US08468435B2
A method for forming a bit sequence having a number of M bits from a bit sequence having a number of N bits, wherein M/2
US08468434B2
An error detection and correction system in accordance with an embodiment comprises: an encoding unit; a syndrome calculating unit; a syndrome element calculating unit; an error search unit; and an error correction unit, read and write of a memory cell array being assumed to be performed concurrently for m bits, and error detection and correction being assumed to be performed in data units of M bits (where M is an integer multiple of m), and an encoding unit and a syndrome calculating unit sharing a time-division decoder for performing data bit selection according to respective tables of check bit generation and syndrome generation, the time-division decoder being operative to repeat multiple cycles of m bit concurrent data input.
US08468430B2
A method for a decoding device to decode a codeword matrix of a product code includes: generating a first extended parity check matrix for a vertical code; decoding a horizontal codeword of a plurality of rows in the codeword matrix to thus perform a first decoding process; generating a second extended parity check matrix by removing a column corresponding to a row of the first decoding-succeeded horizontal codeword from the first extended parity check matrix; and decoding the first decoding-failed horizontal codeword by using the second extended parity check matrix to thus perform a second decoding process. Therefore, the simple and reliable product code decoding method is provided.
US08468427B2
One embodiment relates to a method of transmitting data from a transmitter to a receiver. In the method, a payload data stream is provided which comprises a plurality of payload data units. A container stream is formed which comprises a plurality of containers having respective container identifiers, where a container includes an integer number of the payload data units and where the container identifiers collectively establish a predetermined order for consecutive containers. A codeword stream is formed which comprises a plurality of codewords having respective redundancy information, where a codeword includes at least a portion of the container and where redundancy information of the codeword facilitates detection of erroneous data in the codeword. The codeword is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08468417B2
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for data integrity in memory controllers. One memory controller embodiment includes a host interface and first error detection circuitry coupled to the host interface. The memory controller can include a memory interface and second error detection circuitry coupled to the memory interface. The first error detection circuitry can be configured to calculate error detection data for data received from the host interface and to check the integrity of data transmitted to the host interface. The second error detection circuitry can be configured to calculate error correction data for data and first error correction data transmitted to the memory interface and to check integrity of data and first error correction data received from the memory interface.
US08468416B2
A method and system are disclosed for providing combined error code protection and subgroup parity protection for a given group of n bits. The method comprises the steps of identifying a number, m, of redundant bits for said error protection; and constructing a matrix P, wherein multiplying said given group of n bits with P produces m redundant error correction code (ECC) protection bits, and two columns of P provide parity protection for subgroups of said given group of n bits. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the matrix P is constructed by generating permutations of m bit wide vectors with three or more, but an odd number of, elements with value one and the other elements with value zero; and assigning said vectors to rows of the matrix P.
US08468415B2
Apparatus and methods store error recovery data in different dimensions of a memory array. For example, in one dimension, block error correction codes (ECC) are used, and in another dimension, supplemental error correction codes, such as convolutional codes, are used. By using separate dimensions, the likelihood that a defect affects both error recovery techniques is lessened, thereby increasing the probability that error recovery can be performed successfully. In one example, block error correction codes are used for data stored along rows, and this data is stored in one level of multiple-level cells of the array. Supplemental error correction codes are used for data stored along columns, such as along the cells of a string, and the supplemental error correction codes are stored in a different level than the error correction codes.
US08468406B2
The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatuses for allowing a controller to select and access different types of access ports in a device. The selecting and accessing of the access ports is achieved using only the dedicated TDI, TMS, TCK, and TDO signal terminals of the device. The selecting and accessing of device access ports can be achieved when a single device is connected to the controller, when multiple devices are placed in a daisy-chain arrangement and connected to the controller, or when multiple devices are placed in a addressable parallel arrangement and connected to the controller. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure.
US08468396B2
A channel interleaver comprises a novel constellation-based permutation module. The channel interleaver first receives a plurality of sets of encoded bits generated from an FEC encoder. The encoded bits are distributed into multiple subblocks and each subblock comprises a plurality of adjacent bits. A subblock interleaver interleaves each subblock and outputs a plurality of interleaved bits. The constellation-based permutation module rearranges the interleaved bits and outputs a plurality of rearranged bits. The rearranged bits are supplied to a symbol mapper such that a plurality of consecutively encoded bits in the same set of the encoded bits generated from the FEC encoder is prevented to be mapped onto the same level of bit reliability of a modulation symbol. In addition, the plurality of adjacent bits of each subblock is also prevented to be mapped onto the same level of bit reliability to achieve constellation diversity and to improve decoding performance.
US08468395B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at a policy and charging rules node (PCRN), a request from a requesting node for an establishment of a first service data flow (SDF); generating a first rule set for implementing the first SDF in response to the request; transmitting a first rule of the rule set to a first node for installation of the first rule; waiting for a period of time for a response from the first node; determining from the response whether installation of the first rule at the first node failed or succeeded; and if installation of the first rule succeeded, transmitting a second rule of the first rule set to a second node for installation of the second rule.
US08468394B2
A data processing apparatus is disclosed, said data processing apparatus comprising a plurality of devices, trace logic associated with at least one of said plurality of devices, and tagging logic associated with at least one of said plurality of devices, said tagging logic being operable to: select at least one item, said at least one item comprising an activity to be monitored; provide said at least one selected item with tag data identifying said at least one item as an item to be monitored; and said trace logic being operable to: detect tagged items processed by said at least one device; and output trace information relating to at least some of said detected tagged items.
US08468391B2
A log event can be received from a log source within an application server environment. The log event can be an error message which is associated with a log level. In one embodiment, the application server environment can be a JAVA 2 ENTERPRISE EDITION runtime environment. The log event can be analyzed to determine the ontology of the log event which can comprise of the log event, the user context, and the relationship of the log event to the user context. The log event can be associated with the user context as determined by the relationship of the log event.
US08468387B2
Provided herein are systems and methodologies for bare metal machine restoration of a client computing environment over a network-based backup system. System recovery can be performed by performing a network boot from a predetermined server or set of servers on the Internet and/or an associated local network, followed by retrieving information relating to an operating system and/or environment of a system being recovered, such as incremental or full operating system images. Upon retrieval of information, the information can be used to conduct a full restore of the operating environment of the computing device. Additionally, a user can restore personal or other system data following rebuilding of the system operating environment. A cloud-based structure is provided herein as well as a hybrid peer-to-peer/cloud-based structure, wherein information used in a restore can be obtained from a global network location (e.g., cloud server(s)) and/or from one or more local peers.
US08468386B2
A service is used to process files. The processing of the files is performed by worker services that are assigned to process a portion of the files. Each worker service that is processing a portion of the files is assigned a unique identifier. Using the identifier information, the set of worker services currently active are monitored along with the work assigned to each process. When a worker server determines that a worker service has failed, the work assigned to the failed worker service can be automatically determined and a new worker service can be started to process that work. Any new worker service that is started is assigned a unique identifier, so the work assigned to it can be similarly tracked.
US08468384B2
For writing, flash memory devices are physically accessed in a page-oriented mode, but such devices are not error-free in operation. According to the invention, when writing information data in a bus write cycle in a sequential manner into flash memory devices assigned to a common data bus, at least one of said flash memory devices is not fed for storage with a current section of said information data. In case an error is occurring while writing a current information data section into a page of a current one of said flash memory devices, said current information data section is written into a non-flash memory. During the following bus write cycle, while the flash memory device containing that defective page is normally idle, that idle time period is used for copying the corresponding stored section of said information data from said non-flash memory to a non-defect page of that flash memory device.
US08468371B2
A datacenter schedules and executes requests to conserve energy. The datacenter uses an event-based opportunistic approach to schedule and run the requests, which provides energy efficiency. The requests are hierarchically batched and sent to the datacenter for scheduling and execution. They are selectively sent over low power links and selectively serviced by low power processors.
US08468363B2
An electronic device includes one or more of a time-domain reflectometry and security block within a processor. The time-domain reflectometry and security block may determine a digitized reflected waveform biometrics characterization of a biometric target. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08468361B2
A secure processor such as a TPM generates one-time-passwords used to authenticate a communication device to a service provider. In some embodiments the TPM maintains one-time-password data and performs the one-time-password algorithm within a secure boundary associated with the TPM. In some embodiments the TPM generates one-time-password data structures and associated parent keys and manages the parent keys in the same manner it manages standard TPM keys.
US08468359B2
Techniques for creating and using credentials for blinded intended audiences are provided. A principal desires access to a target service. An identity associated with the target service is hidden from an identity service via a random identifier. The identity service supplies an assertion with credentials and the random identifier. The principal sends the assertion and an access message, which also includes the random identifier to the target service. The target service compares the identifier included with the message to the identifier in the assertion and when a match occurs access is permitted to the target service, assuming other credentials associated with the assertion are satisfied as well.
US08468355B2
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for creating a veiled certificate is provided. The method comprises requesting a certificate from a regulator by sending a message with a digital signature of the message signed by the owner. The message comprises an owner's veiled certificate token, the veiled certificate token comprising an encrypted version of the owner's identification data and the owner's identification public key for the certificate. The message further comprises the identification public key, the whole message being encrypted using the regulator's external public key. The certificate request is validated by verifying the sender's identity through validation of the digital signature using the owner's external public key and verifying the veiled certificate token using the individual' external public key. A veiled certificate is created by combining the veiled certificate token, identification public key and digitally signing the veiled certificate with the regulator's private key, wherein the owner's identification information is inaccessible from the veiled certificate, except to the certificate owner.
US08468351B2
A method for protecting a digital document and user data typed into a digital document is presented. The method comprises computation of an authentication tag when the document is sent from a server. A similar authentication tag is computed when the document is shown on a client. When another document referenced in the document is requested by the client from the server, the authentication tag computed by the client is attached to the request for that other document. The server receiving the request compares the authentication tag it computed with the one it received to verify if the request came from an authentic copy of the document. The method is suitable for protection of online banking, online investment, online shopping, and other electronic applications.
US08468350B2
A content transmission apparatus including: an authenticator configured (i) to perform authentication, (ii) to share an authentication key, (iii) to request transmission range acknowledgement and authentication information, (iv) to receive a response, and (v) to share an exchange key; an encryptor to encrypt based on the exchange key; and a timer measuring a time interval between transmission of said request for transmission range acknowledgement and reception of a response; wherein, said authenticator measures said time interval using said timer, and if a time measurement value exceeds a predetermined value, said authenticator does not share said exchange key; and wherein, said response of said request for transmission range acknowledgement includes a data generated based on said authentication information and said authentication key, and if said data is incorrect, said authenticator does not share said exchange key.
US08468348B1
Disclosed are various embodiments of a system. In one embodiment, among others, a method comprises intercepting a communication between a first party and a second party in a communication forum, the communication including a first party proxy information as an intended recipient information. The method further comprises accessing a communication pair using the intended recipient information, the intended recipient information being associated with a second party proxy information, the second party proxy information being associated with a second party information. Additionally, the method comprises determining whether the identity of the sender is valid.
US08468344B2
According to an embodiment, a system may comprise a mass storage device that is operable to be coupled to one or more processors. The mass storage device may comprise a base operating system that is operable to be executed by the one or more processors. The base operating system may be operable to implement a single security level. The mass storage device may also comprise a virtual operating system that is operable to be executed by the one or more processors. The virtual operating system may be executed using a virtualization tool that is executed by the base operating system. The virtual operating system may be operable to process information according to a plurality of security levels and communicate the information to one or more computing systems. The information may be communicated according to the plurality of security levels of the information.
US08468343B2
A system and method for securing wireless transmissions is provided. A method for transmitting secure messages includes selecting a bin of codewords from a plurality of bins. The bin of codewords containing a plurality of sub-bins of codewords, and the selecting is based on a first message. The method also includes selecting a sub-bin of codewords from the plurality of sub-bins of codewords based on a second message, selecting a codeword from the sub-bin of codewords, and transmitting the selected codeword to a legitimate receiver.
US08468333B1
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for updating the management information of a computer system are provided. According to one method, a system management information table is built during the execution of the computer system. The system management information table is built from a base set of management information and one or more updates to the base set of management information. The updates to the base set of management information may be stored a protected region of a non-volatile memory device. A utility program is provided for storing the updates to the management information in the non-volatile memory device.
US08468329B2
In a method of synchronizing data processing of processor arrangement, responsive to reaching, during execution of a program, a barrier included in a program sequence, the processor arrangement halts the program execution until it is determined that all instructions preceding the barrier in the program sequence have been successfully scheduled for execution.
US08468325B2
A method and information processing system manage load and store operations executed out-of-order. At least one of a load instruction and a store instruction is executed. A determination is made that an operand store compare hazard has been encountered. An entry within an operand store compare hazard prediction table is created based on the determination. The entry includes at least an instruction address of the instruction that has been executed and a hazard indicating flag associated with the instruction. The hazard indicating flag indicates that the instruction has encountered the operand store compare hazard. When a load instruction is associated with the hazard indicating flag the load instruction becomes dependent upon all store instructions associated with a substantially similar flag.
US08468319B1
A storage system, a disk controller, a disk drive and a method of operating thereof. The method includes: configuring a disk drive in a manner enabling executing one or more read requests concurrently with executing one or more write requests addressed to the same data track of the disk drive; responsive to a received write request addressed to a certain track of the disk drive, identifying with the help of the control layer one or more read requests concurrent to received write request and addressed to the same track; if the received write request and the identified one or more read requests match a predefined criterion, generating and issuing, with the help of the control layer, a command to the disk drive for executing a single task corresponding to the concurrent read and write requests combined in accordance with a certain mask.
US08468313B2
A method for controlling write order in a remote data storage system used for asynchronous replication. The data backup method includes receiving writes issued concurrently by a host prior to any being completed. An async write manager, such as a software application on a storage controller or on a host, operates to group each of the writes into a concurrency group with a replica write corresponding to each of the host writes being queued for transmittal over a link to a remote data storage system. The replica writes each include a concurrency group identifier, such as a group number or last completed write number, that identifies which concurrency group the replica has been assigned. The method includes transferring the replica writes to the remote data storage system and processing the concurrency group identifiers with a write order manager to determine which subsets of the replica writes to issue concurrently.
US08468312B2
A disk drive receives a request to write at least one block of a first block size, wherein the disk drive is configured to store blocks of a second block size that is larger in size than the first block size. The disk drive stores a plurality of emulated blocks of the first block size in each block of the second block size. The disk drive generates a read error, in response to reading a selected block of the second block size in which the at least block of the first block size is to be written via an emulation. The disk drive performs a destructive write of selected emulated blocks of the first block size that caused the read error to be generated. The disk drive writes the at least one block of the first block size in the selected block of the second block size.
US08468311B2
An efficient method for breaking source data into smaller data subsets and storing those subsets along with coded information about some of the other data subsets on different storage nodes such that the original data can be recreated from a portion of those data subsets in an efficient manner.
US08468309B2
Methods and apparatus relating to ring protocols and techniques are described. In one embodiment, a first agent generates a request to write to a cache line of a cache over a first ring of a computing platform. A second agent that receives the write request forwards it to a third agent over the first ring of the computing platform. In turn, a third agent (e.g., a home agent) receives data corresponding to the write request over a second, different ring of the computing platform and writes the data to the cache. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08468293B2
Techniques for restoring index pages stored in non-volatile memory are disclosed where the index pages map logical sectors into physical pages. Additional data structures in volatile and non-volatile memory can be used by the techniques for restoring index pages. In some implementations, a lookup table associated with data blocks in non-volatile memory can be used to provide information regarding the mapping of logical sectors into physical pages. In some implementations, a lookup table associated with data blocks and a range of logical sectors and/or index pages can be used.
US08468287B2
An information processor includes: a plurality of master cores, a plurality of slave cores, a plurality of slave adapters each connected to a respective slave core of the plurality of slave cores, and an interconnected network for connecting the master cores and slave adapters by way of a plurality of router nodes. The slave adapters compare a first access request transmitted by a first master core among the plurality of master cores and a second access request transmitted by a second master core other than the first master core among the plurality of master cores based on a request from the first master core and a request from the second master core, and transmit the first access request or the second access request to the slave core that is connected to the slave adapter when the first access request and the second access request match.
US08468285B2
Methods and systems are described for transmitting and displaying video data after a hot plug event during a start-up dead period. In particular, hot plug events occurring when a toggleable hot plug detection mechanism is use.
US08468281B2
An apparatus for improving bandwidth for circuits having a plurality of memory controllers employing a first memory controller, a second memory controller, a first busy read output signal circuit, a first busy write output signal circuit, a second busy read output signal circuit, and a second busy write output signal circuit. The first busy read output signal indicates when the first memory controller releases the address bus for a next external access subsequent to a read access to the data bus by the first memory controller. The first busy write output signal indicates when the first memory controller releases the data bus for a next external access subsequent to a write access to the data bus by the first memory controller. The second busy read output signal indicates when the second memory controller releases the address bus for a next external access subsequent to a read access to the data bus by the second memory controller. The second busy write output signal indicates when the second memory controller releases the data bus for a next external access subsequent to a write access to the data bus by the second memory controller.
US08468273B2
An information storage apparatus transmits or receives information to or from another information processing apparatus in one of a plurality of data transfer modes. The information storage apparatus includes first storage means for storing the information; information transmission/reception control means for controlling transmission or reception of the information between the first storage means and second storage means contained in the other information processing apparatus; command analysis means for analyzing a command supplied from the other information processing apparatus to determine which of the plurality of data transfer modes should be applied; and configuration means for configuring the information transmission/reception control means based on a result of determination of the data transfer mode by the command analysis means.
US08468272B2
A computer-implemented platform server and method is provided for energy management operations in a Smart Grid environment. The platform server includes an application module configured to operate any of a plurality of Smart Grid Applications. A consumer-side module is configured for bi-directional communication with a plurality of consumer-side intelligent appliances. An Operations Technology (OT) module is configured for communication with an electrical grid Energy Management System (EMS). A translation module is coupled to, and configured to translate data received from, the application, consumer-side, and OT modules, so that the platform is configured to selectively receive, translate, and transmit data from and among any of said application, consumer-side, and OT modules, to facilitate automated energy management operations in a Smart Grid environment.
US08468269B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for compressing location data of a radio for over-the-air transmission. A method includes obtaining raw latitude and raw longitude coordinates reflecting a current location of the client device, the raw latitude coordinate represented by x number of bits and the raw longitude coordinate represented by y number of bits. The raw latitude coordinate is truncated by removing n number of most significant bits from the raw latitude coordinate to create a compressed latitude coordinate. The raw longitude coordinate is truncated by removing m number of most significant bits from the raw longitude coordinate to create a compressed longitude coordinate, where m varies as a function of the value of the raw latitude coordinate. The compressed longitude and compressed latitude coordinates are then transmitted to another network device for decompression and use as an indication of the client device's absolute location.
US08468263B2
A method is present for transferring information in an aircraft network data processing system. A message is received from a process executing on the aircraft network data processing system for a destination to form a pending message. The pending message is received using a common protocol for processes executing in the aircraft network data processing system. A communication service is identified from a number of communication services for use in sending the message to the destination remote to the aircraft network data processing system to form a selected communication service in response to receiving the pending message. A new message is formed from the pending message. The new message has a format usable by an associated protocol for the selected communication service. The new message is sent to the destination using the selected communication service.
US08468261B2
A method for operating a device to protect an application from unauthorized operation is provided. The application will fail to operate on the device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region. The method includes transmitting the selected operating region for the application, and receiving the application and a geographic identifier associated with the application. The geographic identifier is configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device. The method further includes transmitting a request to execute the application on the device. The request includes the geographic identifier. Further included in the method is receiving a code. The code prevents an execution of the application on the device if the code is a disable code. The disable code indicates that the device is operating outside the selected operating region. An apparatus for content protection in a wireless network is also provided.
US08468260B2
A method and a system for changing the Selected Home Operator (SHO) of a Machine to Machine Equipment (M2ME) are disclosed. The method includes: the M2ME establishing a connection with a Registration Operator (RO) through a Trusted Environment (TRE) functional entity, the RO registering the M2ME in the new SHO; the new SHO sending the new International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) to the RO or authorizing the RO to provide a new IMSI after it has passed the verification of the M2ME by the Platform Validation Authority (PVA); the RO sending the new IMSI to the M2ME through the connection established by the TRE functional entity; the M2ME replacing the old IMSI in the Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) with the new IMSI; wherein the UICC and the TRE function entity are all located in the M2ME.
US08468258B2
Various embodiments relate to a communications system and related method for determining an address of a service access point (SAP) upon establishment of a service over a packet data network. A customer SAP connected to a provider SAP may request a link-local address for another customer SAP on the far-end of the packet data network. When the service, such as a virtual leased line (VLL) is not yet established, the provider SAP may generate an address for the customer based on another value, such as its own media access control (MAC) address. The generated address may then allow the service to become established, which may allow Neighbor Solicitation and Neighbor Advertisement packets to be sent, analyzed, and extracted. The provider SAP may then replace the generated address with the address extracted from the Neighbor Solicitation or Advertisement packet received after the service was established.
US08468257B2
A multiple control station transits a first broadcast frame including a first identifier for identifying a first host and a second broadcast frame including a second identifier for identifying a second host to a terminal station over a wireless channel using time division. The multiple control station then receives a connection request frame that requests connection with the first host or the second host from the terminal station. Arbitration is then performed so that the terminal station is connected to the first host or the second host in accordance with the first identifier or the second identifier included in the received connection request frame.
US08468256B1
A method, system, and policy file data structure stored on computer-readable medium comprise reading a policy identifier field containing data representing an identifier for a security policy. Further, a protocol identifier field is read containing data representing an identifier for a protocol associated with the security policy identified in the policy identifier field. In addition, a protocol element entry containing data representing a protocol element for protocol identified by the protocol identifier field is associated with a network adapter.
US08468249B2
A system and method for providing content to users including a multicast sub-system providing content to multiple users and a unicast sub-system providing content to individual users. The multicast sub-system being operative to push to each of a plurality of user communities, content relating to the community and the unicast sub-system being operative to provide on demand to a user, content which has not been previously pushed to the user.
US08468246B2
According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, a system and method for allocating resources in a distributed computing system are provided. In one embodiment, a distributed computing system includes a computing grid including a plurality of grid nodes, a web server configured in a service-oriented architecture and operable to provide one or more business applications to a plurality of clients by executing one or more services on the plurality of grid nodes, and a resource control system communicatively coupled to the web server. The resource control system is operable to receive one or more performance parameters of the business applications executed on the plurality of grid nodes, provision one or more of the grid nodes in response to the performance parameters falling below a predetermined minimum level, and un-provision one or more of the grid nodes in response to the performance parameters exceeding a predetermined maximum level. The plurality of clients comprises a plurality of client subsets, each client subset requiring a respective quality of service, and each of the grid nodes in the computing grid is assigned a particular client subset for which to execute services.
US08468243B2
A content transmitter distributes contents. An update information management unit manages update information on the update of the contents distributed by the content transmitter. An identifier generator generates notifying identifiers containing the update information managed by the update information management unit. The update information contains the update time of each content or a time period until each content is updated. A beacon transmitter transmits, as beacon, the notifying identifiers generated by the identifier generator.
US08468242B2
A remote management controller is provided for use in conjunction with a managed host computer. The remote management controller exposes a virtual network interface controller, such as a driverless virtual USB network interface controller, to the managed host computer. Through the in-band connection provided by the virtual network interface controller, the remote management controller can send a command to the host operating system or one or more guest operating systems executing in a virtualized environment. If no reply is received to the command, the remote management controller takes corrective action to restore the operation of the host operating system or the non-responsive guest operating systems.
US08468239B2
In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring a first current status of a communication link coupling a first health-presence unit at a first physical location to a second health-presence unit at a second physical location remote from the first physical location for a remote health-service session. The remote health-service session includes a health-service provider at the second physical location providing a health service to a patient at the first physical location. The method includes monitoring a second current status of the health device of the first health-presence unit and communicating data indicating the first current status and the second current status to the second health-presence unit for presentation to the health-service provider to facilitate assessment by the health-service provider of a usefulness of the health device to the health-service provider during the health-service session in light of the first or second current status.
US08468233B1
In some embodiments, multiple heterogeneous information technology service management (ITSM) applications of different IT service partners (customers and service providers) are integrated via a service process integration grid employing a set of standard workflows and associated standard transaction types and data structures. Once a service partner's workflows and data structures have been mapped to the standard grid workflows and data structures, integration with a first and new service partners is relatively fast and convenient. Analysis of real-life ITSM applications led to the development of particular standardized workflows classified according to whether they are initiated by service provider or customer, and according to whether they do or do not include ownership-transfer transactions allowing a service partner (customer or provider) to transfer ownership of the service process to its counterpart for further action by the counterpart.
US08468226B2
The management server saves boot images corresponding to boot nodes that are connected to itself through a network. When condition information is received from the boot server provided in each network, the management server transmits a boot image specified by the condition information to the boot server. The boot server provides the boot image received from the management server to the boot node to make the boot node perform a network boot.
US08468220B2
A computer executed method is disclosed for sorting a plurality of internet protocol (IP) addresses. The method includes dividing the range of IP addresses into a plurality of clusters representing a plurality of contiguous sub-ranges, assigning each IP address to the cluster associated with the sub-range that includes that IP address, and assigning the IP addresses in each cluster to one of a plurality of pages. If one of the pages has a size less than a page size limit, the method includes duplicating on that page at least one of the IP addresses assigned to that page. For each page, the IP addresses assigned to that page are ordered by numeric value. A network appliance incorporating aspects of the method is also disclosed.
US08468213B2
A screen generating method is implemented on a distribution managing system in which an image forming apparatus, a managing server, and a client device are connected. In the screen generating method, the client device receives input for designating an item for setting metadata on a generating screen; generates definition data of an input screen on which the metadata is set based on a descriptor that is arbitrary determined by a user for displaying the item on the input screen and the item designated on the generating screen; and transmits the definition data to the image forming apparatus.
US08468210B2
This application is for an audio message-driven customer interaction queuing system for any public web page to allow web page visitors to utter questions into a browser-resident recorder application. The questions queue along with originating web page information and are distributed to customer service agents. These agents research the question, using web page as reference, and respond with an audio message, played upon the recorder application by the user after some brief service interval. The invention includes client, server and agent elements. The Client resides in a standard browser on a PC and consists of a Macromedia Flash interface driving an ActiveX control and JavaScript using audio encoding/decoding codecs. The Server consists of Java Servlets, Enterprise Java Beans, a web and application server and generic database technology. The Agent consists of a browser partitioned into areas to accommodate customer URL viewing, Connection Management, and a Client for message playback/record/send functions.
US08468192B1
The number of multipliers of a particular size that are required to perform a multiplication larger than that size is reduced. In the example of a 36-bit-by-36-bit multiplication, the number of 18-bit-by-18-bit multipliers required may be reduced from four to three. This may be achieved by using recursive decomposition techniques. As discussed in more detail below, if for each of two 36-bit numbers, the “digits” of each respective 36-bit number are added together, and then the two sums are multiplied, the resulting term can be combined additively with the product of the least-significant group of bits of the two 36-bit numbers and the product of the most-significant group of bits of the two 36-bit numbers to provide the desired product. A specialized processing block includes structures to facilitate the recursive decomposition technique.
US08468186B2
Values generated by at least one pseudo-random source (PRS) are recombined to form one or more recombined values. The method involves using analog, digital, or hybrid manipulation techniques to transform characteristics of PRS, including but not limited to statistical characteristics, and input/output characteristics. In some examples, the recombination method provides a way to de-bias output bits from PRS without appreciable increase in self noise. In some examples, the recombined result passes NIST's Statistical Tests for Randomness even if underlying PRS natively does not. In some examples, the recombination method provides a way to make a PRS challengeable, even if the underlying PRS is not natively challengeable. In some examples, recombination is used to allow single PRS to have multiple outputs, and in some cases multi-dimensional (orthogonal) outputs. In some examples, a multi-modal system is created via recombination using multiple PRS. In some examples, post recombined result exhibit super error characteristics (prior to application of any error correction codes) compared to native PRS output. In some examples, the recombined values are applied to security applications, for instance authentication and/or cryptographic functions, which may provide improved characteristics (e.g., cryptographic strength) in view of a de-biased output which in some examples also passes NIST's Statistical Tests.
US08468181B2
Apparatuses, methods, and other embodiments associated with distributed metadata caching are described. According to one embodiment, a method includes intercepting a metadata request intended for an NFS server and communicating with a member of the set of peers to satisfy the metadata request from a distributed metadata cache maintained by the set of peers. The metadata request will have originated from a member of a set of peers participating in peer-to-peer distributed metadata caching.
US08468174B1
User interactions with a database storage system allow creation of virtual databases based on point-in-time copies associated with a source database. Multiple point-in-time copies are obtained for each source database. A point-in-time copy retrieves data changed in the source database since the retrieval of a previous point-in-time copy. A virtual database (VDB) is created by creating a set of files in the data storage system and mounting the files on a database server allowing the database server to access the files. User interactions allow the user to specify the source database, a point in time associated with the source database and a destination server to create the virtual database. User input can specify other attributes associated with the virtual database including the file paths, database parameters etc. The user can specify schedules of various actions, including making and retention of point-in-time copies.
US08468173B2
Device information identifying a device to which a user has previously instructed execution of processing is acquired from a memory unit configured to store the device information. A device that the acquired device information indicates is requested to send history information including at least information of a history relating to processing having been instructed to be executed in the device by the user. Furthermore, the history information transmitted from the device in response to the request is received. The received history information is displayed on a display.
US08468171B2
Provided is a mechanism wherein key-value structure data are effectively combined, and dynamic changes in the data structure and amount of data are coped with flexibly; and wherein the throughput in frequent reading of simple tables is improved with this mechanism. A flexible data model is built, by making a referring mechanism for referring to attributes, and a referred-to mechanism wherein references to attributes are made, to be a “referring—-referring” element and a “referred-to—-referred-to” element; making a component by sandwiching key-value-store structure data; and combining components having multiple attributes with each other, as a “referring—referred-to” relationship. Furthermore, receiving search results as a key-value-store structure cache will contribute in simplifying accesses by conventional application programs to the aforementioned flexible data model, which by extension will contribute in making the whole application program more high-speed.
US08468162B2
String matching is a ubiquitous problem that arises in a wide range of applications in computer science, e.g., packet routing, intrusion detection, web querying, and genome analysis. Due to its importance, dozens of algorithms and several data structures have been developed over the years. A recent breakthrough in this field is the FM-index, a data structure that synergistically combines the Burrows-Wheeler transform and the suffix array. In software, the FM-index allows searching (exact and approximate) in times comparable to the fastest known indices for large texts (suffix trees and suffix arrays), but has the additional advantage to be much more space-efficient than those indices. This disclosure discusses an FPGA-based hardware implementation of the FM-index for exact and approximate pattern matching.
US08468160B2
A method of semantic-aware record matching includes receiving source and target string record specifications associated with a source string record and a target string record, receiving semantic knowledge referring to tokens of the source string record and target string record, creating a first set of tokens for the source string record and a second set of tokens for the target string record based on the semantic knowledge, assigning a similarity score to the source string record and the target string record based on a semantic relationship between the first set of tokens and the second set of tokens, and matching the source string record and the target string record based on the similarity score.
US08468159B2
An approach is presented for specifying categories of data elements during a service specification phase of a service-oriented architecture (SOA) life cycle defined in a service modeling methodology like Service-Oriented Modeling and Architecture (SOMA). A Unified Modeling Language based SOA modeling tool for the service modeling methodology includes a middleware based integration plug-in that categorizes service-specific data elements as transaction elements, glue elements, core Common Information Model (CIM) elements, and elements extending the CIM elements, and associates the categorized data elements with corresponding operations of the service being modeled.
US08468148B2
A method of searching the Internet or onboard database or other source through devices that contain or are coupled to cameras or other imaging devices, the method including extracting search terms from the human-understandable content encoded in a machine-readable code and displayed to the recipient on the device following the imaging of that code by the device's imager. The method of search utilizes a method of navigation and input that produces a location indicator on the device display that corresponds to the location of an image of a machine-readable code in the sensor of the device's imager.
US08468141B2
A tangible computer-readable medium encoded with an executable set of instructions for accessing a database with a terminal is provided. A detecting code segment detects connection properties of the database. A determining code segment automatically determines, based on the connection properties of the database and from a plurality of database connectivity drivers stored in a memory, one of the plurality of database connectivity drivers that enables communication with the database. A loading code segment loads the one of the plurality of database connectivity drivers on the terminal to enable the terminal to communicate with the database.
US08468140B2
The present invention maintains the response speed to users operations when operation-target contents are changed and improves the operability in data retrieval operations. An information processing apparatus for reading out content information from a storage unit accumulating the content information and for displaying the content information holds association information that associates each of extraction conditions used for reading out the content information from the storage unit with a corresponding one of memory areas. The apparatus reads out content information from the storage unit according to the extraction conditions and stores the content information in the corresponding memory areas. The apparatus specifies a memory area corresponding to an extraction condition specified by a user based on the association information, reads out the content information from the specified memory area, and displays an image based on the read out content information on a display.
US08468137B2
A distributed storage network receives a data object and determines a size of the data object. The network then determines whether the data object should be segmented into fixed size segments or variable sizes segments based upon some variable-length algorithm. If the fixed approach is selected, the data object is segmented into two or more fixed size segments with attached header information and the information is further processed using error coding dispersal storage functions within the network. If the variable approach is selected, the data object is segmented into two or more variable-sized segments with attached header information and the information is further processed using error coding dispersal storage functions within the network. Both the variable and fixed approaches enable storage of error-correctable data slices in a distributed storage manner.
US08468133B2
A method for replicating I/O performance in data replication environments, such as PPRC environments, is described. In selected embodiments, such a method includes monitoring I/O workload at a primary storage device over a period of time, such as a period of hours, days, or months. The method then generates learning data at the primary storage device describing the I/O workload over the selected time period. The learning data is replicated from the primary storage device to a secondary storage device. The method uses the learning data to optimize the secondary storage device to handle the I/O workload of the primary storage device. This will enable the secondary storage device to provide substantially the same I/O performance as the primary storage device in the event a failover occurs.
US08468132B1
An eventually consistent replicated data store uses, for its underlying storage, a computer software library that provides a high-performance embedded database for data. The replicated data store employs a plurality of hosts interconnected to one another, allowing for writes to any host and full awareness of membership across all hosts. With such a data replication framework, various modes are allowed to be built up on top of the core system.
US08468131B2
Communication between a service provider and a plurality of devices on a peer-to-peer network are enabled. One of the plurality of devices on the peer-to-peer network is selected for receiving invitations for media sessions with any of the plurality of devices from the service provider. The selected device transmits a registration message to the service provider indicating a unique address of the selected device to which invitations are to be sent. The unique address is associated with a first identifier for at least one of the plurality of devices by the service provider. Another one of the plurality of devices is selected in place of the selected device to receive subsequent invitations for media session upon detection of a reselection condition.
US08468130B2
A system and a method are disclosed for identifying video files on a webpage and streaming video files to a client device. A server receives browsing data including uniform resource locator for a webpage and identifies missing videos on the webpage. The server identifies a source file for the missing videos including identifying a location for each missing video. The server retrieves a thumbnail for each missing video and provides it to a client device. Additionally, the server transcodes the video file responsive to a user input provided by a user. The transcoded video is streamed to the client device.
US08468115B2
Embodiments treat cyclical behaviors based on behavioral data describing physiological factors affecting the behaviors. According to various embodiments, a processor or probe produce, from the behavioral data, factor data concerning the factors. Using a processor or recommendation engine that analyzes the factor data, treatment data is recommended based on an estimate of how the at least one factor affects the at least one cyclical behavior. A processor or feedback engine determines, from the treatment data, behavioral feedback configured to produce new behavioral data and to harness the effects of the factors to improve the cyclical behaviors.
US08468113B2
There are provided a method of automated managing two or more security rule-sets and a system thereof. The method comprises: obtaining data characterizing a first rule-set and a second rule-set; automated recognizing all possible combinations of values in the first and the second rule-sets; automated verifying each combination of values in the second rule-set against the first rule-set; calculating one or more values characterizing the differences in allowable and rejectable traffic in the first rule-set and the second rule-set; automated comparing the calculated values and/or derivatives thereof with a predefined threshold; and automated classifying the relationship between the first rule-set and the second rule-set in accordance with comparison results. The method may further comprise obtaining a connectivity request; automated verifying each combination of values in the connectivity request against the first rule-set and the second rule-set; and automated classifying the second rule-set with regard to the connectivity request, wherein the second rule-set comprises extra allowable traffic resulting from amending the first rule set.
US08468112B2
A system and method provides decision support for planning in an environment where a competition for use of resources exist and events affecting the planning are occurring dynamically. A system model of an actual system is provided. Then in a dynamic factored manner, an envisionment related to at least some aspects of the system model is built. From this envisionment output is generated related to at least some aspects of the system model. Finally, changes are made to the actual system, based on the generated output thereby changing a configuration and/or operation of the actual system.
US08468100B2
A method of issuing electronic vouchers (Vi) which a user (U) may submit to a merchant (M) in exchange for goods or services comprises the steps of: an issuer (I) receiving an electronic declaration (Di−1) from the user (U), the issuer verifying the electronic declaration (Di−1), and the issuer issuing a new electronic voucher (Vi) for use with the merchant (M) only if the electronic declaration comprises a signature (SM) of a merchant on a previous electronic voucher (Vi−1). The vouchers (Vi) and declarations (Di−1) are preferably blinded by the user such that the user remains anonymous. However, the electronic vouchers (Vi) may contain the identity (Q) of the user (U), which identity may be revealed when a voucher is submitted more than once.
US08468096B2
A method for verifying the identity of one party on behalf of another party is provided. The method includes providing a money-transfer system and a communication system that communicates with the money-transfer system; receiving at the money-transfer system from the first party certain verification criteria for confirming the identity of a second party; and storing the verification criteria in the host computer system of the money-transfer system. When an ID is received from the second party at a money-transfer location; the verification criteria is retrieved from the host computer system; and the acceptability of the ID is determined in accordance with the verification criteria. If the identification device is acceptable, identification information is obtained from the identification device; and the identification information is processed to verify the identity of the second party. In other embodiments, a method for pre-verifying the identity of a party and a system for performing the method of the invention are provided.
US08468095B1
A portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device comprises a contactless communication transceiver configured to provide payment information to a point-of-sale terminal, a first input device configured to receive inputs, and a processor. The first input device is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a microphone, a camera, and a biometric sensor. The processor is configured to activate an electronic wallet based on inputs from at least one of the first input device and the contactless communication transceiver, to access the payment information in the electronic wallet, and to provide the payment information to the contactless communication transceiver.
US08468084B2
Methods and investment instruments for investing in real estate are described wherein a portfolio of investment real estate is divided into a plurality of tenant-in-common deeds of predetermined denominations, and which are subject to a master agreement and master lease to form “deedshares.” Holders of the deedshares receive a guaranteed income stream from the master lease and yearly depreciation, without having to maintain or manage the real estate. The holders of deedshares are subject, under the master agreement, to a mechanism that enables the master tenant to purchase, or arrange for the purchase of the deedshares at fair market value (or some other calculable value) at the end of a specified term. Because the deedshares qualify as interests in investment real estate, they are eligible for tax-deferred treatment under §1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.
US08468077B2
A method includes providing to a tax-data provider a set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by an electronic device, generate a user interface displayable on a display device coupled to the electronic device and operable to enable the tax-data provider to enter a tax-data set. The electronic system receives, but does not store, the tax-data set. A mathematical operation is performed using the received tax data, yielding a value. The electronic system provides the value to the electronic device.
US08468076B2
A charge control system which is applied in a hardware environment includes an electronic device, an intelligent ammeter, and a server. The intelligent ammeter is connected to the server by a network connection. The charge control system includes a storage unit, and at least one processor. The storage unit stores a plurality of validation information. The at least one processor includes a receiving module, a validating module and a charge control module. The receiving module receives information from a user intended to validate the user. The validating module determines whether the received information matches one of the items of predetermined validation information. The charge control module controls the intelligent ammeter to begin charging the electronic device when the received information matches one of items of the predetermined validation information.
US08468072B2
The invention comprises a method for distributing dead bank cards to customers who have not solicited a bank card or submitted an application. The dead bank card is a bank card (e.g., ATM card, debit card, check card, and the like) which contains all necessary information to be used, including a pre-assigned bank account number, and which only requires activation/approval by the prospective new bank account customer. In one embodiment, the dead bank card is distributed in connection with live credit cards issued to applicants for credit card accounts. Once operative, the bank card and the credit card may be linked together through a rebate/rewards program.
US08468071B2
Systems and methods are provided that keep check of financial transactions by maintaining a count of the financial transactions using a register portion, in conjunction with performing authentication further to inputting transaction data from a data-bearing record that is stored in a device. The system may include a communication portion that inputs transaction data received from the data bearing record, the transaction data including an input transaction count value and an input device differentiator number; and a processing portion that processes the transaction data. The processing portion may include (1) a memory portion that stores stored data; (2) a device identification portion that identifies the device based on the device differentiator number and an account number, the account number being derived from the transaction data; (3) a register portion that maintains a count of financial transactions so as to provide a current transaction count value associated with the input device differentiator number for the account number, the register portion maintaining current transaction count values for respective device differentiator numbers, which device differentiator numbers are associated with the account number; and (4) an authentication portion that performs authentication processing based on a comparison process that utilizes the current transaction count value and the input transaction count value, the authentication portion generating an authentication result, the authentication portion outputting the authentication result.
US08468067B2
One aspect of the present invention is a computer-implemented method for processing remanufactured part cores. The method includes receiving manufactured part core inventory information. The inventory information can include an inventory forecast and an inventory level for a number of parts. The method further includes receiving a part number of a part to be processed. The part to be processed is a member of the number of parts. The method further includes receiving one or more business rules for processing the part to be processed. A part disposition for the part to be processed is determined based on the remanufactured part core inventory information, the one or more business rules and the part number.
US08468065B2
The present invention discloses a method and system of managing a laundry room. In the method, identification information including an ID (identifier) is received through a communicator. Then, information about the rate and operating conditions is set through the communicator. A predetermined operation allowed by the setting is performed according to a received payment after receiving information about insertion of the payment from the payment device. While performing, operating information is recorded. Then, the recorded operating information is transmitted in response to a request of the communicator.
US08468057B2
Managing subscriber vehicle data in a vehicle data management system includes receiving and storing vehicle data, associating at least one client class with at least one corresponding targeted data format, receiving a client data request from a client, determining a client identity based on the client data request; and providing targeted data to the client responsive to the data request. The targeted data format is based on the determination of the identified client requesting the client data. An article for managing subscriber vehicle data in a vehicle data management system is described having a computer readable modulated carrier wave embodying means embedded in the modulated carrier wave for storing received vehicle data, means for associating at least one client class with at least one corresponding targeted data format, means for determining a client identity based on a received client data request and means for providing targeted data to the client responsive to the data request.
US08468046B2
A computer-implemented service recommends digital works (and/or creators of works) to a user based on works currently or previously played or downloaded by the user on a player device or based on playlists stored on the player device. The works may be, for example, music files, video files, electronic books, or other digital content for playing by users. A user may thus obtain personalized recommendations that are based on works obtained from sources (web sites, physical CDs, etc.) that are independent of the recommendations system. In one embodiment, the service identifies pairs of works (and/or work creators) that are similar to each other by virtue of the relatively high frequency with which they co-occur on playlists or within play histories of users. The resulting mappings are used to provide recommendations to users.
US08468045B2
In some embodiments, a software facility performs a method of automated specification of models, estimation of elasticities, and discovery of drivers using the framework(s) discussed elsewhere herein is provided. The facility first obtains the client, business, and/or brand goals in terms of profit optimization, volume or revenue goals, acquisition of new customers, retention of customers, share of wallet and upsell. In conjunction with these goals, the facility obtains cross-section meta-data related to the planning time horizon, markets, geographies, channels of trade and customer segments. In combination, the goals and meta-data define the structure of the data stack and the number of demand generation equations that are needed.
US08468044B2
The present invention is directed to a system, and method for making and using the same, for an on-site evaluation of flooring materials, condition, and value, and further, for providing replacement flooring. The present invention provides an effective and uniform way to more objectively evaluate flooring and/or provide replacement flooring to the benefit of both an insurer and a customer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flooring evaluation system which includes flooring evaluators equipped with a portable apparatus for evaluating flooring which includes an objective evaluation approach using evaluation logic to determine a current monetary market value, or “as new” or pre-use value, which takes into account flooring characteristics, and/or a depreciated value which takes into account loss factors such as wear, appearance, and other degradative considerations. Further, the system of the present invention can include flooring providers which participate in the installation of a selected replacement flooring. The present invention is directed to an interconnected system which includes estimation logic, project management logic and installation logic for managing an insurance claim from start to finish in a just in time fashion.
US08468037B1
Managing risks associated with reinsurance includes: obtaining a plurality of insurance policies, each of the plurality of insurance policies comprising a plurality of coverages; identifying, for each insurance policy in the plurality of insurance policies, a set of coverages that corresponds to a geographical location, a policy level liability, or a covered item; and evaluating, for each identified set of coverages, a corresponding reinsurable risk, the evaluation includes determining a total insured value associated with the corresponding reinsurable risk.
US08468036B2
A data processing system is disclosed that provides an efficient market for financial products in which statistics regarding a plurality of stored data records containing financial product underwriting standards are calculated, stored in a data storage device, then made available to a data processing system participant at a price which is reduced for fees obtained from transactions associated with the data processing system participant in accordance with a predetermined netbacking schedule stored in a netbacking database, and/or based on the data processing system participant providing one or more financial product data records.
US08468030B2
A method and computer program collects hospital patient and administrative information and presents the information to a user via an interactive user interface (34) that includes a plurality of activity windows. The activity windows list patients according to admission to a hospital department (36), scheduled surgical procedures (38), scheduled clinical appointments (40), rounds (44), consults (46), and scheduled catheterization conference (48). A daily schedule activity window (42) lists presents the user's schedule for a given day, and a personal notes activity window (50) presents notes previously submitted by the user. The patient lists can be presented according to service, team, or attending physician. The user can drill down to acquire more detailed information by selecting a patient from a list and requesting the information.
US08468028B2
Some embodiments promote website credibility and the optimization of websites for people by automatedly quantifying various elements of a website into component credibility scores. In some embodiments, a set of encoded credibility scoring rules are used to compute each of the component credibility scores, wherein the credibility scoring rules are derived based on factors that have been identified by a grouping of people that preferably represent a primary demographic of users that consume the content of a particular classified type of website. In some such embodiments, the credibility scoring rules are derived from commonality that is identified from a sample set of known credible and/or non-credible websites of a particular classification. Once the credibility scoring rules are defined, the system applies the rules to other websites having the same classification as those from which the rules are derived to automatically generate credibility scores for the other websites.
US08468023B1
A handsfree device, which is coupled to a data processing device, may be operable to monitor at least one audio stream for occurrence of at least one keyword. Upon recognition of the at least one keyword, the handsfree device may establish a first connection between the handsfree device and the data processing device for launching a voice interface in the data processing device. The handsfree device may send audio data received after the recognition of the at least one keyword to the data processing device, via the first connection for responding to the audio data via the voice interface. During a keyword configuration operation, the handsfree device may send at least one inputted keyword to the data processing device for recording. The handsfree device may receive, via a second connection, the recorded at least one keyword from the data processing device for keyword configuration of the handsfree device.
US08468020B2
An apparatus for synthesizing a speech including a waveform memory that stores a plurality of speech unit waveforms, an information memory that correspondingly stores speech unit information and an address of each of the speech unit waveforms, a selector that selects a speech unit sequence corresponding to the input phoneme sequence by referring to the speech unit information, a speech unit waveform acquisition unit that acquires a speech unit waveform corresponding to each speech unit of the speech unit sequence from the waveform memory by referring to the address, a speech unit concatenation unit that generates the speech by concatenating the speech unit waveform acquired.
US08468015B2
A parameter decoding device performs a parameter compensation process so as to suppress degradation of a main observation quality in a prediction quantization. The parameter decoding device includes first amplifiers which multiply inputted quantization prediction residual vectors by a weighting coefficient. A further amplifier multiplies the preceding frame decoding LSF vector yn−1 by the weighting coefficient. An additional amplifier multiplies the code vector xn+1 outputted from a codebook by the weighting coefficient β0. An adder calculates the total of the vectors outputted from the amplifiers, the further amplifier, and the additional amplifier. A selector switch selects the vector outputted from the adder if the frame erasure coding Bn of the current frame indicates that ‘the n-th frame is an erased frame’ and the frame erasure coding Bn+1 of the next frame indicates that ‘the n+1-th frame is a normal frame’.
US08468014B2
The technology disclosed relates to audio signal processing. It includes a series of modules that individually are useful to solve audio signal processing problems. Among the problems addressed are buzz removal, selecting a pitch candidate among pitch candidates based on local continuity of pitch and regional octave consistency, making small adjustments in pitch, ensuring that a selected pitch is consistent with harmonic peaks, determining whether a given frame or region of frames includes harmonic, voiced signal, extracting harmonics from voice signals and detecting vibrato. One environment in which these modules are useful is transcribing singing or humming into a symbolic melody. Another environment that would usefully employ some of these modules is speech processing. Some of the modules, such as buzz removal, are useful in many other environments as well.
US08468005B2
Mechanisms are provided for controlling a fidelity of a simulation of a computer system. A model of the system is received that has a plurality of components. A representation of the plurality of individual components of the system is generated. A component is assigned to be a fidelity center having a highest possible associated fidelity value. Fidelity values are assigned to each other component in the plurality of individual components based on an affinity of the other component to the fidelity center. The system is simulated based on assigned fidelity values to the components in the plurality of individual components.
US08467998B2
A computer-aided method for predicting particle uptake by a surface of an object moving in a flow current. The method includes preparing a discrete model of the object and the surrounding flow, including a projection area for projecting the particles formed by a mesh of cells with an identical size, and a mesh of cells of the surface. The method also includes simulating the projection of particles with a different size from the projection area on the surface, both the density Di of projected particles and their size distribution being identical for the cell. The method further includes obtaining for each cell of the surface the local uptake efficiency parameter by dividing the density Df of particles impacting against the cell by the density Di of particles projected from the projection area.
US08467997B2
Methods and systems for creating numerically-simulated rigid bodies in finite element analysis are disclosed. At least one rigid finite element in a finite element model is designated for forming one or more numerically-simulated rigid bodies (RBs). Each numerically-simulated RB comprises an arbitrary number of rigid finite elements connecting to one another in an arbitrary shape. Each numerically-simulated RB is created by locating all of the elements embedded in the FEA model through shared node or nodes. A procedure of using element definition as a guide to set up an array of node flags, each node flag for one node such that all numerically-simulated RBs defined in the model can be located efficiently. Once all numerically-simulated RBs have been located, each unique numerically-simulated RB is defined as a unique linked-list of connected rigid finite elements.
US08467996B2
Collecting and analyzing spectral data can be challenging when multiple analysis instruments need to be integrated and monitored by a quality control agent within a laboratory, industrial plant, field operation, or even an aerospace environment. The spectral analysis system and method, as presented, provides improved quality control, process control, and data management through unique feedback mechanisms between all hardware and software components within an analytical environment. Through spectral analysis presented, meaningful information is extracted from a spectral signal and fed back into the spectral analysis system to enhance overall system performance. A centralized database is provided to allow multiple users the opportunity to query the database for historical spectral records that can lead to the generation of meaningful reports. Additional hardware can be adapted to the present spectral analysis system in order to monitor a variety of physical phenomena in addition to monitoring a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
US08467993B2
A method for monitoring a fleet comprising a plurality of measurement tools includes collecting data for a current time interval from the fleet by a data collection module; and performing fleet measurement precision (FMP)/tool matching precision (TMP) analysis on the collected data by a FMP/TMP analysis module, wherein FMP/TMP analysis comprises determining a TMP for each of the plurality of measurement tools using a static and a dynamic benchmark measuring system (BMS); and determining a FMP for the fleet using the static and the dynamic BMS; and determining if the FMP is above a predetermined threshold by a fleet improvement module, and in the event the FMP is above the predetermined threshold, identifying at least one tool of the plurality of tools as poorly performing based on the TMPs; and flagging the identified at least one tool for improvement.
US08467992B1
A system for generating surface data defining a position and location of an object is described. The system includes a non-contact measuring device for measuring the location of one or more points on a surface of an object with respect to the measuring device, an optical imaging device for capturing image information, and a processor. The processor is programmed to use the captured image information to determine location and orientation data for both the measuring device and the optical imaging device with respect to a fixed point in space, receive location measurement data from the measuring device, and combine the location and orientation data with the location measurement data to generate surface data for the object.
US08467986B2
Drive techniques for a digital flowmeter are described. The drive techniques account for delays caused during digital signal processing of sensor signals that correspond to a motion of a flowtube, as well as drive signals that impart motion to the flowtube. Such delays may be caused by a variety of factors, including delays associated with analog/digital conversion of the signals and/or filtering of the signals. The techniques include open-loop techniques and closed-loop techniques, which can be used separately or together during the start-up and operation of the digital flowmeter.
US08467984B2
A system includes an electrochemical cell, monitoring hardware, and a computing system. The monitoring hardware periodically samples charge characteristics of the electrochemical cell. The computing system periodically determines cell information from the charge characteristics of the electrochemical cell. The computing system also periodically adds a first degradation characteristic from the cell information to a first sigmoid expression, periodically adds a second degradation characteristic from the cell information to a second sigmoid expression and combines the first sigmoid expression and the second sigmoid expression to develop or augment a multiple sigmoid model (MSM) of the electrochemical cell. The MSM may be used to estimate a capacity loss of the electrochemical cell at a desired point in time and analyze other characteristics of the electrochemical cell. The first and second degradation characteristics may be loss of active host sites and loss of free lithium for Li-ion cells.
US08467980B2
A system and method may be used to calculate insulin on board (IOB) for an extended bolus being delivered by an insulin infusion pump. In general, the system and method calculates an extended bolus IOB value for the extended bolus, which takes into account the insulin currently on board from the extended bolus and the insulin scheduled to be delivered by the extended bolus over a subsequent time period equivalent to a duration of insulin action. The extended bolus IOB value may be used to calculate a suggested bolus.
US08467977B2
A carbon dioxide (CO2) purity sensor package includes a fiber core, a periodic refractive index modulated fiber grating structure within the fiber core and a fiber cladding. A thermally conductive sensing layer is positioned about a portion of the fiber cladding surrounding the periodic refractive index modulated fiber grating structure. A gas chamber encloses the fiber cladding with the thermally conductive sensing layer.
US08467973B2
Provided in certain embodiments are methods for pairing patient cells and donor cells to prepare cytotoxic T cells. Such cytotoxic T cells could be administered to the patient for treating certain disorders, such as a cancer (for example, brain cancer).
US08467964B2
Mobile platforms exchange their positions in a three-dimensional common reference frame based on data from their respective inertial sensors. The mobile platforms establish the common reference frame, e.g., by contacting each other. The position of each mobile platform is updated in its local reference frame and the position is transformed into a position in the common reference frame. The position in the common reference frame may then be transmitted to the other mobile platform, which can then determine the spatial relationship between the mobile platforms based on the received common reference frame position. Either mobile platform may pass the common reference frame to additional mobile platforms by establishing a new reference frame with a new mobile platform, generating a transformation from the new reference frame to the common reference frame and providing the transformation to the new mobile platform.
US08467952B2
A map generating device constructed to generate a map wherein character rows of a first kind which are disposed near road symbols representing roads selected as a route from a start point to a destination point and which identify buildings and other facilities, for example, are oriented according to respective different directions of movement of the user of the map on the respective roads toward the destination point, so that the character rows of the first kind can be easily read by the user tracing the route while relying on the character rows of the first kind. Also disclosed is a memory medium storing a map generating program which is executed by a computer to generate the map.
US08467948B2
A vehicle target velocity calculator of an omnidirectional moving body converts a manipulated vector which is a manipulated variable of the omnidirectional moving body instructed by an operator by using an operation portion of an operation device to a manipulated vector of the omnidirectional moving body in the relative coordinate system based on an angle difference between the presence direction of the omnidirectional moving body detected by the operation device sensor unit and the presence direction of the operation device detected by the vehicle sensor unit, and determines the target moving velocity vector according to the converted manipulated vector. The wheel velocity command calculator instructs a wheel drive unit to drive the base body according to this target moving velocity vector.
US08467932B2
A vehicle-based complex event processing (CEP) engine executes on at least one hardware computer processor in a first vehicle. The CEP engine receives a first input stream onto which vehicle information related to the first vehicle is published, and applies one or more queries to the first input stream to assess if a vehicle-related event has occurred. If it is determined that the vehicle-related event has occurred, the CEP engine publishes an indication of occurrence of the vehicle-related event on an output stream of the vehicle-based CEP engine, and transmits the indication of occurrence of the vehicle-related event from the first vehicle.
US08467917B2
A method for automatically managing a lateral trajectory upon triggering an emergency descent includes determining a value of lateral offset and generating an offset setpoint by using the value of lateral offset. The generating an offset setpoint includes calculating a sum of the value of lateral offset and any initial value of lateral offset defined between a central axis of a protected sector that the aircraft travels along and an initial lateral trajectory. The offset setpoint is selected to be the smaller of the sum or a lateral offset maximum, which maintains the aircraft within the protected sector at all times. The aircraft is then operated to move the aircraft to the offset setpoint during the emergency descent, which helps avoid further air traffic that may be located at different altitude levels within the same protected sector, especially along the central axis.
US08467906B2
In a data center that cools servers using an airflow from a central fan, rather than individual server fans, the cooling needs for each server are met by creating a sufficient pressure differential across each server. Because the pressure differential is the same for all of the servers, it is desirable to operate the data center such that each server needs the same pressure differential for proper cooling. Accordingly, a load balancer assigns tasks to the servers based on the known cooling needs of each server in order to balance the pressure differential needed to cool the server. This information may also be sent to the central fan to ensure that a sufficient pressure is created by the fan. Determining the cooling needs beforehand avoids spikes in server temperature, thereby enabling the servers to operate safely at a temperature closer to their maximum rated temperatures.
US08467902B2
A method and apparatus for estimating the pose of a mobile robot using a particle filter is provided. The apparatus includes an odometer which detects a variation in the pose of a mobile robot, a feature-processing module which extracts at least one feature from an upward image captured by the mobile robot, and a particle filter module which determines current poses and weights of a plurality of particles by applying the mobile robot pose variation detected by the odometer and the feature extracted by the feature-processing module to previous poses and weights of the particles.
US08467895B2
An operating method is disclosed for a processing system that comprises multiple process modules each adapted to perform substantially the same process upon a substrate. During process module conditioning as a preparatory step for executing a required process recipe, each time one process module completes conditioning, successive transfer of unprocessed substrates from a cassette to the process module is started on an associated substrate transfer route, and successive processes that use the process module are started for the unprocessed substrates. The processing system can be operated efficiently, even if the nonuniformity of the conditioning time required exists between process modules of the same specifications.
US08467887B2
Disclosed is a lighting control system including: a switching means for selecting one of a plurality of scenarios; a gateway for matching at least one of on/off control signals, color temperature control signals, color control signals, or dimming control signals for a plurality of lamps with the plurality of scenarios, storing a resultant data, and outputting control signals matched with the scenario selected from the switching means; and a lighting device for receiving the control signals outputted from the gateway, and according to the received control signals, turning on/off each of the lamps, adjusting a color temperature or a color of each of the lamps, or a dimming level of each of the lamps.
US08467882B2
An IMD may transition to an MRI mode automatically in response to detecting one or more conditions indicative of the presence of a strong magnetic field. Large static magnetic fields, such as those produced by an MRI device, may interact with the blood of a patient as it flows through the magnetic field to produce a voltage, a phenomenon referred to as the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect. The voltage produced by the MHD effect is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field. As such, the voltage produced by blood flow in the strong magnetic field of an MRI device may result in a change in a characteristic of an electrogram (EGM). The IMD may detect the change in the characteristic of the EGM caused by the MHD effect and transition to operation in the MRI mode in response to at least the change in the EGM.
US08467872B2
A medical device includes an energy storage device, a plurality of electrodes, a memory, a switching circuit, and a processing module. The energy storage device stores electrical energy for delivery of defibrillation therapy to a heart. The memory stores N therapy configurations, each of the N therapy configurations defining which of the plurality of electrodes are used to deliver defibrillation therapy and further defining a waveform to be applied during delivery of defibrillation therapy. The switching circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the energy storage device. The processing module is configured to control the switching circuit to deliver defibrillation therapy according to a first therapy configuration, detect a fault during delivery of the defibrillation therapy according to the first therapy configuration, and select a second therapy configuration based on when the fault was detected during delivery of the defibrillation therapy according to the first therapy configuration.
US08467868B1
A method of transdermal drug delivery using drug formulations and other small molecules is described. The drug or other small molecule formulation is applied to the skin of a patient using a radio frequency device. The radio frequency device facilitates the ablation of the stratum corneum allowing the drug or other small molecule to pass to the underlying skin. The drug or small molecule can be contained in hyaluronic acid nanoparticles or suspended in a gel.
US08467860B2
Portable systems and methods for continuous and discontinuous monitoring of a user's heart activity, for obtaining a complete, up to twelve-lead electrocardiogram reading are disclosed. A plurality of wearable wired or wireless sensors obtain raw electrocardiogram data from the user. The raw electrocardiogram data is transmitted to data storage media, which include computer instructions for converting the raw data to a complete, up to twelve-lead electrocardiogram reading. The computer instructions can compare the electrocardiogram to one or more predetermined threshold parameters and/or medical standards. The results of the comparison, the electrocardiogram, the parameters, the raw data, the user's location, or combinations thereof, can be transmitted to one or more destinations, which can include medical facilities, insurance providers, emergency responders, and/or family physicians or specialists. The system is thereby usable both for transmitting alerts during emergency situations, and for routine monitoring and diagnosis.
US08467857B2
The present invention is to provide a hypodermic vein detection imaging apparatus capable of visualizing a vein under the skin. The hypodermic vein detection system according to the present invention comprises a hypodermic vein detection imaging apparatus (10) comprising a dome-shaped holder (12), a plurality of infrared light sources (11) arranged at a uniform interval in a circumferential direction on the inner surface of the dome-shaped holder (12), a motor driving unit (13) for rotating the dome-shaped holder (12), teeth (14) meshing with the motor driving unit and formed on the dome-shaped holder (12), an optical zoom lens (15) positioned at the center of the top of the dome-shaped holder, an infrared transmitting filter (16) for filtering light transmitted through the optical zoom lens (15), a first image detector (17) receiving light filtered by the infrared transmitting filter (16), and an image display device (10) for visualizing digital image information obtained by the first image detector (17).
US08467855B2
Provided is a syringe needle guiding apparatus 4 which creates images of a blood vessel 9 which cannot be directly seen with the naked eyes and of a syringe needle 10 inserted into a body, and which includes a monitor 3 allowing the recognition of the three-dimensional relationship between the blood vessel 9 and the needle 10. In the syringe needle guiding apparatus 4 provided here, the blood vessel 9 is seen through by using near infrared rays and also a part of the needle 10, which cannot be seen through because it is inserted into a body, is reproduced in a form of virtual image. A virtually synthesized image of the blood vessel 9 and the needle 10 is displayed on the monitor 3. Then, a target 88 at which the needle 10 is to be inserted, a direction, a distance 12-A, an angle 12-B of the needle with respect to the blood vessel, and the like are displayed in the synthesized image, so that the positional relationship between the blood vessel and the needle 10 is recognized in a three-dimensional manner.
US08467839B2
An electronic apparatus includes a display panel connected to a body and able to occupy a first and second position with respect to the body, and an input panel connected to the body and able to occupy a first and second position with respect to the body. When the display panel and the input panel both occupy their respective first position, the input panel hides part of the display panel. When the display panel occupies its first position and the input panel occupies its second position, the display panel hides at least part of the input panel. When the display panel occupies its second position, the input panel is movable from its first position to its second position and/or movable from its second position to its first position.
US08467836B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting data in a wireless communication system are disclosed, which transmit uplink data in consideration of mobile station (MS) consumption power such that a UE can be stably operated at a cell edge. A method for transmitting data by a mobile station (MS) of a wireless communication system includes transmitting, if MS power consumption is higher than limitation of power consumption, data to a base station (BS) with power higher than the limitation of power consumption using power supplied from a primary power-supply unit and a storage unit during a first time, and charging the storage unit using the primary power-supply unit during a second time, wherein the limitation of power consumption indicates maximum power amount capable of being normally supplied from the primary power-supply unit.
US08467830B2
A terminal, a computer program product and a method of providing broadcasts thereto by which a single SIM card can receive broadcasts provided by a plurality of broadcast providers in a manner of deactivating a function of receiving broadcasts provided by a first broadcast provider. A function of only receiving a broadcast provided by a first broadcast provider is deactivated, broadcasts of a plurality of broadcast providers in a current area are searched, and information for the searched broadcasts are displayed.
US08467820B2
A push to talk message protocol operating on a communication network between an originating and terminating communication device operates to transmit compressed message formats to initiate the push to talk message protocol. Four compressed session protocol message formats are used in the preferred embodiment. A compressed originating session initiation invite message is transmitted from the originating mobile station. A compressed terminating session initiation invite message is received by the terminating mobile station. A compressed session initiation protocol ping message is transmitted from the originating mobile station and received by the terminating mobile station. A compressed 200 OK session initiation protocol message is transmitted from the terminating mobile station and received by the originating mobile station. Finally, the originating mobile decompresses the 200 OK session initiation protocol message. These compressed messages are used to initiate the push to talk communication session.
US08467814B2
A system, apparatus, and method are directed towards managing short code allocation policies across a plurality of different carriers for multiple applications. Each carrier provides to a centralized routing service a short code policy that includes an extension allocation policy. The extension allocation policy may specify whether the extensions are allocated based on a dynamical recycle allocation, a range recycle allocation, a pass-through allocation, or a re-usekey based allocation policy, or other mechanism. When a message is sent from an application, a carrier is determined to send the message to a destination mobile device. The carrier's short code policy, including the extension allocation policy, is then used to select how to allocate and/or re-allocate a short code and extension for use with the message. The message may then be modified to include the selected short code and extension, and is then sent using the determined network carrier.
US08467813B2
A communication apparatus is provided. A processor is coupled to a transceiver and includes at least a first processor logic unit for initiating a cell selection or a cell reselection procedure to camp on a target cell and obtain a plurality of paging parameters carried in one or more system information messages transmitted by the target cell via the transceiver and a second processor logic unit for monitoring a paging identifier on a downlink control channel via the transceiver to check whether there is any forthcoming paging message before the paging parameters are obtained from the target cell.
US08467812B2
Methods of performing communication among a group of user terminals in a communication network are described herein. The method includes, a first user terminal receiving at least one stream of media data packets, and the first user terminal decoding the received media data packets. Each received media data packet includes a source user terminal indicator indicating a user terminal from which the packet data stream was transmitted; The decoding includes eliminating any media data packets that include a source user terminal indicator indicating the first user terminal before decoding the received media data packets.
US08467809B2
A method and apparatus for collecting and analyzing cellular identification (ID) numbers at various geographic locations to estimate cellular tower locations. The method may include collecting cellular ID numbers obtained by collection mobile devices at a plurality of geographic locations then calculating minimum bounding circles encompassing a set of geographic location points with the same cellular identification numbers. If the cellular ID number of a set of location points indicates that the cellular tower is omni-directional, a center of the minimum bounding circle is an estimated cellular tower location. If the cellular ID number indicates that the cellular tower is multi-sector, the apparatus may calculate the estimated cellular tower location as the location at which lines that extend from the centers of a plurality of related minimum bounding circles intersect with each other to form equal angles.
US08467802B2
A mobile telecommunication and joint resource allocation of a multiple-station and joint group handover. The mobile telecommunication system comprises a utility function processing unit to process a utility function that is a load factor of each cell, a critical set determining unit to determine a critical set based on the utility function, and a resource allocation processing unit to allocate a resource in association with another at least one mobile telecommunication system corresponding to the critical set.
US08467791B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, a communication apparatus and a communication system for handover processing. The method for handover processing includes: when a terminal having a capability of supporting an optimized handover and a non-optimized handover needs to be handed over from a first network to a second network, determining whether the terminal is incapable of performing an optimized handover, if it is determined that the terminal is incapable of performing the optimized handover, performing a non-optimized handover. The embodiments of the present invention further provide a communication apparatus and a communication system accordingly. The technical solutions enable a handover between different networks to be implemented in more scenarios.
US08467790B2
Solving dual errors for user equipment UE checking whether a private cell is allowed when handing over between serving and target cells, where the PLMN and/or EPLMNs list of the serving and target cells may differ. The serving cell may send a one-bit indication that there is a change in a handover command or system information SI6 message after which the UE may or may not refrain from reporting new cells until it performs a registration/location area update in the target cell. The target cell may trigger in the UE a registration update then provide the UE with the PLMN of the target cell. The serving cell can provide the PLMN of the target cell in a SI6 message or handover command, which the UE may use in place of or in addition to the PLMN/EPLMN of the serving cell when checking whether a private/closed subscriber group cell is allowed.
US08467789B2
A mobile communication device includes, in part, a cellular communication module, a first antenna adapted to receive and transmit data between the mobile communication module and a cellular network, a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication module, a second antenna adapted to receive and transmit data between the Wi-Fi communication module and a VoIP network, a signal monitoring circuit, and a switching circuit adapted to switch an existing communication from the cellular communication module to the Wi-Fi communication module or vice versa.
US08467787B2
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for searching for modes and frequencies. The method includes: obtaining signal energy of all frequency grids within a frequency range; obtaining energy of each mode on a smallest bandwidth according to the signal energy of the grids; sorting the energy on the smallest bandwidths of all modes; and accessing a specified number of frequencies and modes of the highest energy in the sorting result. With the present invention, energy on the smallest bandwidths of all modes at a frequency band is obtained and sorted and then an access mode is determined according to the sorting result. Thus the access mode to use for a specified frequency can be quickly determined so as to improve the access success rate of a terminal in the subsequent access process.
US08467785B2
A wireless local area network client device scans for wireless local area networks using a scanning scheme that takes into account the relative prevalence, in a population of access points, of access point deployment on the channels to be scanned. In one aspect, channels on which more access points in the population are deployed are scanned prior to channels on which fewer access points in the population are deployed. In another aspect, channels on which more access points in the population are deployed are scanned more often than channels on which fewer access points in the population are deployed. In yet another aspect, channels on which more access points in the population are deployed are scanned prior to and more often than channels on which fewer access points in the population are deployed.
US08467777B2
A visual voicemail system can convert visual voicemail message content to an alternate format based on the location of the recipient device, whether and how the recipient device is in motion, a priority of the message content, user preferences, or other criteria. Alternately, a recipient wireless device may also convert content to an alternate format based on the similar criteria. Content may be presented automatically to a user on recipient device based on such criteria. Content may be converted from audio to text, text to audio, or from any format to any other format. Location, motion data, user preferences, etc. may be obtained from a location based service system, a recipient wireless device, or any other source.
US08467762B2
According to an embodiment, a frequency converting device is provided with a duty adjusting unit that generates a 1/N local signal, which is a local signal with a duty ratio of 1/N, when N is an integral number not smaller than 3 and an N-th high-frequency component included in the local signal is a target of inhibition. Further, this is provided with a mixer that outputs difference or sum between/of the 1/N local signal and an input signal.
US08467761B2
A disclosed method tunes a signal from a channelized spectrum having a predetermined channel spacing. A signal of interest having a predetermined maximum bandwidth is mixed with a local oscillator signal, which has a frequency that is an integer multiple of the channel spacing or one-half of a channel spacing displaced from an integer multiple of the channel spacing. The local oscillator signal is selected to frequency translate the signal of interest to within a near-baseband passband whose lower edge is spaced from DC by at least about the maximum bandwidth of the signal of interest. Problems associated with 1/f noise, DC offsets, and self-mixing products are avoided or substantially diminished. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08467750B2
Disclosed is a radio frequency (RF) communication circuit having an input for receiving an RF signal and providing independently gain controlled signal paths from the input. In a first signal path, the signal is amplified by a constant gain. In a second signal path, the signal is amplified by a constant gain and by a variable gain amplifier.
US08467746B2
In sending a transmission signal, in particular a mobile radio signal, to a receiver, the transmission signal is processed according to a modulation coding scheme MCS and subjected to amplitude limited to obtain a specified ratio of maximum to average transmission power PAR. A limit value EVM for an error in the transmission signal is matched to transmission conditions for the transmission signal, according to demand, in such a way that a maximum signal to interface ration is achieved at a receiver.
US08467743B2
A device comprises a first antenna and a second antenna. During data transmission, only the first antenna transmits data. During data reception, the second antenna is the main reception antenna and the first antenna operates as a diversity antenna.
US08467727B2
A wireless communication terminal includes a RF receiver circuit and a controller. The RF receiver circuit receives communication signals from another communication terminal through a wireless communication link when the communication signals are within a dynamic range of the RF receiver circuit. The controller controls the RF receiver circuit to temporarily increase the dynamic range of the RF receiver circuit in response to detecting an unexpected loss of the wireless communication link between the other communication terminal and the RF receiver circuit. The controller then controls the RF receiver circuit to decrease the dynamic range of the RF receiver circuit in response to detecting that the wireless communication link between the other communication terminal and the RF receiver circuit has been reestablished.
US08467718B2
For easily and quickly collecting data regarding macroscopic population distribution, and easily and quickly obtaining the survey results, an RNC includes: a location registration signal receiver that receives location registration signals, and a signal number counting module that counts the number of the location registration signals for each sector, and an information analyzing apparatus includes: a population distribution calculation module that calculates population distribution information based on the number of the location registration signals; and an output module that outputs the population distribution information.
US08467717B2
Portable audience measurement architectures and methods for portable audience measurement are disclosed. A disclosed system contains a plurality of portable measurement devices configured to collect audience measurement data from media devices, a plurality of data collection servers configured to collect audience measurement data from the plurality of portable measurement devices, and a central data processing server. A portable measurement device establishes a communication link with a data collection server in a peer-to-peer manner and transfers the collected audience measurement data to the data collection server. Because the portable measurement device is not dedicated to a particular local data collection server, the portable measurement device periodically or a periodically broadcasts a message attempting to find a data collection server with which to establish a communication link.
US08467715B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for just-in-time training in software applications including tracking usage of an application by a user, determining a task the user is attempting to perform based at least in part on the tracked usage, and offering training content to the user based at least in part on the task. The training content is offered substantially when the user is attempting to perform the task.
US08467714B2
A teaching and learning method and system (143, 145, 147, 148, 152) communicates exercises, including URL's of Web pages and questions related thereto. Each exercise is distributed by the teacher's computer (143), synchronously, or downloaded by a student computer (147), asynchronously. An indicator (129) used on the Web page of one computer can be viewed on the same Web page displayed on the other computers. Responses are processed by the response server (145) and by comparison and evaluation logic, and displayed contemporaneously on the teacher's computer, together with scoring information (105, 106) and with URL's (107) associated with links used on each student computer. Scores are awarded automatically, or arbitrarily by clicking on the screen (105) of the teacher's computer. A feedback signal (80) may appear on the student computer with each keystroke to indicate its correctness. Responses selected on the teacher's computer may viewed on the student computers or on a Class Display (171).
US08467705B2
An image forming apparatus has an intermediate transfer belt stretched lightly across rollers to move endlessly in a sub-scanning direction upon image formation and has an outer surface to which a toner image formed by a development unit is transferred. A secondary transfer opposing roller is one of the rollers across which the intermediate transfer belt is stretched. A secondary transfer roller contacts the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt and transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to recording paper. A movement mechanism moves at least one of the rollers or the secondary transfer roller and changes a pressed state of the intermediate transfer belt by the secondary transfer roller at a nip of the secondary transfer opposing roller and the secondary transfer roller. A movement mechanism control unit controls a travel distance of the roller to be moved by the movement mechanism.
US08467702B2
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, and a developing roller for developing a latent image. A development coupling portion is provided that includes a driven portion. The development coupling portion also includes an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion, and to be movable relative to the driven portion while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The development coupling portion still further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion.
US08467700B2
A cartridge is detachably mountable in a receiving area of an image forming apparatus in a first direction. The receiving area is partitioned by partition surfaces opposing each other in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The cartridge includes first and second side surfaces in the opposing direction. In a part of the case, both ends of which are contactable with the partition surfaces, respectively, when mounted in the receiving area, outlines of the first and second side surfaces are provided on or inside first and second circular arcs, respectively, as seen in a second direction orthogonal to the opposing direction and the first direction. Each circular arc has a center, in the part, at corresponding end in the opposing direction and at a most upstream end in a mounting direction, and a radius corresponding to a line segment connecting the both ends in the opposing direction.
US08467693B2
An image forming apparatus which forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum, serving as an image carrier, develops the image using toners of a plurality of colors, and transfers a toner image onto a printing medium in accordance with an electrophotographic process. A toner consumption amount detection unit detects the toner consumption amount of each of the toners of the plurality of colors, a decision unit decides upon a color to form a patch, based on input image data and the detected toner consumption amount of each color, a patch sensor detects the density of a patch of the decided color by generating the patch at a predetermined position on the photosensitive drum serving as an image carrier outside an area to form a color image, and an adjustment unit adjusts the printing density based on the detected patch density.
US08467691B2
An image forming apparatus includes a belt; a plurality of rollers for stretching the belt; a mechanism for generating a force, at an end portion of the belt, in a direction in which lateral deviation of the belt is corrected; a forming device for forming a toner image on the belt; a first sensor capable of detecting a density of the toner image formed on the belt on one end side of the belt; a second sensor capable of detecting the density of the toner image formed on the belt on the other end side of the belt; and a control device for selecting one of the first and second sensors which provides smaller variation in a result of detection when the belt is free from the toner image, and for controlling an image forming condition of the forming device on the basis of a detection result of the density of the toner image by the selected sensor.
US08467686B2
A device for routing an upstream signal from a two-way digital output to an existing hybrid fiber coax network. A first path includes an input for receiving downstream optical signals associated with data and a two-way digital port for communicating the data of the downstream optical signals to a subscriber. A second path includes a hybrid fiber coax input and a two-way hybrid fiber coax port for communicating with the subscriber. A filter is disposed in the first path for routing an upstream signal from the subscriber at the two-way digital port to the second path for forwarding upstream via the hybrid fiber coax input.
US08467682B2
A photonic-based distributed network switch that utilizes multiple photonic broadcast stars and separate optical transmitters to improve overall reliability, allow load balancing, and provide failover for the network switch and the network with which the switch is used.
US08467681B2
An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured to perform a path computation using signal compatibility constraints information for a network element (NE) in a wavelength switched optical network (WSON), wherein the signal constraints information are communicated at a Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) control plane layer and comprise a plurality of signal attributes and a plurality of NE compatibility constraints. A network component comprising a transmitter unit configured to transmit signal compatibility constraints via GMPLS signaling, wherein the signal compatibility constraints define the signal compatibility constraints for a NE in a WSON. A method comprising receiving signal compatibility constraints for a NE in a WSON, performing a path calculation based on the signal compatibility constraints for the NE, and sending signal compatibility constraints associated with a computed path.
US08467678B2
Increasing data rates in next-generation optical networks requires a change in the type of optical modulation used to encode optical signals carried by the optical networks. Different types of optical modulation incur different optical impairments, which may degrade the fidelity of the optical signals by reducing the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR). A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention provides a planning tool for deploying an optical network in a manner based on the optical modulation that reduces the cost and complexity of the deployed network. In one embodiment, the disclosed planning tool may adjust a model of the optical network to be deployed by changing the topology and/or the number and/or type of optical network elements in response to optical impairments for a given optical modulation.
US08467660B2
A video tagging system allows users to actively interact with video content. The video staging system includes a server hosting a website providing users with an interface through which users may interact with the video tagging system. The video staging system also includes a tag information database maintaining information regarding tags created by users. The interface includes a video player upon which video content is displayed as a video and a tag display presenting tags associated with the video. The video content and the information regarding tags are maintained separately.
US08467656B2
In an embodiment, a PATS counter synchronized with an SCR superposed on an MPEG-TS is used. When recording the MPEG-TS, a pair of the value of time stamp information (PTS/DTS) of a previously detected picture and the value of the PATS counter are stored (ST500-ST510). When detecting the next time stamp information, an increase in the time stamp information is compared with an increase in the PATS counter (ST512-ST526). If the significant difference is exhibited (YES in ST600), it is determined that an error is found in the time stamp information value, and a recording process is performed (ST530).
US08467654B2
A modular connector assembly is provided that has both an electrical coupling configuration that complies with the RJ-45 wiring standard and an optical coupling configuration that provides the assembly with optical communications capabilities. In addition, the modular connector assembly is configured to have backwards compatibility with existing 8P8C jacks and plugs that implement the RJ-45 wiring standard. Consequently, the modular connector assembly may be used to communicate optical data signals at higher data rates (e.g., 10 Gb/s and higher) or to communicate electrical data signals at lower data rates (e.g., 1 Gb/s).
US08467648B2
Various embodiments of optical fiber designs and fabrication processes for ultra small core fibers (USCF) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the USCF includes a core that is at least partially surrounded by a region comprising first features. The USCF further includes a second region at least partially surrounding the first region. The second region includes second features. In an embodiment, the first features are smaller than the second features, and the second features have a filling fraction greater than about 90 percent. The first features and/or the second features may include air holes. Embodiments of the USCF may provide dispersion tailoring. Embodiments of the USCF may be used with nonlinear optical devices configured to provide, for example, a frequency comb or a supercontinuum.
US08467645B2
An assembly of fiber optic elements includes at least two subunits, each of which has at least one fiber optic unit and a flat binder wrapped over the subunits into an arrangement. The at least two subunits are stranded in a S-Z arrangement at a first lay length and the binder is stranded over the subunits in a uni-directional helical lay at a second lay length. The payoff tension and the first lay length of the subunits, combined with a payoff tension and the second lay length of the binder are simultaneously sufficient to hold the subunits within the arrangement, while being loose enough to allow a single subunit to be removed without destroying the arrangement.
US08467637B2
In a waveguide path coupling-type photodiode, a semiconductor light absorbing layer and an optical waveguide path core are adjacently arranged. An electrode formed of at least one layer is installed in a boundary part of the semiconductor light absorbing layer and the optical waveguide path core. The electrodes are arranged at an interval of (1/100)λ to λ [λ: wavelength of light transmitted through optical waveguide path core]. At least a part of the electrodes is embedded in the semiconductor light absorbing layer. Embedding depth from a surface of the semiconductor light absorbing layer is a value not more than λ/(2 ns) [ns: refractive index of semiconductor light absorbing layer]. At least one layer of the electrode is constituted of a material which can surface plasmon-induced.
US08467636B2
A vital sign measurement device includes a sensor fixation device, a sensor frame, an optical sensing system, and an output unit. The sensor fixation device is adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject. The optical sensing system includes an optical waveguide, an optical source device to supply optical energy to the optical waveguide, and an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide. The optical sensing system is adapted to sense an arterial pulse from the compression or flexing of at least a portion of the optical waveguide resulting in reduction of the amount of light exiting the optical waveguide. The output unit is configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of light exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the vital sign based at least in part on the received signal.
US08467632B2
During operation of an electro-absorption modulator, an optical signal is conveyed, using an optical waveguide in the electro-absorption modulator, to a semiconductor layer that substantially fills a gap between two portions of the optical waveguide. Then, the optical signal is electro-absorption modulated by selectively applying a voltage to electrodes that produces an electric field, approximately perpendicular to the midline of the optical waveguide, in the semiconductor layer. These electrodes are coupled to the edges of the semiconductor layer at the periphery along the width of the semiconductor layer by intervening layers. Furthermore, the intervening layers include a material that has a lower index of refraction than the semiconductor layer, and a lower optical absorption than the electrodes.
US08467627B2
A method and apparatus for image processing includes detecting a face area in an input image, detecting an eye in the detected face area, determining a center point based on the detected eye, and performing warp processing on the input image based on the center point. Accordingly, it is not necessary to manually set areas for the warp processing.
US08467626B2
One particular automatic parameter estimation method and apparatus estimates low level filtering parameters from one or more user controlled high-level filtering parameters. The high level filtering parameters are strength and quality, where strength indicates how much noise reduction will be performed, and quality indicates a tolerance which controls the balance between filtering uniformity and loss of detail. The low level filtering parameters that can be estimated include the spatial neighborhood and/or temporal neighborhood size from which pixel candidates are selected, and thresholds used to verify the “goodness” of the spatially or temporally predicted candidate pixels. More generally, a criterion for filtering digital image data is accessed, and a value is determined for a parameter for use in filtering digital image data, the value being determined based on whether the value results in the criterion being satisfied for at least a portion of a digital image.
US08467623B2
Systems and methods for processing image signals are described. One method comprises obtaining a generator signal based on an image signal and determining relative latencies associated with two or more pulses in a pulsed signal using a function of the generator signal that can comprise a logarithmic function. The function of the generator signal can be the absolute value of its argument. Information can be encoded in the pattern of relative latencies. Latencies can be determined using a scaling parameter that is calculated from a history of the image signal. The pulsed signal is typically received from a plurality of channels and the scaling parameter corresponds to at least one of the channels. The scaling parameter may be adaptively calculated such that the latency of the next pulse falls within one or more of a desired interval and an optimal interval.
US08467622B2
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining first and second motion vectors and a reference picture index of a block other than the current block. First and second prediction motion vectors of the current block are determined using the first and second motion vectors of the other block such that the first prediction motion vector of the current block has the obtained direction of the first motion vector of the other block and the second prediction motion vector of the current block has the obtained direction of the second motion vector of the other block.
US08467620B2
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining first and second motion vectors of a block other than the current block. The other block neighbors the current block at one of a left, top and top right position. First and second motion vectors of the current block are determined using the first and second motion vectors of the other block such that the first motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the first motion vector of the other block and the second motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the second motion vector of the other block.
US08467606B2
A method for segmenting a composite image containing a plurality of individual images, comprising: locating line segments corresponding to edges in a composite image; defining a plurality of candidate rectangles by identifying sets of four line segments having a first pair of line segments that are parallel to and a second pair of line segments that are perpendicular to the first pair of line segments; identifying image regions that are more than a predefined isolation distance from any of the line segments; identifying a set of enclosing rectangles from among the candidate rectangles for each of the identified image regions; selecting a rectangle for each of the identified image regions from the corresponding set of enclosing rectangles by applying geometric constraints; forming a plurality of sub-images from the composite image by extracting the digital image data corresponding to the selected rectangles; and; and storing the sub-images in a processor-accessible memory.
US08467601B2
A method for creating a plurality of layer images from an input image is provided. The method includes analyzing an input image for color content to detect at least one dominant color in the image and for shape recognition to detect at least one object in the image. The method also includes generating a concentric grid for the input image based on the color content analysis and the shape recognition for a depth calculation of the input image. The concentric grid includes a center point, a plurality of lines that radiate from the center point, and a plurality of concentric circles that expand at a spatial distance in the input image. The concentric circles divide the input image into a plurality of sections, each of which represents an equal spatial depth. The method further includes generating a plurality of layer images using at least two of the plurality of sections.
US08467600B2
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.
US08467599B2
A method and apparatus for processing image data is provided. The method includes the steps of employing a main processing network for classifying one or more features of the image data, employing a monitor processing network for determining one or more confusing classifications of the image data, and spawning a specialist processing network to process image data associated with the one or more confusing classifications.
US08467595B2
A system is provided that realizes both reduction in coordinate error and improvement in throughput and allows observation of a micro-defect. The system includes: a function of measuring an amount of displacement between preliminarily calculated coordinates and an actual specimen position; a function of optimizing a coordinate correction formula so as to minimize the amount of displacement from the measured amount of displacement; and a function of calculating variation of displacement between the preliminarily calculated coordinates and the actual specimen position by statistical processing. When a value of coordinate variation is sufficiently small with respect to the field of view of an image for observation, which is to be a defect observation image, the system acquires only the image for observation without performing acquisition of an image for search, which is to be a defect search image.
US08467593B2
A computerized system, method, and computer-readable media implementing a method for determining a weight of a product, and optionally its shipping weight and postage are described. A product having a variable shape in two dimensions wherein the shape is defined in the two dimensions by a set of cutlines is manufactured from a product blank of known weight. The weight of the product is determined from the number of pixels in a scaled image of the cutlines, the image having the same aspect ratio as the product blank. The weight of the product blank and the ratio of the pixels to corresponding to product surface area relative to the total number of pixels in the image are used to calculated the actual weight of the product.
US08467584B2
A method for obtaining nuclear medical images of a patient in which one or more first images are obtained. The one or more first images can be used to identify one or more regions of interest for subsequent images that focus on the regions of interest. The process can occur iteratively until it is determined, either by a physician or a computer program that sufficient images have been obtained to identify lesions or other pathology within a reasonable level of confidence.
US08467583B2
A computerized method and system for detection and quantification of changes in color on skin or internal tissue or organs within the human body. Digital images of the skin or tissue containing an area of interest are analyzed using the software of the invention, based on at least one channel of the LAB color system. The invention calculates the intensity and distribution of color present within the predetermined area of interest, and results in display of at least one color information attribute. The invention allows color calibration of the image to be performed in relation to a reference label having predetermined colors which surrounds the area of interest, prior to the analysis. The invention allows a threshold analysis to be performed, which graphically depicts the size and location of areas exhibiting significant change in color, which is a determinant factor in medical diagnosis.
US08467579B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for estimating a distance and a position between a photographing unit and a predetermined object based on an image of the photographing unit using a single camera. An apparatus for estimating a distance of an object based on a single camera image includes: a region detector detecting an object region box including the predetermined object in an image photographed by a photographing unit; a distance estimator measuring the size of the detected object region box and estimating a distance between the predetermined object and the photographing unit on the basis of an interpolating function interpolating the relationship of the size of the object region box and distances up to the photographing unit and the predetermined object; and a position estimator generating object position information estimating the position of the predetermined object.
US08467568B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed recognizing gestures. A sequence of images is captured by a camera and compared to a stored sequence of images in memory. A gesture is then recognized in the stored sequence of images.
US08467556B2
A modular canal hearing aid assembly having a main module positioned in the ear canal and a disposable battery module laterally positioned in the ear canal. The main module incorporates the durable components of a hearing device including the receiver, microphone and electronics. The disposable battery module comprises consumable elements including battery and incoming sound port. The disposable battery module provides a unitary structure that is easier to handle, remove from the main module, and replace when any of the consumable elements is depleted or degraded. The canal hearing device assembly is generic in shape and provided with assorted seal tips for “instant fitting” without resorting to custom manufacturing.
US08467549B2
An audio information processing apparatus for processing input audio information is adapted to input an audio signal composed of front area audio information that should be input to a front speaker and rear area audio information that should be input to a plurality of speakers. A mixer is adapted to mix the rear area audio information in accordance with an instruction from an instruction circuit.
US08467536B2
A key message can include a key-encryption-key (KEK) associated with a KeyDomainID and a KeyGroupID. A session description message can describe streaming media initialization parameters containing media stream information for one or more media streams. For each media stream, the media stream information can include an IP address and a data port. The session description message can further contain a linkage for binding the KEK to a corresponding one of the media streams. The linkage can include the KeyDomainID and KeyGroupID or can include an abstract representation of the KeyDomainID and KeyGroupID. During session initialization, the key-encryption-key (KEK) can be bound to the media streams using the linkage of the session description message. Each of the media streams can be secured using a traffic key conveyed to user equipment (UE) under protection of the key-encryption-key (KEK).
US08467524B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media for presenting a mute indicator to a caller when the caller is attempting to provide input to a call that has been muted. In particular, a determination is made that a mute function is engaged during a call. An area surrounding a calling system, such as a phone, is then monitored by a monitoring system to determine whether a caller is attempting to provide input to the call. A determination is then made that a caller is attempting to provide input to the call. The determination may be based on a caller providing a threshold volume of voice input within a threshold area of proximity near the calling system. A mute indicator is then presented to the caller to notify the caller that the call has a mute function engaged.
US08467499B2
A multi-leaf collimator for a radiotherapy apparatus comprises a plurality of elongate leaves mounted in a carriage, the carriage being mounted on a substrate, wherein the leaves are independently moveable relative to the carriage in a longitudinal direction, and the carriage is moveable in that direction relative to the substrate, and a control apparatus is arranged to receive a signal representing leaf positions relative to the substrate and to control the leaf positions relative to the carriage and the carriage positions relative to the substrate so as to achieve those leaf positions relative to the substrate. Most MLCs sense the current positions of the leaves relative to the substrate. The control apparatus can therefore compare the current leaf positions to the signaled leaf positions, and move the leaves and the carriage accordingly. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
US08467497B2
A system and method of optimizing delivery of a radiation therapy treatment. The system optimizes treatment delivery in real-time to take into account a variety of factors, such as patient anatomical and physiological changes (e.g., respiration and other movement, etc.), and machine configuration changes (e.g., beam output factors, couch error, leaf error, etc.).
US08467494B2
An imaging system includes a radiation source (110) with an anode (202). The radiation source (110) rotates around an examination region (106) about a longitudinal axis (108) and emits radiation from a focal spot (206) on the anode (202). A source collimator (112) collimates the emitted radiation to produce a generally conically shaped radiation beam that traverses the examination region. The generally conically shaped radiation beam has an extended cone angle along the longitudinal axis that is greater than an effective maximum cone angle determined by an anode angle of the anode (202). A detector array (116) detects radiation that traverses the examination region and generates signals indicative thereof. A reconstructor (118) reconstructs the signals to generate volumetric image data indicative of the examination region.
US08467487B2
Provided is a network synchronization method and apparatus for performing a time synchronization between nodes. When a system starts up and the time synchronization between the nodes is initiated, the network synchronization method and apparatus may enhance jitter, wander, and a time synchronization performance by gradually increasing a window size for a propagation time measurement. When a full window of propagation time measurements is collected, the network synchronization method and apparatus may enhance jitter, wander, and the time synchronization performance by applying an exponential to a computation of an average propagation time value.
US08467486B2
A system includes a memory controller and a plurality of memory devices that are connected in-series to the memory controller. The system operation is synchronous with clock that is provided in a fashion of source synchronous clock structure. The source synchronous clock structure includes a PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) that reshapes an incoming clock and a reshaped clock is provided. The PLL provides a shifted clock in phase of 90°. The phase-shifted clock and data are transmitted from the first device to the second device. Clock phase shift provides a center-edge clock with data to be transmitted. The devices are assigned with unique IDs. The least significant bit of the ID number of the last device is used for determination of clock alignment: edge- or center-aligned clock with data produced by the memory controller.
US08467482B2
A method for identifying a transmitter in a digital broadcasting system includes: receiving a broadcast signal in which a TxID sequence for identification of a transmitter is embedded; correlating the received broadcast signal with a plurality of elementary code sequences of a pseudo-random sequence sequentially; and identifying the transmitter by using the correlation results.
US08467480B2
Decision metrics used to decode wireless communication payloads are combined for successive frames to improve decoding of the later received frames. A bitwise payload difference between successive frames is encoded in the same manner the payloads are encoded. Decision metrics determined for the earlier received frame are combined with the encoded payload difference to generate adjusted decision metrics. The adjusted decision metrics are combined with decision metrics determined for the later received frame. The combined decision metrics are decoded to generate a payload for the later received frame. If the decoding is not successful the combined decision metrics are carried forward and the process is repeated based on the payload difference between the following frames.
US08467469B2
An apparatus and method for a precoding matrix are disclosed. A codebook used for selecting a precoding matrix is comprised of m subgroups each including n precoding matrices. A user equipment indicates a specific precoding matrix selected from the codebook by transmitting to a base station a first codebook index indicating one of the m subgroups and a second codebook index indicating one of n precoding matrices in a subgroup. The base station configures the specific precoding matrix from the codebook based on the first and second codebook indexes.
US08467457B2
The present invention provides controllers, systems and methods that apply techniques for determining signal sequence characteristics that propagate through a sequence of buffers. One of the buffers represents buffering characteristics of a network through which the signal sequence propagates. The signal sequence may include packets of a media stream and the network may include a wireless network.
US08467449B2
Context-adaptive variable length coding (CAVLC) for scalable video coding (SVC) coarse granular scalability (CGS) enhancement layer coding that utilizes the number of coefficients larger than one (NLrg1) as a syntax element. The coding of coeff_token is based on TotalCoeff and NLrg1 values. Levels are adaptively encoded based on NLrg1 syntax element total_zeros is encoded by adaptively selecting VLC tables based on an estimated number of a neighboring blocks' total_zeros.
US08467448B2
A fast video encoder (100) and method (500) for selecting (809) Inter macro-block mode or intra macro-block mode is provided. The method can include estimating (502) a rate-distortion cost (801) of a plurality of predictors (203) for coding a video (201), selecting (504) a predictive coding mode for the video based on a minimization of the rate-distortion cost, and coding (505) the image using a predictive mode associated with the minimum rate-distortion cost. The rate-distortion cost can be estimated across Intra macro-block modes and Inter macro-block modes for reducing a computational complexity. Rate-Distortion costs can be terminated early (524) based on statistical information (522) across a plurality of predictors for increasing an encoding speed. A fast estimation of the rate-distortion cost associated with the Intra macro-block mode for making inter/intra macro-block mode decision in a video coding system by exploiting the coding statistics across prediction modes is presented.
US08467444B2
An information processing system for performing processing of dividing a moving image into tiles and packetizing and outputting information corresponding to each tile includes a process time measuring packet generation unit adapted to generate and transmit a process time measuring packet in which a packet sending time is set to measure a packet process time, a packet process time measuring unit adapted to measure, based on the packet sending time set in the process time measuring packet and the reception time of the process time measuring packet, the packet process time necessary for processing a packet, a determination unit adapted to determine, based on the packet process time, the timestamp of the moving image divided into the tiles, and a packetization unit adapted to execute processing of packetizing and outputting the timestamp and the information of the moving image divided into the tiles.
US08467439B2
At a node of a wireless network, equalization operations performed on signals received from a transmitter are adaptively switched to be equalized by an iterative turbo receiver or a linear receiver. A theoretical expression of a post-equalization SINR of a capacity-achieving receiver is used to estimate the post-equalization SINR performance of the turbo receiver. The estimated post-equalization SINR performance is then used as a basis to determine whether the received signal is to be equalized by the turbo receiver or the linear receiver.
US08467436B1
A method to look at the incoming received data on a SerDes link while running in normal operation without requiring a second receive path or any defined or repeated data patterns to be able to generate statistical eye plots both before and after any internal equalization; generate trajectory eye plots both before and after any internal equalization; estimate TED characteristics (hence also estimate SJ jitter tolerance of the link); estimate complete Channel Impulse Response (hence also estimate the S-parameters of the complete channel); and estimate the decomposed jitter of the complete channel.
US08467426B2
A system and method for cooling an optical fiber includes a flexible heat sink member, a heat pipe evaporator, and a thermal storage medium. The flexible heat sink member is in thermal contact with the optical fiber. The heat pipe evaporator is configured to dissipate heat from the optical fiber. The thermal storage medium is in thermal contact with the flexible heat sink member and the heat pipe evaporator. The flexible heat sink member is configured to compensate for any mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion between material of the optical fiber and material of the flexible heat sink member so as to provide radial compliance and to maintain direct thermal contact between the optical fiber and the flexible heat sink member.
US08467419B2
The present invention is a system and method for enabling multicast synchronization of initially unicasted content. Multiple unicast streams are synchronized in order to convert the unicast streams into a multicast stream. Each unicast stream may be accelerated or slowed down in relation to a reference stream to a common point within each stream upon which the unicast streams are replaced by a multicast stream of the same content.
US08467407B2
A system for controlling a contention state for a communication link between a base station controller and customer premises equipment in point-to-multipoint communication. The contention state is controlled using a state machine, which includes a grant pending absent state in which a unicast request slot is maintained open for use by the customer premises equipment. During the grant pending absent state, the customer premises equipment sends no upstream data to the base station controller but can use the unicast request slot to request a data slot for sending upstream data to the base station controller. In the grant pending state, the customer premises equipment preferably uses piggybacking to request grant of a next data slot while sending upstream data to the base station controller.
US08467390B2
In general, the invention relates to a method for sending a packet from an application to a destination. The method includes opening a network connection between the application and the destination, tuning at least one layer in a network stack, based on application information associated with the application, to obtain a tuned network stack, wherein the network stack is associated with the network connection, receiving the packet from the application, processing the packet using the tuned network stack to obtain a processed packet, and sending the processed packet to the destination, wherein the processed packet is received by the destination.
US08467388B2
A multicast replicating network node (203) according to the present invention reports to a traffic scheduling network node (205) information (231) indicative for the bandwidth consumed by multicast services or indicative for the bandwidth available for unicast services on a line coupled to the multicast replicating network node (203). The traffic scheduling network node (205) this way stays aware of the multicast bandwidth occupancy on different subscriber lines and access node uplinks without serious impact on its processing requirements.
US08467379B2
There is discussed a method of selecting an access domain for receiving a speech and/or video call at a mobile station of a mobile communications network in which calls are routed via a central service control common to a plurality of access domains. The method comprises the central service control transmitting an invite to establish a call to the terminating mobile station; the mobile station deciding on an access domain for receiving the call taking into account the capabilities of the local access network, and transmitting the selected access domain to the central service control; and establishing the call in accordance with the selected access domain.
US08467364B2
A system for transmitting data directly between a plurality of client network devices in a network having an Access Point (“AP”) device separate from the plurality of client network devices is disclosed. The system may include a first client network device having a first client (“STA”) module and a second client network device of the plurality of client network devices.
US08467358B2
A Mobile Agent (MA), a Radio Access Network (RAN), and a network adaptation method are disclosed herein. The MA is connected to an access layer of an air interface protocol stack for a first network and an access layer of a Core Network (CN) interface protocol stack for a second network to adapt and forward signaling messages and data sent by a Mobile Station (MS) of the first network and a CN of the second network. In the network evolution process, the MA achieves backward compatibility of the MS and the network, and enables smooth evolution.
US08467355B2
A wireless local area network (WLAN) system is provided. The system comprises a WLAN network controller and a plurality of access points. The WLAN network controller is in communication with each of the plurality of access points via a transport data network. The WLAN network controller is configured to perform one or more network control functions for the benefit of the plurality of access points. The network control functions may be selected from management and operation, client authentication, mobility, and per-user administration. The WLAN network controller is remotely located and operated with respect to the plurality of access points.
US08467354B1
Systems and methods for providing configurable, reusable software-implemented telephony devices for use in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system. A device platform data store associates account owners with information identifying at least one instance of a telephony device provided on behalf of the account owner. The instances are implemented via a computer program component which comprises (a) reusable device logic (in a CCXML document) defining the behavior of the telephony device and (b) configuration information (also in a CCXML document) comprising specific device properties for the telephony device. In response to an incoming communication, a processor accesses the device platform data store to identify the device logic of a telephony device that is to be activated, and (b) executes the device logic in accordance with the configuration information to provide the specific telephony function of the telephony device for a communication session on behalf of the account owner.
US08467349B2
Methods, apparatus, systems and computer program products are defined that provide for in-order deliver of data packets during hand-off. The aspects provide for in-order delivery at Forward Link Serving eBS/Data Attachment Point (FLSE/DAP) switch and Reverse Link Serving eBS/Data Attachment Point (RLSE/DAP) switch. As such, present aspects provide for significant improvement in the throughput of applications, such as applications relying on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), during handoff, in such networks as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and the like.
US08467341B2
A method for efficiently transmitting and receiving a control channel and/or a data channel in a radio communication system using multiple carriers is described. The embodiments of the present invention provide various multi-carrier system structures and various methods for setting a reference carrier in a multi-carrier system. The embodiments of the present invention also provide methods for efficiently transmitting control channels using a coordination field.
US08467340B2
Techniques to transmit data on a number of transmission channels in a multi-channel communication system using multiple transmission schemes requiring less channel-state information (CSI). These schemes may include a partial-CSI transmission scheme that transmits a single data stream on each transmit antenna selected for use and a “beam-forming” transmission scheme that allocates all transmit power to a single transmission channel having the best performance. Each transmission scheme may provide good or near-optimum performance for a specific range of operating conditions (or operating SNRs). These multiple transmission schemes may then be combined in a piece-wise fashion to form a “multi-mode” transmission scheme that covers the full range of operating conditions supported by the MIMO system. The specific transmission scheme to be used for data transmission at any given moment would then be dependent on the specific operating condition experienced by the system at that moment.
US08467339B2
The present invention provides a cooperative multi-cell transmission method that can be utilized to implement cooperative transmission in a virtual cell. Sectors composing the virtual cell are real cells and/or full sectors in real cells, any sector among the sectors composing the virtual cell is physically located adjacent to at least one of the other sectors, and each sector of the virtual cell corresponds to a real transmitting node respectively. The method includes: acquiring channel state information between any user and at least one of real transmitting nodes by a main information processing node; performing user scheduling and real transmitting node scheduling based on the channel state information by the main information processing node; and cooperatively transmitting data of one or more scheduled users based on the channel state information by one or more scheduled real transmitting nodes. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention reduces the interference and enhances the system spectral efficiency.
US08467338B2
A method of scheduling wireless communication for one or more data flows, wherein, for each data flow, there is: a corresponding queue to store data of that data flow; one or more quality-of-service parameters associated with that data flow; and a flow type associated with that data flow, there being a plurality of possible flow types; wherein the method comprises, during each time frame of a sequence of time frames, the steps of: maintaining, for each of the plurality of possible flow types, a queue list that identifies the queues corresponding to data flows of that flow type; and processing the queue lists in a predetermined order, in which processing a queue list comprises, for each queue identified in that queue list, attempting to schedule the communication of data stored on that queue during a current time frame in dependence upon the one or more quality-of-service parameters associated with the corresponding data flow and an amount of bandwidth available for the wireless communication during the current time frame.
US08467329B2
A method of receiving system information performed by a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes receiving, from a network, an indicator indicating a change of system information related to a point-to-multipoint service on a physical control channel, and receiving changed system information related to the point-to-multipoint service in response to the indication.
US08467320B2
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) devices are invited to a conference bridge based on a pre-defined criteria for the conference bridge (e.g., passengers on a plane. The conference invite messages are transmitted using Internet Protocol, which they may or may not accept. The invited VoIP users may be determined based on their physical proximity to the initial caller and other pre-determined characteristics. A VoIP soft switch includes conference bridges that eliminate the conventional requirement that they dial the phone number of another specific VoIP communications device. Instead, location information relating to the initial VoIP user is passed to the VoIP conference bridge, either from the user's VoIP communication device or from their respective location server. Location and other information is then compared by the VoIP soft switch against other VoIP devices, to find potential VoIP conference participants.
US08467318B2
An approach is provided for transferring in-progress communication between communication devices. A transfer code is received from a target terminal of a user. An in-progress call is detected between a first terminal and a second terminal, where the first terminal is associated with the user, and the second terminal is associated with another user. Transfer of the in-progress call from the first terminal to the target terminal is initiated in response to the received transfer code.
US08467316B1
In general, techniques are described for enhanced learning in layer two (L2) networks. A first network device of the intermediate network comprising a control unit and an interface may implement these techniques. The control unit executes a loop-prevention protocol (LPP) that determines a bridge identifier associated with a second network device of the intermediate network, where the first and second network devices each couple to a first network. The LPP selects the second network device as a root bridge and detects a topology change that splits the first network into sub-networks. The interface then outputs a message to direct remaining network devices of the intermediate network to clear L2 address information learned when forwarding L2 communications. The message includes the bridge identifier determined by the loop-prevention protocol as the root bridge and directs these remaining network devices to clear only the L2 addresses learned from this bridge identifier.
US08467315B2
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for implementing a K-shortest paths algorithm in a condition of multiple sides between adjacent nodes. The implementing method comprises: recording original topology information into a topology structure; adding one virtual node into each of the original sides other than the one with the shortest weight between the two nodes respectively to divide each of the original sides except for the original side with the shortest weight into two new sides, a weight of the new side being obtained by splitting a weight of the original edge where the new side locates; according to new topology information after adding virtual nodes, calculating K-shortest paths between designated nodes; and checking each path in the calculated K-shortest paths in sequence: reinstituting hops which belong to virtual nodes and new sides in each path into the original topology information recoded in said topology structure.
US08467314B2
A protocol governing the operation of an ad-hoc WLAN enables each device in the WLAN to be configured as a registrar and/or an enrollee. Accordingly, each device is configurable to support both the registrar as well as enrollee modes of operations. In response to a time-driven user action, the device may be configured to enter into a registrar mode or an enrollee mode. While in the registrar mode, the device enters into an aggressive beaconing phase by setting its beacon contention window to a relatively very small value. The aggressive beaconing increases the probability of the discovery of the registrar by the enrollees. Optionally the device may prompt the user to select between a registrar and an enrollee mode of operation by displaying the option on an LCD panel.
US08467311B2
Certain aspects of a method and system for avoiding flooding of packets in switches may include a network comprising a plurality of switches interconnected to one or more hosts. One of the plurality of switches may communicate a discovery request to the one or more hosts to determine a MAC address of the one or more hosts. One of the plurality of switches may receive a discovery response from the one or more hosts in response to the communicated discovery request. One of the plurality of switches may update their L2 databases with the MAC addresses of the one or more hosts based on the received discovery response. If the MAC address of a destination host is listed in the L2 database, a switch may communicate a received packet to the destination host using one or more other switches based on the MAC address in the L2 database.
US08467306B2
An Internet protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) gateway application server includes an originating application server module adapted to invoke call control services in response to requests initiated by a voice over Internet Protocol (IP) (VoIP) client associated with a communication device such as an IP telephone. Disclosed gateway application servers include a proxy server module adapted to notify the communication client of session control messages intended for the communication device.
US08467301B2
Router misconfiguration diagnosis is disclosed. A notification of a routing failure between a first node and a second node is received. A first interface associated with the first node is identified, and a second interface associated with the second node is identified. A first management information value and a second management information value, specific to a routing protocol, are determined. Matching status is determined between the first and second management information values. A diagnostic message is generated responsive to the notification.
US08467298B2
A method provides load distribution that selects one of a set equal cost paths for each flow that minimizes imbalance in the distribution of flows across the set of equal cost paths. The method includes calculating the set of equal cost paths to each destination node, generating a set of next hop discriminators, each next hop discriminator to uniquely identify one of the equal cost next hops, populating the load distribution table by storing, according to a distribution mechanism, in each load distribution table entry one of the next hop discriminators from the set of next hop discriminators, receiving a first PDU from a first flow and performing a lookup of one of the next hop discriminators in the load distribution table by using values at the bit locations of the first PDU directly as an index into a CAM.
US08467290B2
Network elements in IMS or other SIP systems are configured to pre-authenticate SIP requests either as proxy or by snooping. One or more of these network elements are pre-loaded with a local database copy of the user profiles as typically contained in the HSS inside of the IMS control structures. A master database, such as the one typically contained in the HSS, is distributed to all network elements using database distribution methods. Advantageously, pre-authentication solves bottleneck issues in the SIP mechanism by allowing an end user device to use fully authenticated SIP requests. This prevents the requirement to perform authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) all the way back to the core IMS network, alleviating lag and scaling issues. Additionally, network elements including can become aware of the services requested through SIP requests, and track these requests for optimization. Specifically, resources requested based upon SIP requests can be cached.
US08467288B2
An intermediate node apparatus in a first path including a start node apparatus, an end node apparatus, intermediate node apparatuses, and links between these node apparatuses, including a failure notification message transmission unit transmitting a failure notification message to the start node apparatus, when it is detected that a level of deterioration in transmission quality of a link among the links included in the first path is equal to or higher than a first threshold, and backup path setting device that receives a path setting message for setting a second path from the start node and sets the second path.
US08467284B2
Systems and methods for a scalable architecture for radio device and systems are disclosed. This architecture employs a scalable bandwidth to deliver higher data rates and transmission ranges to devices that need them, while still delivering lower power solutions for devices which utilize a smaller bandwidth. These systems and methods may divide the available frequency spectrum into a set of fundamental sub-bands. Different devices may use various multiples of these sub-bands depending on their needs. Devices employing this architecture are also capable of interoperation with one another regardless of the bandwidth they utilize. A device may scan through each sub-band within which the device intends to operate, searching for a common beacon transmitted by other devices utilizing the sub-band. If a beacon is found the device can choose to interoperate with the other device or, alternatively, continue scanning the sub-bands until an unused sub-band is found.
US08467280B2
A controller of an optical storage apparatus for generating a plurality of control signals is provided. The controller includes a code generator implemented for determining a plurality of control codes according to an input data associated with data recording, and generating the control signals to deliver the control codes. Each of the control codes represents one power level. Besides, regarding each of the control signals, a minimum transmission pulse length thereof corresponds to more than one power symbol period.
US08467276B2
An information recording and reproduction apparatus has a magnetic recording medium, a light source that outputs a light beam to heat the medium, and a near-field light head confronting a surface of the medium. An optical waveguide introduces a light beam from the light source into the near-field light head to generate near-field light. A control section supplies a current to a recording element of the near-field light head for generating a recording magnetic field in a direction of the medium. A photoelectric composite wiring line has the optical waveguide and at least one electric wiring line integral with the optical waveguide and electrically connecting the near-field light head to the control section. The optical waveguide and the electric wiring line branch off from a distal side of the photoelectric composite wiring line so as to connect to the near-field light head.
US08467268B2
A pressure release encoding system for communicating downhole information through a wellbore to a surface location include a downhole tool with a valve for providing a fluid restriction to fluid passing in the wellbore, a sensor positioned in the wellbore for sensing a downhole condition in the wellbore, a brake cooperative with the valve for moving the valve between at least two positions in timed relation to the downhole condition sensed by the sensor, and a detector positioned at the surface location for providing a measurement value at the surface location correlative to the time between the changes of the pressure of the fluid in the wellbore. The system associates position of the valve with pressure transduction. The sensor is an inclination sensor for sensing an angle of inclination of the wellbore.
US08467267B2
Seismic systems and methods are provided to collect variable seismic data, for coordinating source energy and receiver data as well as using both to obtain high resolution seismic data.
US08467263B2
In some embodiments, write wordline boost may be obtained from wordline driver boost and/or from bit line access transistor boost.
US08467245B2
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory cell which comprises a select transistor and a memory transistor includes applying a preset limit current to a first input of the memory cell, applying a limit voltage to a current limiting circuit electrically connected to a second input of the memory cell, applying a limit voltage to stabilize a voltage drop of the memory cell, and applying a ramped gate voltage to the memory cell to program the memory cell with a preset limited current determined by the current limiting circuit.
US08467238B2
The control circuit performs a reset operation and a set operation that change the resistance states of phase change memory cells of the array. The control circuit changes at least one parameter, of at least one of the reset operation and the set operation for future operations. This change is responsive to an indicator of degraded memory state retention of the array.
US08467237B2
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to write performance of a phase change memory.
US08467228B2
Each of basic array planes has a first via group that interconnects only even-layer bit lines in the basic array plane, and a second via group that interconnects only odd-layer bit lines in the basic array plane, the first via group in a first basic array plane and the second via group in a second basic array plane adjacent to the first basic array in a Y direction are adjacent to each other in the Y direction, and the second via group in the first basic array plane and the first via group in the second basic array plane are adjacent to each other in the Y direction, and the second via group in the second basic array plane is disconnected from a second global line when connecting the first via group in the first basic array plane to a first global line.
US08467223B2
A non-volatile memory device and a method for forming the same are disclosed, which relate to a ferroelectric memory device having non-volatile characteristics. The non-volatile memory device includes a control gate configured to receive a read voltage, an insulation film formed over the control gate, a metal layer formed over the insulation film, configured to include a channel region, and a drain region and source region at both ends of the channel region, a ferroelectric layer formed over the channel region of the metal layer, and a program and read gate formed over the ferroelectric layer. A write operation of data corresponding to a resistance state of the channel region is performed by changing polarity of the ferroelectric layer in response to a voltage applied to the program and read gate, the drain and source regions, and the control gate. A read operation of data is performed by sensing a current value changing with a polarity state of the ferroelectric layer on the condition that the read voltage is input to the control gate and a sensing bias voltage is input to one of the drain region and the source region.
US08467220B2
The present invention relates to a DRAM device having 4F2 size cells and a method for fabricating the same. The DRAM device comprises plural word lines arranged parallel to each other in one direction, plural bit lines arranged parallel to each other and in an intersecting manner with the word line, and plural memory cells having a transistor and a capacitor connected electrically to a source terminal of the transistor. A gate terminal of the transistor is filling an associated trench between two adjacent memory cells in a bit line direction and simultaneously covering a sidewall of said two adjacent memory cells via a gate insulating film interposed between the gate terminal and said two adjacent memory cells. An interval between the gate terminals in the bit or the word line direction, is more distant than 1F, and the F means minimal processing size.
US08467217B2
The semiconductor device comprises first and second memory cells, first and second bit lines connected to the first/second memory cells, first and second amplifiers connected to the second bit line, a local input/output line commonly connected to the first/second amplifiers, first and second local column switches connected between the first/second amplifiers and the local input/output line, a second local column switch connected between the second amplifier and the local input/output line, a column select line, a first global column switch connected between the column select line and the first local column switch and controlling a connection therebetween in response to a first select signal, and a second global column switch connected between the column select line and the second local column switch and controlling a connection therebetween in response to a first select signal.
US08467211B2
A bipolar pulsed power supply is provided in which, while effectively restricting the rise in current at the time of arcing which directly leads to the generation of splashes and particles, the occurrence of overvoltage at the time of polarity reversal is prevented. The power supply has a bridge circuit constituted by switching elements SW1 through SW4 connected to positive and negative DC outputs from a DC power supply source. The operation of the switching elements is controlled to output in a bipolar pulsed mode at a predetermined frequency to a pair of electrodes which come into contact with a plasma. There is provided an output-characteristics-switching circuit which switches the output such that, when outputting to the electrodes, the output to the electrodes has initially constant-voltage characteristics and subsequent output to the electrodes has constant-current characteristics.
US08467210B2
In order to provide a method for regulating a reactive power compensator, which is connected to an alternating current line having multiple phases, wherein for each phase an actual voltage V12, V23 and V31 present thereon is detected and from the actual voltages V12, V23 and V31 a counter system actual fraction is calculated. A control circuit suppresses the counter system actual fraction. A feedback loop determines the level of suppression of the counter system actual fraction with the help of controlled parameters. The method enables an adjustment of the counter system that is largely independent from operating staff. Accordingly, a comparator unit compares the counter system actual fraction to the counter system target fraction and defines the controlled parameters as a function of the comparison.
US08467204B2
A high voltage power supply is provided. The high voltage power supply includes an inverter which converts a DC voltage input to the high voltage power supply into a first AC voltage, a transformer including an input winding unit and a plurality of output winding units, wherein the input winding unit receives the first AC voltage from the inverter and the plurality of output winding units generates and outputs a second AC voltage, and a voltage multiplier unit which boosts the second AC voltage output by the transformer and outputs a boosted voltage, and the voltage multiplier unit includes a plurality of voltage multipliers which are connected to each other in series and the plurality of voltage multipliers may be connected to the plurality of output winding units respectively.
US08467203B2
Provided are a high voltage generating apparatus controlled by a digital control code and a method thereof. The high voltage generating apparatus includes a switching unit for controlling a voltage induced at the secondary coil of a power transformer by an interrupt operation, wherein the interrupt operation interrupts the current flowing through the primary coil of the connected power transformer. A digital controller for controlling the interrupt operation of the switching unit according to the control data. A digital interface for providing the control data to the digital controller is provided. The control data is extracted from the control code transferred using one of a plurality of predetermined communication protocols. The switching unit, digital interface, and digital controller can be implemented in one ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) chip.
US08467201B2
The present invention relates to a trigger circuit for a switch in a switching power supply, especially in a primary-side, triggered switching power supply. The trigger circuit here comprises a feedback signal terminal for detecting an auxiliary voltage induced on a primary-side auxiliary winding of a transformer of the switching power supply, a supply voltage terminal for supplying the trigger circuit with a supply voltage, and a ground terminal for connecting the trigger circuit to a ground potential, wherein the feedback signal terminal is formed by the supply voltage terminal and the auxiliary voltage is superimposed on the supply voltage. Alternatively, the voltage of the auxiliary winding could be superimposed on the voltage on an additional pin that is used for detecting the primary peak current.
US08467197B2
Systems and methods are provided for delivering energy from an input interface to an output interface. An electrical system includes an input interface, an output interface, an energy conversion module coupled between the input interface and the output interface, and a control module. The control module determines a duty cycle control value for operating the energy conversion module to produce a desired voltage at the output interface. The control module determines an input power error at the input interface and adjusts the duty cycle control value in a manner that is influenced by the input power error, resulting in a compensated duty cycle control value. The control module operates switching elements of the energy conversion module to deliver energy to the output interface with a duty cycle that is influenced by the compensated duty cycle control value.
US08467190B2
Systems and methods for balanced cooling of electrical systems, including electrical systems containing transceivers used in electrical and optical communication. An electrical system includes a cage, where the cage has a top, front and bottom. The cage contains a plurality of upper bays disposed in the front of the cage. Each of the plurality of upper bays is configured to receive a transceiver. The cage also contains a plurality of lower bays disposed in the front of the cage. Each of the lower bays is configured to receive a transceiver. Additionally, each of the plurality of upper bays is stacked on one of the plurality of lower bays. An upper heat sink extends from the outer surface of the top of the cage and a lower heat sink extends from the outer surface of the bottom of the cage.
US08467181B2
A fixing mechanism for fixing a portable device includes a casing. A track is disposed on the casing for guiding the portable device to slide. At least one hole is formed on the casing. The fixing mechanism further includes at least one spherical component installed inside the hole on the casing for wedging into a sunken part on the portable device so as to fix the portable device inside the casing. The fixing mechanism further includes a resilient component installed on a side of the casing and the spherical component for providing resilient force to the spherical component so as to push the spherical component to wedge into the sunken part on the portable device.
US08467177B2
An electronic device may have a display. Inactive portions of the display such as peripheral portions of the display may be masked using an opaque masking layer. An opening may be provided in the opaque masking layer to allow light to pass. For example, a logo may be viewed through an opening in the opaque masking layer and a camera may receive light through an opening in the opaque masking layer. The display may include upper and lower polarizers, a color filter layer, and a thin-film transistor layer. The opaque masking layer may be formed on the upper polarizer, may be interposed between the upper polarizer and the color filter layer, or may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer. The upper polarizer may have unpolarized windows for cameras, logos, or other internal structures.
US08467172B2
A mobile terminal device including a movable side housing having a movable side rear case, a fixed side housing connected to the movable side housing with a connection part. An emitting member is provided to the movable side rear case, and a curved panel that covers the emitting member is attached to the movable side rear case through a light shielding sheet member, wherein light shielding print part is formed on a back side near an illuminated part in the curved panel.
US08467165B2
Provided is a power supply control apparatus including an overcurrent detection circuit having an overcurrent detection accuracy improved. The power supply control apparatus according to the present invention includes: a transistor Q2 which produces a detection current dependent on a current flowing through an output transistor; a transistor 9 which produces the current Iref1 based on a bias signal BS1; a transistor 10 which produces the current Iref2 based on a bias signal BS2 different from the bias signal BS1; a current mirror circuit which outputs an overcurrent detection signal based on the current Iref1, the current Iref2 and the detection current; and a reference voltage production circuit 18 which produces the bias signal BS1 and the bias signal BS2. The reference voltage production circuit 18 includes: a resistor 21 arranged between a terminal for outputting the bias signal BS1 and a terminal for outputting the bias signal BS2; and a zener diode 37 connected in parallel with the resistor 21. With this circuit configuration, overcurrent detection can be performed with high accuracy.
US08467161B2
A device for controlling and regulating a DC voltage converter. The device may have one or more power output stages and a control unit with a signal ground line. The one or more power output stages and the control line have a mutual ground potential. A switch for electrically disconnecting the signal ground line is provided. The switch is opened, when the DC voltage converter is active and the switch is closed, when the DC voltage converter is inactive.
US08467158B2
A new type of superconducting fault current limiter is disclosed, which can advantageously be used with high voltage transmission networks. The circuit is electrically connected to two terminals, which connect to the transmission network. The superconducting circuit is located within an enclosure or tank, which is electrically isolated from ground. Therefore, the voltage difference between the enclosure and the superconducting circuit, and between the enclosure and the terminals are significantly less than exist in current deployments. In some embodiments, the enclosure is electrically connected to one of the terminals, while in other embodiments, the enclosure is electrically isolated from the terminals. The circuit can be combined with other like circuits to address a wide range of current transmission network configurations.
US08467156B2
A power protection circuit includes a power providing unit, a first and second voltage converters, a first and second switches, a first and second voltage detecting circuits, and a first and second warning circuits. The first switch connects between the power providing unit and the first voltage converter. The second switch connects between the power providing unit and the second voltage converter. The first and second voltage detecting circuits are respectively connected to the first and second voltage converters. The first and second warning circuits are respectively connected to the first and second voltage detecting circuits. When the input voltage of the first voltage detecting circuit drops, the first switch turns off the first voltage converter, the first warning circuit signals a warning; when the input voltage of the second voltage detecting circuit drops, the second switch turns off the second voltage converter, the second warning circuit signals a warning.
US08467134B2
A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; a third lens group having a positive refractive power and including one piece of positive lens; and a fourth lens group having a negative refractive power, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth lens groups are sequentially disposed in an order from an object side to an image surface side of the zoom lens, all distances between adjacent lens groups change and the third lens group performs focusing while zooming from a wide angle position to a telephoto position, and a following condition is satisfied: 0<(L23W−L23T)/L23W<0.5, wherein L23W denotes a distance between a lens surface of the image surface side of the second lens group and lens surface of the object side of the third lens group in the wide angle position, and L23T denotes a distance between a lens surface of the image surface side of the second lens group and a lens surface of the object side surface of the third lens group in the telephoto position.
US08467133B2
This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The optical assembly includes a light transmissive wedge-shaped illumination system with angle selective coatings and an LED lighting system coupled to an edge of the wedge. An angled surface of the wedge directs light from the LED lighting system to uniformly irradiate a reflective image display to produce an image that is reflected through the illumination system to provide the displayed content to the user.
US08467132B2
A display device including a holding device that can be placed on the head of a user, an image generating module fixed to the holding device and generating an image, and a multifunction glass that is fixed to the holding device and has a coupling in area and a coupling out area. The image produced is coupled into the multifunction glass via the coupling in area, guided in the multifunction glass to the coupling in area, and extracted via the coupling out area, in such a way that the user can perceive the coupled out image superimposed on the surroundings when the holding device is placed on the head of the user. The coupling in area has a Fresnel structure causing a folding of the beam path when the image is injected into the multifunction glass, said structure having an imaging property.
US08467131B2
Presently described are multilayer optical films comprising an optical stack comprising at least one first birefringent optical layer; at least one (e.g. isotropic) second optical layer having a birefringence of less than 0.04 at 633 nm, and optionally at least one skin layer. The second layer, skin layer, or a combination thereof comprises a blend of at least one methyl methacrylate polymer and at least one styrene-acrylonitrile polymer.
US08467130B2
A retardation film is provided and is formed by laminating a thermoplastic norbornene resin film, an anchor layer, an alignment film and a phase difference layer in this order. In this retardation film, the anchor layer is formed by applying an anchor material including a tri-, or more-functional acrylate monomer of 50 parts by weight or more and 90 parts by weight or less onto the thermoplastic norbornene resin film and then, drying and curing the anchor material with ultraviolet light.
US08467123B2
Disclosed is an optical fiber that includes a central core that is suitable for transmitting and amplifying an optical signal and an inner optical cladding that is suitable for confining the optical signal transmitted within the central core. The central core is formed from a core matrix that contains silica-based nanoparticles doped with at least one rare earth element.The disclosed optical fiber can be used with limited optical losses even in an environment with strong ionizing radiation.
US08467121B2
An optical signal processor may include an optical waveguide loop, and first and second phase modulator loops. Each of the first and second phase modulator loops may be in optical communication with the optical waveguide loop. The first and second phase modulator loops may include respective control signal input ports to control phase modulation applied by the first and second phase modulation loops. The optical waveguide loop may include two input ports to direct input signals in opposite directions in the optical waveguide loop and may further include an output port to output resulting signals.
US08467117B2
A pattern generation system includes an optical system and a rotor. The optical system is configured to project a laser image onto an optical scanner. The rotor has a plurality of optical arms arranged at a first angle relative to one another, and further includes the optical scanner. The laser image is sequentially reflected by the optical scanner into each of the plurality of optical arms of the rotor to generate a pattern on a workpiece.
US08467107B2
According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods and systems for correcting illumination defects in document handlers. A document handler successively moves an image-bearing sheet past an image sensor, when the edges of the document passes over the edge guide near a constant velocity transport roll the document tends to flick down onto the image sensor causing a lightness change at the edges. The proposed correction is dynamically adjusting the light source or dynamically adjusting the automatic gain control (AGC) of the imaging sensor. The method comprises characterizing an optical signal reflected from an image-bearing sheet as it passes a scan window, determining the illumination defects in at least one edge region based on the reflected signal, and adjusting the gain of the imaging sensor or the light level during receipt of the optical signal.
US08467100B1
Halftoning apparatus and method that may generate and employ average values and shifts are described herein. The apparatus may include an unpacker to determine shifts and average values for a plurality of input pixel values, each pair of average value and shift being associated with a corresponding pair of the input pixel values. The apparatus may further include a halftone core coupled to the unpacker to receive the shifts and the average values from the unpacker and to generate pairs of output pixel values based at least in part on the received shifts and average values, wherein the output pixel values are for generating pixels of an image.
US08467096B2
A printer is provided that includes a printing unit, a detector that outputs a detection signal corresponding to one of a remaining amount of coloring agent and a consumed amount of coloring agent, and a controller configured to perform a switching process. In the switching process, when determining, based on the detection signal, that a usable amount of coloring agent is more than a first reference value, the controller controls the printing unit to perform a normal printing operation to print an original image based on image data. Meanwhile, in the switching process, when determining, based on the detection signal, that the usable amount of coloring agent is equal to or less than the first reference value, the controller controls the printing unit to perform a show-through cancellation printing operation to print an image that is formed by removing an image recognized as a show-through image from the original image.
US08467093B2
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores image formation information in which print setting information is associated with an index useful in deciding to suppress consumption of a recording material; and an execution unit that executes a process of displaying one or more pieces of the image formation information stored in the storage unit on a display unit in association with print data to be printed.
US08467088B2
There is provided an image signal processing apparatus, comprising a demosaic processing unit receiving input of mosaic image data of each of signals obtained by a single plate imaging device having an element array composed of visible light obtaining elements obtaining visible light signals, and invisible light obtaining elements obtaining signals including invisible light components, and generating a demosaic image of each of the obtained signals; and a noise reduction processing unit receiving input of the demosaic image to execute correction of pixel values of the demosaic image obtained by the visible light obtaining elements on the basis of edge information extracted from the demosaic image of the signals obtained by the invisible light obtaining elements.
US08467084B2
An image forming apparatus contains: an internal device that performs a service; a message processing unit that parses a message according to service definition data, the service definition data including syntax definitions of an interface part of the service and designation of a protocol to be used for the service; and a control unit that controls the internal device according to a request obtained from a result of parsing the message by the message processing unit in order to execute the service.