US08353058B1
A computer-implemented method for detecting rootkits is disclosed. The computer-implemented method may include sending periodic security communications from a privileged-processor-mode region of a computing device. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying at least one of the periodic security communications. The computer-implemented method may further include determining, based on the periodic security communications, whether the privileged-processor-mode region of the computing device has been compromised. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08353055B2
A method for upgrading a Rights Object (RO) includes: acquiring, by a Digital Rights Management (DRM) Agent, RO related information of the RO that requires updating from a Secure Removable Media (SRM) Agent; providing, by the DRM Agent, the RO related information to a Rights Issuer (RI), and obtaining a new RO from the RI; and interacting, by the DRM Agent, with the SRM Agent to upgrade the RO that requires updating on the SRM by means of the new RO. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the DRM Agent acquires RO related information which is stored on the SRM and does not have Move rights, and interacts with the RI to move the RO out from the SRM, so as to move the RO without the Move rights out from the SRM.
US08353050B2
A device management method, is disclosed in which available features on a slave mobile device are managed (monitored or controlled) by a slave manager module commanded by a master device through secure messages exchanged between the two devices using respective electronic messaging capabilities on the two devices. Selection of the features of the slave mobile device to be controlled or monitored is facilitated on the master device through a master manager module resident thereon. The features that are controlled or monitored may comprise any user-accessible feature incorporated or installed on the slave mobile device and user access to the feature may be prevented according to at least one criterion, such as: date of use, time of day of use, number of times of use, originator and recipient. User access to the feature may be prevented access to the user-accessible feature when usage limitations for the feature have been reached.
US08353046B2
An operating system and method for use include a core function module, or basic kernel, providing fundamental operating system support and one or more add-on modules that allow customization of the operating system as desired. Add-on modules may provide support or extended capability to the computer including hardware, applications, peripherals, and support. A digital signature may be used to confirm the integrity of an add-on module prior to installation. Certification may be verified to determine if installation of the add-on module is authorized. By withholding certification, a service provider may manage illegal or undesired modifications to a provided computer. Digital rights management may be used to enforce terms of use of the add-on module in keeping with licensing arrangements.
US08353042B2
Methods and systems for content filtering of remote file-system access protocols are provided. According to one embodiment, holding buffers in which data collected from a remote file-system access protocol is stored, a holding buffer context table, a file map table and a usage table corresponding to each holding buffer are created within one or more computer-readable media. References to each of the holding buffers are tracked within the holding buffer context table. References to a common file are mapped to a common holding buffer of the holding buffers with the file map table. Modified and unmodified portions of the holding buffers are tracked using the usage table corresponding to each holding buffer. Responsive to a predetermined event in relation to a holding buffer or the holding buffers, the existence of malicious, dangerous or unauthorized content contained within the holding buffer is determined by performing content filtering on the holding buffer.
US08353041B2
A server includes a scanning module for determining whether an application is free of malware, a module for packaging the application into blocks for delivery via application streaming, a module for providing the blocks to a client on request, and a module for adding to each block an indication of whether the associated application has already been determined to be free of malware. A client includes a module for requesting blocks of a streamed application from the server. When the client receives a block, it employs a module for verifying that the associated applications have been determined to be free of malware by examining the indication provided by the server. If verification is successful, then the block's code is executed without first receiving and scanning any additional blocks from the server.
US08353038B1
A configuration information manager monitors attempts by processes to update non-structured storage of system configuration information, such as plain text files which contain system configuration information. When such an attempt is made, the configuration information manager makes a copy of the target file, and redirects the write operation to this copy. The configuration information manager then analyzes the process that did the writing, as well as the content that was written. If the process and/or the content is deemed to be suspicious, the changes will be logged and discarded, thus protecting the system. Should the changes be deemed legitimate, then the configuration information manager folds them into the real file, typically in an annotated manner, so as enable subsequent reversion of the changes as desired.
US08353034B2
Method, system and computer-readable medium to locate a prefix hijacker of a destination prefix within a one-hop neighborhood on a network. The method includes generating one-hop neighborhoods from autonomous system (AS)-level paths of plural monitors to a destination prefix. The method also includes determining a suspect set of AS identifiers resulting from a union of the one-hop neighborhoods. The method further includes calculating a count and a distance associated with each AS identifier of the suspect set. The count indicates how often the AS identifier appeared in the one-hop neighborhoods. The distance indicates a total distance from the AS identifier to AS identifiers associated with the plural monitors. Yet further, the method includes generating a one-hop suspect set of AS identifiers from the suspect set that have highest counts and highest distances.
US08353025B2
Techniques for virtual private network (VPN) access are provided. A dynamic determination, in response to privileges, is made as to whether a principal and a device of a principal are to receive a thin client virtual private network (VPN) installation for a thin client VPN session between the principal and a remote site or whether a clientless VPN session is appropriate. Dynamic switching between the clientless VPN session and thin client VPN session is permissible when the principal supplies the appropriate credentials for such a switch.
US08353021B1
A security system monitors the trustworthiness and firewall configurations of a set of clients, where a firewall configuration comprises a set of firewall rules that control access by an application to network communication functionalities of a client. Based on the firewall rules used by other clients and the reputation of those clients, the system determines a set of default firewall rules by selecting one or more rules that are used by the more trustworthy clients. The default firewall rules are made available to other clients, which may use these default rules. This leverages community knowledge about how much network access to allow for a particular application.
US08353020B2
A generic master-slave mechanism enables a single processor of a cluster of firewall processors to define the behavior of the other processors in the cluster for a specific logical connection. The cluster of firewall processors utilizes virtual adapters representing physical adapters on other processors in the firewall cluster. This virtualization allows each cluster member to act as though it is a standalone machine that owns all local IP addresses of the entire cluster. When traffic is received by a firewall processor, the firewall processor determines if there is a master associated with the logical connection for the traffic. If so, the traffic is routed to the master. If no master is associated, in an example configuration, the receiving firewall processor becomes the master. A message traffic logical connection has a single master. A master remains the master of a logical connection until the connection is terminated.
US08353019B2
An authentication server generates a security token to be used by a client for accessing multiple service providers by obtaining a secret key for each specified service provider, generating a saltbase, generating a salt for each service providers using the saltbase, the secret key, and a hashing algorithm, generating a session key that includes the salt, assigning an order to each of the generated salts, and arranging the salts based on the orders, generating a presalt for each provider using the salt for each previous provider, generating a postsalt for each of the specified service providers using the salt for each following provider, generating a blob for each of the specified service providers using the saltbase, the respective presalt, and the respective postsalt, inserting the generated blobs for the specified service providers in the security token, and providing the generated security token to the client workstation.
US08353010B2
A method of establishing protected electronic communication between various electronic devices equips users beforehand with a personal electronic identity gadget bearing no information about the user identity. Only at the first connection of the blank personal gadget to the electronic devices of an arbitrary electronic service provider, and/or to local electronic devices, the personal electronic identity gadget and the electronic devices and/or the local electronic devices mutually generate a verifiable electronic identity, which is stored in the personal electronic identity gadget and in the electronic devices and/or local electronic devices, for the needs of further mutual electronic communication, separately from other identities and without the knowledge of personal data about the user. Consequently only the generated and stored information is utilized for verification of the identity at every subsequent connection of the user to the electronic devices of the given electronic service provider and/or to the local electronic devices.
US08353004B2
An authentication device having high resistance to spoofing is provided. The portable telephone includes a camera of imaging the face of the person to be authenticated, an imaging direction comparing unit of determining whether or not the face of the person to be authenticated is imaged from diagonally below, and a main control unit of determining that the person to be authenticated is not the person in question when the imaging direction comparing unit determines that the face of the person to be authenticated is not imaged from diagonally below.
US08352997B2
Systems and methods of monitoring blackout events are provided. A particular method includes receiving a server blackout event associated with a scheduled blackout of a first media service. The method also includes receiving at least one client blackout event from at least one set top box (STB) affected by the scheduled blackout. For example, the server blackout event and the client blackout event(s) may be received at a subscriber event transmission interface (SETI). The method further includes storing the server blackout event and the client blackout event(s) at a data warehouse.
US08352971B2
An object-oriented middleware framework for use in a network having a plurality of hosts including a first host having an associated first memory and first processor; and a second host having an associated second memory and second processor. The object-oriented middleware framework includes an Originator Command Container instantiating a Command by executing computer programming code stored in the first memory using the first processor. The framework also includes an Invocator Command Container, remote from the Originator Command Container and its associated first host where the instantiated Command is invoked, locally by executing computer programming code stored in the second memory using the second processor.
US08352967B2
Some embodiments provide a system that executes a plugin for a web browser. During operation, the system obtains the plugin as a native code module and executes the native code module in a secure runtime environment. Next, the system enables communication between the native code module and the web browser by providing an interface bridge between the native code module and the web browser.
US08352966B2
A method and apparatus enabling inter-widget communication and control uses a central server to receive selected widgets and settings associated with at least one widget, wherein the received settings are used to at least partly determine the settings of the other selected widgets according to a pre-defined relationship between or among the widgets.
US08352958B2
Systems, methods, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing a generic audit trail service for a plurality of business objects, at least two of the plurality of business objects being of different business object types. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided that comprises receiving, at an application server, a notification of a change associated with at least one of the plurality of business objects, and requesting, in response to receiving the notification, auditing data from the at least one business object, the at least one business object implementing an auditable function set to interface with the application server. Further, the method includes receiving, through a called method of the auditable function set, the requested auditing data, and storing the received auditing data in a repository.
US08352957B2
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and method for passing metadata in STREAMS modules. The apparatus and method are configured to perform acts including, allocating a STREAMS message in a kernel space, storing data in the data block in the STREAMS message, allocating a buffer space for metadata associated with the data, storing the metadata of the data in the metadata block in the STREAMS message, passing the metadata among STREAMS modules as a part of the STREAMS message, and performing an operation based upon the metadata.
US08352956B1
A device initializes a total time estimate for a multi-phased and multi-threaded process, determines task information for a currently executing phase of the process, and determines time information for the currently executing phase of the process. The device also calculates an updated total time estimate for the process based on the task information and the time information for the currently executing phase of the process, and displays the updated total time estimate to a user associated with the device.
US08352954B2
A resource allocation system begins with an ordered plan for matching requests to resources that is sorted by priority. The resource allocation system optimizes the plan by determining those requests in the plan that will fail if performed. The resource allocation system removes or defers the determined requests. In addition, when a request that is performed fails, the resource allocation system may remove requests that require similar resources from the plan. Moreover, when resources are released by a request, the resource allocation system may place the resources in a temporary holding area until the resource allocation returns to the top of the ordered plan so that lower priority requests that are lower in the plan do not take resources that are needed by waiting higher priority requests higher in the plan.
US08352947B2
A Method to redirect SRB routines from otherwise non-zIIP eligible processes on an IBM z/OS series mainframe to a zIIP eligible enclave is disclosed. This redirection is achieved by intercepting otherwise blocked operations and allowing them to complete processing without errors imposed by the zIIP processor configuration. After appropriately intercepting and redirecting these blocked operations more processing may be performed on the more financially cost effective zIIP processor by users of mainframe computing environments.
US08352942B2
A virtual-machine control program includes an operational-status inquiry unit that inquires of another machine about a memory usage status of virtual machines realized on another machine; a swapping-target selecting unit that selects a virtual machine capable of being swapped for a virtual machine realized on a machine from among the virtual machines realized on another machine based on information obtained by the operational-status inquiry unit; and a swapping performing unit that swaps the virtual machine realized on the machine for the virtual machine selected by the swapping-target selecting unit. The virtual-machine control program enables to move the virtual machine to another machine without preparing a free space in advance.
US08352940B2
An interface is provided between a virtual cluster proxy and a virtual I/O server on a logical partitioned platform. The virtual I/O server is configured to support virtual real memory. A command is received from a virtual cluster proxy. The virtual cluster proxy identifies whether the command is a virtual real memory command or a virtualization command. Virtual real memory commands and virtualization commands are marked by the virtual cluster proxy with a virtualization marker. The virtualization marker indicates that the command is a virtual real memory command or a virtualization command. The command is then forwarded to a logical partitioned platform. A virtual memory manager intercepts the command and identifies whether the command has been marked with the virtualization marker. If the command is marked with the virtualization marker, the virtual memory manager reroutes the command to the virtual I/O server.
US08352930B1
A method is employed to group computers to facilitate application of a software modification to the computers. The method includes identifying a global set of computers to which it is desired to apply the software modification. Based on characteristics of software configurations of the computers of the identified global set, the computers of the identified global set are grouped into a plurality of clusters. Grouping the computers into a plurality of clusters includes processing syntactic information about the computers to identify the plurality of clusters and applying the software modification to the computers of the clusters. The software modification is applied with an adjustment for each cluster in an attempt to avoid software breakage of the computers of that cluster.
US08352928B2
A linker generates a simulator-use executable format program from a pre-conversion object program and a simulator-use object program. A simulator executes the simulator-use object program and acquires branch trace information. A binary program converting tool, based on the branch trace information and a branch penalty table, generates a post-conversion object program having a rewritten branching prediction bit of the pre-conversion object program. Another linker generates an actual-machine-use executable format program from the post-conversion object program and an actual-machine-use object program.
US08352922B2
A process for providing a simulated date and/or time to a time-sensitive application is disclosed herein. Such a process may include detecting the invocation of a time handler method configured to retrieve system time. Upon detecting the invocation, the contents of a call stack may be captured and analyzed to determine which requester method initiated the invocation. The process may then determine whether the requester method should receive a real or simulated system time. A real system time may be returned to the requester method in the event it should receive the real system time. A simulated system time may be returned to the requester method in the event it should receive the simulated system time. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein.
US08352915B2
The operating system manages software entities by creating a construct called a context that organizes and manages software-related state and configuration settings of applications. A context may comprise an installation service, a configuration service and an activation service. Contexts can be linked or arranged hierarchically to form parent-child relationships. Hierarchies may be used to affect accessibility of software items, to satisfy dependencies, to control the visibility/invisibility of software items, to provide access to configuration settings and to override software availability, dependencies and configuration settings. An override may be applied to set policy when more than one context has a configuration setting, dependency or access to a software entity.
US08352910B1
A system and method adds audio to a media file. The audio may be received via one or more files in an uncompressed format, a compressed format or both types of files may be received. The system and method can mix multiple sources, and converts the audio received into a compressed version in a manner that facilitates streaming.
US08352903B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for creating mobile device applications. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a user has entered one or more user inputs into an integrated development environment, to select or arrange a component that defines a portion of an application, and transmitting interpreter code that corresponds to the component to a mobile device, where the interpreter code, when interpreted by a command interpreter on the mobile device, causes the mobile device to generate a mock-up of the portion of the application defined by the component.
US08352902B2
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing routing first for rapid prototyping and improved wiring of heterogeneous hierarchical integrated circuit chips. Placement for each of a plurality of random logic macros (RLMs) is identified. Predefined wiring shapes are created for each of the identified RLMs. Full chip wire routing is defined responsive to the created predefined wiring shapes for each of the identified RLMs.
US08352897B2
A pin placement determining method includes calculating a waveform deterioration amount of wires from a noise amount of the wires and wiring loss of the wires, the wires being coupled to a connector on a printed board, comparing the calculated waveform deterioration amount of the wires to an evaluation criteria, evaluating the wires in which the waveform deterioration amount exceeds the evaluation criteria, and replacing corresponding pins of the connectors to which the wires that have been evaluated as exceeding the evaluation criteria are coupled with replacement pins of connectors that have a low noise amount.
US08352893B1
Aspects of the invention relate to circuit topology recognition and circuit partitioning. In various embodiments of the invention, diode-connected transistors can be identified in a circuit netlist based on the unique structure. From the diode-connected transistors, current mirrors can be found. The current mirrors may be employed for locating differential pairs used in the input stage of operational amplifiers and for locating supply voltage and ground nodes in the netlist. The subcircuits that are strongly connected due to feedback loops of operational amplifiers in the circuit can then be identified and grouped together for circuit analysis and simulation.
US08352886B2
A method for the reproducible determination of the positions of structures (3) on a mask (2) is disclosed. A pellicle frame (30) is firmly attached to the mask (2). A theoretical model of the bending of the mask (2) with the firmly attached pellicle frame (30) is calculated, wherein material properties of the mask (2), of the pellicle frame (30), and of the attaching means between the pellicle frame (30) and the mask (2) are taken into account in the calculation of the bending of the mask (2). For the calculation of the bending of the mask (2) its contact with three support points is considered. The positions of the structures (3) on the mask (2) are measured with a metrology tool (1). The measured positions of each structure are corrected with the theoretical model of the bending of the mask at the position of the respectively measured structure.
US08352883B2
A computer facilitates multiple parameters data analysis by special visualization and navigation methods. Data to be analyzed is loaded from an external source the computer displays the data in response to user input using a variety of methods including data tables, slices of data spaces, hierarchically navigated data spaces, dynamic slice tables, filters, sorting, color-mapping, numerical operations, and other methods.
US08352880B2
Disclosed is a method of navigating an information structure comprising: providing a graphical menu interface displaying the items of a given level of the information structure and enabling selection thereof; dynamically constructing an active path as a sequence of active links after an item of the information structure has been selected; said active links allowing the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure; and said active links allowing a user to access an item in the information structure by selecting from the one or more items displayed by one of the active links on the active path.
US08352874B2
A communication icon represents a shared connection allowing members of an online group to interact with each other and participate in different activities together. The icon through which the group interacts resides on each group member's desktop and has many attributes including click activation modes and drag and drop functionality. The icon provides each group member with a representation of the group's shared relationship. Any group member can change the group icon and have that change propagated to the computers of the other members of the group. The icon can be activated for both non-verbal and verbal communications as well as activity sharing. Online members of the group are kept apprised of the group's status and activities via a displayed status bar.
US08352859B2
To display a news feed in a social network environment, a social networking system generates news items regarding activities associated with a user of a social network environment. The social networking system may also attach an informational link associated with at least one of the activities to at least one of the news items, limit access to the news items to a predetermined set of viewers, and assign an order to the news items. The news items may be displayed in the assigned order to at least one viewing user of the predetermined set of viewers, and the number of news items displayed may be dynamically limited.
US08352858B2
A high-speed web server that generates an HTML file upon receipt of an HTTP request is described. The server includes an application executor device and an HTTP server device that receives the HTTP request and sends an HTTP response to the HTTP request. A method for sending an HTTP response in a server that generates an HTML file upon receipt of an HTTP request is also provided. The method includes: executing a script; calculating the number of appearances of the string; storing the string in a storage; executing a script when the script is a command for processing a string; replacing the string with reference information; and sending the string file along with the HTML file when it includes reference information for reference to the string file.
US08352854B2
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a method for providing at least one customized advertisement in a dynamically generated customized page is provided. The method includes receiving a user request for a customized page. In response to the user request, the method further includes receiving a template program specific to the user. The template program is based on user configuration information. The user configuration information includes user demographic information. The template program is received from one of at least two locations. The location is determined from the frequency of the user request for the customized page. After receiving an advertisement selected in accordance to the user demographic information, the template program is executed using the selected advertisement to generate the customized page. The customized page is provided to the user.
US08352850B1
A method for entering input into a form involves receiving prose based on the form and a first input, receiving a request for a second input, where the request is based on the first input, submitting the second input in response to the request, where the second input contains a modification to the prose, where the second input is incorporated into the prose to obtain a summary that enables comprehension of the form.
US08352847B2
In one embodiment, a matrix-vector multiplication (MVM) component generates a product vector based on (i) an input matrix and (ii) an input vector. The MVM component has a permuter, memory, and an XOR gate array. The permuter permutates, for each input sub-vector of the input vector, the input sub-vector based on a set of permutation coefficients to generate a set of permuted input sub-vectors. The memory stores a set of intermediate product sub-vectors corresponding to the product vector. The XOR gate array performs, for each input sub-vector, exclusive disjunction on (i) the set of permuted input sub-vectors and (ii) the set of intermediate product sub-vectors to update the set of intermediate product subvectors, such that all of the intermediate product sub-vectors in the set are updated based on a current input sub-vector before updating any of the intermediate product sub-vectors in the set based on a subsequent input sub-vector.
US08352846B2
Provided is a method for generating a single rate or multi-rate highly structured low density parity check, encoding a data stream with the generated LDPC matrix for transmission in a wireless communication system, and for efficient LDPC decoding at a receiver.
US08352839B2
Encoding data into constrained memory using a method for writing data that includes receiving write data to be encoded into a write word, receiving constraints on symbol values associated with the write word, encoding the write data into the write word, and writing the write word to a memory. The encoding includes: representing the write data and the constraints as a first linear system in a first field of a first size; embedding the first linear system into a second linear system in a second field of a second size, the second size larger than the first size; solving the second linear system in the second field resulting in a solution; and collapsing the solution into the first field resulting in the write word, the write word satisfying the constraints on symbol values associated with the write word.
US08352833B2
A method and system is disclosed for operating a NAND memory device. The NAND memory device is operated by transmitting serial peripheral interface signals from a host to a NAND memory device, whereby the signals are communicated to a NAND memory in the NAND memory device without modifying the signals into a standard NAND memory format. Similarly, a method and system is disclosed for receiving signals from the NAND memory device without modifying the signals from a standard NAND format into a serial format. The system also incorporates error detection and correction techniques to detect and correct errors in data stored in the NAND memory device.
US08352829B1
Techniques relate to the regeneration of a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) value of a data packet in a manner that avoids a complete CRC recomputation based on the entire packet after only a portion of a packet has been modified. When modifying and forwarding a packet, a network device identifies only the changed portions of a packet and computes an updated CRC for the packet based on the original CRC, the modified portions, and the length from the modified field to end of packet.
US08352828B2
Techniques to perform forward error correction for an electrical backplane are described. An apparatus may include a physical layer unit having a forward error correction sublayer to perform forward error correction.
US08352826B2
A system includes an error correction encoder that encodes data and produces parity bits, and a parity bit processor that disperses the parity bits across the data, placing respective i-bit parity sub-blocks between selected multiple-bit data sub-blocks. The system also modifies one or more of the bits in predetermined positions in respective data sub-blocks based on the bits of the parity sub-blocks that precede them, such that the precoding does not sign invert the data sub-blocks.
US08352822B2
The invention relates to a method in a radio base station and user equipment, and comprises varying the transmitted timings of the HARQ feedback signaling such that only users with orthogonal pre-coding vectors (W) are scheduled simultaneously, to reduce multi-user interference and to ensure that said signaling is received by a transmitter before the start of the next retransmission.
US08352821B2
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving scheduling assignments in a communication system
An apparatus and method for generating a Scheduling Assignment (SA), which reduces a probability of an incorrect action by a User Equipment (UE) in response to a reception of the SA, in a communication system wherein a base station transmits the SA being a first type or a second type and including at least one Information Element (IE). The method includes setting at least one bit in the at least one IE with an arbitrary value, if the SA is of the first type; setting the at least one bit in the at least one IE with a predetermined value, if the SA is of the second type; and setting any remaining bits in the at least one IE with arbitrary values.
US08352820B2
The present invention provides for a method of forming at least one ARQ PDU from an ARQ service data unit (SDU), the ARQ PDU comprising a header portion and a data portion, and the method including selective addition of a Length Indicator field to the said header portion responsive to the determination of the presence in the PDU of the last bit of an ARQ SDU and if a HARQ PDU is formed of a plurality of ARQ PDUs wherein the last of the ARQ PDUs is arranged not to include an LI within its header if it is found not to be carrying the last bit of the ARQ SDU and LI will be added to all other ARQ PDUs though they are not carrying last bit of ARQ SDU.
US08352816B2
A system and method for sharing a communications link between multiple protocols is described. A system includes a communications interface configured to exchange information with other systems using at least one of a plurality of protocols; a protocol select register that stores a value that selects a protocol from among the plurality of protocols to become an active protocol; and a state machine accessible to the communications interface, the state machine used to control the exchange of information through the communications interface according to the active protocol. The active protocol is used by the communications interface to exchange information while the remaining protocols of the plurality of protocols remain inactive. The state machine sequences through a series of states that cause the communications interface to operate according to the active protocol, and that are designated as inert sequences under the remaining protocols.
US08352810B2
Detection of faults in a transmitted signal stream occurs by recovering, from the information stream, a water mark embedded in the stream prior to transmission. The embedded watermark has data characteristic of stream quality. Thereafter, the at least one watermark property is analyzed to detect faults in the received information stream.
US08352788B2
A computer implemented method, computer program product and system for monitoring a plurality of hardware or software system resources for identifying hidden trends in the behavior of the system resources, includes: collecting metrics of at least one system resource indicative of the behavior of at least one system resource; for each of the at least one system resource, determining a spectrum representative of a time-based signal of the collected metrics; performing a wavelet transform on each of the at least one spectrum; and analyzing the result of the wavelet transform to identify possible linear trends in the behavior of the at least one system resource.
US08352783B2
An information system including: a first and second storage apparatus including a first and second volume; a failure detection storage apparatus including a third volume; wherein, for backup purposes, the first and second volumes form a remote copy pair, and, for I/O request purposes, are recognized as a single volume labeled with a same volume identifier, but accessible by alternative access paths designated with differing priorities; wherein, if one apparatus detects a failure in the other or a connection failure, the apparatus detecting the failure stores, in the third volume, a failure information flag showing failure; wherein, upon receiving the I/O request through the second access path, the second storage apparatus determines whether the failure information flag is stored in the third volume, and sends an error reply of the I/O request to the host computer if the failure information flag is stored in the third volume.
US08352781B2
The system and method are for efficient detection and restoration of data storage array defects. The system may include a data storage subsystem, wherein the data storage subsystem includes a data storage array, read-write logic coupled to the data storage array, a parity generator for producing and storing check data during write operations to the data storage array and generating check data during read operations on the data storage array, and a parity checker for verifying the stored check data with generated check data and identifying defective data read-write elements during read operations on the data storage array. The subsystem may further include a Built-in Self Test (BIST) generator operating only on the identified defective data read-write elements for determining defective data storage elements in the defective data read-write elements, and a restoration mechanism for restoring the valid operation of data access elements containing the defective data storage elements in the data storage array.
US08352769B1
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating a query over a network to a plurality of entities that reside in a domain, the query including a request for data relating to energy use. The query can be generated by one or more computing devices belonging to the domain. A selected one of the computing devices can control power consumption for the entities in the domain. In other embodiments, a discovery protocol (DP) and a link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) is used for transporting events regarding the entities that connect or disconnect from the network. The entities send discovery events over a DP/LLDP protocol, identifying them as part of the domain. In yet other embodiments, the method includes querying a selected one of the entities to determine, if the selected entity moved to a certain energy level, an energy consumption value at the certain energy level.
US08352768B2
In a method of controlling the power state of a peripheral device, the peripheral is changed from a first power state to a second power state in response to communications across a network connected to the peripheral indicating that a user is proximately located to the peripheral. A user may be determined to be proximately located to the peripheral by monitoring communications across the network to detect traffic that is associated with a user logging onto a computer that can utilize the peripheral, by discovering a wireless terminal that is associated with a user and which is proximately located to the peripheral, by receiving information from a cellular communication network across the network that indicates that a user of the peripheral is proximately located to the peripheral, and/or in response to a time of day and/or day of week/month schedule.
US08352765B2
Exemplary embodiments of methods, apparatuses, and systems for powering up select components of a computer from a sleep state, maintaining a network state, and powering down the select components of the computer to return the computer to the sleep state are described. For one embodiment, a network interface and a fan controller receive power during the network state maintenance but a display or audio components do not receive power during the network state maintenance.
US08352758B2
An energy management control method and controller reduce power supply current and/or subsystem cooling overhead that reduces system efficiency, may reduce system reliability and may increase ambient noise. Multiple device connectors are supplied from corresponding soft switches that are programmed to provide a current level that is sufficient to supply the maximum current for the device installed in the corresponding device connector. The current level may be determined from device information provided from the device during initialization, which may directly specify a maximum current requirement. Alternatively, the maximum current requirement can be determined from other device-identifying information such as a unique device identifier. As a result a guaranteed maximum current or power and power dissipation can be determined, and multiple power supplies and/or cooling devices such as air movement devices (AMDs) may be enabled, disabled or otherwise controlled accordingly.
US08352755B2
A digital image system which transmits digital image data, and more particularly, to a digital image system in a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) format or a digital visual interface (DVI) format.
US08352747B2
Software self-checking mechanisms are described for improving software tamper resistance and/or reliability. Redundant tests are performed to detect modifications to a program while it is running. Modifications are recorded or reported. Embodiments of the software self-checking mechanisms can be implemented such that they are relatively stealthy and robust, and so that they are compatible with copy-specific static watermarking and other tamper-resistance techniques.
US08352744B2
The invention relates to a method that allows a third party to authenticate a manufacturer's individual product. According to said method, at least one first code that is specific for said individual product is generated and is applied to the product or the packaging thereof by the manufacturer, said first code is stored in a publicly accessible database, the first code is read by the third party and is entered into the database, and the database generates an output based on a comparison between the entered first code and the first codes of all products stored in the database, said output indicating whether the first code is identical to a stored first code and/or whether the first code has been retrieved at an earlier time. Previously known methods of this type offer no sufficiently sure possibility to verify whether the product is an original product or a counterfeit product. The aim of the invention is to further develop said method so as to make it possible to distinguish with adequate reliability between originals and counterfeit products. Said aim is achieved by the fact that the first code is provided with a removable cover once the first code has been applied, said cover concealing the code and being removed by the third party before he/she reads and enters the first code.
US08352742B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for allowing an Email User to create a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Email Account and thereafter to digitally sign, send, verify and receive PKI encrypted emails over a computer network, such as the Internet. The systems and methods preferably include a Web-based Email System and a Certificate Authority that coordinate their actions to make the process of creating, maintaining and using the PKI Account as easy as possible for the Email User. In a preferred embodiment, a Keystore System may also be used to enhance the management and use of digital keypairs.
US08352741B2
A hierarchical key generation and distribution mechanism for a computer system in which devices are organized into secure enclaves. The mechanism enables network access to be tailored to approximate minimum needed privileges for each device. At the lowest level of the hierarchy, keys are used to form security associations between devices. Keys at each level of the hierarchy are generated from keys at a higher level of the hierarchy and key derivation information. Key derivation information is readily ascertainable, either from identifiers for devices or from within messages, supporting hardware offload of cryptographic functions. Because keys may be generated based on the enclaves in which the hosts participating in a security association are located, the system includes a mechanism by which devices can discover the enclave in which they are located.
US08352735B2
A method and system for encrypted file access are provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving (502, 552) an access request for an encrypted file (401-403) by an application (110); determining (503, 553) the application (110) making the access request; checking (505, 555) if the application (110) is authorised for access; and if authorised, allowing the access request. The access request may be a read or write access by a destination or source application (110). If the application (110) is authorised for access, the method checks (508, 558) if the application (110) is authorised for unencrypted access; and if so, allowing unencrypted file access.
US08352730B2
Systems and methods are provided for an integrated device that persistently (or permanently) stores biometric data for a user in a tamper-resistant format. Subsequently, scan data collected from a user (e.g., a finger-print) can be compared against the biometric data. Once the user has been verified by the integrated device, a code can be wirelessly transmitted for authentication. The authentication module sends the code to a trusted key authority. The trusted key authority checks a list of enrolled integrated devices for a match. If there is a match, the authentication module sends a message to an application to allow access by the user. The trusted key authority also stores a profile associated with the code. The profile can contain user information such as name, age, account numbers, preferences, etc. and can also describe the status of the integrated device.
US08352721B1
A computer system firmware stores an operating system boot loader along with accompanying firmware boot driver and a service option ROM. A firmware boot enables the computer system to initiate an operating system boot without necessarily utilizing a hard drive or other peripheral. The service option ROM is installed, indicating to the firmware that a firmware boot is available. When selected the firmware boot copies the operating system boot loader from firmware to main memory and then initiates the operating system boot loader.
US08352708B2
A functional unit for a microprocessor is provided, which allows for fast, parallel data read, write, and manipulation operations in the microprocessor that are useful for a number of software applications, such as cryptography. The functional unit includes first and second source registers for receiving first and second data items to be processed by the functional unit, first and second banks of memory tables, a combinational logic circuit, and a decoder. The first and second banks of memory tables are in communication with the first source register, and each of the tables is indexed by an index comprising a portion of the first data item received by the first source register. Each index points to a lookup result in a respective one of the memory tables. The combinational logic circuit is in communication with the first and second banks of memory tables and the second source register, receives the lookup results, and processes the lookup results and the second data item in the second source register to produce a result data item. The decoder circuit is in communication with the combinational logic circuit, and extracts an operational code from an instruction supplied to the functional unit, decodes the operational code, and controls the combinational logic circuit in accordance with the operational code.
US08352706B2
A forward lookup address translation table and a reverse lookup address translation table stored in a nonvolatile second storing unit are transferred as a master table to a volatile first storing unit at a time of start-up. When an event occurs so that the master table needs to be updated, difference information before and after update of any one of the forward lookup address translation table and the reverse lookup address translation table is recorded in the first storing unit as a log, thereby reducing an amount of the log.
US08352691B2
Various embodiments for storage initialization and data destage in a computing storage environment are provided. At least a portion of data on a storage device is initialized using a background process, while one of simultaneously and subsequently destaging the at least the portion of the data to the storage device using a foreground process is performed. A persistent metadata bitmap, adapted to indicate whether the at least the portion of the data has been initialized, is staged to cache, the cache operable in the computing storage environment. The background process maintains a volatile bitmap indicating a status of the initialization of the at least the portion of the data in direct correspondence to the metadata bitmap. As the background process initializes the at least the portion of the data, an applicable bit on the persistent metadata bitmap is cleared and a corresponding bit is set on the volatile bitmap.
US08352689B2
Described embodiments provide a method of allocating resources of a media controller for a data transfer. A data transfer request is received from at least one host device, and includes a host device ID and a data transfer request ID. The media controller generates a Tag ID of the data transfer request based on the host device ID and the data transfer request ID, and generates a starting memory address of a tag table based on the Tag ID of the data transfer request. A tag count value is read from the starting memory address of the tag table. If the tag count value reaches a threshold, an absence of a tag overlap is determined and the Tag ID of the data transfer request is added to the tag table at the starting memory address.
US08352673B2
A data writing method for writing data from a host system into a flash memory chip having a plurality of physical blocks is provided. The method includes configuring a plurality of logical access addresses and recording address centers and address radiuses for the physical blocks. The method also includes receiving data to be written in logical access addresses, determining opened physical blocks among the physical blocks, and writing the data into the flash memory chip based on the logical access addresses, and the address centers and the address radiuses of the opened physical blocks. Accordingly, the method can effectively reduce the degree of data dispersion of each of the physical blocks, reduce the time for organizing valid data, and increase the speed for writing data.
US08352666B2
A signal transmission interface includes: a USB audio format encoding unit adapted to be coupled to a digital broadcast receiving end, for converting a digital audio signal that originates from the digital broadcast receiving end into a USB audio signal; a USB hub coupled to the USB audio format encoding unit and adapted to be coupled to a host end, for transmitting the USB audio signal to the host end and receiving a USB control signal that originates from the host end; and a USB/serial transmission bus bridge unit coupled to the USB hub and adapted to be coupled to the digital broadcast receiving end, for converting the USB control signal that is transmitted from the USB hub into a serial transmission bus control signal, and transmitting the serial transmission bus control signal to the digital broadcast receiving end.
US08352660B2
The portable computer includes a PCIe controller, a DisplayPort connector, and a combination switch. The DisplayPort connector includes a hot plug pin. The combination switch is connected between the PCIe controller and the DisplayPort connector. The combination switch includes a selecting pin electronically connected to the hot plug pin. When the DisplayPort connector is electronically coupled to a discrete graphics card using PCIe, the hot plug pin sends a hot plug voltage signal to the selecting pin, and the combination switch electronically connects the DisplayPort connector to the PCIe controller after receiving the signal.
US08352658B2
A replicated finite state machine lock service facilitates resource sharing in a distributed system. A lock request from a client identifies a resource and a lock-mode, and requests a leaseless lock on the resource. The service uses client instance identifiers to categorize requests as duplicate, stale, abandoned, or actionable. A lock may be abandoned when a client holding the lock goes down. After a per-client abandonment timer expires, the lock service may treat any exclusive lock granted to the client as abandoned, and treat any non-exclusive lock granted to the client as unlocked. The service tries to notify a lock-holding client if another client requests the same lock, and treats the lock as abandoned if the notification attempt fails. An abandoned read lock is granted to a different client on request. An abandoned write lock is granted or refused depending on whether the requesting client accepts abandoned write locks.
US08352656B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a non-coherent atomic request from a device coupled to an agent via a non-coherent link, accessing a mapping table of the agent to convert the non-coherent atomic request into a coherent atomic request, and transmitting the coherent atomic request via a coherent link to a second agent coupled to the agent to cause the second agent to be a completer of the non-coherent atomic request. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08352640B2
An electronic device includes a universal serial bus (USB) interface therein. This USB interface is configured to support at least first and second different USB interface standards. These different interface standards are selected by the electronic device in response to comparing a voltage level of a signal provided to said USB interface relative to a reference voltage generated within the electronic device. The signal provided to the USB may be a power supply signal, the first USB standard may be a USB 2.0 interface standard and the second USB standard may be an inter-chip USB interface standard.
US08352629B2
A transmission delay system, an improvement to a transmission delay system, and a method of delaying a transmission for removing undesired content from an input media stream; for excising, recording, storing, and logging, the undesired content; and for automatically providing message alerts through a network to at least one message alert recipient that an excision event has occurred.
US08352623B2
A method and system for providing an energy efficient computer management environment via tightly integrated target status and directed work sessions. The illustrative embodiments query, by a lightweight communication means, an availability status of a target computer device using a status thread. The status of the target computer device is recorded in a memory of a central computer according to response from the server thread. Responsive to an absence of a response by the target computer, the illustrative embodiments query, by a heavyweight communication means, the status of the target computer device using the status thread.
US08352618B2
A method of enabling host devices having an IPsec policy to communicate with one another via an IPv6 communication network, which includes the following steps: extracting a Media Access Control identifier (MAC ID) for a target host from a security policy for an IPv6 address for the target host; searching for the MAC ID of the target host in an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) table on a source host; upon locating the MAC ID of the target host, creating a temporal neighbor cache entry in a neighbor cache table for the target host; and enabling a security association between the source host and the target host based on the temporal neighbor entry in the neighbor cache table, which allows IPv6 communications to be exchanged between the target host and the source host.
US08352614B2
A system and method for management and processing of resource requests is provided. A content delivery network service provider determines a class associated with a set of client computing devices and monitors resources requests for the determined class. The content delivery network service provider then identifies at least one cache component for providing additional content, such as advertisement content or other additional content provided in anticipation of future resource requests, to client computing devices as a function of the determined class. In other embodiments, instead of cache components, the content delivery network service provider identifies a second set of client computing devices as a function of the determined class for providing the additional content information.
US08352613B2
A system and method for management and processing of resource requests is provided. A content delivery network service provider determines a class associated with a set of client computing devices and monitors resources requests for the determined class. The content delivery network service provider then identifies at least one cache component for providing additional content, such as advertisement content or other additional content provided in anticipation of future resource requests, to client computing devices as a function of the determined class. In other embodiments, instead of cache components, the content delivery network service provider identifies a second set of client computing devices as a function of the determined class for providing the additional content information.
US08352611B2
A method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing resources. A request for resources in the network data processing system is received. The request comprises requested values for a plurality of attributes for the resources in the network data processing system. In response to receiving the request, potential resources in the network data processing system are identified. The request is evaluated using a function configured to generate identified values for the plurality of attributes from the requested values in the request based on proximity scores for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources relative to an ideal allocation of the potential resources and resource weights for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources.
US08352602B2
An access server generates a handshake with storage servers resulting in more rapid access to the stored data, for example, video data, by a user. The handshake also results in load balancing effects.
US08352596B2
A switcher, residing in a memory, detects a connectable network when a terminal is powered on. When a network is detected, a communication unit issues a message to a processor. The processor detects whether the terminal has ever been connected to the detected network and whether the profile of the network is registered. If the processor determines that the profile of the network is registered, a connection to the network is established in accordance with the profile. If the processor determines that no profile of the network is registered, a new profile of the network is produced, and then registered. The present invention is applicable to personal computers.
US08352594B2
A network monitoring device which monitors a network in which data is transmitted through relays, includes a monitoring frequency recording unit (111) which records monitoring frequencies for monitoring transmission statuses of the relays, a selection probability generating unit (112) which generates selection probability information which is probability values for the relays, a monitoring object determining unit (113) which determines, according to the monitoring frequency and the selection probability information, a relay the transmission status of which is to be monitored, a transmission status obtaining unit (106) which obtains transmission status information indicating a transmission status on the relay determined, a transmission status recording unit (107) which records the transmission status information, an activation level calculating unit (109) which calculates, using the transmission status information, activation level indicating suitability of the monitoring on the transmission statuses of the relays, and a monitoring frequency updating unit (110) which updates, based on the activation level, the monitoring frequency, and the network monitoring device detects the change in throughput on a data transmission path highly responsively.
US08352589B2
A System is monitored by detecting activity signatures of network components. Some of the activity signatures are generated by sensing patterns of operations in data streams. Some of the activity signatures are precompiled in the system, or are standard in computer systems. The activity signatures are stored in a database. Select information about select baselined attributes generates monitoring profiles (MPs) for the baselined attributes. The MPs are defined so abnormal behavior of end points and/or system components can be detected. The system compiles baseline values for baselined attributes of MP's. By properly analyzing deviating end points or components one can determine what is causing a problem or who is effected by a problem based on which identifying attributes are common to the deviating end points or components.
US08352587B2
A digital data communications network that supports efficient, scalable routing of data and use of network resources by combining a recursive division of the network into hierarchical sub-networks with repeating parameterized general purpose link communication protocols and an addressing methodology that reflects the physical structure of the underlying network hardware. The sub-division of the network enhances security by reducing the amount of the network visible to an attack and by insulating the network hardware itself from attack. The fixed bandwidth range at each sub-network level allows quality of service to be assured and controlled. The routing of data is aided by a topological addressing scheme that allows data packets to be forwarded towards their destination based on only local knowledge of the network structure, with automatic support for mobility and multicasting. The repeating structures in the network greatly simplify network management and reduce the effort to engineer new network capabilities.
US08352579B2
Certain example embodiments concern a gateway server system including a gateway server for making at least one SOAP and/or XML-based web service accessible to at least one RPC client using at least one mapping file. The at least one mapping file includes definitions for translating at least one first RPC request message from the at least one RPC client to at least one web service call. The gateway server includes a configuration interface to receive and store the at least one mapping file. The gateway server is configured to create at least one first sub-program for processing the at least one first RPC request message in accordance with the at least one mapping file. The configuration interface is further configured to receive at least one updated mapping file and overwrite the corresponding at least one stored original mapping file, without affecting the processing of the at least one first subprogram.
US08352574B2
The present invention provides the steps of maintaining a first database containing profiles of a plurality of users in a network; maintaining a second database containing relationship index between some of the users wherein the relationship index is determined based upon degree of correspondence relationship between the users; forming a social network comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links between at least some of the nodes, in association with the relationship index stored in the second database; upon receipt of a request from a first user, searching for at least one route connecting the first user to a second user in the social network based, at least in part, upon said existing links and the relationship index of the links; and evaluating each of the searched routes based, at least in part, upon the relationship indexes of the links which form said respective searched routes.
US08352568B2
A system, apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for configuring disparate workstations. In particular, an administrative utility is provided that may allow users to upload to a configuration server individual configuration files for applications executing on workstations associated with physiological devices. Once uploaded, a user may group the configuration files into configuration groups based, for example, on similarities in configurations utilized. Once a configuration group has been created, the user may assign one or more workstations to each configuration group. Upon startup of a workstation, an application executing on the workstation may automatically transmit a request to the configuration server to load the configurations for that workstation. In response, the configuration server may determine to which configuration group the workstation has been assigned, and then download the configuration files of that configuration group to the workstation. The downloaded configuration files may then control the behavior of the application.
US08352565B2
A method for viewing an attachment of an email message on a portable electronic device in which the attachment has a renderable format. The method includes: requesting to view the attachment in an attachment viewer of the device, building a graph structure within an attachment server representing a map of the attachment, the graph structure including at least one renderable identifier corresponding to a page of the attachment, requesting rendering of the attachment, the rendering request sent from the attachment viewer to the attachment server and including the at least one renderable identifier, initializing a rendering library and storing rendering commands corresponding to command types of the graph structure in the rendering library, drawing the rendering commands in an off-screen bitmap which is saved as a JPEG file, sending the JPEG file to the portable electronic device and displaying the JPEG file in the attachment viewer.
US08352564B1
System and method for data collection and update utilizing surrogate e-mail addresses using a server
A system and method for data collection and update utilizing surrogate e-mail addresses using a server. An e-mail client generates an e-mail message comprising a surrogate e-mail address and data elements conveyed within standard fields of the e-mail message. The surrogate e-mail address also comprises data and instructions directed to a specialized software program. A message server parses the surrogate e-mail address and the e-mail content. Information relating to a specialized software program is extracted and translated into instructions and data elements. The specialized software program operates on the data elements based on the instructions obtained from the e-mail message.
US08352556B2
A system and method for conditioned distribution of e-mail is provided. Delivery of an e-mail message to selected second recipients (equivalently addressees) may be conditioned on a set of preselected conditions, in particular to a set of conditions associated with the delivery of the e-mail to a set of first recipients. In response to message delivery notifications corresponding to the set of first recipients, a determination is made if the delivery conditions are satisfied, and delivery to the set of second recipients made accordingly. Delivery to a set of third recipients may be likewise conditioned on another set of conditions.
US08352551B2
An electronic account is provided to a customer to enable the customer to access electronic services, such as e-mail and electronic transactions. The electronic account links an electronic address of the customer to a physical address of the customer. Using the electronic account, electronic services can be provided to the customer at either the electronic or physical address, or both. The services can be both secure and non-secure and can be provided by any service provider, such as an online merchant, a government agency, or a bank.
US08352548B2
A communications system may include an application server and at least one communications device for processing requests from one another. The communications device may process requests using an HTTP client application, for example. Furthermore, the system may also include an HTTP server for interfacing the HTTP client application with the application server. The HTTP server and the HTTP client application may format requests to be communicated therebetween via the Internet in an HTTP format, and each may provide additional state information with the HTTP formatted requests recognizable by the other for authenticating the application server and the HTTP client application to one another. Furthermore, the HTTP client application may request a first universal resource locator (URL) from the HTTP server for accepting work requests from the application server, and a second URL different from the first URL for responding to work requests from the application server.
US08352542B2
Described is a method of providing an interactive application over a network. Executable instructions to display foreground content and background content can be transmitted over a network to a client device. The client device can transmit data identifying a positional location of a user-selected element of the foreground content in the foreground display to a server. The server can determine a next state of the interactive application based on the current state of the interactive application and the positional location of the user-selected element. The server can transmit a next set of executable instructions causing the client device to manipulate one or more of the individual elements in the foreground display according to the next state of the interactive application.
US08352535B2
A method and a system for information management and control is presented, based on modular and abstract description of the information. Identifiers are used to identify features of interest in the information and information use policies are assigned directly or indirectly on the basis of the identifiers, allowing for flexible and efficient policy management and enforcement, in that a policy can be defined with a direct relationship to the actual information content of digital data items. The information content can be of various kinds: e.g., textual documents, numerical spreadsheets, audio and video files, pictures and images, drawings etc. The system can provide protection against information policy breaches such as information misuse, unauthorized distribution and leakage, and for information tracking.
US08352533B2
There is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit including: a plurality of first logic blocks which are reconfigurable, the plurality of first logic blocks inputting data of a first bit width and performing computation; a first network connecting the plurality of first logic blocks in a dynamically reconfigurable manner; a plurality of second logic blocks inputting data of a second bit width different from the first bit width and performing computation; a second network connected to outputs of the plurality of second logic blocks; and a third network connecting a carry bit output of a computing unit included in the first logic block to an input of a computing unit included in the second logic block in a dynamically reconfigurable manner.
US08352530B2
A residue generator for calculation and correction of a residue value. The residue generator includes a residue-generation tree connected with an operand register at an input of the residue generator including a plurality of register-bits receiving and carrying bits of numerical data. The residue-generation tree includes a multiplexer connected with respective register-bits which carry unused bits, and selectively providing logical zeros or a correction value when provided, at the respective register-bits carrying the unused bits, a plurality of decoders, each decoder receiving the bits of numerical data from the respective registers-bits including the logical zeros or the correction value when provided and decoding the numerical data, and a plurality of residue condensers, receiving the decoded numerical data from the decoders including the logical zeros or the correction value when provided, and calculating the residue value and correcting while calculating the residue value using the correction value when provided by the multiplexer.
US08352523B1
A data management system (DMS) includes a continuous real-time object store that captures all real-time activities, with associated object metadata information. The DMS is capable of reintroducing any point-in-time view of data ranging from a granular object to an entire file system. A set of algorithms (for creation of a file or directory, modification of a file or directory, deletion of a file or directory, and relocation/renaming of a file or directory) are used to generate and maintain a file system history in the DMS and to ensure that a latest version of a directory always refers to a latest version of its children until the directory changed. Any point-in-time recovery is implemented using the file system history in one of various ways to provide strong individual file integrity, exact point-in-time crash consistency, and/or recovery of last version of all files in the file system.
US08352520B2
A method and apparatus for a configurable offline data store are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request for a first set of one or more records from a client application, wherein the first set is remotely stored. The method further includes determining a second set of one or more records that is associated with the first set, wherein the second set is remotely stored. The method further includes fetching over a network the first set and the second set from a server data store unit; storing the first set and the second set in a client data store unit and providing access to the first set and the second set when the network is not operational.
US08352517B2
Techniques for managing memory usage in a processing system are provided. This may be achieved by receiving a data stream including multiple tuples and determining a query plan that was generated for a continuous query applied to the multiple tuples in the data stream. The query plan may include one or more operators. Before scheduling an operator in the query plan, it is determined when an eviction is to be performed based a level of free memory of the processing system. An eviction candidate is determined and a page associated with the eviction candidate is evicted from the memory to a persistent storage.
US08352508B2
Disclosed are methods for arranging list elements (e.g., results returned by a user search) according to anticipated “impact.” Thumbnails of the top elements are displayed on a screen of the user's device, with the size of each thumbnail related to that result's anticipated impact. In some embodiments, the arrangement of these thumbnails on the display screen is also based on the anticipated impacts with larger thumbnails placed near the center of the screen and successively smaller thumbnails arranged farther away. Different embodiments may calculate the anticipated impacts differently. The impact can be related to the rank order as assigned by a search engine. Any information about the user's current situation can go into the calculation of the anticipated impact. When the user is searching for information, longer video results may be assigned a larger anticipated impact because they are more likely to contain the wanted information.
US08352505B1
Embodiments relate to a system and method for identifying common patterns of use of resources. The resource usage patterns may be specified using a tree structure, and identifying common resource use patterns may involve identifying isomorphic subtrees between two or more trees. Isomorphic subtree identification may be accomplished by converting trees into key-based representation and analyzing the key-based representation to identify common patterns within the key-based representation.
US08352498B2
A project management system manages project schedule data using separate current and historical task schedule data structures. In general, current schedule data is stored separately from historical schedule data, so that the current schedule data may be retrieved separately from the historical task schedule data. The project management system may also maintain unscheduled tasks as “to-do lists.” Tasks may be added to a member's schedule without specifying any planned dates and the tasks are added to the database. The tasks have an associated revision number of 0 to indicate that the tasks were added, but not yet scheduled. The tasks are displayed in the member schedule editor and in Web page schedules. The tasks may then be displayed in the member schedule editor and in Web page schedules in a manner that allows a user to readily determine that the tasks are “to-do list” tasks.
US08352497B1
Technologies are described herein for caching variably sized access control lists (ACLs) in a data storage system utilizing page object caching. A request to access a file is received. An inode number of the requested file is identified. A hash key based on the inode number and a predefined hash value is determined. A determination is made as to whether the hash key is contained in a hash list. In response to determining that the hash key is contained in the hash list, access to a page object in the memory is provided. The page object contains an access control list (ACL) associated with the requested file. The ACL is retrieved from the page object.
US08352495B2
The present disclosure describes an apparatus and methods for performing data analysis, in particular network analysis. Specifically it provides a framework and user interface whereby raw data may be imported into a data model with entities, attributes, and relationships between the entities and multiple data analysis algorithms may be pipelined into a larger data analysis model and applied to the data model. Offline and online data visualization and data exploration techniques, may be applied to the results of the data analysis enabling real-time and near real-time interactive online analysis. Extensibility models and market transaction models are also provided.
US08352493B2
Searchable directories of health events are described. In many embodiments, a health event directory platform is provided that enables health providers to upload events to database of health events. The health event directory platform captures data from the health provider in a structured way that facilitates the searching of the database of health events. In addition, the health event directory platform uses knowledge of previous searches to suggest additional information to associate with a health event in order to increase the likelihood that the health event will appear in the results of a relevant search query. Users can provide requests for information to the health event directory platform, which uses the request to query the health events database and retrieve information concerning relevant health events within a particular geographic area. In many embodiments, the user can register for an event and/or pay using the health event directory platform.
US08352492B2
Techniques whereby a client computer may request metadata relating to a peripheral device from one or more server computers are provided. Upon connecting to a peripheral device, the client computer receives information identifying the device, and generates a query, using the received information, for metadata relating to the device. The client computer may, for example, first attempt to execute the query locally to determine if metadata appropriate for use (e.g., not outdated) is stored on the client computer. If not, the client computer may issue the query to one or more server computers which stores metadata received from manufacturers and/or suppliers of peripheral devices. The one or more server computers may issue a response making the requested metadata available to the client computer and providing instructions relating to subsequent requests from the client computer, so as to manage the processing load borne by the one or more server computers. The client computer may employ the metadata to present a graphical interface that enables the user to manage the device.
US08352487B2
A method of organizing, managing, and providing interactive access to data in a database is disclosed, along with a program and a system for implementing the method. Associations between each data Item and at least one ItemSelector are established and stored. A predefined (but modifiable) Vocabulary of ItemSelectors sufficient to describe each Item of the database is created. Presently selected Items are described by a combination of associations defined by an appropriate Boolean combination of each ItemSelector in a presently selected set of ItemSelectors. A user controls the presently selected set by adding an ItemSelector from a presented group, or by removing a previously selected ItemSelector. The system ideally makes available to the user all relevant ItemSelectors—those which, if added to the presently selected set, would result in a set that describes at least one extant data Item. The system ideally makes all presently selected Items available to the user.
US08352484B1
A method for hashing executable files may include identifying an executable file comprising non-variable executable content that contributes to the functionality of the executable file and does not vary among instances of the executable file. The method may also include identifying, within the executable file, non-executable content that does not contribute to the functionality of the executable file. The method may further include creating a normalized executable file by normalizing at least a portion of the non-executable content of the executable file without normalizing the non-variable executable content of the executable file. The method may include calculating a hash value that represents the normalized executable file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed herein.
US08352482B2
System and method for replicating disk images in a cloud computing based virtual machine file system
A replicated decentralized storage system comprises a plurality of servers that locally store disk images for locally running virtual machines as well as disk images, for failover purposes, for remotely running virtual machines. To ensure that disk images stored for failover purposes are properly replicated upon an update of the disk image on the server running the virtual machine, a hash of a unique value known only to the server running the virtual machine is used to verify the origin of update operations that have been transmitted by the server to the other servers storing replications of the disk image for failover purposes. If verified, the update operations are added to such failover disk images.
US08352479B2
Systems, methods and computer products for content-derived (generated) metadata. Exemplary embodiments include a metadata generation method, including receiving a media file, searching the media file for metadata associated with the media file, adding the metadata to a metadata file associated with the media file, searching the media file for media components and adding metadata entries that are associated with the media components to the metadata file.
US08352472B2
Systems and methods for managing electronic data are disclosed. Various data management operations can be performed based on a metabase formed from metadata. Such metadata can be identified from an index of data interactions generated by a journaling module, and obtained from their associated data objects stored in one or more storage devices. In various embodiments, such processing of the index and storing of the metadata can facilitate, for example, enhanced data management operations, enhanced data identification operations, enhanced storage operations, data classification for organizing and storing the metadata, cataloging of metadata for the stored metadata, and/or user interfaces for managing data. In various embodiments, the metabase can be configured in different ways. For example, the metabase can be stored separately from the data objects so as to allow obtaining of information about the data objects without accessing the data objects or a data structure used by a file system.
US08352471B2
The proximate data selecting unit (photographing time distance base proximate data selecting unit) selects, as a proximate photograph, a photograph having a photographing time satisfying constraint on a time distance from a determination time determined in each adjacent photographs block as a time block sandwiched by photographing times of two photographs adjacent to each other in a group of photographs aligned in the order of photographing based on time series photographing time information and outputs proximate data designation information for designating photographing time data of the proximate photograph. The group boundary determining unit detects a change of a photographing disposition in each adjacent photographs block by using photographing time data of a proximate photograph at a determination time in each adjacent photographs block which is designated by the proximate data designation information, thereby determining whether there exists a boundary of a group in each adjacent photographs block.
US08352452B2
Methods and apparatus consistent with the invention provide improved organization of documents responsive to a search query. In one embodiment, a search query is received and a list of responsive documents is identified. The responsive documents are organized based in whole or in part on usage statistics.
US08352450B1
A database updating application for updating through a one-way data link a remote database in accordance with a change in a reference database is disclosed, which comprises a database trigger client associated with the reference database for generating a database update message in the form of a file or a data packet corresponding to the change in the reference database and sending the database update message to a send node interconnected to a receive node by the one-way data link, and a database trigger server associated with the remote database for receiving the database update message transmitted across the one-way data link and replicating the change on the remote database in accordance with the database update message. The present invention provides database update through a one-way data link that may be implemented efficiently in real time and with a mechanism for verifying the integrity and operability of the one-way data link for the purpose of database update. In addition, the present invention provides a way to combine the functionalities of the conventional database update applications with the security afforded by the use of a one-way data link.
US08352438B1
A method for contextual evaluation of files for use in file restoration. The method may include receiving a request to replace a damaged file on a computing system with a clean instance of the damaged file and identifying a clean file that corresponds to the damaged file. The method may also include identifying at least one file set that includes the clean file. The method may further include evaluating the suitability of the clean file for use as a replacement for the damaged file by: 1) determining whether the computing system includes an instance of each file in the file set and 2) deciding, based on the determination of whether the computing system includes an instance of each file in the file set, whether to replace the damaged file with the clean file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08352434B2
Provided are a system and article of manufacture for performing scheduled backups of a backup node associated with a plurality of agent nodes. Backup data sets on at least one machine in a network are associated with a backup node and a plurality of agent nodes in the network are associated with the backup node. The agent nodes are associated with machines in the network capable of backing up the backup data sets associated with the backup node. A schedule indicating a scheduled backup to backup scheduled data sets associated with the backup node is processed. At least one of the agent nodes is contacted to request the at least one agent node to perform the scheduled backup and backup the scheduled data sets, wherein the at least one contacted agent node performs the scheduled backup to backup the scheduled backup sets.
US08352428B2
An approach is provided that receives a file request and maintains a set of file versions of the requested file on a network-accessible storage media. The file versions are retrieved from the network accessible storage media along with expected hash values corresponding to each of the file versions. The retrieved file versions are stored in a second nonvolatile storage media, such as a local nonvolatile storage. File versions are selected from newest to oldest. When a file version is selected, a hash value is computed for the file and this hash value is compared to the expected hash value that corresponds to the selected file version. The first (newest) file version with a hash value that matches the expected hash value is selected and returned to the requestor.
US08352426B2
Proposed are a computing system and a data management method for improving the usage efficiency of logical volumes without lowering the response performance In a computing system that includes a first storage apparatus in which first and second storage volumes are configured, a file storage apparatus for controlling the first logical volume, a second storage apparatus, and an archive apparatus for controlling the second storage apparatus, the first storage apparatus acquires a snapshot of the first logical volume at regular or irregular intervals and stores differential data in the second logical volume, specifies a file for which the consumption amount of the second logical volume exceeds a predetermined threshold, causes the first storage apparatus to acquire a snapshot of the specified file, and if a read request to read the file is supplied, generates the file on the basis of data stored in the first and second logical volumes.
US08352414B2
A system for discovering business processes from noisy activities logs from various activities performed during the execution of the process. Activities are observed from the noisy activity logs that may include text from manually entered activity logs, chat scripts, emails, voice transcripts, desktop captures, and tool logs, wherein the noisy activity logs are received from multiple person/tool actors with each of the actors performing one or more activities related to one/more business tasks. Extracting information from the noisy activity logs to capture activity based information, and then analyzing similar activities and finding possible paths in the similar activities. The results are used to build a process graph based on the similar activities and the possible paths in the similar activities.
US08352413B2
Systems and methods for providing controlled access to value dispensing devices are described and in certain examples, systems including those for providing controlled access to a postage meter from multiple programs executing on an external collocated processor are described.
US08352410B2
A method for estimating vegetation growth relative to an object of interest is disclosed. A target vegetation is identified from a second sensing dataset. A corresponding target vegetation is identified in a first sensing dataset, the first sensing dataset collected at a time before the second sensing dataset. A first statistic is attributed to the corresponding target vegetation based on a distance of one or more points of the corresponding target vegetation in the first sensing dataset relative to the object of interest. A second statistic is attributed to the target vegetation based on a distance of one or more points of the target vegetation in the second sensing dataset relative to the object of interest. An encroachment rate is determined from a comparison of the first statistic and the second statistic.
US08352404B2
A computer-implemented method of determining an allocation plan for a cargo stowage problem of allocating a set of cargo items to a set of cargo item positions of a vessel, each cargo item position being suitable for receiving a cargo item. The method comprises constructing an expression indicative of one or more constraints to be satisfied by said allocation plan, constructing a cost function indicative of a cost of an updated allocation plan relative to a current allocation plan of said cargo stowage problem, iteratively updating a current allocation plan from an initial allocation plan to an updated allocation plan so as to decrease said cost function under said one or more constraints.
US08352400B2
A system and method of predicting items likely to appeal to a user, based on data received from a remote site. One or more local systems are provided, along with a remote system, said local systems communicating with said remote system over a network connection. Each local system maintains a set of characterized items. A local processor predicts an appeal of an item to a user based on the comparison with the set of characterized items with, e.g., user preferences. The user may interact through graphical user interface. At least one user-preference predictive algorithm may be employed to present items predicted to appeal to the user.
US08352399B2
A method for analyzing fault modes that may cause a fault is presented in which a multi-point analysis may be performed to identify multi fault modes that are interrelated in causing the fault. The method provides for easy and systematic switching from a top-down to bottom-up approaches of analysis to insure accurate and easy to perform multi-point analysis of the related fault modes.
US08352385B2
A microchip for performing a neural decoding algorithm is provided. The microchip is implemented using ultra-low power electronics. Also, the microchip includes a tunable neural decodable filter implemented using a plurality of amplifiers, a plurality of parameter learning filters, a multiplier, a gain and time-constant biasing circuits; and analog memory. The microchip, in a training mode, learns to perform an optimized translation of a raw neural signal received from a population of cortical neurons into motor control parameters. The optimization being based on a modified gradient descent least square algorithm wherein update for a given parameter in a filter is proportional to an averaged product of an error in the final output that the filter affects and a filtered version of its input. The microchip, in an operational mode, issues commands to controlling a device using learned mappings.
US08352384B2
Circuits that solve stochastic problems and techniques for operating them. These natively stochastic circuits may produce samples from probability distributions of interest for particular stochastic problems, and may be combined together in any suitable way to yield potential solutions to stochastic problems. In some implementations, the stochastic circuits may generate samples from conditional probability distributions conditioned on input data provided to the stochastic circuits. The circuits may be constructed from multiple interconnected stochastic subcircuits such that a circuit may produce a sample from a joint probability distribution, or from a marginal distribution of a joint distribution. These circuits may be used to implement stochastic sampling algorithms to solve stochastic processes, and may include stochastic subcircuits that operate concurrently.
US08352379B2
There is provided a method of, computer programs for and apparatus for providing and accessing digital content such as a news item. A news provider generates a news item, creates a digitally signed version of the news item and packages them together with a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority containing the public key required to decrypt the digitally signed version. The package is posted to a server and is transmitted, or made available or transmission, over a public data network together with a computer program for verifying the news item. A receiving party receives, over the public data network, the package at a client device and is provided with means for launching, and if necessary first downloading, the verifying program. The verifying program uses the public key contained in the certificate to verify the digitally signed news item. Before being first used to verify a news item, the verifying program receives a shared secret from the receiving party which is stored locally to the client device and is used by the verifying program to confirm that it performed the verification process.
US08352377B2
An electronic payment method and system between a seller and a buyer to purchase a good providing a dynamic allocation to the seller of predefined SMS numbers and predefined SMS messages is provided. Furthermore, an associated system to carry out an electronic payment over a public network between a seller and a buyer is also provided.
US08352374B2
Methods and systems for controlling the distribution of digital content are provided. A license holder acquires protected content and an original digital license to the protected content from a content provider system. The license holder in turn delegates all or part of the grants in that original license to other qualified devices or clients. The content remains in its original, protected or encrypted form while it is delivered from the license holder to the client along with a digital sublicense that the client receives from the original license holder, whereupon the content can then be rendered. The original digital license defines or governs the conditions under which such delegation occurs, and includes terms under which such delegation is permitted to continue in order to enforce the intent of the content provider.
US08352373B2
A data copyright management system comprises a database for storing original data, a key control center for managing crypt keys, copyright management center for managing data copyrights, and a communication network for connecting these sections. Data supplied from the database to users is encrypted and distributed. The users decrypts the encrypted data by crypt keys obtained from the key control center or copyright management center. To supply data to users, there are the following two methods: a one-way supplying of encrypted data to users by means of broadcasting or the like; and two-way supplying of encrypted data to users corresponding to users' requests. A crypt key system used for encrypting data uses a secret-key cryptosystem, a public-key cryptosystem or a cryptosystem combining a secret-key and a public-key and further uses a copyright control program to control data copyrights. When a user stores, copies, or transfers data, the data is encrypted by a crypt key different from a crypt key used for supplying the data. The former crypt key is supplied from the key control center or from the copyright management center, or generated by the copyright control program. The present invention can be applied to a data copyright management system for using not only single data but also a plurality of data supplied from a single database or a plurality of data supplied from a plurality of databases. Further, an apparatus to be used by the user to perform data copyright management is proposed.
US08352370B1
Systems and methods for universal instant credit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of offering a financial instrument to a customer includes (1) using a computer processor, an issuer providing a customer with an application for a financial instrument; (2) the issuer receiving from the customer a completed application for the financial instrument; (3) using the computer processor, the issuer determining whether to approve the customer for the financial instrument; (4) using the computer processor, the issuer transmitting a first portion of an account identifier to a merchant; and (5) using the computer processor, the issuer transmitting a second portion of the account identifier to the customer. The financial instrument may be a credit card, a stored value card, a line of credit, etc.
US08352366B1
A computer-implemented method is provided for enhancing payment flexibility. The method includes receiving payment notification including a payment amount and a payment date for an identified customer and determining eligibility for flexible payment status implementing the computer processor, the determination based on the customer identity, the payment date, and a payment due date. The method further includes calculating a flex accrual using the computer processor if the customer is eligible for flexible payment status, the flex accrual based on the payment amount, the payment date, and the payment due date and communicating the flex accrual to the customer. The method additionally includes allowing the identified customer to utilize the flex accrual by making a late payment without penalty, wherein a number of days late and dollars paid are determined based on the flex accrual.
US08352360B2
A method and system are disclosed for booking and paying a retailer having a POS, which can be a low cost thin client computer system, connected to a transaction server storing confidential user information including a retailer identification, a user code and a user wireless device phone number, said method comprising the steps of receiving at the transaction server, from the user wireless device which can be a common cellphone, an SMS containing a retailer identification, reading at the transaction server the phone number of the wireless device communicated by the carrier transporting the SMS, authentifying said phone number and retailer identification with the stored confidential user information and sending the user confidential information to the retailer POS, the user entering on the POS the user code and the POS reading and authentifying the user code with the user confidential information received from the transaction server, the retailer entering the payment information on the POS and sending it with user information to the transaction server.
US08352340B2
Methods and corresponding systems are provided for exercising employee stock options between an employee and a company. The stock option exercise generally includes the steps of establishing a plurality of escrow accounts including a company escrow account, a third party escrow account, and an employee escrow account, receiving notice of intent to exercise a stock option from an employee, transferring securities to satisfy the stock option exercise from the company to a company escrow account, transferring property equivalent to a third party purchase price from a third party to the third party escrow account, transferring the notice of intent to exercise a stock option to the employee escrow account, and transferring property held in the plurality of escrow accounts to the employee, the company, and the third party in accordance at least in part with the stock option.
US08352339B2
Bankruptcy relief calculator. A calculation program can make a relatively objective determination as to whether to file for relief from a bankruptcy stay relative to a particular account and associated collateral. Using historical statistics on bankruptcy filings as well as information about the collateral and depreciation of the collateral, the calculator can make an estimate of depreciation saved by the filing and compare that estimate to the cost of a filing. The calculator can then produce a recommendation as to whether to file for relief or to wait for the bankruptcy to be discharged in its normal course. The invention can be implemented via a stand-alone computing system or such a system interconnected with other platforms or data stores by a network, such as a corporate intranet, a local area network, or the Internet.
US08352335B2
A method of facilitating broker mediated matching of a potential buyer of a spare part with a potential seller of the spare part, the potential seller having an inventory of spare parts for use in a manufacturing process run by the potential seller, the method comprising the following steps undertaken by the broker: (a) receiving a request for the spare part from a potential buyer, (b) enquiring with a potential seller as to the presence of the spare part in its inventory, (c) if the spare part is present, assessing whether or not the spare part is excess to the foreseeable needs of the potential seller in running the manufacturing process efficiently by the application of software that presents a series of questions for answering by the potential seller, the answers to which will reveal whether or not the spare part is excess to said needs, and (d) if the spare part is excess to said needs, providing means by which the potential seller and potential buyer will communicate with each other, whereby they may finalise details for securing the sale and transfer of the spare part.
US08352332B2
A method and a system for ordering paint to cover a surface includes, retrieving a color value from a machine-readable memory to a processor. The processor retrieves a paint quantity from a machine-readable memory. The processor compiles an order for paint including the paint quantity and color value and then transmits the order from the processor to a vendor for formulating the paint quantity having the color value when painted upon the surface and allowed to dry.
US08352326B2
A virtual business transaction is implemented between a first virtual world and a second virtual world by providing a searchable catalog that includes one or more items each comprising a virtual good, a virtual service, a real good, or a real service. An object representation is stored for each of the items. Each of the stored object representations is associated with metadata comprising any of digital rights metadata, ownership metadata, identity metadata, payment method metadata, or currency detail metadata. A set of transformation algorithms are established that are customized through a rule set. A request is received specifying a copying, modifying, or reselling of an item selected from the items in the searchable catalog. The copying, modifying, or reselling of the item from a first virtual world to a second virtual world is implemented using the set of transformation algorithms. An exchange of virtual currency is implemented between the first virtual world and the second virtual world using the set of transformation algorithms.
US08352322B2
A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
US08352314B2
Provided is a method for providing Internet advertisement. The method provides a plurality of individual Internet advertisements included in an advertisement pool which is configured with a plurality of advertisement groups ‘G1’ to ‘Gm’ having a predetermined advertisement number rate ‘Ni’, a predetermined exposure frequency setting value ‘Ci’ and a correction coefficient ‘Ki’. An advertisement providing server, which provides one or more Internet advertisements to a web page providing server providing a web page including an Internet advertisement, calculates a CTR to the number of times the individual Internet advertisements are exposed.
US08352313B2
A central monitoring station is linked to a plurality of remote terminals, such as payment terminals at a plurality of parking facilities. The central monitoring station and each remote terminal includes a two-way communication system in the form of a video camera and display, and audio speaker and microphone. The station and remote terminals are preferably linked through an Ethernet or Internet connection, although a hard-wired connection is also contemplated. The two-way communication system can be used by a customer at the remote terminal to achieve direct human interaction with an attendant at the remote central station to address problems occurring at the terminal. The communication system can also allow the attendant to manipulate the processor of each remote terminal to collect data, troubleshoot or override the function of the terminal.
US08352311B2
An Internet Based Achievement Management Process & Method of use thereof which generally comprises computer software, including internet web page based code, and methods of applications that allows a user to mange, track, and record events and or achievements which pertain to professional, educational, and or personal goals as well as the ability to measure or compare the events and or achievements against their peers by means of an impartial third party review and assessment process.
US08352304B2
A system and method for allocating jobs to an agent is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for allocating jobs to an agent includes defining, for each job of the jobs, a job type associated with at least one job and at least one sub-step associated with the at least one job, determining eligibility to perform the at least one sub-step by an agent of agents, determining a number of jobs of each job type to be performed by the agent based on the eligibility determination, and automatically generating agent-specific job queues based on the number of jobs.
US08352300B2
A system, computer program product and method for implementing and managing a value chain network. The computer program product includes allowing a first company having one or more clusters of retail stores and a second company in a value chain network to access to a shared database, having first and second plurality of fields in the shared database are uniquely associated with each respective first and second company, on a service provider computer over a network; linking the first company with one or more of the second plurality of fields; linking the second company with one or more of the first plurality of fields; periodically receiving sales information and events, including a demand event and a supply event, on the value network within at least one of the one or more clusters of retail stores; and updating one or more of the first plurality of fields that are linked to the second company upon receipt of at least one selected from the group consisting of the sales information, the demand event and the supply event. The first and second company are linked and provided limited access to the one or more of the respective second and first plurality of fields without creating a copy. The one or more updated first plurality of fields are immediately accessible to the first and second company.
US08352299B1
Systems and methods use behavioral data to assess listings for items. The behavior data may relate to information regarding user actions in connection with listings for the items. The listings may be collections of information about the items. Behavioral data in connection with a collection of listings is used to assess how changing listings affects one or more performance measures and/or to score listing quality. The assessment may be used for various purposes, such as identifying listings that may be changed to achieve one or more improved performance measures for corresponding items and for other applications.
US08352295B1
A method and apparatus for determining the amount of premium, policies, or quotations needed to improve market share in various geographic locations based on user selected criteria. The method comprises calculating a total estimated expenditure on insurance by zip code, an estimated market share for an insurance provider by zip code, a year-to-date sale-to-quote ratio by zip code, and finally the amount of premiums, policies, or quotations needed to achieve a market share in a zip code. The method and apparatus will also display or output demographic data, market data, insurance provider information, and calculated amounts of premiums, policies, or quotations needed to achieve a market share in a given zip code.
US08352293B2
A system and method for facilitating annuity transactions between annuity purchasers and providers via an annuities placement program accessible to the purchasers and providers. Purchasers enter quote solicitation information used by the annuity providers to establish a quote for an annuity. Annuity providers enter a quote in response to the quote solicitation information, and the quote is provided to the purchaser via the annuities placement program. The quote is customized to the annuity purchaser's quote solicitation information. Multiple quotes from multiple providers may be presented to the purchaser for ease of quote comparison. To facilitate such transactions, a discretionary group is established to be a contract holder for each participating annuity provider. A master group contract is established for each of the participating providers, each of which is written by a respective one of the participating annuity providers to the discretionary group to allow the discretionary group to be the contract holder for annuities purchased by the annuity purchasers. In response to an annuity purchase, a certificate of participation is issued to the purchaser from the provider under the terms of the master group contract of that annuity provider, which reflects annuity terms customized to the annuity purchaser.
US08352282B2
An invention is provided for a system for managing and deploying software functionality to a vehicle client including a server including a user preference list, a communication tier, applications for receiving a request from the vehicle client, the request identifying the particular user preference and applications for deploying the selected plurality of services and the plurality of service directories in the particular user's preference list to the vehicle client in response to a request from the vehicle client. The user preference list includes a selected plurality of services subscribed by a corresponding particular user's preference list, each one of the plurality of services including a plurality of software components and information for use of a corresponding service, wherein the selected plurality of services are downloadable service implementation components and a plurality of service directories, each service directory including a list of service objects. The communication tier couples the server and a plurality of devices via one or more networks, wherein the plurality of devices includes at least one vehicle client.
US08352278B2
A system for monitoring hands-free accessibility of media items for play at a vehicle includes a vehicle entertainment computing system (VECS) configured to receive predetermined rules for voice-activated access of the media items. Violations of the rules are detected based on media item metadata. If a violation is detected, a prompt is outputted. Media items are retrieved and played based on voice-activated requests. One embodiment includes a method for monitoring hands-free accessibility of media items for play at a vehicle. A system for formatting media items for accessibility at a VECS includes a media item incompatibility resolution system (MIIRS) configured to resolve violations of the predetermined rules by receiving additional rules relating to formatting violating media items. The media items are searched and the violations addressed by reformatting the media items for voice-activated access. The media items are outputted to the MIIRS.
US08352276B1
Systems and methods are provided for using automatic speech recognition to analyze a voice interaction and verify compliance of an agent reading a script to a client during the voice interaction. In one aspect of the invention, a method may include conducting the voice interaction between the agent and a client, wherein the agent follows the script via a plurality of panels. From there, the voice interaction is evaluated via the plurality of panels employing panel-by-panel playback with an automatic speech recognition component adapted to analyze the voice interaction. As such, it may be determined, via generating a score using confidence level thresholds of an automatic speech recognition component such that confidence level thresholds are assigned to each of the plurality of panels and evaluating the score against at least one of a static standard and a varying standard, whether the agent has adequately followed the script.
US08352274B2
A sound determination device (100) includes: an FFT unit (2402) which receives a mixed sound including a to-be-extracted sound and a noise, and obtains a frequency signal of the mixed sound for each of a plurality of times included in a predetermined duration; and a to-be-extracted sound determination unit (101 (j)) which determines, when the number of the frequency signals at the plurality of times included in the predetermined duration is equal to or larger than a first threshold value and a phase distance between the frequency signals out of the frequency signals at the plurality of times is equal to or smaller than a second threshold value, each of the frequency signals with the phase distance as a frequency signal of the to-be-extracted sound. The phase distance is a distance between phases of the frequency signals when a phase of a frequency signal at a time t is ψ(t) (radian) and the phase is represented by ψ′(t)=mod 2π(ψ(t)−2πft) (where f is an analysis-target frequency).
US08352273B2
There is provided a device for performing interaction between a user and a machine. The device includes a plurality of domains corresponding to a plurality of stages in the interaction. Each of the domains has voice comprehension means which understands the content of the user's voice. The device includes: means for recognizing the user's voice; means for selecting a domain enabling the best voice comprehension results as ht domain; means for referencing task knowledge of the domain and extracting a task correlated to the voice comprehension result; means for obtaining a sub task sequence correlated to the extracted task; means for setting the first sub task of the sub task sequence as the sub task and updating the domain to which the sub task belongs as the domain; means for extracting a behavior or sub task end flag correlated to the voice comprehension result and the subtask; and means for causing the machine to execute the extracted behavior.
US08352271B2
To facilitate text-to-speech conversion of a username, a first or last name of a user associated with the username may be retrieved, and a pronunciation of the username may be determined based at least in part on whether the name forms at least part of the username. To facilitate text-to-speech conversion of a domain name having a top level domain and at least one other level domain, a pronunciation for the top level domain may be determined based at least in part upon whether the top level domain is one of a predetermined set of top level domains. Each other level domain may be searched for one or more recognized words therewithin, and a pronunciation of the other level domain may be determined based at least in part on an outcome of the search. The username and domain name may form part of a network address such as an email address, URL or URI.
US08352260B2
A system for a multimodal unification of articulation includes a voice signal modality to receive a voice signal, and a control signal modality which receives an input from a user and generates a control signal from the input which is selected from predetermined inputs directly corresponding to the phonetic information. The interactive voice based phonetic input system also includes a multimodal integration system to receive and integrates the voice signal and the control signal. The multimodal integration system delimits a context of a spoken utterance of the voice signal by using the control signal to preprocess and discretize into phonetic frames. A voice recognizer analyzing the voice signal integrated with the control signal to output a voice recognition result. This new paradigm helps overcome constraints found in interfacing mobile devices. Context information facilitates the handling of the commands in the application environment.
US08352256B2
An audio input signal is filtered using an adaptive filter to generate a prediction output signal with reduced noise, wherein the filter is implemented using a plurality of coefficients to generate a plurality of prediction errors and to generate an error from the plurality of prediction errors, wherein the absolute values of the coefficients are continuously reduced by a plurality of reduction parameters.
US08352255B2
A high quality speech is reproduced with a small data amount in speech coding and decoding for performing compression coding and decoding of a speech signal to a digital signal. In speech coding method according to a code-excited linear prediction (CELP) speech coding, a noise level of a speech in a concerning coding period is evaluated by using a code or coding result of at least one of spectrum information, power information, and pitch information, and various excitation codebooks are used based on an evaluation result.
US08352252B2
A method for preventing the loss of information within a speech frame is described. A first speech frame to be encoded is selected. A determination is made as to whether or not a second speech frame is a critical speech frame based on the information within the second speech frame and one or more adjacent speech frames. At least a part of an encoded version of the second speech frame is created according to a selected forward error correction (FEC) mode if the second speech frame is a critical speech frame. The first speech frame and the at least a part of the encoded version of the second speech frame are transmitted.
US08352247B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating suffix rewriting rules. A method includes obtaining a plurality of canonical suffix-rewriting rules each associated with one or more words, generating a suffix tree from the words, selecting a minimum colored subset of the nodes and leaves in the suffix tree, and generating a plurality of final suffix-rewriting rules from the nodes in the minimum colored subset. Another method includes receiving applicable and non-applicable words for a suffix-rewriting rule, generating a suffix tree from the applicable words and the non-applicable words, selecting a minimum colored subset of the nodes and leaves in the suffix tree, and generating a plurality of suffix-rewriting rules, wherein each rule corresponds to a node in the minimum colored subset with a valid status.
US08352243B2
The present invention relates to techniques for translating documents characteristic for a specific field of knowledge from a source language in a target language. Elements causing translation errors in exemplary documents translated by a machine translator (e.g., Internet-based translator, etc.) are used to compile databases of such elements or untranslatable symbols thereof and their equivalent constructs in the source and target languages. Then, using the databases, the elements causing translation errors are substituted in the being translated documents with the corresponding equivalent constructs.
US08352241B2
Emulating legacy hardware using IEEE 754 compliant hardware is disclosed herein. In some aspects, the emulation includes locating an instruction that includes NaN (not a number) as at least one of an operand or a resultant. The emulation adjusts the resultant of the instruction, via additional code, to produce a final resultant of non-compliant (legacy) hardware. Legacy software, which was written in anticipation of processing by legacy hardware, may then be processed using compliant hardware.
US08352235B1
A method for modeling power management in an integrated circuit (IC) includes: specifying a circuit design and a power architecture for the IC, the power architecture including a plurality of power domains for specifying power levels in different portions of the IC; determining an emulation module for the IC by including one or more hardware elements for modeling the power architecture in the emulation module; and using the emulation module to simulate changing power levels in one or more power domains of the IC including a power shutoff in at least one power domain.
US08352224B2
A 3D structure approximating a 3D curved surface having non-zero Gaussian curvature over a portion of the surface. The structure is formed of a plurality of thin strips (10) which are simply deformed and aligned adjacent one another to approximate the 3D curved surface. Each strip has: zero Gaussian curvature; a strip width which varies by no more than ±10% along a longitudinal axis of the strip; and a predetermined flat shape such that, after simple deformation, adjacent edges of adjacent strips can be aligned substantially parallel to one another separated by a substantially small gap. The aligned, simply deformed strips appear straight when viewed from a preferred viewing direction. The strips can be attached to a rigid support (12) at selected mounting points such that natural equilibrium deformation between the mounting points holds the aligned simply deformed strips in a desired approximation of the 3D curved surface.
US08352222B2
In accordance with aspects of the present principles, an over-approximation of reachable states of a hybrid system may be determined by utilizing template polyhedra. Policy iteration may be utilized to obtain an over-approximation of reachable states in the form of a relaxed invariant based upon template polyhedra expressions. The relaxed invariant may be used to construct a flowpipe to refine the over-approximation and thereby determine the reachable states of the hybrid system.
US08352220B2
Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and/or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. Embodiments may also include definition of one or more design apertures, each of which may correspond to boundaries in which solar collector layouts should comply with distinct sets of user-defined design preferences. Distinct apertures may provide heterogeneous regions of collector layout according to the user-defined design preferences.
US08352218B2
An apparatus for coordinating building including a data memory for storing a three dimensional building model, the three dimensional building model having a plurality of elements, each element having a plurality of attributes. An element ownership processor for assigning ownership of each of the plurality of elements to one of a plurality of users, wherein each of the plurality of users has ownership of a subset of the plurality of elements. A model modification processor for receiving the three dimensional building model and for allowing a user to modify only elements that they have ownership of. A model synchronization processor for receiving only modified elements from the model modification processor and updating the three dimensional building model to include the modified elements.
US08352216B2
A method for advanced condition monitoring of an asset system includes sensing actual values of an operating condition for an operating regime of the asset system using at least one sensor; estimating sensed values of the operating condition by using an auto-associative neural network; determining a residual vector between the estimated sensed values and the actual values; and performing a fault diagnostic on the residual vector. In another method, an operating space of the asset system is segmented into operating regimes; the auto-associative neural network determines estimates of actual measured values; a residual vector is determined from the auto-associative neural network; a fault diagnostic is performed on the residual vector; and a change of the operation of the asset system is determined by analysis of the residual vector. An alert is provided if necessary. A smart sensor system includes an on-board processing unit for performing the method of the invention.
US08352211B2
An activity monitor, comprises housing for attachment to a person; at least one accelerometer disposed within the housing; and a processor disposed within the housing, for processing signals from the accelerometer to assess activity of the person. A method assesses activity of a person, including: sensing acceleration at a first location on the person; processing the acceleration, over time, to assess activity of the person; and wirelessly communicating information indicative of the activity to a second location.
US08352210B2
A system determines the revolutions of an object using multiple accelerometers. A difference vector between at least 2 multi-axis accelerometers spaced some distance apart is used to calculate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional centripetal acceleration vector. The centripetal acceleration vector is then used as a rough estimate for the sampling rate for a digital tracking bandpass filter. This bandpass filter extracts angular orientation data leading to a sampling rate and to a revolution totalizer. The number of revolutions of the object, along with a known diameter of an attached object, such as a vehicle wheel, may be used to calculate distance traveled by the object.
US08352205B2
The present subject matter is direct to methodologies for calibrating data obtained from an optical analysis system. An initial calibration matrix of sampled analyte concentrations is modified using mean-centering techniques and selection of low and high analyte concentration spectra to produce a two-point calibration. A modified calibration matrix is produced by generating a non-linear calibration matrix by multiplying the initial calibration matrix by the two-point calibration. In an alternate embodiment, an initial multivariate optical element design is modified by iteratively adjusting the design based on standard error of calibration determination based on non-linerly fitted functions.
US08352203B2
Methods and systems for tracking an electronic signal corresponding to an operating frequency of an electronic component are provided. A method may include sampling the signal to determine previous and current time samples of the signal. A frequency of interest in the signal may also be pre-warped to decrease adverse warping effects resulting from processing signals having relatively higher operating frequencies. The previous and current time samples of the signals, along with the pre-warped frequency of interest, may be input into a digital tracking filter. The digital tracking filter may be configured to execute one or more algorithms on the previous and current time samples and the pre-warped frequency of interest to estimate a current operating frequency.
US08352201B2
A structural health monitoring system using ASICs for signal transmission, reception, and analysis. Incorporating structural health monitoring functionality into one or more ASICs provides a durable yet small, lightweight, low cost, and portable system that can be deployed and operated in field conditions. Such systems provide significant advantages, especially in applications such as armor structures.
US08352198B2
A user, when measuring a sensing target substance in fluid using a crystal sensor (sensing sensor) using a crystal vibrator whose natural frequency is varied by an absorption of the sending target, is able to easily and accurately grasp information peculiar to the crystal sensor, for instance, information regarding a quality thereof. An IC chip in which the information peculiar to the crystal sensor is stored is provided to the crystal sensor, and the peculiar information is read out at a side of a concentration measuring device when the crystal sensor is inserted into the concentration measuring device, and then displayed.
US08352193B2
Methods and apparatuses for deriving the sequence of an oligomer. In one exemplary method for deriving the sequence of a polypeptide, a predetermined set of mass/charge values for amino acid sequences is stored. An abundance value from mass spectrum data for each mass/charge value in the predetermined set is determined to produce a plurality of abundance values. A first ranking, based on the plurality of abundance values, is calculated for each sequence of a set of amino acid sequences having a first number of amino acids. A second ranking, based on the plurality of abundance values, for each sequence of a set of amino acid sequences having a second number of amino acids is calculated. A cumulative ranking, based on the first ranking and the second ranking, is calculated for each sequence of a set of amino acid sequences having at least the second number of amino acids.
US08352191B2
An arrangement for recording seismic events includes an electricity meter sensor circuit, a digital processing circuit, and an accelerometer operably connected to the digital processing circuit. The accelerometer is configured to provide signals representative of seismic information to the digital processing circuit. A memory is configured to store data records relating to at least some of the seismic information.
US08352187B2
A monitoring system including two laser anemometers and a selection logic device able to select, on the one hand, a value of the IAS air speed to be displayed on first display means and, on the other hand, another value of the IAS air speed to be displayed on second display means.
US08352185B2
A method is described for locating a destination in a digital map database using a query. If the query does not find the destination, the method queries a second, more recently updated, database for the destination. If a destination is found in second database, then the location of the destination that was found is used to find a destination in the original database that is nearby to the location of the destination found in second database.
US08352180B2
The present application relates to a device, such as a navigation device, for vehicular and non-vehicular use, e.g. by pedestrians. The device is arranged to receive a feed from a camera. The navigation device is further arranged to display a combination of a camera image from the feed from the camera and virtual signage on the display. The virtual signage relating to roads, buildings, points of interest and the like.
US08352178B2
Provided is a method, wireless communication device and computer program product for generation and communication of a geographic route from a first device to a second device. The method involves presenting a reference map using the first device; receiving route input using the first device, said route input indicative of the geographic route relative to the reference map; processing said route input with respect to a reference coordinate system to generate processed route information indicative of the geographic route; and communicating said processed route information to the second device. The method may further involve receiving and processing processed route information, using the second device, the processing performed at least in part based on the reference coordinate system and an output reference map to generate route output indicative of the geographic route relative to the output reference map; and presenting said route output using the second device.
US08352169B2
Method for assisting in the flight management of an aircraft aiming to reach a constraint point on a predetermined lateral trajectory that is assumed to have to be followed by the aircraft, at a required time of arrival RTA, said aircraft occupying a current position defined by a current altitude with a current horizontal speed. The method including, when it follows a rallying flight plan, calculating a new rallying flight plan following the lateral trajectory to be followed and including a new estimated speed profile different from the estimated speed profile over at least one update area, the new estimated speed profile including, over said update areas, either a value greater than that of the estimated speed profile, if the arrival time difference is positive, or a value less than that of the estimated speed profile, if the arrival time difference is negative.
US08352159B2
Methods are provided for operating an engine with a variable fuel blend in a cylinder, where the variable fuel blend varies a peak achievable engine torque for a given operating condition. One example method comprises selectively operating an engine actuator that affects engine torque and engine fuel economy at the given operating condition, and extending operation of the actuator to higher engine torques as a peak engine torque for the given operating condition increases.
US08352158B2
A method for compensating for thermal transient conditions of an engine that can cause valve growth or contraction is disclosed. In one example, the method provides cylinder air amount compensation during non-blow-through and blow-through conditions. The approach may improve cylinder air amount estimates, thereby improving engine emissions.
US08352155B2
A method of operating an IC engine in an agricultural harvester includes the steps of: operating the IC engine in a normal mode with a base torque curve as a function of engine operating speed and engine power output, the base torque curve being generally isochronous at a rated operating speed over a power output range terminating at a rated power output; and operating the IC engine in a boost mode with a boost torque curve when a power boost is required above the rated power output, the boost torque curve having a power output which is above the base torque curve over a predefined range of the operating speed.
US08352154B2
In a control unit, a method, a computer program and a computer program product for operating an internal combustion engine in the context of a combined direct and manifold injection, fuel is injected by at least one first injection valve into an induction manifold and/or by at least one second injection valve directly into a combustion chamber for combustion. In at least one predefined operating state of the internal combustion engine, fuel is only injected by the at least one first injection valve into the induction manifold for a predetermined number of successive combustion cycles. In a subsequent combustion cycle, fuel is injected by the at least one first injection valve into the induction manifold and by the at least one second injection valve directly into the combustion chamber or only by the at least one second injection valve directly into the combustion chamber.
US08352151B2
An electric current supply control apparatus for a glow plug, and glow plug and the electric current supply control apparatus connected to the glow plug. In a transition state in which the load acting on an engine increases such as at the time of acceleration (S14: YES), an instruction signal which instructs increasing of an EGR amount is transmitted to an ECU (S18). Further, electric current is supplied to a heat generation resistor of a glow plug through resistance PI control (S20), whereby the temperature of the heat generation resistor is stably maintained at a target temperature, and stability of combustion is enhanced. Thus, even at the time of acceleration, generation of NOX can be suppressed effectively by increasing the EGR amount without lowering the engine output.
US08352148B2
A control system for a combined cycle power generation system including a gas turbine engine (GT), a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and a steam turbine (ST) includes a display wherein an operator may observe information about predicted operating parameters; a user interface wherein an operator may provide additional operating constraints; and a controller configured to generate input profiles of the GT, the HRSG, and the ST that satisfy the nominal constraints and any additional constraints and to generate the information about the predicted operating parameters. The controller may be configured to detect a stage transition of power generation system operation and update the input profiles. The controller may be configured to generate alternative operating scenarios by mapping alternative control actions to an operating constraint of at least one of the system components.
US08352139B2
An apparatus comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. When a kick-down-condition is satisfied, a changeover operation for changing an electric motor connection state to the OUT-Connection State is firstly performed. Thereafter, a gear position shifting operation for increasing a transmission reduction ratio is performed. After the kick-down-condition satisfied, an E/G side output torque Te and a M/G side output torque Tm is adjusted in such a manner that a sum Ts of Te and Tm continues to increase.
US08352126B2
The system of the invention includes sensors (11, 12, 13) for measuring physical values useful for driving assistance, a path correction electronic calculator (20) including a Hill Assist (HA) module for hill start assistance and a Hill Descent Control module for limiting the downhill speed, and actuators (31 to 35) controlled by said calculator for acting on the different driving parameters. The calculator further includes a Hill Assist Descent Control (HADC) for driveability control assistance in slopes, that enables or disables the Hill Assist (HA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) modules based on specific control rules for managing intermediate life situations between the situations managed by the Hill Assist (HA) module and those managed by the Hill Descent Control (HDC) module. The invention also relates to automobiles and to automobile driving assistance systems.
US08352124B2
A steering control device for a vehicle includes a steering characteristic setting unit setting the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle in a predetermined range (near an induction target tire angle for guiding to a target locus), which is determined on the basis of the target locus upon vehicle traveling, to be wider than the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle outside of the predetermined range. A reduction gear ratio of a steering mechanism in the predetermined range increases.
US08352116B2
A tilt or acceleration sensing apparatus and method that allows a tilt or acceleration sensing device of a vehicle to determine: 1) a maximum fall angle of the vehicle, regardless of the orientation of the vehicle and the vehicle's tilt sensor(s) to the incline; or 2) the downward acceleration of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method of determining a maximum fall angle of a vehicle includes sensing tilt angles of two sensing axes of the vehicle relative to a horizontal reference plane and calculating the maximum fall angle of the vehicle based on the tilt angles. The apparatus and method may also include comparing the maximum fall angle to predetermined values and generating output signals when the maximum fall angle exceeds the predetermined values. In another embodiment, a method of determining when a vehicle is sliding downhill includes sensing the accelerations of three sensing axes.
US08352114B2
A docking system includes a mobile robotic device and a charging station to which the robotic device is to dock. The robotic device is comprised of sensors to capture a homing signal emitted by the charging station, docking logic that processes the homing signal so that it can be used to control the movements of the robotic device towards and dock with the charging station, and it is comprised of a mechanism for receiving a cylindrical charging post. The charging station is comprised of a circular platform in the center of which is located the charging post that is generally cylindrical in shape. The charging post includes a charging contact, ground contacts and an IR emitter. The geometry of the receiver mechanism elements and the shape of the charging post and geometry of the charging station generally permits the robotic device to approach the charging station and to dock with the charging station from any angle.
US08352113B2
A robotic mower boundary coverage system includes a vehicle control unit on the robotic mower commanding a traction drive system to drive the robotic mower at a specified yaw angle with respect to a boundary wire, and a boundary sensor on the robotic mower signaling the distance between the boundary wire and the vehicle control unit. The vehicle control unit alternates commands to direct the traction drive system toward and away from the boundary wire based on the distance of the robotic mower to the boundary wire.
US08352109B2
A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle drive apparatus, the vehicle control device configured with a release control mechanism that provides feedback controlling supplied oil pressure to a release side element, and an engagement control mechanism that increases supplied oil pressure to an engagement side element as an engagement element on a side to be engaged in a state that the differential rotation speed is substantially constant. The control device is further configured with a phase determining mechanism that determines if the torque phase has started when a condition that a phenomenon accompanying a change of the differential rotation speed due to increase of the supplied oil pressure to the engagement side element is detected is met.
US08352104B2
A method and device for servocontrolling an aircraft speed-wise in an approach phase. The device can adapt to the estimated time of passage of the aircraft at a particular point of the approach trajectory, the position of the start of deceleration of the aircraft in the approach phase.
US08352103B2
One non-limiting but advantageous aspect of the present invention relates to improved airport efficiency and capacity through higher utilization of a primary runway. The improvements derive from the use of one or more high-speed exit ramps that interconnect the primary runway to a high-speed landing way running parallel to the primary runway. The high-speed exit ramp(s) enable a landing aircraft to negotiate a high-speed transition from the primary runway to the high-speed landing way, so that the aircraft completes its landing roll out and transition to taxiing speeds on the high-speed landing way rather than the primary runway. In at least one embodiment, a computerized landing controller indicates to pilots of landing aircraft whether their aircraft are permitted to take a high-speed exit ramp via control of an associated high-speed exit lighting system.
US08352099B1
Technologies are described herein for providing additional yaw control to a multi-engine aircraft experiencing engine thrust asymmetry. A primary flight control system of the aircraft is configured to limit the operational thrust of an operating engine of the aircraft to provide additional yaw control when the aircraft is experiencing thrust asymmetry. The system includes a thrust limit module for calculating the maximum engine thrust limit to be imposed on an operating engine. The maximum engine thrust limit is calculated using inputs corresponding to the sideslip angle and the roll rate of the aircraft. The maximum engine thrust limit is imposed on the operating engine of the aircraft such that the operational thrust generated by the operating engine is limited to the maximum engine thrust limit. By reducing the operational thrust generated by the operating engine, the yawing caused by the thrust asymmetry is likely to be reduced.
US08352095B2
An electric power generation device includes: a storage unit that stores information about the electric power generation device; a transmitting unit that transmits information about the electric power generation device to a neighboring electric power demand device; a receiving unit that receives an electric power demand request from the neighboring electric power demand device; and an allocation unit that allocates electric power according to the electric power demand request.
US08352093B2
An environmental control system according to the present invention is a system for controlling environmental devices by which a work status and a behavior status are monitored and the environmental devices are finely controlled in accordance with the statuses to improve comfort. The environmental control system includes a communication unit, a unit for detecting environments, a unit for detecting a work status, a unit for obtaining power consumption, a unit for determining the control of a device, and a unit for transmitting a control signal, and enables fine control in accordance with a work type.
US08352092B2
A method and system for workload balancing to assist in power grid load management. The method includes receiving a request to perform a task at a site powered by connection to an AC power grid, the task comprising either data processing or manufacturing an article; measuring an AC frequency of the AC power grid to obtain a current AC frequency; and performing or not performing the task at the site based on the current AC frequency.
US08352091B2
In one embodiment, each of a plurality of sites may produce surplus power. All or a fraction of the surplus power may be supplied to the power grid according to an agreement between the user of a site and an electric utility. A computer of the utility is in communication with a computer at each of a plurality of sites having a local power source. Terms of power provision that include an amount of power to be provided during a specified time of day is communicated between a site and the utility.
US08352075B2
Technology for creating a feature map for localizing a mobile robot and extracting feature information of surroundings is provided. According to one aspect, feature information including a reflection function is extracted from information acquired using a 3D distance sensor and used as a basis for creating a feature map. Thus, a feature map that is less sensitive to change in the surrounding environment can be created, and a success rate of feature matching can be increased.
US08352069B2
During a carrying operation, the position, transportation origin, and transportation destination of a carrier or a boat can be easily checked. A carrying system is configured to carry a substrate, a manipulation unit is configured to display an operation state of the carrying system on a manipulation screen, and a control unit is configured to control an operation of the carrying system. The manipulation unit displays a carrying system icon indicating the carrying system which is a carrying target object and a carrying-out icon at predetermined positions of the manipulation screen corresponding to a transportation origin of the carrying system, and a carrying-in icon at a predetermined position of the manipulation screen corresponding to the transportation destination of the carrying system.
US08352064B2
A revert alloy is used in the manufacture of a target alloy having a different composition. The weight percent of the elemental constituents of this first alloy and a second or target alloy are obtained, and the ratio of the percentage by weight of each elemental constituent in the first alloy to the second alloy is determined. The lowest ratio is used to determine the amount of the first alloy that is melted and the necessary elemental constituents that are added to the melt to produce the desired composition of the target alloy. The melt is solidified to produce the target alloy.
US08352060B2
A method and system for fabricating a dental prosthesis are provided. High resolution digital scanned images of a patient's oral structures are acquired. Three dimensional (3D) cone beam X-ray images of hard and soft oral tissues are acquired. The scanned images are integrated with the 3D cone beam X-ray images in a 3D space to obtain combined three dimensional images of the oral structures. The occlusal relationship between upper and lower oral structures are digitally simulated using the combined three dimensional images. The dental prosthesis is digitally modeled for planning intra-oral positioning and structure of the dental prosthesis. The digital dental prosthesis model is refined based on simulated force tests performed for assessing interference and retention of the digital dental prosthesis model. A prospective dental prosthesis model is created based on the refined digital dental prosthesis model. The dental prosthesis is fabricated based on a verified prospective dental prosthesis model.
US08352058B2
An OA device for preloading content on memory cards is disclosed. A handler control module of a control unit performs a preloading process which comprises a preload check, preloading content based on digital content stored in buffers, and a preloaded content comparison, wherein memory cards at the initial column of a tray are checked, preloaded, and compared with the preloaded digital content using probes of a probe module. When the preloading content for the memory cards at the initial column of the tray is complete, the tray module or the probe module is moved by a stepper module by a predetermined distance, or the moving arm moves the probe module with a predetermined distance, to enable the memory cards at the next column of the tray to be checked, preloaded, and compared with the preloaded digital content using the probes while a sorting module picks up failed memory cards from the previous column based on records and instructions from the handler control module of the control unit.
US08352053B2
An audio signal-processing system has signal-processing units connectable to a transmission line. Each signal-processing unit has channels for applying a signal process to input audio signals. A control unit is connectable to the transmission line for operating a target channel belonging to one of the signal-processing units. The control unit has color pallets different from each other and previously selected in correspondence to the signal-processing units. When the control unit detects an instruction to display an operation screen of the target channel, the control unit renders the operation screen of the target channel using the color pallet corresponding to the signal-processing unit to which the target channel belongs, so that a background color of the operation screen of the target channel displayed on a display part of the control unit is different from a background color of an operation screen of another channel belonging to another signal-processing unit.
US08352047B2
An approach for making shifted schedules from a regular or master schedule of a building automation system. Shifted schedules may be obtained by applying shifts to the scheduled-on and scheduled-off periods of the days in the master schedule. One set of shifts may apply uniformly to all days of the week or several sets of different shifts may apply to various days of the week. Special events with certain scheduled-on and scheduled-off periods and assigned to particular days may override the regular scheduled-on and scheduled-off periods of those days. The shifted schedules may also contain special events with their periods shifted. The master schedule may govern the regular operating hours of a building and the shifted schedules may control, for example, HVAC equipment in particular zones, certain employee areas, parking lot lights, and so on. Changes to the master schedule may be applied as updates to the shifted schedules.
US08352042B2
A method of preventing inadvertent signal transmission sent from a remote control for controlling the operation of an implantable infusion device. The method includes maintaining the remote control in a locked state prior to a user intentionally unlocking the remote control in order to generate transmission of a signal from the remote control to the implantable infusion device. The unlocking of the remote control can include moving a button control element, unlocking a button lock, pressing a button other than the signal generation button, pressing the signal generation button in a specific sequence or shaking the remote control.
US08352041B2
Remote controls, including a communication device, a button or other communication device actuator and a movable structure that allows actuation of the actuator in one position and prevents actuation of the actuator in another position to prevent inadvertent signal transmission.
US08352040B2
A system for communicating with an implantable medical device via RF telemetry is disclosed which mitigates the effects of nulls caused by, e.g., multi-path distortion. In one embodiment, signals transmitted by the implantable device to an external device are simultaneously received with a pair of separate spaced apart first and second antennas. The antennas may provide spatial and/or polar diversity. The presence of nulls in the implantable device's transmission pattern can be determined by detecting an error rate in the signals received from the implantable device with each antenna.
US08352036B2
A method of electrically stimulating the inspiratory muscles in a subject is provided. The method includes positioning one or more electrodes at one or more levels of the upper thoracic spinal cord of the subject and operating the electrode to deliver high frequency electrical stimulation to the spinal cord tracts at the level or levels. The high frequency electrical stimulation of the spinal cord results in the coordinated activation of the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and accessory muscles in the subject to effect artificial ventilation in the subject.
US08352035B2
Exemplary systems include a stimulator configured to be implanted within a patient, the stimulator having a body defined by at least one side surface disposed in between distal and proximal end surfaces, and a connector assembly configured to be coupled to the stimulator and extend parallel to the at least one side surface of the stimulator. The connector assembly is further configured to facilitate removable coupling of a lead having one or more electrodes disposed thereon to the stimulator.
US08352031B2
A method of treating a cardiac arrhythmia, comprising: determining a desired arrhythmia control; selecting an electric field having an expected effect of modifying protein activity of at least one protein as a response of a cardiac tissue to the field, said expected effect correlated with said desired arrhythmia control; and applying said field to said cardiac tissue.
US08352026B2
An Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) includes a surgically implantable housing, a battery, a first waveform generator, a second waveform generator, a modulator, and electrodes. The IPG produces a pulse envelope, a carrier waveform, and a modulated waveform. The pulse envelope is a low frequency waveform with specific pulse width, amplitude and shape to selectively stimulate a target nerve or body part. The carrier waveform is a high frequency waveform with properties such as amplitude, frequency and the like chosen so as to overcome tissue impedance and the stimulation threshold of the target nerve. The modulated waveform is the waveform obtained by modulating the carrier waveform by the pulse envelope.
US08352018B2
In a multi-tier patient monitoring data analysis system, an algorithm server is positioned as a middle tier between an acquisition device, such as a cardiograph or patient monitor that can be seen as a lower tier, and a storage device for a database, such as that of a central computer for a hospital or clinic that can be seen as an upper tier. The algorithm server gathers current data from the real time acquisition device and obtains previously stored ECG signal data from the database. The algorithm server contains ECG analysis algorithm(s) and runs one or more algorithms using the current and previously acquired ECG signal data. Analysis algorithms may also be run on the acquisition device. The system provides the rapid, extensive, and thorough ECG analysis that is critical to patient welfare.
US08352008B2
A medical device system and associated method are used for monitoring tissue oxygenation. An optical sensor produces a signal corresponding to tissue light attenuation. A processor receives the optical sensor signal and computes a first measure of light attenuation at a first light wavelength and a second measure of light attenuation at a second light wavelength. In one embodiment, noise cancellation circuitry receives the first measure and the second measure and generates a guessed ratio of the first and second measures. Using the first measure, the second measure and the guessed ratio, the noise cancellation circuitry provides a peak output power when the guessed ratio corresponds to an actual ratio of the first and second measures.
US08352003B2
A highly miniaturized biosensor and a sensor unit, which can meet a demand for further miniaturization. With this invention, miniaturization is possible, and the number of production steps including those for assembling individual parts can be reduced. Accordingly, mass production will be possible, and cost reduction and high reliability will be achieved. A light emitting unit (21) and a light receiving unit (22) are disposed in a same recess (24) formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate (23), and a light shielding cover substrate (27) having a first light guide section (25) and a second light guide section (26) is disposed on an upper side of the semiconductor substrate (23). Since the light receiving unit (22) is formed with arrayed light receiving elements (28), the same number of the second light guide sections (26) as the light receiving elements (28) are provided on the light shielding cover substrate (27), and the light receiving surfaces of the light receiving elements (28) are connected to one end of each of the second light guiding sections (26) so as to conform to each other without any gap.
US08352002B2
A superconductor cooling system has: a first superconductor; a first cooling conductor used for cooling the first superconductor; a first cooling unit configured to cool the first cooling conductor to a first temperature; and a current lead configured to supply a current to the first superconductor. Here, a part of a path of the current is formed of a second superconductor. The superconductor cooling system further has: a second cooling conductor used for cooling the second superconductor; a second cooling unit configured to cool the second cooling conductor to a second temperature; and a first thermal conduction switch connected between the first cooling conductor and the second cooling conductor to ON and OFF heat transfer between the first cooling conductor and the second cooling conductor.
US08351992B2
A portable electronic apparatus (300) has a display (320) and a keypad (340) with a plurality of keys (342), the keys being distributed within a keypad area (341) in at least a first plane, and the keys being arranged for key-pressing user actuation transversally to the first plane so as to provide a first type of user input. The apparatus also has sensor means (430, 450, 348) positioned to sense navigating user actuation at the keypad area in or coincident with said first plane so as to provide a second type of user input, and a controller (301) configured to control a focus position (323) on the display (320) in response to user input of the second type. The controller (301) is configured to associate a plurality of display subareas (321) of the display with respective keys (342) of the keypad (340) and to accept, for user input of the second type, a key-pressing user actuation of an actuated key among said keys as a selection of a selectable item presented at the focus position (323) in a particular display subarea (321d) associated with the actuated key.
US08351991B2
A mobile terminal, including a touch panel detecting a touch position; a vibration generation device configured to generate vibration; an assignment device configured to assign different vibration area patterns that define vibration areas generating the vibration on the touch panel, to a plurality of internal states, respectively; and a control device configured to activate, according to a current internal state, the vibration area pattern assigned to the internal state and to control the vibration generation device so as to generate the vibration while the vibration area is being touched.
US08351987B2
Wireless mesh network communication apparatus and methods are disclosed. Directional antennas are respectively operatively coupled to dedicated communication devices to provide multiple independent wireless communication links. Exchange of communication traffic through the wireless communication links provided by the communication devices and the antennas is controlled by a switch. Any or all of the antennas may be adjustable so as to provide for flexibility in antenna beam alignment. Beam alignment may be physically or electronically adjustable. Radio units including the communication devices and the antennas, and possibly also the switch, may be enclosed in a single housing. The housing may be shared with other components such as wireless communication network base station antennas.
US08351982B2
A radio transceiver device includes circuitry for radiating electromagnetic signals at a very high radio frequency both through space, as well as through wave guides that are formed within a substrate material. In one embodiment, the substrate comprises a dielectric substrate formed within a board, for example, a printed circuit board. In another embodiment of the invention, the wave guide is formed within a die of an integrated circuit radio transceiver. A plurality of transceivers with different functionality is defined. Substrate transceivers are operable to transmit through the wave guides, while local transceivers are operable to produce very short range wireless transmissions through space. A third and final transceiver is a typical wireless transceiver for communication with remote (non-local to the device) transceivers. Additionally, a multi-mode transceiver is operable to configure transmit and receive circuitry based upon transmission path.
US08351973B2
A mobile station receives data for sending to a destination device and determines whether to send the data to the destination device via either short message service (SMS) over service access point identifier 0 (SAPI-0) or SMS over SAPI-3, where SAPI-0 and SAPI-3 comprise different service access points associated with a data link layer of a mobile network. The mobile station selectively sends the location information to the destination device via either SMS over SAPI-0, or via SMS over SAPI-3, based on the determination.
US08351964B2
Communication networks and methods are disclosed for delivering messages over LTE networks. One embodiment comprises a universal message center operable to deliver messages over an LTE network. The universal message center receives a message intended for a destination mobile device, and determines if the destination mobile device is LTE enabled. If the destination mobile device is LTE enabled, then the universal message center identifies a mobile IP address assigned to the destination mobile device in the LTE network. The universal message center then attempts to forward the message to the destination mobile device over the LTE network based on the mobile IP address. If the destination mobile device is not LTE enabled, then the universal message center identifies a store-and-forward (SFD) message center for an originator of the message, and forwards the message to the SFD message center for store-and-forward processing.
US08351946B2
A system and methods (300, 400) are disclosed for seamless communications between a communication device and wireless access points. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a multimode communication device (MCD) (106) having a controller (214) to manage operations of a global position (GPS) receiver (212), and a multimode wireless transceiver (202). The controller can be programmed to authenticate (304) the MCD with a first wireless access point, request and receive (306) a first IP address, establish (308) communications with a network management system (NMS) (100) according to the first IP address, transmit (310) to the NMS a location of the MCD, receive (320) a second IP address from the NMS in response to the NMS determining that the MCD is near a second wireless access point, and establish (330) communications over the second wireless access point according to the second IP address. Embodiments for the NMS are also disclosed.
US08351943B2
In response to a determination that a received pilot signal identification is not present in a current neighbor list of a mobile station, a network controller identifies one of a plurality of sectors associated with the missing pilot signal identification that is a most likely handoff candidate. In one embodiment, the most likely handoff candidate is determined as the sector that is closest to the mobile station. When the most likely candidate is identified, a handoff may be initiated between the mobile station and the identified sector. The handoff may be accomplished by activating a traffic channel for the mobile station in the identified sector.
US08351939B1
A wireless communication device comprises a processing system and a wireless communication transceiver. The processing system is configured to store in a memory system data that associates a geographic identifier, a pseudo network signal of a first wireless communication network, and a wireless communication channel of a second wireless communication network. The wireless communication transceiver is configured to wirelessly exchange first wireless communications with the first wireless communication network. The processing system is configured to, in response to the wireless communication device entering a geographic region associated with the geographic identifier, process the geographic identifier to identify the pseudo network signal of the first wireless communication network and the wireless communication channel of the second wireless communication network. The wireless communication transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive the pseudo network signal from the first wireless communication network, and in response, wirelessly exchange second wireless communications with the second wireless communication network over the wireless communication channel.
US08351938B1
System and methods for generating and transmitting dynamic route-update-radius parameters are described. The parameters are dynamic in that the parameters may be modified from time-to-time. Modification of the parameters may be triggered by a radio access network (RAN) determining that a coverage area formed by the RAN is handling more than a threshold amount of communications to and/or from access terminals operating in the coverage area. The RAN may transmit the dynamic route-update-radius parameters so as to prevent some access terminals from registering with the coverage area while the coverage area is handling more than the threshold amount of communications. While the coverage area is handling a reduced amount of communications, such as less than a threshold amount of communications, the access network may transmit default route-update-radius parameters to coverage areas remote from that coverage area. The route-update-radius parameters may include a route-update-radius, a modified route-update-radius, and a route-update-radius offset.
US08351933B2
Improved search capabilities are disclosed for mobile communications devices such as cell phones, as well as improved techniques for delivering sponsored content in a mobile communication environment.
US08351930B2
A method and apparatus for providing automatic international and local call dialing in a mobile communication terminal. Country identification information is received from a network in which the mobile communication terminal is currently located. When a request for an outgoing is received from a user, a country code corresponding to the received country identification information is extracted, and the extracted country code is compared with a country code included in a phone number for the outgoing call. Based on the comparison it is determined whether the outgoing call is an international or local call. The phone number is then changed in accordance with the outgoing call being the international or local call.
US08351927B2
A flight information communication system has a plurality of RF direct sequence spread spectrum ground data links that link respective aircraft-resident subsystems, in each of which a copy of its flight performance data is stored, with airport-located subsystems. The airport-located subsystems are coupled by way communication paths, such as land line telephone links, to a remote flight operations control center. At the flight operations control center, flight performance data downlinked from plural aircraft parked at different airports is analyzed. In addition, the flight control center may be employed to direct the uploading of in-flight data files, such as audio, video and navigation files from the airport-located subsystems to the aircraft.
US08351921B2
Gateway devices maintain presence information for various mobile devices. Each gateway is associated with a zone and manages presence information only for mobile devices associated with that zone. Courier devices back-propagate presence information for the mobile devices to respective gateways based at least on the respective zone associated with each mobile device. The gateways and couriers are dynamically configured such that messages can be pushed from a provider application to a mobile device via any gateway and any courier.
US08351917B2
A method of activating a device involves establishing communication between the device and another device and receiving, at the other device, a message including activation information from a third party facility. The activation information includes a header and a mobile dialing number. The method further includes using the header to identify the message as an activation message for the device and, via the device, retrieving the identified message from the other device. The mobile dialing number is stored in a memory associated with the device, where the mobile dialing number enables the third party facility to initiate communication with the device.
US08351910B2
A system and method for determining a user input based on movements of a mobile device. In a particular implementation, angular movement of the mobile device about at least one axis of a linear plane is detected. Linear movement of the mobile device along at least one axis of the linear plane is also detected. Finally, a user input is determined based on the detection of the angular movement and the detection of the linear movement.
US08351909B2
A system and method to automatically park a voice call on a mobile electronic device so that the device can receive data, comprising a switch for establishing a voice call at the at least one caller device, a database for storing at least one call processing rule, and an enterprise data server for receiving a data message, comparing contents of the data message with at least one rule in the database, and in the event that the contents match the rule then parking the call, switching the mobile electronic device to a data mode of operation, downloading the data message to the device and un-parking the call.
US08351908B2
A system is disclosed in which a wireless device is monitored and maintained over a network. One embodiment of the system comprises a wireless device including: a service to maintain data objects, provide messaging capability, and provide data access capability on behalf of a user of the wireless device; and a rules engine communicatively coupled to the service to execute a set of rules transmitted to the wireless device from a server, the set of rules to instruct the rules engine to gather information related to the wireless device and to take action on the wireless device based on the gathered information.
US08351897B2
A mobile terminal and operational method may store or output log information related to usage histories according to at least one of a condition, location, and status indicated by situation information. The mobile terminal can be conveniently operated on the basis of past usage histories. The operation method for the mobile terminal includes: creating situation information on the basis of at least one of location information, status information and condition information of the mobile terminal; collecting log information related to usage histories of the mobile terminal from the time of situation information creation or within a preset time after situation information creation; linking the situation information with the log information and storing the linked information; and outputting, when new situation information equal to the stored situation information is created, log information linked to the stored situation information.
US08351892B2
Methods and devices for determining intervals between mobile device network searches use measured signal power as lookup criteria to obtain a predefined “sleep” duration from a sleep duration data structure. When a network connection is lost the mobile device may compare received signal power to criteria in a data table to determine an appropriate sleep duration during which the receiver is de-energized to conserve battery power. The sleep durations vs. signal power may be predefined to provide performance as good as other sleep duration determining algorithms while providing flexibility for matching network coverage characteristics. An appropriate sleep duration data table for use may be determined based upon device location or user inputs. At the end of a sleep interval, received signal power may be compared to a threshold to determine whether the receiver should return to sleep mode or attempt a network connection.
US08351886B1
Embodiments of circuits, apparatuses, and systems for a voltage regulator with a bandwidth variation reduction network are disclosed. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08351878B2
When a distortion correction coefficient, which is calculated according to a signal input to a power amplifier and a signal output from the power amplifier, is larger than a first threshold, a distortion correction coefficient corresponding to the input signal is updated to the first threshold. When the calculated distortion correction coefficient is equal to or smaller than the first threshold, the distortion correction coefficient corresponding to the input signal is updated to the calculated distortion correction coefficient.
US08351877B2
A high performance and cost effective method of RF-digital hybrid mode power amplifier systems with high linearity and high efficiency for multi-frequency band wideband communication system applications is disclosed. The present disclosure enables a power amplifier system to be field reconfigurable and support multiple operating frequency bands on the same PA system over a very wide bandwidth. In addition, the present invention supports multi-modulation schemes (modulation agnostic), multi-carriers and multi-channels.
US08351853B2
Methods and systems for a configurable finite impulse response (FIR) filter using a transmission line as a delay line are disclosed and may include selectively coupling one or more taps of a multi-tap transmission line to configure delays for one or more finite impulse response (FIR) filters to enable transmission and/or reception of signals. The delays may be configured based on a location of the one or more selectively coupled taps on the multi-tap transmission line. The FIR filters, which may include one or more stages, may be impedance matched to the selectively coupled taps. The multi-tap transmission line may be integrated on the chip, or a package to which the chip is coupled. The multi-tap transmission line may include a microstrip structure or a coplanar waveguide structure, and may include ferromagnetic material. The distortion of signals in the chip may be compensated utilizing the FIR filters.
US08351847B2
A method of adjusting transmission power for data communicated in a mobile communication system, wherein data is transmitted from a source station to a destination station over a first route and a second route. The method comprises receiving a first transmission power control signal; wherein a destination station generates a second transmission power control signal, in response to receiving a quality measurement signal from the relay station for data communicated to the destination station over a combination of the first route and the second route; and adjusting data transmission power according to the first transmission power control signal.
US08351844B2
A system and method communicates commands from a command originator to receiving devices, yet the receiving devices do not confirm receipt of the command. The most current command (e.g. the one with the highest sequence number) is rebroadcast by the command originator and the receiving devices, tending to be more frequent upon detection of an event indicating that the most current command was not received by at least one other device, and less frequently upon detection of an event indicating that the most current command was provided with sufficient duplication that if another device could receive it, the device likely did receive it, subject to a maximum and minimum rate.
US08351842B2
A filtering circuit with a jammer generator cancels a jammer in wireless signals with little degradation of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The filtering circuit may include a jammer generator which acquires information of period and phase of a sinusoidal jammer signal in a composite input sinusoidal signal, which includes the jammer signal and a desired signal, and outputs a pseudo sine-wave with a period and phase corresponding with the period and phase of the jammer signal acquired, and an adder which outputs a difference between the input and output signals of the jammer generator as the desired signal.
US08351832B2
An image forming method includes: feeding a transfer material to a transfer portion by gate rollers; contacting the transfer material with a transfer material grip member that is disposed on a transfer roller; holding the transfer material on an elastic holding portion which holds the transfer material disposed on the circumference surface of the transfer roller; transferring the transfer material held by the holding portion; and transferring an image at the transfer portion.
US08351830B2
A belt conveying device includes an endless belt stretched by a plurality of rollers; a drive unit that is connected to one of the plurality of rollers and drives the roller; a plurality of belt velocity detectors that are arranged at a plurality of locations along a belt width direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the endless belt and detect conveyance velocities of the endless belt; and a belt-inclination calculating unit that calculates an inclination of the endless belt in the moving direction from a difference between conveyance velocities of the endless belt detected by the plurality of belt velocity detectors.
US08351823B2
An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member having a photosensitive layer and the surface including concave portions having a concave diameter of from 5 to 200 μm, an irradiation device that irradiates the surface of the image bearing member with light to form a latent electrostatic image thereon, a development device that develops the latent electrostatic image with a development agent containing toner to obtain a visualized image, a transfer device that transfers the visualized image to a transfer medium, a first cleaning brush to which a bias is applied with a polarity reverse to that of the toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member after the visualized image is transferred, and a second cleaning brush to which a bias is applied with the same polarity as that of the toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member.
US08351822B2
One end of the cover unit of a printer is supported freely rotatably on the device case, and a rotating shaft is disposed with both ends supported freely rotatably on the distal end. A right pressure lever and an operating lever are supported on the right end of the rotating shaft, and a left pressure lever is supported on the left end. When the operating lever rotates, the right and left pressure lever rotate in the same direction through an intervening rotation transfer member extending widthwise to the device. When the operating lever rotates when the cover is closed, the left pressure lever contacts the device case before the right pressure lever . The right and left pressure lever are set so that their rotational positions are the same when the cover starts to rise due to deformation of the rotation transfer member.
US08351821B2
The invention provides a mechanism which allows a common device driver to obtain identification information of a USB device desired by an application that controls a USB device via a common device driver. Furthermore, the invention includes two types of common device drivers to be registered in an OS to have different priorities, and provides a common interface that does not allow the application to recognize their difference.
US08351814B2
An image forming apparatus comprises a fixing part for fixing a toner image formed on a transfer material to the transfer material, a fan provided on the downstream side of the fixing part, for blowing air to the transfer material having passed through the fixing part, and an airflow control part for controlling the amount of air to be blown from the fan. When the basis weight of the transfer material is larger than a first threshold value, the airflow control part sets the amount of air to be blown to a value smaller than that in a case where the basis weight of the transfer material is smaller than the first threshold value.
US08351811B2
An image forming apparatus includes, an image forming unit configured to fix a developer image on a sheet medium and to output the sheet medium, and an output-image storing unit configured to store, on the inner side of a door involving a lock mechanism, the sheet medium on which the developer image is fixed by the image forming unit.
US08351809B2
When glossiness in an area designated by a user was adjusted, the glossiness adjustment was achieved by exchanging a plurality of toners having different glass transition points. Thus, the user was required to select an appropriate toner when the glossiness in the area designated by the user was adjusted. Further, the user took some time or effort to set the selected toner every glossiness adjustment. In the present invention, how to adjust the glossiness in the area designated by the user is obtained as mode information and on the basis of the obtained mode, control is effected so that a transparent image is selectively formed in the area designated by the user or an image formable area except for the area designated by the user.
US08351806B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a developer image carrier movably disposed; a developer image forming device configured to form a developer image; a detector configured to detect a density of the developer image formed on the developer image carrier; a controller configured to control an operation of forming of the developer image by the developer image forming device; an image forming unit configured to control the developer image forming device to form a density detection pattern including the same developer images at at least a first point and a second point with a predetermined distance therebetween; a density detector configured to obtain the density of the first point and the density of the second point of the density detection pattern via the detector; and a calculator configured to calculate a density difference between the first point and the second point based on the densities obtained by the density detector.
US08351795B2
An optical transmission system, where in an optical transmitter a detection bit having a specific pattern set according to the number of bits to be transmitted within one symbol time, is imparted with respect to a transmission signal in which transmission information has been encoded according to a preset format, and an optical signal generated by modulating light according to the transmission signal is transmitted to a transmission line. In an optical receiver, logic inversion or bit swap of received data is detected and compensated by using the detection bit included in the received signal, a decoding process of the compensated received signal is executed. As a result, when an optical signal capable of transmitting multi-bit information within one symbol time is transferred, it is possible to realize excellent transmission characteristics, by reliably compensating an error in received data caused by the modulation format or the multiplex system of the optical signal.
US08351784B2
A packet-optical integrated switch without an optical transponder, includes: a packet line card configured to output an Ethernet packet signal to a pre-set output port; a packet switch fabric configured to transfer the packet signal from the packet line card to the output port previously set in a destination address included in the packet signal; a 10 gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE)/optical transport unit level 2 (OTU2) integrated line card configured to convert the packet signal from the packet switch fabric into an OTU2 optical signal having a pre-set wavelength; and a wavelength selection switch fabric configured to allocate the optical signal from the 10 GbE/OTU2 integrated line card to a pre-set wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) port by pre-set wavelength to exchange the optical signal to each port by wavelength, wherein the packet line card, the packet switch fabric, the 10 GbE/OTU2 integrated line card, and the wavelength selection switch fabric perform the reverse operations of the process, respectively.
US08351780B2
An imaging system to collect image data relating to a conical liquid film and its hollow conical spray emanating from an injector with a central spray axis includes a light source for emitting light into the film and spray generated by the injector; and a detector array located downstream from the injector along the central spray axis for panoramically detecting instantaneously for the entire film and spray the emitted light which has interacted with the spray to produce the image data.
US08351770B2
Embodiments of an imaging station and method for repeatable alignment of images are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the imaging station includes a rotatable stage and a monostand. The rotatable stage may include a structure to support sets of handles for positioning of a subject's hands for at least some of the body poses. A camera is positioned on the monostand for capturing images of the subject and is configured to allow the camera to be repeatably positioned with respect to the rotatable stage for each body pose.
US08351760B2
A recording device includes a recording medium operable to store a plurality of program streams and information about recording of each program stream, and a controller operable to control display of the program stream recorded on the recording medium on a display device. When receiving an instruction for selecting a predetermined item from among the plurality of selection items, the controller causes the menu image to be displayed, making the menu image include information representing programs corresponding to at least a part of the plurality of the program streams recorded on the recording medium, in addition to the plurality of selection items.
US08351757B2
Even when a communication state between a tuner device and a display device is deteriorated, a television broadcast receiving device enables a user to view broadcast. The television broadcast receiving device of the present invention has a tuner section that receives a digital broadcast signal, selects the digital broadcast signal to decode the digital broadcast signal, generates video data including a video signal and an audio signal, and converts the video data into processed video data suitable for wireless communication, and a display section that receives the processed video data from the tuner section through wireless communication, and displays a video based on the processed video data. The tuner section has a recording/playback section that records and reads the video data in and from a predetermined recording section according to a change in state of the communication with the display section.
US08351749B2
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for coating an optical fiber. The method includes coating an optical fiber with a primary coating, preparing a secondary coating by selectively mixing a concentrate with an ultraviolet (UV) curable diluent coating, wherein the concentrate comprises predetermined amounts of a color agent and a release agent, and applying the secondary coating to the optical fiber and primary coating.
US08351748B2
An apparatus for patterning objects for the manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits includes an optical source, multiple fiber cores coupled to the optical source, each of the fiber cores has an input end and an output end, and each of the input ends is coupled to the optical source. The apparatus further includes an array coupled to each of the fiber cores, the array is configured to allow each of the fiber ends to output toward a common plane, an object having a photosensitive material coupled to the common plane, and a pattern that is exposed onto the photosensitive material. The pattern is composed of a number beams corresponding to a number of fiber cores.
US08351747B1
A system includes a cable having a first end portion, a second end portion and a cable display module mechanically coupled to the first end portion of the cable. The cable has at least one optical fiber extending through the cable between the first end portion and the second end portion. The at least one optical fiber is configured to optically couple a first chassis with a second chassis when the first end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the first chassis and the second end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the second chassis. The cable display module is configured to be electrically coupled to the first chassis when the first end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the first chassis such that the cable display module receives from the first chassis an electrical signal representing an identifier associated with the second chassis.
US08351740B2
Disclosed herein is a method of estimating a geometrical relationship between a first image (101) and a second image (102), wherein the second image (102) includes a noise component. The method determines a location and size of each one of a plurality of image patches (201), based on the noise component included in the second image (102) and correlation information derived from the first image (101). The method then identifies a plurality of first image areas in the first image and a corresponding plurality of second image areas in the second image, based on the location and size of each one of the plurality of image patches. Each first image area of the first image (101) corresponds to a related second image area of the second image (102). The method then determines a geometrical relationship between the first and second images (101, 102) by comparing, for each one of the first image areas, information located within the first image area with information located within the corresponding related second image area.
US08351738B2
The invention relates to a method of estimating at least one deformation of the wave front of an observation system or of an object observed by said observation system, characterized in that: at least one diversity image is acquired, in the vicinity of the focal plane of the observation system, in at least one diversity plane, the diversity image comprising a known diversity deformation; and in that in each diversity plane, an image model is determined based on at least one decomposition of the physical pupil of the system into a plurality of subpupils; a decomposition over each subpupil of the sought-after deformation in the form of at least one known deformation weighted by coefficients to be determined; a determination of the transfer function of the system by autocorrelation of its pupil; the linearization of each of the terms of the autocorrelation as a function of the coefficients of the sought-after deformation, the linearization being performed in the vicinity of the known diversity deformation; the object observed and noise; and in that on the basis of the image model(s) determined and of the image(s) acquired, the sought-after deformation(s) or the observed object is (are) estimated.
US08351736B2
Methods and a processing device are provided for restoring pixels damaged by artifacts caused by dust, or other particles, entering a digital image capturing device. A user interface may be provided for a user to indicate an approximate location of an artifact appearing in a digital image. Dust attenuation may be estimated and an inverse transformation, based on the estimated dust attenuation, may be applied to damaged pixels in order to recover an estimate of the underlying digital image. One or many candidate source patch may be selected based on having smallest pixel distances, with respect to a target patch area. The damaged pixels included in the target patch area may be considered when calculating the pixel distance with respect to candidate source patches. RGB values of corresponding pixels of source patches may be used to restore the damaged pixels included in the target patch area.
US08351734B2
In an X-Y conversion chart, a threshold Th is defined as Y=0, that is, defined on the X axis, a range from −Th to +Th is defined as a range in which smoothing processing is performed, and a range outside −Th to +Th is defined as a range in which sharpening processing is performed. Among equations denoted by Y1 and Y2 expressed by two linear straight lines, intersections of both the equations Y1 and Y2 are set to the maximum value and the minimum value of an X-Y conversion equation in this case. The threshold is expressed by an intersection of Y2 and the X axis. This algorithm is formed by three factors of: a coefficient α indicating the strength of smoothing; a coefficient β indicating the strength of sharpening; and a threshold Th on the X axis for determining switching between the smoothing processing and the sharpening processing.
US08351729B2
To perform image correction according to the features of an input image and output a fine and conspicuous image corresponding to a variety of scenes; an image correcting apparatus detects, from the pixels of the input image, the dark pixels that have the respective pixel values equal to or smaller than a first threshold value. Then, for each dark pixel having the pixel value equal to or smaller than the first threshold value, the image correcting apparatus detects calculates the shading variation between the dark pixel and the corresponding surrounding pixels, calculates a correction amount based on the calculated shading variation, and performs image correction with the calculated correction amount.
US08351727B2
An image signal processing apparatus and method for processing an image signal input from an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a pixel-by-pixel basis and generating a bright signal corresponding to chrominance signals comprise a low pass filter (LPF), an subtractor, an adder, and a bright signal controller. The LPF cancels a high frequency component of the chrominance signals contained in the input image signal. The subtractor generates a high frequency component signal by subtracting an output signal of the LPF from the input image signal. The adder generates the bright signal by adding the high frequency component signal generated by the subtractor to the output signal of the LPF. The bright signal controller increases the high frequency component signal generated by the subtractor if a pixel position of the input image signal is within an object range, and decreases the high frequency component signal generated by the subtractor if a pixel position of the input image signal is out of the object range.
US08351719B2
An image decoding apparatus which decodes externally received encoded image information includes a storage unit which stores the image information. The image decoding apparatus includes a first decoding unit which receives, from the storage unit, image data to be decoded and reference data, and decodes the target image data. The image decoding apparatus includes a second decoding unit which receives the image data decoded by the first decoding unit, receives, from the storage unit, image data to be decoded based on the decoded image data, and decodes the image data received from the storage unit. The image decoding apparatus includes a decoding control unit which controls the first and second decoding units to repetitively execute decoding of image data in parallel.
US08351717B2
An object of the present invention is to encode and decode image information more efficiently by generating an appropriate predictive signal.The image encoding device of the present invention comprises an input section 201 for inputting an input image constituting an encoding target; a reference image accumulation section 202 for accumulating a reference image; a reference image accompanying information accumulation section 203 for accumulating reference image accompanying information which accompanies the reference image; an encoding section 206 for modifying the reference image and the reference image accompanying information in accordance with the input image, generating a predictive signal for the input image, and encoding the input image; and an output section 209 for outputting, as encoded data, compressed data obtained by encoding by the encoding means together with modification method information indicating a modification method for the reference image.
US08351710B2
Disclosed is a method for measuring the similarity of two-dimensional images, at least one image exhibiting an additional signal, the location dependence or symmetry properties of which are known at least approximately. The images are partitioned into mutually identical subimages such that the extension of at least one subimage in the direction of the gradient of the additional signal is smaller than the extension of this subimage in the direction perpendicular thereto. The subimages are compared separately, and the results of all comparisons are combined to form the measurement result for similarity. As a result, the method becomes insensitive to variations in the additional signal. The method is particularly suited for the determination of defocusing and astigmatism of an electron-microscopic image. For this purpose, it is important to compare the similarity of an experimentally measured image to simulated images, which were generated using defined defocusing and astigmatism values.
US08351708B2
An information processing apparatus includes a storing unit that stores information concerning model feature points and model feature quantities at the model feature points, a first acquiring unit that acquires an input moving image, a first feature-point extracting unit that extracts input feature points for recognizing an action from the input moving image, a first feature-quantity extracting unit that extracts input feature quantities at the input feature points, a feature-quantity comparing unit that compares the input feature quantities and the model feature quantities and generates candidate corresponding feature point pairs, a posture estimating unit that removes outliers from the candidate corresponding feature point pairs, estimates postures of models on the input moving image, and obtains a recognition corresponding feature point pair group corresponding to the postures, and a recognition-result generating unit that generates a recognition result on the basis of the recognition corresponding feature point pair group.
US08351707B2
Line images in horizontal and vertical directions are detected from input image data, and an intersection of the line images is calculated. the calculated intersection is regarded as a feature point of input image data. Thus, it is possible to easily and promptly extract, from image data, a feature point that allows specifying the image data appropriately.
US08351701B2
A method recognizing dice dots comprises the steps: projecting at least one dice with a plurality of different angle light sources; capturing a plurality of images of the dice according to the projecting times of the light sources on the dice; and recognizing dice dots based on the images through calculation methods. When recognized results obtained through the calculation methods are judged same by the recognizing module the dice dots are confirmed and accepted. If the recognized results done through the calculation methods are different, the dice is rolled anew.
US08351699B2
A threshold determination method is selected from among a plurality of alternative global thresholding determination methods and, optionally, a local thresholding determination method based on characteristics of a histogram of grayscales values representing an image. When it is determined to use a global thresholding method, a single global binarization threshold value is determined using the selected global thresholding method. Various alternative global binarization threshold values include a predetermined constant, an average value of the two grayscale values, an Otsu method based threshold value, a Newton method based threshold value, and an Otsu method based threshold value based on a truncated version of the histogram. When it is determined to use local thresholding, a plurality of local binarization threshold values are determined corresponding to different non-overlapping blocks of the image. The determined binarization threshold(s) are applied to the gray scale pixel values to obtain a set of binary pixel values.
US08351688B2
A system categorizes one or more objects based at least in part upon one or more characteristics associated therewith. A first classifier includes a rule set to determine if each of the one or more objects meets or exceeds a quality threshold. A second classifier, orthogonal to the first classifier, includes a rule set to determine if each of the one or more objects meets or exceeds a quality threshold. In one embodiment, the quality threshold associated with the first classifier and the quality threshold associated with the second classifier are less than a predetermined target threshold. The result for each object of the first classifier is compared to the result of the second classifier. The object is categorized if the result of the first classifier and the result of the second classifier match. The object is uncategorized if the result of the first classifier does not match the result of the second classifier.
US08351686B2
An apparatus for determining an azimuth of a target point is provided. The apparatus includes a support structure and an imaging device coupled to the support structure and configured to provide image data. The apparatus also includes a position measuring device coupled to the support structure and configured to determine position information and a processor in electrical communication with the imaging device and the position measuring device. The processor is configured to receive the image data from the imaging device, receive the position information from the position measuring device, determine a baseline between a first position and a second position, determine an orientation between overlapping images, and compute the azimuth of the target point relative to the baseline.
US08351680B2
The invention relates to a method for servicing and/or monitoring a field device (1) of process and automation technology. The invention includes that at least one photograph is taken of at least one section (2) of the field device (1), that the photograph is evaluated and/or processed in such a manner, that there results at least one piece of information concerning an access location (11) for field device data related to the field device (1), and/or information for identification of the field device (1), that a request for data is made to the access location (11), and that, in response to the request for data, field device data are supplied. Furthermore, the invention concerns a corresponding field device.
US08351679B2
A surface inspection apparatus, which includes a detecting device of scanning a surface of an inspection object with an inspection light and outputting a signal corresponding to a light amount of refection light from the surface, generates a two-dimensional image of the surface of the inspection object on the basis of the output signal of the detecting device (S1), classifies pixels contained in the two-dimensional image into a first group of pixels having tones corresponding to defects on the surface of the inspection object and a second group of pixels having tones not corresponding to the defects, extracts the first group of pixels as a defect candidate part for each region surrounded by second groups of pixels (S3 to S5), discriminates a defect candidate part larger than a prescribed size as a defect (S6), inspects the two-dimensional image for each specific inspection region, and identifies an inspection region as a defect region, in which density of defect candidate parts that are smaller than the prescribed size is equal to or more than a prescribed level (S7, S8).
US08351671B2
A radiation detection apparatus (100) acquires projection data of an object that is subject to motion during the acquisition. The apparatus includes a motion modeler (142) and a motion compensator (142) that cooperate to compensate for a motion of the object during the acquisition. In one example, the projection data includes list mode positron emission tomography data and the apparatus compensates for cardiac motion.
US08351669B2
Disclosed embodiments include a method for retinal image analysis implemented in a medical system with one or more processors comprising the method steps of: (a) locating an optical disk on the retinal images and establishing a plurality of circumferences centered at the disk; (b) detecting a plurality of vessels within a region defined by said circumferences' radii using a crease-based algorithm; (c) extracting a plurality of vessel segments based on a deformable models (snakes) algorithm; (d) measuring a plurality of vessel calibers; (e) classifying each vessel as a vein and an artery; and (f) computing an arteriolar-to-venular ratio.
US08351664B2
A biometric authentication device includes an accommodation unit and a detection unit in which the accommodation unit accommodates a card-type recording medium providing alternative information alternative to feature information such that the card-type recording medium is faced to the detection unit, with a biologic object absent, and the detection unit detects the alternative information from the card-type recording medium, thereby collating the feature information extracted from an image of the biologic object with the feature information recorded in a memory in the case of placing the finger into the accommodation unit, and collating the alternative information from the card-type recording medium with the alternative information recorded in the memory in the case of placing the card-type recording medium into the accommodation unit.
US08351658B2
An eyelid detection apparatus includes a face image storing means storing a plurality of face images of a subject captured at different timings, a change detecting means detecting changes in each face image caused by blinking after processing the plurality of face images stored by the face image storing means, and an eyelid detecting means detecting a position of an eyelid of the subject based on the changes detected by the change detecting means.
US08351651B2
A tracking system having a depth camera tracks a user's body in a physical space and derives a model of the body, including an initial estimate of a hand position. Temporal smoothing is performed when the initial estimate moves by less than a threshold level from frame to frame, while little or no smoothing is performed when the movement is more than the threshold. The smoothed estimate is used to define a local volume for searching for a hand extremity to define a new hand position. Another process generates stabilized upper body points that can be used as reliable reference positions, such as by detecting and accounting for occlusions. The upper body points and a prior estimated hand position are used to define an arm vector. A search is made along the vector to detect a hand extremity to define a new hand position.
US08351644B2
A system for hiding secret data in halftone images is disclosed. The system includes an image input module, a halftoning processing module and an image output module. The image input module reads an original image data and a secret image data. The halftoning processing module is coupled to the image input module and receives the original image data and the secret image data, performs a first error diffusion process to the original image to generate a first halftone image and performs a second error diffusion process to the original image data and the secret image data to generate a second halftone image. The image output image module is coupled to the halftoning processing module and outputs the first halftone image and the second halftone image, wherein the second error diffusion process comprises adding or subtracting a variable noise strength to or from each pixel of the secret image.
US08351643B2
Quantized energy values are accessed to initially represent a temporally related group of content elements in a media sequence. The values are accessed over a matrix of regions into which the initial representation is partitioned. The initial representation may be downsampled and/or cropped from the content. A basis vector set is estimated in a dimensional space from the values. The initial representation is transformed into a subsequent representation, which is in another dimensional space. The subsequent representation projects the initial representation, based on the basis vectors. The subsequent representation reliably corresponds to the media content portion over a change in a geometric orientation thereof. Repeated for other media content portions of the group, subsequent representations of the first and other portions are averaged or transformed over time. The averaged/transformed values reliably correspond to the content portion over speed changes. The initial representation may include spatial or transform related information.
US08351629B2
A loudspeaker assembly, including an acoustic waveguide; an acoustic driver mounted in the waveguide so that a first surface radiates sound waves into the waveguide so that the sound waves are radiated from the waveguide; and an acoustic volume acoustically coupled to the acoustic waveguide for increasing the amplitude of the sound waves radiated from the acoustic waveguide.
US08351620B2
The present invention can adjust a volume of a sound on the basis of sound signals to suit a user's preference.The present invention arbitrarily sets movement settable control values application range DR2 for a plurality of continuous preamp control values PD from a desired minimum preamp control value PD to a desired maximum preamp control value PD against a group of preamp control available values PDS. Thus, the present invention can control gains so as to compensate external sound signals with different signal levels supplied from external input terminal OI for difference of signal level according to the external sound signal or can control gains in a predetermined range according to the signal level so that the volume of the external sound on the basis of the external sound signals can be arbitrarily adjusted in a range between a desired minimum value and a desired maximum value. In this manner, a volume of a sound on the basis of an external sound signal can be adjusted.
US08351619B2
There is provided an auditory sense correction device capable of adding favorable loudness characteristics to an output sound without depending on sound source characteristics of an audio signal even when a high-frequency band or a low-frequency band of the audio signal has already been subjected to loudness correction. The auditory sense correction device 1 includes: a loudness processing section 2 which applies loudness processing to audio signals on a frequency band basis, a gain calculation section 4 which calculates a level difference between a signal level of each frequency band and signal level of original frequency band; and gain setting section 5 which applies a correction gain of each frequency band to the audio signal of each frequency band that has been subjected to loudness processing.
US08351600B2
A distributed storage network received a data segment. The data segment is partitioned into two or more portions. A first portion hash is calculated from the first portion of data and used to encrypt the second portion of data. A hash of the encrypted second portion of data is then used to either encrypt the next portion of data (in this case, a third portion of data) or to circle back to the beginning and encrypt the first portion of the data if the second portion of data is the last in data segment. This iterative process continues until all portions of the data segment are encrypted in a sequence. In essence, the data portions of the segment are sequentially processed in some order to encrypt the various portions in that progressing order. A reverse order is used to derive the hash values and decrypt the encrypted data portions into decrypted original data to recreate the data segment.
US08351594B2
A call center system has a computerized server executing software (SW) from a machine-readable medium, a data collection function of the SW enabled for collecting data regarding incoming transactions, a data processing function coupled to the data collection engine and enabled for processing the data collected against a set of business rules, the data processing function determining a priority level for individual ones of the incoming transactions, and a distribution function enabled for distributing a priority indication determined by the data processing function to one or more presentation interfaces accessible to agents, at or near the time the associated transaction is engaged by the agent.
US08351584B2
A device receives network information, least cost route (LCR) forecast information, network administrator inputs, and looping exceptions, and receives a call, from an originating location, to a terminating location. The device determines a LCR for the call based on the network information, the LCR forecast information, the network administrator inputs, and the looping exceptions. The device generates routing instructions for the determined LCR, and provides the routing instructions to one or more network elements associated with the determined LCR. The call is routed to the terminating location, via the one or more network elements associated with the determined LCR, and based on the routing instructions.
US08351583B2
The telecommunication system for communication between PSTN and analog FAXes and/or analog phones by using separated passes for data and synchronization clock flow.
US08351582B2
A service outlet for coupling a data unit to a wired digital data signal and for coupling a service unit to an analog service signal, for use with a service wire pair installed in walls of a building, the service wire pair concurrently carrying a wired bi-directional digital data signal and an analog service signal carried over a service signal frequency band, using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a frequency band distinct from the service signal frequency band. The outlet has a single enclosure and, within the enclosure: a wiring connector; first and second filters coupled to the wiring connector; a service connector coupled to the first filter and connectable to the service unit for coupling the service unit to the analog service signal; a service wiring modem coupled to the second filter; and a power supply coupled to the service wiring modem.
US08351579B2
A system and method for securely authenticating and lawfully intercepting data in a telecommunication network using biometrics is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method for securely authenticating and lawfully intercepting data using biometrics, one or more persons associated with a law enforcement agency (LEA) are authenticated by a telecommunication network provider. The authentication is performed upon receiving a request for lawful interception of data from the one or more persons associated with the LEA. Then, the lawful interception request associated with a registered telecommunication network user is activated to obtain the data. The data is intercepted user upon a successful match with a requested registered telecommunication network user by the LEA. Further, intercepted data along with the biometric information associated with the registered telecommunication network user is sent to the authenticated one or more persons associated with the LEA via the telecommunication network.
US08351576B2
An X-ray tube (1) comprising a cathode (3), an anode (5) and a further electrode (7) is proposed. Therein, the further electrode is arranged and adapted such that, due to impact of 'free electrons (27) coming from the anode (5), the further electrode (7) negatively charges to an electrical potential lying between a cathode's potential and an anode's potential. The further electrode (7) may be passive, i.e. substantially electrically isolated and not connected to an active external voltage supply. The further electrode (7) may act as an ion pump removing ions from within a primary electron beam (21) and furthermore also removing atoms of residual gas within the housing (11) of the X-ray tube (1). In order to further increase the ion pumping capability of the further electrode (7), a magnetic field generator (61) can be arranged adjacent to the further electrode (7).
US08351570B2
To provide a phase grating capable of acquiring, in photographing of an X-ray phase contrast image by use of X-ray with two wavelengths, an X-ray phase contrast image by a phase grating in the same size as when a single wavelength is used, provided is a phase grating used when an X-ray is directed to take an X-ray phase contrast image, the phase grating including a periodic structure for generating a phase difference between an X-ray transmitted through the structure and an X-ray not transmitted through the structure. The periodic structure has different periods in a plurality of directions in a same surface.
US08351568B2
An apparatus for obtaining a long length x-ray image of a subject has a first x-ray detector, a second x-ray detector, and an x-ray source having an exposure directing apparatus that is actuable to direct exposure from the x-ray source towards at least a first imaging position during a first interval and a second imaging position during a second interval, with an overlap along a boundary between the at least first and second imaging positions. An x-ray detector holder has a detector translation apparatus that is actuable to translate at least one of the first and second x-ray detectors to an interim position for one of the first and second intervals and to either the first or the second imaging position for the other of the first and second intervals. A host controller is programmed to provide instructions for movement of the x-ray detector holder and exposure directing apparatus.
US08351566B2
A gantry has a cylindrical shape and rotates around a subject on a top panel about the body axis. An X-ray irradiating part is arranged inside the gantry and emits an X-ray. An X-ray detector is arranged at a position facing the X-ray irradiating part and detects the X-ray transmitted through the subject. PET detectors are arranged in two separate regions facing the rotation center and detect γ-rays emitted from the positron-emitting nuclides. A moving mechanism moves the top panel and the gantry relatively to each other. An X-ray CT image generator generates an X-ray CT image of the subject based on the result of detection by the X-ray detector. A PET image generator generates a PET image of the subject based on the γ-rays detected by the PET detectors on the circumference in accordance with rotation of the gantry.
US08351563B2
A shift register circuit includes plural shift register stages for providing plural gate signals. The Nth shift register stage of the shift register stages includes an input unit, a pull-up unit and a pull-down unit. The input unit is put in use for outputting an Nth driving control voltage according to an (N−1)th gate signal and an (N−2)th driving control voltage which are generated respectively by the (N−1) th shift register stage and the (N−2) th shift register stage of the shift register stages. The pull-up unit pulls up an Nth gate signal according to the Nth driving control voltage and a system clock. The pull-down unit pulls down the Nth gate signal and the Nth driving control voltage according to an (N+2)th gate signal generated by the (N+2)th shift register stage of the shift register stages.
US08351537B2
Methods and communication systems are presented, in which impulse noise is monitored on a communication channel, and an interleaver depth is adjusted according to the monitored impulse noise without interrupting communication service.
US08351536B2
A transmitter generates a constellation pattern comprising replications of a first constellation. Each replication has a replication offset relative to a neighbouring replication and alternates between corresponding to the first constellation and an axis mirrored constellation (mirrored around the real and/or imaginary axis). The transmitter selects from the pattern such that a symbol for a data value corresponding to a first constellation point of the first constellation is selected from all replications of this constellation point. The constellation point resulting in the lowest transmit power for a combination of a plurality of antennas may be selected. A receiver receives the selected symbol and provides a folding operation to compensate for replications and mirroring. The replication offset may be lower than the minimum distance between symbols in the first constellation thereby resulting in an improved trade off between transmit power and error probability, e.g. in a Multiple Input Multiple Output system.
US08351533B2
Group resource allocation techniques for IEEE 802.16m are generally presented. In this regard a method is introduced comprising generating a plurality of bitmaps to identify resource allocations and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) modes for a group of broadband wireless mobile stations, wherein each mobile station in the group is assigned a position within a user bitmap to identify whether the mobile station is allocated frame resources and wherein the position within one or more MIMO bitmap(s) to identify a MIMO mode, and transmitting the bitmaps in a group resource allocation (GRA) information element (IE) of a broadband wireless media access protocol (MAP) frame portion. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US08351530B2
A method and apparatus for processing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives downlink control information including WTRU-specific MIMO and transport format information and MIMO information for all other WTRUs assigned to the same resource. The WTRU processes received MIMO data based on the downlink control information. The downlink control information may also include transport format information for all other WTRUs assigned to the same RB. The downlink control information may be transmitted via WTRU-specific control signaling. All WTRUs' MIMO and/or transport format information may be transmitted via resource-specific common control signaling. The downlink control signaling format may include at least one of a number of streams for the WTRU, a number of active WTRUs assigned to the same resource, a spatial channel identity for the WTRU, a MIMO mode, a precoding matrix index and a precoding vector index.
US08351526B2
In an OFDM system using pilot cells for channel estimation, time interpolation among pilot cells of different OFDM symbols is commonly used to improve the estimate. The estimated channel impulse response is also windowed to further reduce noise and disturbances. However, for a transmission over a time-varying channel, suboptimal time interpolation, implemented with a filter having only a few taps not matched to the maximum Doppler frequency, degrades channel estimation. As aliases can lead to an erroneous estimate of channel duration and consequent errors in windowing, the present invention implements a technique to detect aliases and correct the estimate of channel duration. Parameters of the detection techniques are optimized by an analysis that provides closed-form expressions of the false alarm and miss detection probabilities.
US08351524B2
A MIMO-OFDM communication method for transmitting and receiving data using MIMO-OFDM communication has, on the transmitting side, a step of performing precoding processing of transmission data using a prescribed precoding method, and a step of performing OFDM modulation of the precoding-processed data and transmitting the data from a plurality of transmission antennas, and has, on the receiving side, a step of performing MIMO decoding processing of reception signals received by a plurality of reception antennas according to a ZF decoding algorithm or an MMSE decoding algorithm, and outputting the data as a transmission data stream, a step of calculating weighting coefficients according to the precoding method, and a step of performing weighted decoding processing of the transmission data obtained by the MIMO decoding processing, by multiplying path metric of the decoding processing by the weighting coefficients.
US08351518B2
To enable shared control information to be demodulated without requiring advance information on a MIMO block or non-MIMO block prior to demodulation of the shared control information of the block, and further enable the shared control information to be demodulated early. A wireless transmitting apparatus which performs wireless transmission in MIMO or non-MIMO for each radio frame comprised of a block or a plurality of blocks, and has mapping sections (110-1 to 110-n) that perform mapping of pilot signals to perform propagation path estimation, specific data, and user data, where the mapping sections perform mapping so that the specific data is transmitted in non-MIMO in the block or the radio frame transmitted in MIMO, and that an antenna that transmits the specific data is beforehand associated with an antenna that transmits a pilot signal to perform propagation path estimation.
US08351509B1
A codec, systems, and methods for compressing video data includes selecting a current video frame of the video data, dividing the current video frame into multiple blocks, wherein each block has M×N pixels, approximating the blocks of the current frame based on motion vectors associated with corresponding blocks from the previous frame, further refining the blocks of the current frame by determining optimal motion vectors for the blocks of the current frame based on the motion vectors provided (i) by the corresponding blocks from the previous frame, (ii) by the surrounding blocks in the current frame, and (iii) from successively smaller blocks within the current frame, wherein the optimal motion vectors for the blocks of the current frame are optimized to balance distortion and rate and wherein the optimal motion vectors are represented by codewords generated from Huffman tables.
US08351504B2
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list0 motion vector of a co-located image block in a reference picture for the bi-predictive image block as a motion vector for deriving motion vectors of the bi-predictive image block regardless of whether the co-located block includes a list1 motion vector. At least one motion vector of the bi-predictive block is derived by applying a bit operation to the selected motion vector.
US08351501B2
An image decoding method is for decoding a bit stream in an image decoding apparatus. The method includes receiving the bit stream and a weight parameter that is added to a luma quantization parameter by an addition operation. The method also includes decoding, in a decoding unit in the image decoding apparatus, the bit stream and generating a chroma component of quantized coefficients. In addition, the method includes performing, in a dequantization unit in the image decoding apparatus, dequantization on the chroma component of quantized coefficients using the chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of a luma quantization parameter weighted by the weight parameter.
US08351498B2
A transcoding procedure is shown for decoding coded video data and re-coding the video data. An input device (201) receives coded video data and a distribution device (304) supplies a copy of the input data to each of a plurality of transcoding processors. A control processor (305) is configured to instruct each transcoding processor to transcode a time-based segment of the input data and to combine the transcoded segments to produce transcoded output video data
US08351490B2
A radio frequency identification transceiver is disclosed. The radio frequency identification transceiver includes: a transmitter path, including; a pulse shaper to tunably shape the pulse of a signal to be transmitted in different predefined frequency ranges; a modulator to modulate the shaped pulse to be transmitted into one of a plurality of predefined frequency ranges; a receiver path, including: a demodulator to demodulate a received signal from a plurality of predefined frequency ranges.
US08351473B1
Disclosed are systems and methods for improving wavelength control in tunable laser sources. Embodiments of the systems and methods include delivering a fraction of the light output from the laser to an optical filter subsystem. The optical filter subsystem is capable of outputting at least one filter response signal, and comprises 2 complementary optical etalon filters with nominally identical free spectral ranges but offset by nominally one third of the free spectral range. The filter response signal is processed in a control unit which executes a control algorithm to generate a tuning signal that is used to control the wavelength of the laser.
US08351466B2
A method of reducing bandwidth utilization in a cellular network. The method includes receiving packet streams at a suppression unit of a cellular network, identifying a plurality of packet streams carrying the same data content, by the suppression unit; forwarding for packet streams identified as carrying the same data content, fewer packet streams than received, during a period in which the streams are identified to have the same content; regenerating the non-forwarded packet streams of the plurality of packet streams carrying the same data content, by a regeneration unit of the cellular network; and transmitting the plurality of packet streams including the regenerated streams to mobile stations.
US08351459B2
A communication node includes a token-start-right acquisition processor that issues a token-start-right acquisition frame containing specific information, determines a priority based on predetermined reference using specific information for other communication node and the specific information for the own communication node upon reception of a token-start-right acquisition frame from the other communication node, issues the token-start-right acquisition frame at a predetermined time interval when the own communication node has a higher priority than the other communication node, and stops issuing the token-start-right acquisition frame when the own communication node has a lower priority than the other communication node, to forward the token-start-right acquisition frame of the other communication node, and also includes a token start processor that passes the token frame to the ring upon reception of the token-start-right acquisition frame which is issued by the token-start-right acquisition processor and circulates around the ring.
US08351458B2
A method for allocating uplink radio resources to a radio communication device includes transmitting a polling signal; allocating radio resources for data transmission based on a response signal to the polling signal; suspending transmission of the polling signal when it is determined that a condition to omit the transmission of the polling signal is satisfied; and allocating radio resources for data transmission while the transmission of the polling signal is suspended.
US08351454B2
A method for providing wireless communications between nodes of a vehicle includes providing a plurality of frequency channels on which the nodes of a first vehicle may wirelessly communicate. Wireless communication with a second vehicle adjacent to the first vehicle includes assigning a first of the frequency channels to the first vehicle for intra-vehicle transmissions within the first vehicle, and a second of the frequency channels to the second vehicle for intra-vehicle transmissions within the second vehicle. The first vehicle is prohibited from using the second frequency channel and the second vehicle is prohibited from using the first frequency channel.
US08351450B2
In one embodiment, a rate adaptation device comprises one or more input/output (I/O) ports coupled to a first network operating at a first data transmission rate, a first physical coding sublayer (PCS) receiver to receive a stream of PCS blocks from the first network, an idle symbol remover to remove a sequence of idle symbols from the first PCS block and combine the one or more non-idle PCS symbols in a buffer with one or more non-idle PCS symbols from a second PCS block to form a third PCS block, and a PCS transmitter to transmit the third PCS block to a second network operating at a second data transmission rate.
US08351440B2
An IP address and a MAC address of each of communication devices connected to a plurality of communication ports provided in a switching hub device are associated in an ARP table. Also, priority information representing the communication priority of each communication device is received, and the received priority information is associated with the MAC address of the communication device. When no IP address of a transmission source included in a data packet received at each communication port exists in the ARP table, the IP address and the MAC address of the transmission source are added to the ARP table and priority information is attached to the ARP table.
US08351435B2
Systems and methods are described that manage routing information in an IP network using extensible indexing and use the indexing to control the network. The indexing and associated controls apply to any router within the routing domain.
US08351433B2
A system and method for optimizing the handling of data on a priority basis within an intelligent electronic device is disclosed. A FIFO receives messages and the messages are each associated with a subscription identifier. The messages are then routed to and stored in buffers, each associated with a subscription identifier.
US08351415B2
The present invention relates to a time interleaving method (1) and a time interleaver (ETS) for data. The data is intended to be transmitted sequentially by a baseband carrier of a single-carrier transmitter (EM). The method consists in interleaving a block of successive data items according to a particular interleaving law variable in time for a given transmission mode of the transmitter.
US08351401B2
A code sequence transmission method capable of improving system throughput and user throughput by improving power utilization efficiencies of a control channel and a data channel including a plurality of signals having different required qualities is provided. In a mobile station, a bit sequence of a TFCI is transmitted within one frame a plurality of times repeatedly, the bit sequence of each TFCI is multiplied by one bit of a bit sequence of an SI, a multiplication result is transmitted. It is thereby possible to transmit both the TFCI and the SI without providing a signal field of the SI in each frame.
US08351392B2
A method of acquiring information on a resource region for transmitting PHICH and a method of receiving PDCCH using the same are disclosed. The resource region for transmitting the PHICH can be specified by first information corresponding to the per-subframe PHICH number and second information corresponding to a duration of the PHICH within the subframe. The first information can be specified into a form resulting from multiplying a predetermined basic number by a specific constant. And, the specific constant can be transmitted via PBCH. Moreover, the second information can be acquired from the PBCH as well.
US08351383B2
Satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. In one embodiment, a satellite communications system is configured to dynamically allocate bandwidth and frequencies among different beams. Bandwidth request data may be received and compiled from the terminals. The satellite may be configured with different beam coverage areas, and may dynamically allocate bandwidth and particular frequency channels to different beam coverage areas based on the requests. In each of a series of one or more epochs, and according to the bandwidth requests, there may be allocations among carrier groups, traffic classes, and particular terminals. The setup of slot structure and selection of modes for particular terminals is also addressed.
US08351378B2
The present invention discloses a method for deactivating ISR and a mobility management unit. Wherein the above method includes: when an ISR deactivation is needed to be performed, the mobility management unit judging whether to perform the following operation by the S-GW according to reasons of the ISR deactivation: the mobility management unit sends a request message of deleting bearer to the S-GW, and carries, in the request message, an identifier which is used to instruct the S-GW to initiate the bearer deletion to the other mobility management unit associated with the ISR function activation; or the mobility management unit notifies the other mobility management unit associated with the ISR function activation to perform the ISR deactivation. The synchronization between the bearer deletion and the network element state in the ISR function deactivation scenarios can be realized by the above technical scheme.
US08351377B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling DBDM including a first modem that performs an EVDO (Evolution-Data Optimized) or a HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) communication, and the second modem that performs a WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) communication, and a method for controlling DBDM, wherein one of the modems selected from the two (first and second) modems that is used for data communication of a user terminal generates a wake up signal to wake up the other modem that is not selected, and the other woken-up modem receives and analyzes communication data, and transmits a data of analysis result to the user terminal and the UART via the one modem performing the data communication.
US08351370B2
A method of transmitting a scheduling request signal, wherein the scheduling request signal is used to request a radio resource for uplink transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes configuring a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for transmission of a scheduling request signal in a subframe, the subframe comprising two consecutive slots, a slot comprising a plurality of single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols, the scheduling request signal being carried by a presence or absence of transmission of the PUCCH, wherein at least one SC-FDMA symbol is assigned for transmission of a sounding reference signal, and transmitting the scheduling request signal and the sounding reference signal in the subframe. Scheduling request signal can be transmitted without interference with other control signals such as sounding reference signal that are transmitted on the same control channel with the scheduling request signal.
US08351366B2
Techniques and systems for mediating traffic between a network transceiver and a user transceiver in a wireless communication system are disclosed. A network link with the network transceiver is maintained using a network unit, and a user link with the user transceiver is maintained using a user unit. One or more replicas of a signal received from the network transceiver on a downlink path or from the user transceiver on an uplink path, respectively, are generated. The one or more replicas of the signal wirelessly are then transmitted on a hop between the network unit and the user unit along with a bi-directional control channel.
US08351364B2
A method for transmitting data in a wireless communication system provides transmitting a cluster allocation message, which informs at least one user equipment that the user equipment belongs to a cluster, to the at least one user equipment, and receiving a response to the cluster allocation message from user equipments belonging to the cluster. Small envelope correlation coefficient can be obtained without increasing the size of a user equipment.
US08351363B2
In a communication system providing broadcast services in which files for broadcast are accessible by the users. Contents of the broadcast files and the file attributes required to process the broadcast files are separately sent. As arranged, receiving the file attributes ahead of the content files allow more efficient download and processing of the broadcast files.
US08351362B2
Methods and apparatus for waking a mobile station (MS) from a power saving mode to receive a media access control (MAC) management message (e.g., DCD/UCD, MOB_NBR-ADV, and SII-ADV) the MS has not yet received. The MS may wake from the power saving mode after detecting a mismatch between a set of media access control (MAC) management message parameters last received by the MS and the information found in an enhanced broadcast control pointer information element (BCP-IE) transmitted in a downlink map (DL-MAP). In this manner, the MS may be prevented from waking up unnecessarily, thereby providing high power efficiency.
US08351351B2
Provided is a multimedia data generation method which includes allocating one or more pieces of image object information to each of a plurality of nodes, generating a scene tree by linking nodes according to correlation between the object information allocated to each node, and adding an event execution level attribute to each node, wherein the event execution level attribute determines whether to execute an event by using the image object information allocated to each node, thereby generating multimedia data in which the added event execution level attribute is represented with a scene description language and recorded on an area of a scene descriptor.
US08351350B2
Described herein are systems and methods for configuring access control devices. In overview, some embodiments provide for a method whereby a smartcard is used to configure a disconnected access control device. A user presents this smartcard to a connected access control device which, in response to the presentation of this card, allows the user to download to the smartcard one or more aspects of configuration data for a specified disconnected access control device. The user subsequently presents the smartcard to the relevant disconnected access control device, which uploads and selectively applies the one or more aspects of configuration data.
US08351344B2
Provided are a system and a method for measurement voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) quality of experience (QoE), and a compensation method, a method for measuring QoE for a VoIP telephone service in real time, and claiming after-treatment on the basis of the measurement quality. The present invention measures subjective or objective quality for an actually generated call, and allows the subjective or objective quality to be linked with after-treatment such as compensation.
US08351342B2
A roaming emulator provides a tool for emulating system determination for monitoring the operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) during system determination. A signal monitoring program and service selection protocol are stored, and a signal emulation module provides a signal emulation output in accordance with a predetermined set of data. A processing module performs a simulation of a service selection procedure based on the service selection protocol and performed in accordance with the signal monitoring program and the signal emulation output. A result of the service selection is provided by an output module. The emulator can provide emulated system scanning based on geographical or market location, and can emulate scenarios when channels from neighboring systems or markets “bleed” into the RF environment of the WCD.
US08351337B2
A diagnostic tool is provided for calculating the availability of multi-segment pseudowires within an internet protocol (IP)-based mobile backhaul network. A control message is transmitted from an originating node towards a destination node within the IP-based mobile backhaul network over a primary multi-segment pseudowire and a secondary multi-segment pseudowire. From the response messages received from intermediate nodes positioned between the network node and the destination node along the primary multi-segment pseudowire and the secondary multi-segment psuedowire, the originating node determines the identities of each of the intermediate nodes, and calculates a respective individual availability of the primary multi-segment pseudowire and the secondary multi-segment pseudowire.
US08351334B2
The present invention relates to quality-based scheduling of data in wireless networks. In this scheduling, quality information representing the degree of decodability of previously transmitted but not correctly received and not successfully decoded data packets is estimated in receiving communications nodes. This quality information is reported back to the node that transmitted the packet. The quality information will be used by the transmitting node when scheduling subsequent data transmissions. In this scheduling process, at least one of selection of: i) receiving node(s), to which a second data packet is to be forwarded; ii) a type of the data in the second packet; and/or iii) a data flow, to which the second packet belongs, is performed based on the quality information.
US08351325B2
An International Standards Organization (“OSI”) Layer-2 (“Ethernet”) Pseudo-wire (“OSI Layer-1 type service”) appliance, method, system and hub service is disclosed. The method and system facilitate the rapid deployment of Layer-2 Pseudo-wires over unknown and untrusted Internet Protocol (“IP”) networks. The method and system facilitate the fluid edge of corporate networks and any situation where the Layer-3 network addresses cannot be changed.
US08351324B2
Methods, computer-readable media and computing systems are provided for analyzing service impacts on one or more VPNs on a computer network. A topology of each VPN may be identified. A protocol failure may be detected between routers of the computer network. It may then be determined how the VPN is affected by the protocol failure based on the identified topology and VRF information obtained from routers of the computer network.
US08351323B2
The present invention provides a method for transmitting/receiving a continuous pilot code in a multi-carrier system. The method for transmitting comprises: performing a time-frequency domain two dimensional encoding on an information bit stream to be transmitted; mapping the encoded bit stream to obtain a continuous pilot carrying encoding information; multiplexing a load, a discrete pilot and the mapped continuous pilot carrying the encoding information based on distribution of the load, the discrete pilot and the continuous pilot on a sub-carrier, to generate a frequency domain signal; and performing a frequency-time domain transforming on the generated frequency domain signal, to obtain a time domain sample. The method for receiving comprises: extracting the continuous pilot from an active carrier of a multi-carrier signal; and performing a time-frequency domain decoding on the extracted continuous pilots to obtain the decision of transmitted information bits. The invention ensures reliable transmission of the information without using additional bandwidth resource by carrying information in the continuous pilots using an encoding scheme.
US08351315B2
A recording medium, such as a high-density and/or read-only recording medium including a data area including at least two data sections and a linking area to link neighboring data sections, the linking area including at least two frame sync signals, where values of the at least two frame sync signals maintain uniqueness, and to methods and apparatuses for forming, recording, and reproducing the recording medium.
US08351313B2
An information carrier for holding user information includes access information for accessing the user information, the access information being stored in a pre-determined first region on the information carrier. The information carrier further includes at least one further region different from the first region, the further region comprising dummy information.
US08351310B2
A method for determining an optimal combination of focus bias and spherical aberration compensating value (SA value) in an optical disc drive is provided. Firstly, a first focus bias is set, the SA values are adjusted and the corresponding tracking error signal values are measured. Second-order-approximation is performed to obtain a first maximum value of tracking error signal. Secondly, a second focus bias is set, the SA values are adjusted and the corresponding tracking error signal values are measured. Second-order-approximation is performed to obtain a second maximum value of tracking error signal. Thirdly, a third focus bias is set, the SA values are adjusted and the corresponding tracking error signal values are measured. Second-order-approximation is performed to obtain a third maximum value of the tracking error signal. The three maximum values are compared to obtain the optimal combination of focus bias and SA compensating value in the optical disc drive.
US08351293B2
A method for communicating between marine vessels includes the steps of connecting a communication hub and a first marine vessel via a cable; transmitting an electronic signal via the cable between the communication hub and the first marine vessel; and transmitting the electronic signal wirelessly between the communication hub and a second marine vessel. The cable may be a seismic cable such as, and without limitation to, a streamer and an ocean bottom cable. The seismic cable may include one or more seismic sensors such as hydrophones and geophones.
US08351283B2
The present invention is directed to realize high-speed operation and low latency of a semiconductor storage device employing the QDR method. A memory cell array, a first buffer, a second buffer, a first circuit, a second circuit, a first DLL circuit, and a second DLL circuit are provided. The first DLL circuit generates a first internal clock signal so as to reduce a phase difference between a first clock signal fetched via the first buffer and the first internal clock signal transmitted to the first circuit. The second DLL circuit generates the second internal clock signal so as to reduce a phase difference between the second clock signal fetched via the second buffer and the second internal clock signal transmitted to the second circuit. With the configuration, input setup and hold time can be shortened, and the frequency of the clock signal can be further increased.
US08351278B2
A jam latch device for a data node includes a feed forward inverter having an input coupled to the data node; a feedback inverter having an input connected to an output of the feed forward inverter with an output of the feedback inverter connected to the data node; an isolation device that selectively decouples the feedback inverter from a power supply rail, the isolation device controlled by a clock signal of a reset device that resets the data node to a first logic state such that decoupling of the feedback inverter from the power supply rail coincides with resetting the data node to the first logic state; and a margin test device that selectively increases pull down strength of the feedback inverter.
US08351271B2
A semiconductor storage apparatus has a control circuit. The control circuit deactivates the first and second amplifier circuits, turns off the first, second, fourth and fifth switch circuits, and turns on the third and sixth switch circuits in response to an external signal based on reduction of current dissipation of a power supply which supplies the power supply voltage.
US08351260B2
The disclosure relates to an integrated circuit electrically powered by a supply voltage and comprising a memory electrically erasable and/or programmable by means of a second voltage greater than the supply voltage. The integrated circuit comprises means for receiving the second voltage by the intermediary of a reception terminal of the supply voltage or by the intermediary of a reception or emission terminal of a data or clock signal. Applicable in particular to electronic tags comprising a reduced number of interconnection terminals.
US08351254B2
The performance of a semiconductor device including a nonvolatile memory is enhanced. Each of nonvolatile memory cells arranged over a silicon substrate includes: a first n-well; a second n-well formed in a place different from the place thereof; a selection transistor formed in the first n-well; and an electric charge storage portion having a floating gate electrode and a storage portion p-well. The floating gate electrode is so placed that it overlaps with part of the first n-well and the second n-well. The storage portion p-well is placed in the first n-well so that it partly overlaps with the floating gate electrode. In this nonvolatile memory cell, memory information is erased by applying positive voltage to the second n-well to discharge electrons in the floating gate electrode to the second n-well.
US08351252B2
The data read circuit includes a variable current generation circuit and a data sensing circuit. The variable current generation circuit is configured to generate a variable current that varies in response to an external temperature. The data sensing circuit is configured to sense and amplify data on a bit line connected to a non-volatile memory cell according to the variable current and to configured to output the sensed and amplified data. The data sensing circuit controls a margin for sensing the data according to the variable current.
US08351249B2
A magnetic random access memory according to the present invention is provided with: a magnetic recording layer including a magnetization free region having a reversible magnetization, wherein a write current is flown through the magnetic recording layer in an in-plane direction; a magnetization fixed layer having a fixed magnetization; a non-magnetic layer provided between the magnetization free region and the magnetization fixed layer; and a heat sink structure provided to be opposed to the magnetic recording layer and having a function of receiving and radiating heat generated in the magnetic recording layer. The magnetic random access memory thus-structured radiates heat generated in the magnetic recording layer by using the heat sink structure, suppressing the temperature increase caused by the write current flown in the in-plane direction.
US08351248B1
A memory cell in an integrated circuit has a first PMOS transistor formed in N-type semiconductor material and a first NMOS transistor formed in P-type semiconductor material. A well bias line coupled to the N-type semiconductor material or to the P-type semiconductor material provides a well bias voltage not equal to the PMOS bias voltage or to the NMOS bias voltage to reverse body-bias the PMOS transistor or to forward body-bias the NMOS transistor.
US08351247B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells formed on the semiconductor substrate and arranged in a matrix in a first direction and a second direction on the surface of the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of sense amplifiers formed on the semiconductor substrate and including a first sense amplifier and a second sense amplifier; and a plurality of bit lines extending along the first direction above the memory cell array, and arranged side by side in the second direction, wherein the plurality of bit lines include a first bit line pair formed in a first wiring layer and a second bit line pair formed in a second wiring layer located above the first wiring layer.
US08351237B2
Certain embodiments provide a ferroelectric random access memory comprising a first buffer, a second buffer, a third buffer, a first controlling unit, a second controlling unit, a memory cell array, a sense amplifier circuit, and a third controlling unit. The first buffer outputs a first signal changed from a first value to a second value based on notification of power-down. The second buffer stops supply of inner clock signal with the change of the first signal from the first value to the second value. The third buffer receives an address signal corresponding to data to be read or written. The first controlling unit receives a command signal. The second controlling unit generates a basic signal that has a third value when the command signal indicates a bank active command and has a fourth value when the command signal indicates a precharge command and the first signal has the second value. The sense amplifier circuit reads data via a pair of bit lines from the memory cell corresponding to the address signal. The third controlling unit controls write back to the memory cell from which the data are read so as to be performed after an elapse of a predetermined time from the time the basic signal has the third value and when the basic signal has the fourth value.
US08351235B2
A feedback circuit by which an output of a memory device for storing level-shifted data can be fed back to the input side includes inverters, resistors, and transistors. The resistance value of combined resistance for pulling up or down first and second switching devices is varied in accordance with the output of the memory device by the feedback circuit, so that malfunction caused by dv/dt noise can be dealt with out generating any through current. In this manner, it is possible to provide a level shift circuit which can deal with malfunction causing dv/dt noise regardless of an on or off state of a high-potential-side switching device, while generation of a through current can be suppressed.
US08351231B2
The present invention aims to provide a power converter with an arm including switching devices connected in parallel, realizing long lifespans of switching devices. An inverter includes an upper and a lower arm, and gate drive circuits each driving the corresponding arm according to a gate control signal Gup_s indicating ON/OFF periods. Each arm includes switching devices connected in parallel. Each gate drive circuit includes: a switching gate control circuit 230u bringing a switching device 210u into conduction at the beginning of the ON period and bringing the same out of conduction within the ON period; and a conduction gate control circuit 231u bringing switching devices 211u and 212u within a period from when the switching device 210u is brought into conduction until the same is brought out of conduction, wherein the switching device 210u has a lower parasitic capacitance than the switching devices 211u and the 212u.
US08351205B2
A heat dissipation device is used to dissipate heat generated by a number of memory chips of a motherboard. The heat dissipation device includes two brackets attached to the motherboard and at opposite sides of the memory chips, are a support, and a fan. The support includes a fixing plate and two clamping plates extending from opposite ends of the fixing plate. The clamping plates are rotatably mounted to the brackets, and are positioned above the memory chips. The fan is sandwiched between the clamping plates or mounted to the fixing plate.
US08351193B2
A coupling mechanism includes a pivot assembly and a lifting assembly. The pivot assembly includes a first bracket, a pivot pin, a second bracket, and a cam piece. The second bracket is rotatably mounted to the first bracket via the pivot pin and has a valley portion recessed from one surface thereof. The cam piece is mounted to the pivot pin for holding the second bracket at any angle. The cam piece has a peak portion formed on one surface thereof and received in the valley portion of the second bracket at a closed position. The lifting assembly is adjustably assembled to the second bracket such that the lifting assembly is pivotally assembled with the first bracket.
US08351186B2
An electrode foil for capacitor includes a substrate made of a valve metal foil, a first rough surface layer made of a valve metal formed on the first surface of the substrate by vapor deposition, and a second rough surface layer made of a valve metal formed on the second surface of the substrate by vapor deposition. The mode of diameters of pores of the first and second rough surface layers ranges from 0.02 μm to 0.10 μm. The thickness of the first rough surface layer is larger than the thickness of the second rough surface layer. The electrode foil has the rough surface layers formed by vapor deposition fabricated stably so that a solid electrolytic capacitor with high capacitance can be obtained using the foil.
US08351181B1
There is provided a chip type laminated capacitor including: a ceramic body formed by laminating a dielectric layer having a thickness equal to 10 or more times an average particle diameter of a grain included therein and being 3 μm or less; first and second outer electrodes; a first inner electrode having one end forming a first margin together with one end surface of the ceramic body at which the second outer electrode is formed and the other end leading to the first outer electrode; and a second inner electrode having one end forming a second margin together with the other end surface of the ceramic body at which the first outer electrode is formed and the other end leading to the second outer electrode, wherein the first and second margins have different widths under a condition that they are 200 μm or less.
US08351178B2
A first electronic device includes an electromagnetic component embedded in its connecting port and controlled to be activated during data transmission between the first electronic device and a second electronic device to which the first electronic device is connecting, or during memory accessing of the first electronic device. As the electromagnetic component is activated, an attraction force exists between the two connecting ports of the first and the second electronic devices such that a user of the first electronic device will feel a resistance when he/she tries to disconnect the first electronic device from the second electronic device.
US08351175B2
A protective device for a load circuit that instantly cuts off the load circuit when a dead short-circuit has occurred in the load circuit. The protective device includes a first detection circuit which detects a counter-electromotive force E1 induced in a common wiring line for connecting a plurality of load circuits and a power source, and a second detection circuit which detects a counter-electromotive force E2 induced at part of a load connection wiring line for connecting the individual load circuits. The load circuit is cut off when the first detection circuit detects that the counter-electromotive force E1 induced in the common wiring line has exceeded a predetermined value, and the second detection circuit detects that the counter-electromotive force E2 that has the same direction as that of E1 has been generated in the load connection wiring line.
US08351169B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for preventing, protecting OLTC from fire and/or preventing, protecting and/or detecting explosion and/or resulting fire of electrical transformer (30) in advance before decomposition of combustible coolant fluid (11)/dielectric oil.
US08351165B2
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane spin-valve (CPP-SV) magnetoresistive sensor has a ferromagnetic alloy comprising Co, Fe and Ge in the sensor's free layer and/or pinned layer and a spacer layer of Ag, Cu or a AgCu alloy between the free and pinned layers. The sensor may be a simple pinned structure, in which case the pinned layer may be formed of the CoFeGe ferromagnetic alloy. Alternatively, the sensor may have an AP-pinned layer structure, in which case the AP2layer may be formed of the CoFeGe ferromagnetic alloy. The Ge-containing alloy comprises Co, Fe and Ge, wherein Ge is present in the alloy in an amount between about 20 and 40 atomic percent, and wherein the ratio of Co to Fe in the alloy is between about 0.8 and 1.2.
US08351164B2
An example magnetoresistive element includes a first magnetic layer whose magnetization direction is substantially pinned toward one direction; a second magnetic layer whose magnetization direction is changed in response to an external magnetic field; and a spacer layer. At least one of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer includes a magnetic compound layer including a magnetic compound that is expressed by M1aM2bOc (where 5≦a≦68, 10≦b≦73, and 22≦c≦85). M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, and Ni. M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, and Cr.
US08351161B2
The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion.
US08351151B2
A thermally assisted magnetic write head having a near-field transducer, a magnetic lip and a diffusion barrier layer between the near-field transducer and the magnetic lip. The near-field transducer includes a transparent aperture constructed of a material such as SiO2 and an opaque metallic antenna constructed of a metal such as Au formed at a first edge of the aperture. A magnetic lip, connected with the write pole is formed near a second edge of the aperture with a diffusion barrier layer being disposed between the magnetic lip and the aperture. The diffusion barrier layer prevents migration of atomic between the aperture and the magnetic lip, thereby ensuring robust performance at localized high temperatures generated by the near-field transducer.
US08351139B2
An optical element module is provided. The optical module includes an optical element unit that includes an optical element and a support structure that supports the optical element unit. The support structure includes a support device and a contact device mounted to the support device. The contact device exerts a force on the optical element unit in a first direction via a first contact surface of the contact device. The first contact surface contacts a second contact surface of the optical element unit. The contact device includes a first linking section and a second linking section extending along a second direction running transverse to the first direction and arranged kinematically in series between the first contact surface and the support device. The first linking section and the second linking section are elastically deformed in response to a bending moment resulting from the force. The first linking section and the second linking section are arranged on opposite sides of a reference plane. The reference plane includes the force and runs transverse to the second direction.
US08351137B2
A micro-lens module including a plurality of lens groups is provided. The lens groups are disposed between an object side and an image side, wherein at least one lens group in the lens groups is composed by a complex lens. The complex lens includes a plurality of lenses, the lenses are adhered to each other, and an index of at least one lens in the lenses is different from indexes of the other lens in the lenses. The provided micro-lens module has an improved imaging quality and a miniaturized size while considering a manufacturing convenience.
US08351126B2
In a particular embodiment, a meta-material slab is formed from multiple layers of at least two different compositions. The meta-material slab is adapted to propagate an evanescent wave in a direction parallel to an axis to form a cone-shaped wave along the axis.
US08351125B2
A directional light distributing optical element includes a light incident surface and a light emission curved surface. The light incident surface receives a light emitted by a light source. The light emission curved surface and a first plane are intersected to form a first curve. The first curve has a plurality of first curve segments, and each first curve segment includes at least three first tangent points. After passing each first tangent point along a connecting line of the light source and each first tangent point, the light exits along a first axis, and an included angle formed between the first axis and an optic axis is greater than −15° and smaller than 15°. Thus, the light after passing the directional light distributing optical element forms a one-dimensional directional light.
US08351122B2
An illumination arrangement for a projection system is proposed including a light source device and a light collecting, integrating and redirecting device. The light source device comprises at least one solid state light source device. The light collecting, integrating and redirecting device comprises at least one light integrating device, which is adapted to directly receive and to integrate at least a part of primary illumination light generated by and emitted from at least one associated of at least one sold state light source device.
US08351121B2
The present invention provides an interferometer apparatus comprising a matter-wave guide enclosing an area, wherein a flux of particles may be guided in the matter-wave guide in at least two opposite paths, the matter-wave guide is rotatable relative to an inertial frame of reference; a first beam splitter to split the first beam to at least second and third beams, each of the second and third beams is to be guided in another path of the two opposite paths; and a second beam splitter allowing particles of the second and third beams to exit the matter-wave guide in a first probability and to stay in the matter-wave guide in a second probability.
US08351118B2
A polarization splitting device includes a polarization beam splitter having a polarization splitting surface and allows P-polarized light to transmit therethrough and reflects S-polarized light. A subwavelength structure grating is formed on the polarization splitting surface with a grating pitch smaller than wavelength of incident light. The polarization splitting device also includes a polarizer that is arranged on an optical path of light reflected from the polarization beam splitter and has a transmission axis that is parallel to a polarization direction of the S-polarized light.
US08351112B2
An optical amplifier includes a first amplification medium to receive light obtained by combining signal light input into an input port and the excitation light generated by a light source; a second amplification medium disposed between the first amplification medium and an output port; a loss medium to receive the signal light separated from light output from the first amplification medium; a variable optical attenuator that is disposed on a path that bypasses the loss medium, and to receive the excitation light separated from the light output from the first amplification medium; a first photodetector to detect power of light separated from the signal light transmitted from the second amplification medium; and a controller to control the amount of attenuation for the variable optical attenuator or output power of the light source so that signal light power per wavelength of the signal light becomes closer to a target value.
US08351107B2
The present invention provides an image projection system implemented with a spatial light modulator (SLM) to modulate an illumination light projected from a light source wherein said SLM comprising a first conductive layer to wire and function as a bit line; a second conductive layer to wire and function as a word line; and a first conductive and second conductive capacitor layers functioning as a capacitor wherein the bit line is wired along a direction crossing the word line and the capacitor is disposed in parallel with the bit line.
US08351106B2
An optical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) structure is provided. The structure includes an elastomer membrane, a plurality of polymer fibers attached to the elastomer membrane, an array of detectors operatively connected to the plurality of polymer fibers at a first end of the plurality of polymer fibers, and a microlens array operatively connected to the plurality of polymer fibers at a second end of the plurality of polymer fibers. A method of manufacturing an optical MEMS structure is provided. The method includes forming a hollow PDMS chamber in which PDMS fibers extend from top to bottom using a lost wax molding process.
US08351102B2
An image-processing device includes: an integration unit that, if connection information has been assigned to predetermined corresponding end points of both a first image component and a second image component from among image components, integrates the adjacent image components; a calculation unit that calculates the sum of values, the values being assigned corresponding to the connection information assigned to each end point of the image components in an integrated image component that is composed of a plural image components integrated by the integration unit; and a tabular region extraction unit that, if the value calculated by the calculation unit is equal to or greater than a threshold value corresponding to the number of image components included in the integrated image component, extracts a region of the integrated image component as a tabular region.
US08351094B2
An image reading apparatus includes a transparent plate for mounting a sheet, a sheet cover having a light reflecting plate for reflecting light passing through the transparent plate, a storage unit for storing first profile information involving plural darkness data of reflection light from the light reflecting plate detected by an image sensor in advance when a speed of closing the sheet cover is changed variously without the sheet mounted on the transparent plate, and for storing second profile information involving plural darkness data of reflection light detected by the image sensor when the sheet is mounted on the transparent plate and the sheet cover is closed, and a control unit for comparing the first profile information with the second profile information stored in the storage unit, and for determining that a sheet is mounted on the transparent plate when there is a predetermined difference therebetween.
US08351091B2
An image processing system includes an information processing device configured to externally receive image data and display thereon an image based on the image data, and an image scanner connected with the image processing device. The image scanner includes a scanning unit configured to scan an image on a document set thereon and to create image data of the scanned image, a detector configured to detect whether the document is removed from the scanning unit, and a controller configured to, in response to the detector detecting that the document is removed from the scanning unit after the image on the document is scanned by the scanning unit, transmit the image data created by the scanning unit to the information processing device.
US08351090B2
An image processing apparatus determines a direction of document placement relative to a scanning direction based on a direction of a shadow region in an input image when a line sensor having a light receiving element performs a scan and an image read from a book document by a reading apparatus is input. When the direction of the binding portion of the document is determined to be along a longitudinal direction of the line sensor, an image of a region read by the light receiving element of the line sensor from reflected light undergoing specular reflection from the document is detected based on the amount of variation in luminance between adjacent pixels in the read image of the book document. Luminance of the image corresponding to the region is corrected.
US08351080B2
A method, system, and computer program product for estimating a banding profile in an image printing system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining image data across multiple measurement intervals by one or more sensors; combining the image data with timing information into a coherent signal by a processor; estimating periodic and aperiodic components of the coherent signal using least squares estimation by the processor, wherein the periodic component represents a banding profile; and wherein at least the periodic component is used to generate an output.
US08351078B2
There is provided an image forming apparatus and a control method for the same in which the reading size for an original is controlled according to various executing conditions while troublesome operations for a user are reduced. To accomplish this, at the time of reading an original, the image forming apparatus confirms a pre-registered executing condition and sets the reading size for the original according to the executing condition. Specifically, if an appropriate original size is pre-registered, that original size is set as the reading size for the original. Even if the original size is not pre-registered by the user, an original size entered with minimum user operations required of the user is set as the reading size.
US08351069B2
An image processing device acquires image data of set document sheets in a single acquiring operation, extracts from the image data document images respectively based on the document sheets, specifies a position of each document image defined on the image data, provides each document image with a first identification based on the specified positions of the document images, inputs data for creating ancillary images, provides each ancillary image based on the input data with a second identification, identifies an ancillary images as being associated with one of the document images, based on the first and second identifications, generates one or more pages of composite data, each page of the composite data containing one or more combinations each of which includes one of the document images and an ancillary image identified as being associated with the one of the document images, and outputs each page of the composite data.
US08351068B2
The apparatus transmits first image data indicating form contents and setting information associated with the print sheet on which the form contents are printed in advance to a server managing data associated with the overlay-print process, for registration by the server. When an execution instruction of the overlay-print process is received, and the apparatus generates second image data of the image to be overlaid and printed on the print sheet used in the overlay-print process, generates associated information indicating association between a print attribute designated for the overlay-print process that uses the second image data, and transmits the second image data and the associated information to the server.
US08351067B2
A device and method of editing documents created in different application programs and stored in a storage unit of a printer to create a new document according to a minimum unit.
US08351063B2
Print jobs received at a printer are assigned a reference which is incorporated as a representation of the reference in the printed print job. When the user recovers the printjob, the part of said print job incorporating said representation of said reference. is scanned back into the printer, which is then able to read the representation. By monitoring the time intervening between the printing of the print job and the scanning of the part of the print job incorporating the representation, the system is able to monitor the delay, and in a case where this exceeds a threshold to notify the user accordingly.
US08351062B2
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for selecting bits from a defined print image in memory of a handheld imaging translation device are described herein. The bits may be selected by determining a location of a print nozzle, mapping the location to a memory location, and selecting a bit from the memory location. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08351060B2
A method and an apparatus to print an image file store in an image providing device by connecting the image providing device to an image printing device include determining a universal interface class supported by the image providing device, determining a connection mode between the image providing device and the image printing device according to the determined universal interface class, and printing an image file transmitted from the image providing device to the image printing device according to the determined connection mode.
US08351058B2
A printing apparatus, including: an identification information storing section that stores identification information for other printing apparatus; a restriction information storing section that groups the stored identification information, and stores restriction information that gives a restriction for using a function provided by a printing apparatus belonging to the same group; an information sharing section that mutually shares the stored identification information stored and the stored restriction information with printing apparatuses in the same group; an information controller that, upon update of the stored restriction information, controls to send the restriction information to other printing apparatus in the same group, based on the identification information mutually shared by the information sharing section; and a usage restriction section that restricts use of the function, based on the restriction information sent from the information controller to other printing apparatus.
US08351055B2
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including an input/output section for displaying an image as well as detecting a light beam representing an input received from an external source and is capable of handling inputs received from the external source as inputs destined for a plurality of points on a display screen. The apparatus further includes a target generation section configured to generate information on a target located on the display screen to represent a series of inputs received from the external source on the basis of a timewise or spatial relation between input portions located on the display screen as portions receiving inputs from the external source. The apparatus still further includes an event generation section configured to recognize an event representing a change of a state of the target on the basis of the information on the target and generate information on the event.
US08351049B2
An interferometric device for position measurement of an element moveable in a plane is disclosed. A laser light source measures the position of the moveable element and emits the required measuring light. A beam splitter splits the measuring light into a first partial beam path and a second partial beam path, which each impinge on a reflecting surface of the moveable element via an interferometer. Herein, at least the beam splitter, which splits the measuring light into a first partial beam path and a second partial beam path, and the beam splitter, which directs the third partial beam path onto an etalon via an interferometer, have a respective beam trap associated with them, which traps the light returning from the respective interferometers.
US08351041B2
The present invention relates to a method of observing biological tissue, the method comprising: collecting through a first end of a bundle of optical fibers light from a surface of the tissue; observing at least one image of the tissue at a second end of the bundle, while injecting light into the second end of the bundle to illuminate the surface of the tissue.
US08351039B2
A spectroscopy method, includes guiding pulse laser light to an optical fiber, which mutually reacts with a sample to be measured of a light absorptance characteristic, outputting ring down pulse light obtained through light absorption of the sample, measuring an absorptance characteristic of the sample based on an attenuation characteristic of the ring down pulse light, and setting the pulse laser light as wide-spectrum laser light, setting the optical fiber as a strong dispersive optical fiber, and increasing a pulse width of the ring down pulse light to measure a wavelength absorptance characteristic based on a ring down attenuation constant of a pulse train with respect to a time sequence corresponding to a wavelength.
US08351034B2
The present invention provides a method for detecting the widths of a plurality of laminar layers formed in a channel includes performing at least the steps of: detecting optical information generated from a reference substance contained in a laminar flow; and calculating the width of the laminar flow, based on the optical information detected in the optical information detecting step.
US08351033B2
A tunable filter including: a polarization splitter that splits input light into two linearly polarized light rays of mutually orthogonal vibration directions; a wavelength dispersion spectroscopic element that splits the two linearly polarized light rays into two spectral images having spatial spread in one direction; and a reflective spatial modulator device that modulates and reflects linearly polarized light in each wavelength region for the two spectral images independently from each other. Modulated light reflected at the reflective spatial modulator device reenters the wavelength dispersion spectroscopic element and the polarization splitter, thereby splitting and outputting the modulated light, as output light in a wavelength region modulated by the reflective spatial modulator device and output light in a wavelength region not modulated, and input light and reentered light to the polarization splitter and input light and reentered light to the wavelength dispersion spectroscopic element are parallel light fluxes.
US08351032B2
A radiation generation device for generating resulting electromagnetic radiation having an adjustable spectral composition includes: a multitude of radiation elements (configured to generate a radiation element specific electromagnetic radiation, respectively, upon being activated, a first radiation element of the multitude of radiation elements being activatable independently of a second radiation element of the multitude of radiation elements; a dispersive optical element; and an optical opening; the dispersive optical element being configured to deflect the radiation element specific electromagnetic radiations, in dependence on their wavelength and on a position of the radiation element generating the respective radiation element specific electromagnetic radiation, such that a particular spectral range of each of the radiation element specific electromagnetic radiations may exit through the optical opening, so that the spectral composition of the resulting electromagnetic radiation exiting through the optical opening is adjustable by selectively activating the multitude of radiation elements.
US08351027B2
A new metric applicable to the characterization and design of multimode fiber (MMF) is described. The metric is derived from a Differential Mode Delay (DMD) measurement and when used in combination with industry-standard metrics such as Effective Modal Bandwidth (EMB) and DMD, yields a more accurate prediction of MMF channel link performance as measured by Bit Error Rate (BER) testing. The metric can also be used in the design of MMF for improved bandwidth performance. When implemented as a test algorithm in production, it can be used to select, sort, or verify fiber performance. This process can yield a multimode fiber design with a greater performance margin for a given length, and/or a greater length for a given performance margin.
US08351024B2
A level sensor configured to determine a height level of a substrate is disclosed. The level sensor includes a projection unit to project a measurement beam having a substantially periodic radiation intensity on the substrate; a detection unit to receive the measurement beam after reflection on the substrate, the detection unit having a detection grating arranged to receive the reflected measurement beam, the detection grating comprising at least one array of three or more segments together having a length substantially equal to a length of a period of the measurement beam projected on the detection grating, and configured to split the reflected measurement beam in three or more reflected measurement beam parts, and three or more detectors each arranged to receive one of the three or more measurement beam parts; and a processing unit to calculate a height level on the basis of the measurement beam parts.
US08351014B2
A cooling assembly for a dual electronic image assembly having an open and closed gaseous loop. A closed gaseous loop allows circulating gas to travel across the front surface of a pair of electronic image assemblies and through a heat exchanger. An open loop allows ambient gas to pass through the heat exchanger and extract heat from the circulating gas. An optional additional open loop may be used to cool the back portion of the electronic image assembly (optionally a backlight). The cooling assembly can be used with any type of electronic assembly for producing an image. Some embodiments use cross-flow heat exchangers comprised of corrugated plastic.
US08351007B2
A liquid crystal display device with enhanced brightness through improving a partial structure for applying potential to a pixel electrode is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes: a pixel electrode with a plurality of openings; an opposite electrode disposed to face the pixel electrode with an insulating layer in between; a liquid crystal layer disposed on an opposite side of the pixel electrode from the opposite electrode; a selection line utilized to select a pixel; a thin film transistor disposed on the opposite side of the opposite electrode from the pixel electrode as to drive the pixel and utilizing a part of the selection line as a gate thereof; and an interlayer conductor connecting between the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode. The opposite electrode has an opposite electrode hole which allows the interlayer conductor to pass therethrough, and the opposite electrode hole partly overlaps the selection line.
US08351004B2
A lens includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a medium layer. The first substrate includes a first electrode layer, an insulation layer, a second electrode layer and a first alignment layer. The first electrode layer includes first electrodes, and the second electrode layer includes second electrodes formed on the insulation layer. The second electrodes separately overlap the first electrodes, and one of the second electrodes shifts relatively to the corresponding first electrode toward a first direction. The first alignment layer is formed on the second electrode layer and has a first rubbing direction opposite to the first direction. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A three-dimensional display is also disclosed herein.
US08351000B2
An optical film comprising a thermoplastic resin, which is such that the slow axis direction in the film plane differs from the film tilt direction and the birefringence of a sliced section of the film that contains the tilt direction and the thickness direction in the plane varies in the thickness direction of the film.
US08350999B2
The invention relates to a liquid-crystal display device comprising a front-side polarizing element, a rear-side polarizing element, a liquid-crystal cell, a front-side retardation region, and a rear-side retardation region composed of one or more retardation layers disposed between the rear-side polarizing element and the liquid-crystal cell wherein retardation along the thickness direction of the front-side retardation region and the rear-side retardation region, Rthfront (λ), and Rthrear (λ), and the internal haze of the front-side retardation region and the rear-side retardation region, Hzfron and Hzrear, satisfy the following formula (1) or (2): Rthfront (λ)>Rthrear(λ), and Hzfront
US08350992B2
A polarization element includes: a substrate; a plurality of thin metal wires provided to the substrate in a striped manner; and a plurality of protruding sections made of metal provided to each of the thin metal wires, and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the thin metal wire at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of incident light.
US08350983B2
In one aspect of the present invention, an LCD includes a front frame having a flange and a rear cover having a flange defining a housing therebetween, a liquid crystal (LC) panel placed in the housing, a backlight positioned between the LC panel and the rear cover, and a backlight frame having a first engaging structure configured to receive the flanges of the front frame and the rear cover, and a second engaging structure configured to retain the backlight and the LC panel in the housing.
US08350979B2
An organic light emitting display device includes an organic light emitting display panel; a bezel frame comprising a lower surface and side walls and receiving the display panel; a bezel receiving the bezel frame; and a connecting system connecting the bezel frame and the bezel.
US08350966B2
Two consecutive interlaced video pictures of the same polarity or two consecutive progressive video pictures are read by a video processing system. The video pictures may comprise a current picture and a noise reduced reference picture. Motion and/or motion vectors may be estimated between the current and reference pictures by a motion compensated noise detector and/or a motion compensated temporal filter. A noise level sample may be determined for a pixel in the current picture based on a window of pixel data from the current picture and a window of motion compensated pixel data from the reference picture. One or more of a moving edge gradient value, a moving content value and a determined range of noise level values may be utilized to determine a valid noise sample. Noise level samples may be accumulated and a noise level may be determined for the current picture.
US08350961B2
A scaling engine, blending mechanism, memory controller, frame buffer and video driver are included within a semiconductor, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), to provide broadcasting of signals at a high resolution format by combining two or more low resolution video signals to create a high resolution signal in real-time High Definition format, such as 1080p. The high resolution signals can be concurrently displayed as one or more image areas on a display device in any contemplated size, number and arrangement.
US08350960B2
The prompting device has a frame, a plurality of reflective panes, and support members and may be used on a desktop by a home or small business user to read a script in a natural manner while speaking to a camera or other video capturing device. In the preferred embodiment, the frame has a user side and a camera side, and is lightweight and readily collapsible such that it may be easily stored when not in use. A collecting pane reflects an image onto a viewing pane, so as to create a displayed image which may be viewed by a user. The viewing pane is generally transparent allowing a user to be recorded or photographed through the viewing pane. In another embodiment the prompting device has an opaque cover. The support assemblies are adjustable in height and the panes have an adjustable angle. In another embodiment the support assemblies are hangers. In another embodiment the image is an image reflected from a computer monitor and may be scrolling text.
US08350958B2
An imaging apparatus includes: plurality of control units configured to control an imaging function; a requesting unit configured to request execution of start-up processing of a plurality of the control units; a detecting unit configured to detect movement to be applied to a device main unit; and a start-up control unit configured to cause, upon the detecting unit detecting particular movement in a power-off state wherein the movement of the device main unit externally appears to be stopped, each of a plurality of the control units to start the start-up processing still in the power-off state, and upon execution of the start-up processing being requested from the requesting unit, cause a plurality of the control units to start reception of an imaging command according to the states of the start-up processing of a plurality of the control units.
US08350946B2
A technique includes receiving one or more captured shared image representations at a displaying shared image device from one or more shared image devices. At least one of the displaying shared image device and the one or more shared image devices configurable to capture one or more image representations. The technique further includes displaying a view-finder-based shared image representation over a viewfinder at the displaying shared image device.
US08350940B2
Image sensors and color filter arrays for in-pixel charge summing and interlaced readout modes may be provided. An image sensor that supports charge summing and interlaced readout modes may include an array of pixels with pairs of adjacent green, red, and blue light-sensitive pixels. An image sensor may implement an in-pixel charge summing readout mode in which charges from pairs of pixels are summed onto a common node and then read out from the common node. An image sensor may implement an interlaced readout mode in which image data is read out from alternating rows of the image sensor. An image sensor may use a shared readout scheme in which a group of four pixels is formed from two pairs of commonly-colored pixels. The four pixels may share circuitry such as a reset transistor, a buffer transistor, and a row select transistor and may connect to a single readout line.
US08350936B2
The recording of successive frames of raw sensor data depicting a moving scene is provided. The raw sensor data comprises pixel data for an image sensor having pixels arranged in correspondence to a mosaic of plural different colors in a color filter array. A first sampling mosaic pattern for sampling the pixel data at a first resolution is designated. A second sampling mosaic pattern for sampling the pixel data at a second resolution which is lower than the first resolution is designated. One of the first or the second sampling mosaic patterns is selected for a frame by applying a predetermined rule. Pixel data of the frame is sampled using the selected sampling mosaic pattern. The sampled pixel data for the frame is recorded onto a recording medium.
US08350933B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for recovering a haze-free image given a single input image. The method may include receiving a single input image I, wherein the input image is made up of a plurality of pixels. A surface radiance vector J of the input image I may be modeled as a product of a surface albedo coefficient R and a shading factor l. The method may further include determining, for each of the plurality of pixels, a value of a transmission t of the pixel, such that a covariance CΩ between the transmission t and the shading factor l is minimized, and recovering the surface radiance vector J based at least in part on the determined value of the transmission t for each pixel.
US08350897B2
The position and orientation of the viewpoint of the observer are acquired (2030), the moving amount of a movable part is acquired (2032), a movable part of a virtual object is moved based on the moving amount of the movable part of a physical object, and an image which is observed from the viewpoint of the observer is generated (2040).
US08350892B2
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit configured to convert an image input through a lens system into image data, a stitching unit configured to generate a panoramic image from a plurality of the image data items of images captured during a time period from when a panoramic image capture is started to when the panoramic image capture is ended, an imaging direction detecting unit configured to detect an imaging direction during the time period from when a panoramic image capture is started to when the panoramic image capture is ended, a clock unit configured to detect image capture time information regarding image capture times of the panoramic image, and a recording unit configured to record, in association with the panoramic image generated by the stitching unit, the image capture time information detected by the clock unit and the imaging direction detected by the imaging direction detecting unit.
US08350891B2
Determining a videoconference layout based on numbers of participants. Videoconference data may be received from a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints. The videoconference data may include audio and video. Information may be stored which identifies a number of participants at each videoconferencing endpoint. Video from each of the videoconferencing endpoints may be combined to form composite video. The composite video may include portions corresponding to each of the plurality of videoconferencing endpoints. A respective size of each of the portions may be based on the information identifying the number of participants at each videoconferencing endpoint. The composite video may be provided to videoconferencing endpoint(s) over a network.
US08350886B2
A vehicle-mounted video communication system is equipped with first to fourth image pickup devices, mounted on a vehicle, for transmitting video data obtained by picking up an image; first to fourth video processing devices for processing the video data; and a vehicle-mounted video relay device having connection sections connected to the first to fourth image pickup devices and the first to fourth video processing devices via communication cables and configured to transmit the video data transmitted from the first to fourth image pickup devices selectively or in a multiplexed state to the first to fourth video processing devices.
US08350876B2
An image forming apparatus is provided. An exposure component is equipped with a plurality of light emitting elements arrayed along a first direction. An output component is equipped with output ends corresponding to each of the light emitting elements and the output component, when correcting an amount of misalignment in the first direction, outputs drive signals of one line corresponding to a line on a most upstream side of drive signals of plural lines from the output ends that have been shifted by a number corresponding to the amount of misalignment in the first direction. A plurality of connecting wires interconnect each of the output ends and each of the light emitting elements. A judging component is connected to each of the connecting wires, and judges whether or not the drive signals are being normally transmitted through the connecting wire that the judging component has selected.
US08350874B2
A mobile terminal and method of controlling a display device are provided. The present invention includes a display unit displaying information and a control unit controlling the display of the information according to whether luminescence conversion is performed, the luminescence conversion converting a plane luminescence of the display unit to a plurality of dot luminescences. A user can be provided with a substantially analog type information display as well as a digital type information display by loading the luminescence converting unit, such as a plate having a plurality of holes and a semitransparent film, on a display unit of a mobile terminal or by displaying an image having a configuration of the plate.
US08350872B2
A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region having diminishing magnification, the focal region having a perimeter defined by a radius r from a line segment; receiving one or more signals to adjust at least one of the radius r and a length len of the line segment to thereby adjust the perimeter; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation.
US08350866B2
The invention relates to a programming method for a display driver, and the display driver and a display using the same. The programming method includes: providing programming data; providing a display buffer, which is used for pre-storing display data in a display period, in the display driver; providing a non-volatile memory, which is coupled to the display buffer through a data bus; and proceeding a programming procedure, which includes the steps of: inputting the programming data to the display buffer; and programming the programming data from the display buffer to the non-volatile memory through the data bus.
US08350858B1
Systems and methods for synchronizing the playing of animation objects are presented. An animation object map may assign an animation object to each region of multiple regions of a viewing area. A synchronization shading map may assign a shade to each of the regions, where at least two of the shades assigned to regions differ in intensity. Playing each animation object may involve determining a start time for each of the regions. The start time for each particular region depends upon an intensity of a shade assigned to the particular region by the synchronization shading map, and ones of the regions having different shades differ in their respective start times based on a difference in intensities of shades assigned to those regions by the synchronization shading map. Playing of the animation object within a region begins at the start time determined for the region according to the synchronization map.
US08350855B2
The disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for reducing anti-aliasing in a procedural texture. One method includes creating a procedural reduction map describing the texture as applied to an object, and querying the map for radiance of a pixel in the object. One system includes memory and a processor. The processor is programmed, by the code stored in the memory, to create a procedural reduction map describing the texture as applied to an object, and query the map for radiance of a pixel in the object. One system includes means for creating a procedural reduction map describing the texture as applied to an object, and means for querying the map for radiance of a pixel in the object. The map includes a basis functions and a hierarchy of texels. Each texel includes basis weights and a surface normal distribution. Each basis weight corresponds to one of the basis functions.
US08350839B2
A display device includes a display panel having a display area in which a plurality of display pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, to display image information, a power supply driving section applying, to each of the display pixels in the display area, one of a first power supply voltage having a voltage value at which the display pixel is set to a non-display-operation state and a second power supply voltage having a voltage value at which the display pixel is set to a display operation state, and a control section controlling the power supply driving section to set a area-ratio of an first area in the display area in which the display pixels to which the first power supply voltage is applied are arranged to an second area in which the display pixels to which the second power supply voltage is applied are arranged.
US08350828B2
An exemplary touch screen apparatus comprises a display screen, a first reflector, a first infrared light source, and an infrared light receiving unit. The display screen includes a display area. The first reflector is disposed outside said display screen and surrounds the display area. The first reflector has a first focal point, and the first infrared light source is disposed on the first focal point. The infrared light receiving unit is capable of receiving the infrared light from the display screen.
US08350818B2
A method includes detecting a continuous touch on a touch-sensitive display. A position of one or more boundaries is updated when the continuous touch crosses a first boundary of the one or more boundaries. Feedback is provided when the continuous touch crosses the first boundary.
US08350813B2
A digitizer includes a case having an input portion; at least three first projected portions fixed to the case, the first projected portions coming into contact with a placement surface so as to support the case on the placement surface; and a second projected portion arranged inside of an area defined by connecting the points at which the first projected portions are fixed to the case. The second projected portion is configured such that, when a force substantially parallel to the placement surface is applied to the case, the first projected portions slide against the placement surface so that the case rotates relative to the placement surface with the second projected portion as a rotation axis.
US08350812B2
In an embodiment, a method of tracking movement relative to a surface involves comparing at least some data elements of a first array with at least some of data elements of a second array if it is determined, from an examination of the first array of data elements, that a characteristic condition does not exist in the first array of data elements, wherein the characteristic condition is related to the uniformity of at least a majority of the data elements of the first array.
US08350807B2
A scrolling method, which includes displaying at least one scroll icon on a screen of a touch device, sensing an operation in which one of the displayed scroll icons is touched and dragged, and scrolling the screen displayed on the touch device in a direction in which the touched scroll icon is dragged when the sensing step senses the scroll icon is touched and dragged.
US08350805B2
In a game system 1 of the present invention, an image capturing device 2 captures a controller 20. The controller 20 includes a plurality of LEDs which express controller numbers assigned to the controller 20 in a game application to be executed, and periodically repeats the turning on and off of an LED in a flashing pattern defined in accordance with the controller number assigned. A cycle of the flashing is set so that the flashing appears to be continuous to a user, on the other hand, so that a continuous turning-off state and a continuous turning-on state are captured alternately in succession by the image capturing device 2. The game device 10 determines if the controller 20 is located in the image capturing space of the mage capturing device 2 based on the captured images which are captured continuously at a predetermined capturing speed by the image capturing device 2.
US08350797B2
A buffer amplifier includes an input stage and an output stage. The input stage has input high and low power voltages applied thereon for generating at least one transmission signal from an input signal. The output stage has output high and low power voltages applied thereon for generating an output signal from the at least one transmission signal. A first difference between the output high and low power voltages is less than a second difference between the input high and low power voltages for reducing the dynamic power consumption of the output stage.
US08350789B2
A 2D image display apparatus using a laser light source. By controlling the timing of a scan by a beam scan portion in response to the characteristic of a laser light source and by setting a light emitting time of the laser light source to an integral multiple of a scan cycle of the beam scan portion, it is possible to illuminate a spatial light modulator homogeneously with a laser beam. It is thus possible to display an image at high accuracy without causing a bright line, irregularities in brightness, and contrast deterioration.
US08350787B2
An illumination controller determines a target brightness setting value from a illuminance value measured by a illumination sensor, determines a brightness correction start time in response to a target brightness setting value and a current brightness setting value and a calculation information that are stored in a memory, calculates an amount of brightness setting change per specified time from the current brightness setting value stored in the memory and the target brightness setting value at a brightness correction start time, and outputs an output brightness setting value in response to the amount of brightness setting change that is calculated. The brightness controller adjusts brightness of the display unit in response to the output brightness setting value output from the illumination controller.
US08350770B1
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a configurable ground plane for a matched antenna so that by configuring or changing the ground plane shape in a controlled manner, a change in the radiation pattern can be achieved such that the main beam of the antenna is steered in a particular direction, and a null in another direction. According to one aspect of the present invention, antennas such as monopole or patch antennas with a configurable ground plane of the present invention with a plurality of configurable sectors can be made to change in shape, size and conductivity. Such ground plane modifications can be used to select the direction of maximum gain away from a direction of interference, such in the case of tactical jamming. Likewise, the ground plane modifications can be used to steer the maximum directivity of an antenna in a desired direction for increased signal integrity.
US08350766B2
The present invention provides an antenna-embedded laminated glass including glass sheets affixed together through an intermediate film to embed an antenna element between the glass sheets, the intermediate film containing a resin; and the antenna element being configured to have such a shape as to have an intersection where a plurality of antenna-forming strips intersect, and the antenna element comprising a conductor strip stamped in such a shape from a sheet-like conductor.
US08350765B2
The present invention, as typically embodied, implements an energy source, a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, a resonant cavity, and an electricity meter (e.g., voltmeter, ammeter, or power meter) to calibrate an electronic device. Firstly, the receiving antenna is calibrated based on measurement of power that has been generated and transmitted in known quantity, propagated through air, and received by the receiving antenna. Secondly, the resonant cavity is connectively situated between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna; the resonant cavity is calibrated based on measurement of power that has been generated and transmitted in the same quantity, propagated through the resonant cavity, and received by the receiving antenna. Thirdly, an electronic device is substituted for the receiving antenna; the electronic device is calibrated based on measurement of power that has been generated and transmitted in the same quantity, propagated through the resonant cavity, and received by the electronic device.
US08350760B2
There are provided an antenna using a buildup structure and a method of manufacturing the same. In the antenna, a tag chip is positioned within a dielectric and is connected to a radiator through a connection line or a via-hole, thereby being strong against external environments, decreasing a defective rate and enabling to be used for the special purpose of being positioned within a metal or liquid.
US08350756B2
A method implemented by an assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) server determines a position of a GNSS receiver. The method includes sending a request for measurement information to the GNSS receiver at a first time and receiving the measurement information from the GNSS receiver in response to the request at a second time, where the measurement information includes position measurement data and a corresponding measured time based on satellite signals received by the GNSS receiver. The measured time is determined to be erroneous when it is outside an accurate time range determined based on at least one of the first time and the second time. A substitute time is identified and the position of the GNSS receiver is determined based on the substitute time when the measured time is erroneous.
US08350753B2
Systems and methods are provided for displaying information on a display device associated with an aircraft. A method comprises rendering a synthetic perspective view of terrain on the display device, wherein the synthetic perspective view of terrain is based on a set of terrain data corresponding to a region proximate the aircraft. The method further comprises obtaining location data for a first object, wherein the location data is based at least in part on a beacon signal associated with the first object, and rendering a graphical representation of the first object on the display device. The graphical representation of the first object overlies the synthetic perspective view of terrain and is positioned in accordance with the location data.
US08350751B2
A radar level gauge for determining the filling level of a product in a tank, comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving microwaves, processing circuitry connected to the transceiver and adapted to determine the filling level, an antenna connected to said transceiver and arranged to emit and receive microwaves through an opening of the tank, and a microwave transmissive sealing member adapted to cover said opening and to provide pressure sealing of the tank. The sealing member comprises a metal grid layer providing structural strength, which metal grid layer has sealed openings formed to allow transmission of microwaves.The tank opening is thus divided into a number of smaller openings by the metal grid, thereby improving the mechanical strength of the sealing member. At the same time, the sealing member is designed to maintain its pressure sealing properties, e.g. by suitable dielectric filling of the openings.
US08350749B1
A method for testing and/or validating the suitability of a multi-radar signature database to be used on radar systems having automatic target recognition. The database may include measured field data and/or modeled synthetic data. The technique allows field data to be compared to the synthetic data using modal mutual information.
US08350748B2
A process and a device for automatically determining meteorological conditions in the vicinity of an aircraft is disclosed. The device (1) comprises a meteorological radar (2), able to determine the meteorological information associated with a primary geographical area ahead of an aircraft, and means (3, 4A, 4B) for automatically determining the meteorological conditions associated with a geographical area being extended with respect to the primary geographical area.
US08350741B2
A device for driving a switch in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes first and second latches, and a logic gate. The first latch is configured to store a digital input data signal according to a clock signal, and to output a first latch signal corresponding to the stored digital input data signal. The second latch is configured to store the first latch signal output by the first latch according to a logical inverse of the clock signal, and to output a second latch signal corresponding to the stored first latch signal. The logic gate is configured to perform an OR logic operation on the first latch signal and the second latch signal, the logic gate outputting a drive signal for driving a switch in the DAC connected to a current source.
US08350735B2
The disclosure relates to variable length encoding and decoding. A symbol is variable length encoded by selecting a variable length code word table from a set of variable length code word tables based on a value of a variable; selecting a code word from the selected variable length code word table on the basis of said symbol; and updating the value of said variable by comparing the correspondence between said symbol and said variable. If the comparison indicates that the value of the variable is smaller than the symbol, the value of said variable is incremented; else if the comparison indicates that the value of the variable is greater than the symbol, the value of said variable is decremented; else the value of the variable is not amended.
US08350733B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for scanning a keyboard are disclosed. Actuation of each of the keys electrically couples one of a plurality of first lines and one of a plurality of second lines. A first signal is applied to a plurality of first lines. A second signal is applied to a plurality of second lines. Upon identifying at least one of the second lines as presenting a signal different from the second signal, a scan signal is applied to the identified second line. At least one first line is identified as presenting a signal indicating the at least one first line is contact with the identified second line applying the scan signal. At least one of the keys is identified as causing the identified second line and the least one identified first line to be coupled.
US08350721B2
A mobile device is associated with navigational information of a client vehicle and provides the navigational information of the client vehicle to an emergency vehicle notification service. The mobile also receives an emergency vehicle message from the emergency vehicle notification service, where the emergency vehicle message includes navigational information of an emergency responder vehicle. The mobile device determines updated navigational information of the client vehicle, and identifies a projected intersection between a path of the emergency responder vehicle and a path of the client vehicle based on the emergency vehicle message and the updated navigational information of the client vehicle. The mobile device generates an alert signal to a user of the mobile device based on the identification of the projected intersection.
US08350718B2
Disclosed are methodology and apparatus for providing communications with an Automatic Meter Reading/Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMR/AMI) collector device. The collector is provided with a WiFi radio that is enabled for operation from an AMR/AMI head end and turned on in response to a transmission coming from a physical device via the AMR/AMI RF LAN. A user device is granted access to the collector data only upon validation by the collector of multiple credentials that are separately presented to the collector. The credentials come from the physical device in the form of device type and device identification, and from the user device in the form of a valid security certificate and username/password combination.
US08350707B2
A system, apparatus and method for automated emergency assistance with manual cancellation that is responsive to physiological, environmental and/or input sensors associated with an individual. In embodiments, the invention enables a sensor system or device to be biased toward what would be false alarms, which may be avoided by the individual informing the device that he or she does not need assistance. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08350702B2
A security tag including independent EAS and RFID components disposed in a housing configured for geometric placement of the RFID and EAS components for optimum RFID performance. The EAS component is situated in a first compartment and the RFID component is situated in a second compartment. The RFID component includes a hybrid antenna RFID inlay and an IC chip. The tag housing includes a key structure that minimizes the de-tuning of both the EAS and RFID components by positioning the IC chip such that the IC chip is closer to a first side of the second compartment than the second side of the second compartment when the antenna inlay is inserted within the housing. The housing further includes one or more pins that raise the RFID inlay above the magnetic resonator of the EAS component to further insure optimal RFID read performance.
US08350700B2
A system monitors parameters (e.g., speed, position, threshold boundaries) of mobile items attached to beacons and produces signals indicating these parameters. The system also monitors non-mobile parameters (e.g., battery life, door locks, windows) in the items. Different technologies (e.g., wireless) are provided for communicating between the beacons and a beacon controller interface. Different technologies are provided for locating and indicating item positions. The beacons and the interface provide for new beacons to be added to the system with different characteristics than the existing beacons for monitoring the operation of new beacons without affecting the operation of existing beacons. The system includes resellers, retailers, users and subscribers in a flexible relationship to enhance the ease in the system operation. Beacons can perform more than one function (e.g. tracking, threshold monitoring) simultaneously. Scenarios for the beacons can be created and monitored. Recovery personnel can intervene to resolve crises.
US08350698B2
A security system comprises one or more sensor devices configured to detect conditions at one or more sites; one or more checkpoints at each of said one or more sites configured to receive signals from the one or more sensor devices; and a central headquarters processor configured to receive signals indicative of the conditions detected at said one or more sites from the one or more checkpoints. The central headquarters processor is configured to process the signals to determine if an event has occurred.
US08350697B2
Techniques are described for providing remote device (e.g., thermostat, lighting, appliance, etc.) control and/or energy monitoring. A system monitors sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties and status of one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties. The system analyzes the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to a set of one or more rules and performs an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the analysis of the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.
US08350693B2
A system includes a fire extinguisher station having a number of sensors to detect various predetermined conditions that can be communicated in alarms to a central station. The central station receives alarms from the fire extinguisher and determines whether to contact emergency personnel and/or building maintenance personnel. Other items of emergency equipment can be included in the system for improved detection and response to emergency conditions.
US08350685B2
A collision detecting device includes a chamber member providing a chamber, a pressure sensor connected to the chamber member, and a bumper absorber absorbing an impact generated by collision of an object with the vehicle. The bumper absorber has a region, which has a thickness in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. The thickness of the region is equal to or smaller than a predetermined thickness. The region is in contact with at least a portion of the chamber member. The collision is detected based on the pressure of the chamber detected by the pressure sensor. Hereby, a collision detecting device in which the bumper absorber has sufficient rigidity, and the chamber has sufficient deformability in case of collision can be obtained.
US08350678B1
A power line communication system transmits a dimming level to an electronic ballast to regulate the power consumed by a lamp. The power line controller has a notch generation circuit that generates notches on an AC power signal with a time duration in accordance with the dimming level of the lamp. A dimming interface associated with the electronic ballast detects the notches on the AC power signal. The dimming interface generates a ballast dimming level signal with a signal level related to the time duration of these notches.
US08350672B2
Method for wirelessly transmitting control commands for a controller for lifting gear, wherein a wireless operating part has an unmistakeable address and a receiving part of the lifting gear has a selectable identifier, wherein the operating part is unambiguously assigned to a receiving part of lifting gear, said method comprising the following steps for assigning the operating part to the receiving part: (i) an address feature is formed from the address of the operating part and the identifier of the receiving part; (ii) the address feature is emitted in an allocation message; (iii) the emitted allocation message is received in the receiving part and (iv) the operating part is allocated to the receiving part, if the receiving part has not been allocated, by storing the address feature as a valid address feature in the receiving part, and corresponding system.
US08350669B2
A system for providing secured access to and/or control of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a vehicle network such as a CAN. A remote communications device is used for sending a signal for controlling functions associated with the vehicle. There is a receiver operatively connected to the vehicle network and adapted to receive the signal from the remote communications device. At least one access module is adapted to provide control of functions of the vehicle by a user from outside of the vehicle, the access module is electrically connected to the vehicle network. There is at least one user input device associated with the access module and there are a plurality of outputs associated with the access module wherein the access module is adapted to directly control access to the vehicle through control of the plurality of outputs.
US08350668B2
Techniques for protecting communication between a card reader and a contactless smartcard are disclosed. In one embodiment, a protocol transmitter includes a transmit circuit and a processor. The transmit circuit is configured to generate a blocking signal having a frequency used by the card reader to communicate with the contactless smartcard. The processor is coupled to the transmit circuit and configured to modulate the blocking signal according to a communication protocol of the contactless smartcard. A first antenna of the protocol transmitter is disposed a predetermined distance from the card reader and is coupled to the transmit circuit to radiate the blocking signal. Optionally, the processor modulates the blocking signal so as to simulate a data exchange between the card reader and the contactless smartcard.
US08350666B2
A method includes receiving wireless signals from a device at a wireless access point associated with a wireless network. The method also includes estimating a location of the device and determining whether the estimated location is within a specified area. In addition, the method includes allowing the device to communicate over the wireless network in response to determining that the estimated location is within the specified area. Estimating the device's location could include estimating a direction of the device with respect to the wireless access point and/or estimating a distance of the device from the wireless access point. Estimating the direction of the device could include using a direction of arrival of at least one wireless message received at the wireless access point from the device. Estimating the distance of the device could include transmitting multiple messages to the device at different power levels and receiving one or more responses from the device.
US08350663B1
A method for creating and a device for a rotary switchable multi-core element, permanent magnet-based apparatus, for holding or lifting a target, comprised of two or more carrier platters, each containing a plurality of complementary first and second core elements. Each core element comprises permanent magnet(s) with magnetically matched soft steel pole conduits attached to the north and south poles of the magnet(s). Core elements are oriented within adjacent carrier platters such that relative rotation allows for alignment in-phase or out-of-phase of the magnetic north and south fields within the pole conduits. Aligning a first core element “in-phase” with a second core element, that is, north-north/south-south, activates that core element pair, allowing the combined magnetic fields of the pole conduits to be directed into a target. Aligning the core element pair “out-of-phase,” that is, north-south/south-north, deactivates that core element pair by containing opposing fields within the pole conduits.
US08350659B2
A transformer may include a first and a second continuous single piece multi-turn helical winding, one concentrically received by the other. The turns of the windings are electrically insulated from one another and spaced sufficiently close together to permit inductive coupling therebetween. The turns may be formed of a conductor having a rectangular cross-section, which may, or may not, include an electrically insulative sheath. The single piece multi-turn helical windings may have a continuous or smooth radius of curvature, with no discontinuities or singularities between first and second end terminals. The transformer may be formed by wrapping electrical conductor about a winding form. The transformer may be used in various electrical circuits, for example converter circuits.
US08350656B2
A rotary transformer includes a primary core having a primary coil wound thereon, and a secondary core having a secondary coil wound thereon, the cores being mounted for relative rotation about an axis of rotation. The transformer is characterized in that one of the cores includes a plurality of core segments arranged in spaced-apart relation relative to one another in a substantially circular array about the axis, and the other core has a substantially annular configuration. In a particular embodiment, the primary core is fixed and hence remains static during operation, and includes a plurality of spaced apart core segments arranged in a circular array around the axis.
US08350643B2
In a high frequency device, resonators (IDT capacitors) that function as capacitors are included in a lumped constant balun included in a filter or duplexer, and furthermore, the resonance frequency of the IDT capacitors is set higher than the passband frequency of the filter. This improves the capacitor Q value, thus enabling the realization of a low-loss balance filter.
US08350636B2
A modulation arrangement comprises an input (E) for supplying a data signal (DS), a pre-modulator (VMod) that is coupled to the input (E) and features a clock pulse input (TEV) for supplying a pre-clock pulse (VT), a main modulator (HMod) that is coupled to the pre-modulator (VMod) on the input side and comprises a clock pulse input (TEH) for supplying a main clock pulse (HT), as well as an output for providing a modulated control signal (ST), and a switchable current source (Q, S) for providing a current (IS) that is controlled by the modulated control signal (ST) at an output (A) of the modulation arrangement. Furthermore, a method for providing a modulated control signal is disclosed.
US08350629B2
A differential resonant ring oscillator (“DRRO*) circuit using a ring oscillator topology to electronically tune the oscillator over multi-octave bandwidths. The oscillator tuning is substantially linear, because the oscillator frequency is related to the magnetic tuning of a YIG sphere, which has a resonant frequency equal to a fundamental constant multiplied by the DC magnetic field. The simple circuit topology uses half turn or multiple half turn loops magnetic coupling methods connecting a differential pair of amplifiers into a feedback loop configuration having a four port YIG tuned filter, thus creating a closed loop ring oscillator. The oscillator may use SiGe bipolar junction transistor technology and amplifiers employing heterojunction bipolar transistor technology SiGe is the preferred transitor material as it keeps the transistor's 1/f noise to an absolute minimum in order to achieve minimum RF phase noise.
US08350626B2
An amplifier circuit can include a first supply terminal to receive a first reference voltage; a second supply terminal to receive a second reference voltage; a first pair of circuit paths extending between the first and second supply terminals and including a respective output terminal, the first pair of circuit paths including a first pair of transistors, each having a gate connected to a respective one of the input terminals and a source connected to the first supply terminal, and a second pair of transistors, each having a gate connected via a first impedance to a gate of a respective first transistor, and a source coupled to the second supply terminal. The amplifier circuit can also include a second pair of circuit paths extending between the first and second supply terminals, the second pair of circuit paths including a third pair of transistors, each having a gate connected to one of the input terminals, and a source connected to the first supply terminal, and a fourth pair of transistors, each having a source connected to the second supply terminal, and a gate connected via a second impedance to a gate of a second transistor from a respective first circuit path.
US08350625B2
A power amplifier circuit comprising a scalable power amplifier including an input and an output, and a plurality of activated amplifier elements operative to produce an output signal at the output, and operative to dynamically vary a power output level of the output signal. A variable impedance circuit operatively responsive to dynamically load the output of the scalable power amplifier. Wherein the scalable power amplifier further includes an amplifier configuration circuit operatively responsive to selectively activate the selectively activated amplifier elements by at least reducing power to at least one of the selectively activated amplifier elements.
US08350620B2
An integrated circuit power consumption calculating apparatus obtains power consumption of an integrated circuit by outputting circuit component transistor connection information of each of circuit components after setting a group of transistors connected via a source terminal/drain terminal of a transistor within each cell of an integrated circuit, by outputting circuit component logic model information after extracting a logic for each of the circuit components from the circuit component transistor connection information information, by obtaining power information (circuit component power information) of each signal transition state of an input/output terminal for each of the circuit components based on the circuit component transistor connection information information, by generating signal terminal transition information with a logic simulation performed for each of the circuit components of the integrated circuit, and by obtaining power consumption in a signal transition of an input/output terminal of each of the circuit components.
US08350609B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device in which an adjustable range of a resistance value of a variable resistance circuit is large. The semiconductor device has an output buffer including a plurality of sets of resistance elements and a plurality of sets of transistors, a plurality of replica circuits, and a plurality of sets of operational amplifiers, and drain currents of the plurality of sets of transistors are adjusted so that output impedances of the output buffer become predetermined values. Therefore, even in the case where the resistance values of the resistance elements largely fluctuate due to fluctuations in manufacture process and the like, the output impedances can be set to predetermined values.
US08350603B2
A circuit includes an inverter. The inverter inverts an input signal having an input low voltage level and an input high voltage level to form an output signal having an output high voltage level and an output low voltage level. Compared to the input high voltage level, the output high voltage level is lowered. Alternatively or additionally, compared to the input low voltage level, the output low voltage level is raised.
US08350602B2
A reconfigurable semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first insulating material formed on the substrate, two channels having different polarities, a plurality of terminal electrodes formed on the insulating material and coupled in common with the channels at their opposite ends, a second insulating material formed on the terminal electrodes, and a control gate formed on the second insulating material. The channels have different polarity and a charge storage layer is formed inside the second insulating material. The control gate is applied with a forward bias or a reverse bias and then the bias is cut off. The voltage-current characteristics of the semiconductor device are changed according to an electrical charge created in the charge storage layer.
US08350596B1
A clock loss detection circuit is presented. The clock loss detection has two edge detection circuits and a clock loss detect counter circuit. Each edge detection circuit includes a reset signal circuit that generates a reset signal in response to a transition of a clock signal, and the reset signal circuit is connected to a clock input of the edge detection circuit. Each edge detection circuit also has a multiplexer connected to the reset signal circuit, and another multiplexer connected to the clock input. The clock loss detect counter circuit is connected to the edge detection circuits so that the clock loss detect counter circuit receives the reset signal from the second edge detection circuit and the clock signal from the first edge detection circuit.
US08350595B2
There is a need to ensure operation performance of a circuit region under DVFS control at low costs and highly precisely while a power-supply voltage change is made to the region. A first circuit (FVA) uses a first power-supply voltage (VDDA) for operation. A second circuit (NFVA) uses a second power-supply voltage (VDDB) for operation. A clock delay may be adjusted between paths for transmitting a clock to these circuits. When VDDA equals VDDB, a clock is distributed to FVA through a path that does not contain a delay device for phase adjustment. When the power-supply voltage for the FVA region is reduced, a clock is distributed to the FVA region based on a phase equivalent to one or two cycles of the clock displaced. Synchronization control is provided to synchronize clocks (CKAF and CKBF) and ensures operation so that a phase of two clocks to be compared fits in a range of design values while the power-supply voltage for the first circuit is changed.
US08350591B2
A configurable integrated circuit (“IC”) that includes several configurable tiles, each of which has a set of configurable logic circuits and a set of configurable routing circuits for routing signals between configurable logic circuits. The configurable IC provides a set of associated configurable logic circuits for performing a particular portion of a larger arithmetic operation. The configurable IC provides a carry circuit for generating a carry out signal for the particular portion of the larger arithmetic operation. A configurable storage element is for configurably storing the carry out signal and for providing the stored carry out signal to the carry circuit for performing a subsequent portion of the larger arithmetic operation. The configurable IC provides a configurable interconnect/storage element for configurably routing a carry signal from a first carry chain to a second carry chain and for storing the routed carry signal.
US08350588B2
Integrated circuits and methods of permanently disabling integrated circuits are disclosed. An integrated circuit having an erasable non-volatile memory adapted to store an activation code and logic to disable the integrated circuit when the code in the erasable non-volatile memory has been altered or erased after it has been separated from a substrate, is placed into an electromagnetic field of sufficient power to erase or reprogram the erasable non-volatile memory. The entire integrated circuit is permanently disabled by erasing, altering, or reprogramming the erasable non-volatile memory. In preferred embodiments, the integrated circuit comprises a non-erasable non-volatile memory storing the activation code, and circuitry adapted to permanently disable the integrated circuit when the code in the erasable non-volatile memory does not match the activation code in the non-erasable non-volatile memory. Erasing, altering, or reprogramming the erasable non-volatile memory results in a mismatch of the non-volatile memories, which permanently deactivates the integrated circuit.
US08350575B2
An electrical connection defect detection system to detect whether an electrical connection between an under-test pin of an under-test device and a signal line of a circuit board is normal is provided. The electrical connection defect detection system comprises a signal provider providing a test signal to the under-test pin through the signal line, a detection module, an electrode board and a plurality of grounding paths. The electrode board comprises a detection surface to be adapted to a surface of the under-test device opposite to the under-test pin to make the detection module detect a capacitance value associated with the electrode board, the under-test pin and the signal line larger than a threshold value when their connection is normal. The grounding paths are connected to one of not-under-test pin groups respectively to further connect to the ground potential. An electrical connection defect detection method is disclosed herein as well.
US08350566B2
In a magnetic particle imaging apparatus that forms an image of a distribution of magnetic particles based on changes in a magnetic flux generated by magnetization of the magnetic particles, modulation coils that magnetize magnetic particles present in a field free area by applying a modulation magnetic field to the field free area, and detection coils are disposed such as to suppress an influence caused by a magnetic flux of the modulation magnetic field applied by the modulation coils and included in a detected magnetic flux.
US08350565B2
Provided is a magnetoimpedance (MI) sensor having a high magnetic sensor sensitivity and a wide measurement range. The MI sensor comprises an MI element, an electric current supply unit and a signal processing circuit. The MI element comprises a magnetosensitive wire formed of an amorphous soft magnetic alloy having zero magnetostriction, and a detection coil provided around the magnetosensitive wire with an electric insulator disposed therebetween, thereby detecting voltage generated at the detection coil and corresponding to an external magnetic field upon application of a high frequency electric current to the magnetosensitive wire. The electric current supply unit supplies the high frequency electric current to the MI element. The signal processing circuit processes an output signal from the detection coil. In this MI sensor, the magnetosensitive wire has at least a surface layer in which spins are aligned in a circumferential direction of the wire, and the high frequency electric current has a frequency in the range of 0.3 to 1.0 GHz inclusive.
US08350554B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first reference voltage generator for generating a first reference voltage; a first band gap circuit for dividing a voltage at a second reference voltage output node to produce a first and a second band gap voltages having a property relative to temperature variations; a first comparator for receiving the first reference voltage as a bias input and comparing the first band gap voltage with the second band gap voltage; and a first driver for pull-up driving the second reference voltage output node in response to an output signal of the first comparator.
US08350547B2
A DC to DC converter includes an input terminal, an output terminal, first and second switches, an inductor, a smoothing unit, a first impedance element, a first resistor element, an operational amplifier and a control unit. The first switch is connected to the input terminal. The second switch is connected to the first switch and a ground terminal. The inductor is connected to the first switch and the output terminal. The smoothing unit is connected to the inductor and the ground terminal. The first impedance element is connected to the smoothing unit. The first resistor element is connected in series with the first impedance element. The operational amplifier is connected to the first impedance element. Reference voltage is added to the operational amplifier. The control unit controls the first and second switches according to a control signal outputted from the operational amplifier.
US08350521B2
The invention provides systems and methods for control of power charge/discharge from energy storage system. The invention also provides for power monitoring and management, including power management for a variable generator. An intelligent charge system may include a premise sensor, a variable generator sensor, one or more energy storage units, and a controller, which may receive information about the power demand, power provided by an electricity provider, and charge/discharge information from an energy storage unit. The information received may all be time synchronized in relation to a time based reference. The controller may provide instructions to an energy storage unit at a rapid rate.
US08350518B2
A control apparatus for a series-connected multi-level matrix converter includes each voltage commanding device provided for each of single-phase matrix converters to generate a voltage reference to each of the single-phase matrix converters. The series-connected multi-level matrix converter includes the single-phase matrix converters. Each of the single-phase matrix converters includes a snubber circuit and a DC voltage detecting section configured to detect a DC voltage of the snubber circuit to output a DC voltage detection value. ADC over-voltage detector is configured to output a DC over-voltage signal when the DC voltage detection value exceeds a set voltage value. A voltage modifying device is, when the DC over-voltage signal is outputted, configured to decrease the voltage reference to a corresponding single-phase matrix converter among the single-phase matrix converters based on a deviation between the DC voltage detection value and the set voltage value.
US08350511B2
An actuator includes a motor operated by a controller through a pulse width modulation drive signal applied to a drive circuit that drives the motor. The actuator has an output shaft connected to a coupling structure for manipulating a device such as a variable geometry turbine (VGT) or an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. The device has a range of motion limited by first and second mechanical stops located at opposing low and high ends of the range. The controller learns the location of the mechanical stops during calibration. An external control unit transmits a desired position to the actuator. A protocol allows the external control unit to implicitly request a positioning mode by virtue of what value range the desired position falls into. The controller is configured to limit the drive signal to a non-harmful level when one of the positioning modes calls for pushing the device against one of the stops.
US08350505B2
An electrically commuted reversible synchronous motor is activated in a calibration journey using an externally forced rotating field, during which an electrical angle of a rotating field and a mechanical angle of the rotor are measured simultaneously at a reference position by an external sensor. These items are stored associated with one another as a measurement series of value pairs. The electrical angle of the rotating field and the mechanical angle of the rotor are also detected simultaneously after direction reversal of the rotating field. These are stored as a second measurement series of value pairs. The angle difference between the electrical angle and the mechanical angle are calculated from value pairs of both measurement series. The correction value for taking the actual incorrect angle into consideration is calculated from the two angle differences by averaging.
US08350500B2
Provided is a solid state lighting apparatus that includes multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) including at least a first LED and a second LED. The apparatus includes a thermal sensor that is configured to provide a temperature signal corresponding to an operating condition of the solid state lighting apparatus and a control circuit that is configured to receive the temperature signal and to selectively interrupt electrical current to a portion of the plurality of light emitting diodes responsive to the temperature signal including a value that exceeds a high temperature limit.
US08350499B2
A power conditioning circuit in a light bulb efficiently converts an Alternating Current (AC) input voltage into Direct Current (DC) power for operating LEDs in the light bulb. The power conditioning circuit discharges capacitors when a voltage level of the input voltage drops below a given voltage necessary to operate the LEDs. The capacitors are then recharged when the input voltage is high enough to power the LED. The capacitors are configured to operate as voltage dividers while being charged thus reducing a peak voltage level of the output voltage used for powering the LEDs. The reduced output voltage reduces the overall amount of energy used by the light bulb and reduces the amount of heat radiated by the light bulb.
US08350494B2
A dimming controller and system is provided in either discrete or integrated form and includes a single electronic controller device and a dimming ballast for installation in an overhead fluorescent fixture. The system functions to sense power line changes caused by the flicking of a switch between OFF and ON and controls the light dimming accordingly. The power line changes may be either changes in mains frequency or user caused switch toggling.
US08350489B2
A method for driving a discharge lamp that supplies an AC current to a discharge lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode so as to produce discharge and to cause the discharge lamp to emit light includes, during a steady operation in which the AC current is supplied to the discharge lamp, changing a difference between the absolute values of average current values for two polarities during one cycle of the AC current in accordance with a predetermined pattern.
US08350486B2
Illuminated safety helmets are provided. The helmets include a shell having two or more lighted zones mounted therein, which are spaced from each other on the outer surface of the shell. One or more of the lighted zones can be selectively deactivated, allowing a wearer to control which zone or zones not to illuminate, as may be desirable in certain situations. Each zone, when activated, is illuminated in a variable fashion, such that the light illuminated from the zone changes within a brief period of time.
US08350471B2
An EL display panel including an EL substrate and a CF facing each other and resin filling space between the EL substrate and the CF. A common bank having a greater width than banks between first, second, and third areas in each portion of the CF lies between two portions corresponding to a first pixel and an adjacent second pixel. A portion of a CF layer formed with respect to an outermost area among the areas of the first pixel and covering a top surface of a bank closest to the second pixel extends towards the second pixel and has a greater length than a portion of the CF layer formed with respect to the outermost area that covers a top surface of a bank opposing the bank closest to the second pixel.
US08350469B2
When a light emitting element is actuated to allow the light emission, the generation of Joule heat occurs, leading to the decomposition or crystallization of an organic compound to cause the degradation of the light emitting device. Therefore, a light emitting element of the present invention is provided for effecting removing or decreasing the generation of heat. In the present invention, between two electrodes, layers having organic compounds and carbon-based thin films are alternatively laminated one after another for stepping down the driving voltage in the light emitting element using the tunnel effect. In addition, a carbon-based thin film is placed on a film containing an organic compound, so that it prevents the electric field from being locally concentrated and also prevents the generation of short-circuit between the anode and the cathode.
