to fit a complex average spectrum at a base frequency resolution of a set of one or more measured acoustic beams during a time block. Residuals derived by filtering actual data through an inverse of the AR model are determined at frequencies below a first threshold frequency. A quantized spectrum of the residuals is determined at the base frequency resolution. Magnitude, phase, and frequency bin at the base frequency resolution are determined for each peak of a set of one or more narrowband peaks above a second threshold frequency for the set of one or more measured acoustic beams. A message is sent, which indicates without loss the coefficients of the AR model, the quantized spectrum of the residuals, and the frequency bin, magnitude and phase for each peak of the set of one or more narrowband peaks.
US08254208B2
A sonar system and method of operating a sonar system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the sonar system comprises an array of transducers and a multiplexer configurable into a plurality of states. In one embodiment, the multiplexer, when in a first state, electrically couples a plurality of connections with the plurality of transducers via a first mapping and, in a second state, electrically couples the plurality of connections with the plurality of transducers via a second mapping.
US08254202B2
The internal command generation circuit includes a burst pulse generation unit and a pulse shifting unit. The burst pulse generation unit is configured to receive a command for a read or write operation, and generate a first burst pulse. The pulse shifting unit is configured to shift the first burst pulse and generate an internal command.
US08254199B1
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to a multi-channel memory device and methods of selecting one or more channels of same.
US08254196B2
A two-terminal memory cell including a Schottky metal-semiconductor contact as a selection device (SD) allows selection of two-terminal cross-point memory array operating voltages that eliminate “half-select leakage current” problems present when other types of non-ohmic devices are used. The SD structure can comprise a “metal/oxide semiconductor/metal” or a “metal/lightly-doped single layer polycrystalline silicon.” The memory cell can include a two-terminal memory element including at least one conductive oxide layer (e.g., a conductive metal oxide—CMO, such as a perovskite or a conductive binary oxide) and an electronically insulating layer (e.g., yttria-stabilized zirconia—YSZ) in contact with the CMO. The SD can be included in the memory cell and configured electrically in series with the memory element. The memory cell can be positioned in a two-terminal cross-point array between a pair of conductive array lines (e.g., a bit line and a word line) across which voltages for data operations are applied.
US08254195B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure use one or more gain stages to generate an output voltage representing whether a resistive memory element of a data cell stores a high data value or a low data value. In a particular embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit includes a first amplifier stage that is configured to convert a first current through a first resistive memory element of a memory cell into a first single-ended output voltage. A second amplifier stage is configured to amplify the first single-ended output voltage of the first amplifier stage to produce a second single-ended output voltage.
US08254187B2
Provided is a data transfer apparatus and method that enables fast data transfer, and has a simple circuit configuration and a small area; and a semiconductor circuit. The data transfer apparatus includes: a data pair generation circuit (301) that transfers a generated data pair during one cycle of a handshake signal communication; a multiplexer (302) that outputs one of the data pair in accordance with a handshake signal; a memory (305) that stores the data output from the multiplexer (302) in response to bi-directional transition of the memory control input signal; a memory control circuit (303) that performs a handshake signal communication and outputs the memory control signal; a request signal waiting circuit (306) that waits until one of the data pair is stored in the memory (305) and the other data is output from the multiplexer (302); and a data pair receiving circuit (307) that receives the data pair in response to a signal from the request signal waiting circuit (306) and outputs the data pair to the transfer destination.
US08254184B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a latency controller which provides a power-saving effect. The latency controller includes a first-in first-out (FIFO) register. After a read command is applied, when a precharge command or power-down command is applied, the latency controller outputs a latency signal corresponding to the applied read command and blocks application of sampling and transmission clock signals to the FIFO register.
US08254182B2
Memory devices, methods, and sample and hold circuits are disclosed, including a memory device that includes a sample and hold circuit coupled to a bit line. One such sample and hold circuit includes a read circuit, a verify circuit, and a reference circuit. The read circuit stores a read threshold voltage that was read from a selected memory cell. The verify circuit stores a target threshold voltage that is compared to the read threshold voltage to generate an inhibit signal when the target and read threshold voltages are substantially equal. The reference circuit stores a reference threshold voltage that can be used to translate the read threshold voltage to compensate for a transistor voltage drop and/or temperature variations.
US08254179B2
A non-volatile memory device includes an array of flash memory cells therein and a voltage generator. The voltage generator is configured to generate a program voltage (Vpgm), a pass voltage (Vpass), a blocking voltage (Vblock) and a decoupling voltage (Vdcp) during a flash memory programming operation. The blocking voltage is generated at a level that inhibits inadvertent programming of an unselected memory cell(s). This voltage level of the blocking voltage is set so that Vdcp
US08254169B2
A smart card is foamed of a memory having light-sensing cells to sense externally supplied light and generate a detection signal in response to the externally supplied light being sensed by the light-sensing cells, and a reset control circuit generating a reset signal in response to the detection signal, the reset signal operating to reset the smart card.
US08254161B2
In one form a device having an integrated circuit is rendered useless by providing a piezo element coupled to a voltage terminal of the integrated circuit of the device. A render useless signal is generated by any of several ways. The piezo element, in response to the render useless signal, renders in any one of several ways the device to be rendered useless. The piezo element, when disturbed, generates a voltage which is provided to the voltage terminal of the integrated circuit, the voltage being sufficiently high to render useless at least a portion of the integrated circuit. In other forms the render useless signal renders MRAM circuitry within the device useless by moving a magnetic field across the MRAM circuitry to vary resistance of memory reference cells. In one form the magnetic field is moved by spring-loading or pivoting a magnet that is released by the piezo element.
