US08511644B2
Device that uses the force of one or several persons to help a stuck vehicle get free. It comprises a set of chains of blocks (2) to put in front of the wheels and that are connected by straps (3.6) to a system that will pull them under the wheels while pushing the car by reaction. The forces come from a lever system consisting of a main bar with a triangular part fixed underneath and near its front end. When the operator lifts the bar, the displacement of the extremities of the triangular part away from the wheels creates a pull on the straps while the front end of the bar pushes the car. The blocks become the fulcrum of this lever system. Alternately, a winch fixed on the car bumper pulls on the straps via deviation rollers or rings, transmitting the reaction pushing forces to the car rear part.
US08511641B2
The control apparatus for braking valves for operating machines includes a fluid valve having a control cursor for distributing the operating fluid, a control mechanism of the cursor that can be operated by an operator, sensor device sensitive to variations in the magnetic field and suitable for detecting the position of at least one between the control mechanism and the cursor, magnetic assembly operatively connected to between the control mechanism and the cursor for enabling the sensor device. The magnetic assembly includes a magnetic element which is arranged mobile inside a seat obtained in a support permeable to the magnetic field. The magnetic assembly also includes a sustaining element fitted for rotation in the seat and having a first extremity, that can be operated, in rotation, by the motion of the cursor and the control mechanism, A second extremity is associated with a magnetic element.
US08511638B2
A connector is disclosed that has a housing having a fluid path from a first port through an internal cavity to a second port. The connector also includes a plug that has first and second positions within the internal cavity, where the plug blocks the fluid path between the first port and the internal cavity when in the first position. The plug has a diaphragm that separates the internal cavity into a first volume that is vented and a second volume that includes the fluid path. The plug also includes a biasing element that is disposed within the first volume and that urges the plug toward the first position. Displacement of the plug from the first position toward the second position opens the fluid path and increases the second volume.
US08511635B2
A holding device for fastening a laser instrument, in particular to a magnetic construction, a pipe, a wall rail or ceiling rail, and/or a wall, is disclosed. The holding device includes a basic frame, a receptacle device connected to the basic frame to accommodate the laser instrument, a first fastening device connected to the basic frame and a second fastening device connected to the basic frame. At least the first or second fastening device is configured to be adjustable in a vertical direction relative to the basic frame.
US08511620B2
An aircraft wing load alleviation system incorporating a wing, a spoiler panel (14), a device (16, 17) which restricts circulation of air around a trailing edge of the spoiler and a control system. The spoiler panel is pivotally attached to the wing so that the spoiler panel can be rotated up from a lowered position to a raised position, thereby opening a void between the spoiler panel and the wing. The retractable device can be deployed from a retracted position to an extended position in which it restricts circulation of air around the trailing edge of the spoiler panel and into the void, thus reducing induced drag. The control system is configured to detect or predict an increase in the lift of the wing and rotate the spoiler panel to its raised position in response to a detected or predicted increase in the lift of the wing.
US08511612B2
A shock wave in a gas is modified by emitting energy to form an extended path in the gas; heating gas along the path to form a volume of heated gas expanding outwardly from the path; and directing a path. The volume of heated gas passes through the shock wave and modifies the shock wave. This eliminates or reduces a pressure difference between gas on opposite sides of the shock wave. Electromagnetic, microwaves and/or electric discharge can be used to heat the gas along the path. This application has uses in reducing the drag on a body passing through the gas, noise reduction, controlling amount of gas into a propulsion system, and steering a body through the gas. An apparatus is also disclosed.
US08511607B2
A UAV attachment assembly, used with a UAV launch assembly comprising a frame and a launch driver, comprises a base, a UAV support, a biasing element, a coupler, and a retainer. The base is operably coupled to the launch driver. The UAV support is mounted to the base and is placeable in vertically collapsed and vertically extended orientations. The biasing element biases the UAV support towards the collapsed orientation. The coupler releasably couples the UAV support to a UAV when the UAV support is in the extended orientation, the UAV support being free of the UAV when in the collapsed orientation. The retainer maintains the UAV support in the vertically extended orientation prior to launch and releases the UAV support at launch so that the biasing element can cause the UAV support to move towards the collapsed orientation and to disengage from the UAV.
US08511597B2
An apparatus for fracturing polycrystalline silicon having a pair of rolls which are rotated in a counter direction each other around parallel axes, the rolls is provided with: a plurality of disks layered along the axes of the rolls; and a plurality of fracturing teeth protruding radially-outwardly from the disks with a certain intervals along a peripheral direction of the disks, wherein the disks are rotated at different rotation speed from an adjacent disks, and the apparatus fracturing fragments of polycrystalline silicon between the rolls.
US08511596B2
The illustrative embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for managing drip tape. A vehicle is configured to move across a field. A drip tape collection system is associated with the vehicle configured to raise a portion of the drip tape from the ground in a field. A chopper is configured to separate the portion of the drip tape received from the drip tape collection system into a plurality of pieces and enable the plurality of pieces to decompose.
US08511593B2
Disclosed is a shredder including a detector having a first contact member on one side of the shredder's throat and a second contact member on the other side. The contact members extend into the throat and are independently moveable relative to one another to enable insertion of an article into the throat. The article can move the contact members relative to one another by a combined amount. The shredder may prevent its motor from driving its cutter elements if it determines that the combined amount of independent relative movement correlates to a thickness that is equal to or greater than a predetermined maximum thickness. In an embodiment, the contact members may include binary switches. The contact members aid in controlling and/or reducing flutter and wrinkles when articles are fed into the shredder.
US08511590B2
A high voltage is applied between an emitter electrode in an atomizing barrel and an opposed electrode supported to the atomizing barrel to electrostatically atomize a liquid supplied to the emitter electrode into a mist of charged minute particles. A silencer duct is attached to the front end of the atomizing barrel for reducing noises developed when generating the mist of the charged minute particles. Accordingly, the silencer duct can absorb the noises developed around the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode at immediately downstream thereof for effectively reducing the noises.
US08511589B2
A material spreader is adapted to dispense granular material from a vehicle. The material spreader includes a feed chute having a discharge opening and a discharge disc assembly disposed below the feed chute. The discharge disc assembly includes a spinner disc adapted to receive granular material from the feed chute, a shroud disposed in at least partial covering relation to the spinner disc, and a rotational drive operatively connected to the spinner disc such that the spinner disc is rotatable within the shroud about a rotational axis. The shroud includes a pass-through opening disposed in substantially aligned relation with the discharge opening of the feed chute at a position radially removed from the central rotational axis. The discharge disc assembly is rotatably mounted in pivoting relation about a pivot axis extending through the pass-through opening and the discharge opening of the feed chute.
US08511582B2
A multi-nozzle spray head washer fluid delivery system which utilizes both a wide spray pattern nozzle and a narrow spray pattern nozzle to provide selective adjustment of the spray pattern delivered to the surface of the windshield. A control system incorporates either or both of an autonomous selection of spray pattern and driver selection of spray pattern.
US08511571B2
The invention relates to a card including a digital display arranged in a core defining the central portion of the card. The card further comprises a plastic layer the major portion of which is opaque, and a transparent display portion. In a preferred variant, the plastic layer is covered with a transparent film attached thereto by a thin glue layer defining an adhesion interface. More particularly, the invention relates to an intermediate product intervening in a batch manufacture of such cards, wherein the intermediate product is formed by an opaque plastic sheet having a plurality of apertures defining windows for a respective plurality of corresponding electronic displays, and wherein a plurality of transparent parts are respectively arranged in the plurality of apertures and assembled to the opaque plastic sheet. The invention also relates to a manufacturing method of such an intermediate product.
US08511570B2
The invention concerns a transponder (10), kit and method for marking wood material, such as logs. The transponder comprises a rigid casing adapted to be inserted into the wood material by means of impact, the casing comprising a wedge-shaped first edge (12) adapted to penetrate into the wood material due to said impact, and a second edge (16) opposite to the first edge, the first and second edges (12, 16) defining an insertion direction of the transponder, and radio-frequency trans-ponding means (20) covered by the casing. According to the invention, the casing is elongated in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The transponder is easily applicable into a log and stays well within the log.
US08511569B1
A nonconductive, organic stabilization layer deposited on an RFID IC provides a consistent and predictable mounting distance between the RFID IC and its antenna layer or a strap, thereby ensuring a consistent and predictable mounting capacitance between circuits of the RFID IC and an antenna formed on the inlay or the strap. Openings in the stabilization layer enable electrical connection between the antenna pads of the RFID IC and the terminals of the inlay antenna or strap contacts through bumps formed on the antenna pads, through a conductive redistribution layer formed on the stabilization layer (when the inlay or strap is attached to the RFID IC by means of an anisotropic conductive layer), or through a capacitive connection to the inlay antenna or strap (when the inlay or strap is attached to the RFID IC by means of a nonconductive layer).
US08511555B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and system for supply chain management. The system permits an application server to collect information such as, for example, the spatial and temporal relationship between tags associated with a supply chain item by using a wireless communications device. Embodiments of the present invention may be used throughout any or all locations of a supply chain. For example, when the invention is applied to a retail setting, the retailer can track inventory in an establishment with minimal human involvement. In various embodiments of the present invention, two-way communication between tags and/or an application server allow data to be transmitted and/or received between one or more tags and/or one or more application servers.
US08511551B1
A personal information access card has a PDF417 barcode with an image of the card user encoded therein. The image can be decoded and displayed at the time of presentation of the card to prevent card user misidentification. The barcode has an x-dimension, row height, data columns and a quiet zone which facilitates the use of a scanner to identify and read the barcode to decode the image.
US08511549B2
An analysis system for analyzing biological samples, such as body fluids, methods implemented by the analysis system, and a computer program product for implementing the analysis system are disclosed. The system may include first and second lab devices, at least one of the lab devices may have a user identification component for identifying a user, a device identification component for identifying the lab device, and an interface component for sending a user identifier of the identified user and a device identifier of the lab device. The system may include a server computer having a server interface component for receiving the user identifier and the device identifier, and a processing component for determining a step of a workflow to be executed by the identified user, wherein the server interface component is operable to send a signal being indicative of a determined workflow to the lab device identified by the device identifier.
US08511548B1
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that performs card-based transactions. During operation, the system displays a set of magnetic-stripe cards to a user through a user interface of a portable device and obtains a user selection of a magnetic-stripe card from the set of magnetic stripe cards. Next, the system writes magnetic-stripe data associated with the magnetic-stripe card to a rewritable magnetic stripe on the portable device. Finally, the system uses the rewritable magnetic stripe in the card-based transaction in place of the magnetic-stripe card.
US08511545B1
Method and system are disclosed for automatically filling in external account information on a new account application. The method and system capture account-identifying information for an external account from electronic transactions involving the external account. The captured external account information may be used to automatically pre-fill new account information fields that require information about the external account. Account-identifying information for internal accounts may also be used to automatically pre-fill the new account application. Such an arrangement greatly simplifies the process of filling out new account applications.
US08511537B2
A container for food or other items of interest has a bus-like configuration provided by semi-rigid material having fold lines defining front, rear and sides formed upon assembly of the carton to present a bus-like configuration to maximize the space for holding food or other items of interest and also provide an external display surface for decorative and advertising material.
US08511531B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a fastening device such as, for example, a forward acting stapler, is provided that includes a manually operable latch in order to store the built up potential energy that results from depressing the handle of the fastening device. Upon actuation of the latch, the plunger within the fastening device is released, thereby converting the stored energy of an internal compression spring into kinetic energy and ejecting a fastener (such as, for example, staples, nails or other types of fasteners) from the staple chamber to fasten an object.
US08511523B2
The invention relates to an aid for putting on an elastic stocking in particular. The aid comprises a substantially flat and flexible sheet body manufactured from a smooth material, which is provided with removal means to remove the aid from between a foot and a stocking arranged around it, and with connecting means arranged on opposite edges of the body, which when in use interact to interconnect the opposite edges, resulting in a tube-like body having a insertion side for the foot and an opposite foot section, whereby each connecting means comprises magnets which are attracted by corresponding magnets in the other connecting means. The aid is simpler and more convenient in use than the known aid.
US08511521B1
An improved valve member, aerosol dispenser valve containing the valve member, aerosol container for dispensing moisture-curable foams, and moisture-curable foam and dispenser, in which the valve member is made of a glass filled polyolefin. The polyolefin is preferably a polyethylene. The glass content is between about 2% and about 40%, more preferably between about 10% and about 30%; and most preferably between about 15% and about 25%.
US08511518B2
A volumetric doser (10) for batching liquid or pasty pharmaceutical substances is disclosed which comprises: a cylinder (1); a piston (2), mobile along internal walls (49) of the cylinder (1) for displacing liquid or pasty pharmaceutical substances; a stem (3) exiting from the cylinder (1) for moving the piston (2); and a coupling member (9) to which the stem (3) is fixable. The coupling member (9) has a substantially U-shaped form and comprises: a base (11) and two facing lateral walls (12, 13) which originate from the base (11). The piston (2) and the coupling member (9) are reciprocally conformed such that the coupling member (9) can embrace a part (17) of the piston (2) and can perform limited oscillations with respect to the piston (2) axis.
US08511517B2
A protective sleeve placed within the cylinder of a syringe, the sleeve protects a piston and a computer controlled device or human operator pushing the piston from material leaking past a piston assembly. The sleeve has lips or ridges at either end, one that is attached to the piston assembly at the output end of the syringe and a second lip that is attached with a retention plate at the far end of the syringe. The sleeve may have a bellows or accordion configuration that slides along the inner surface of the syringe cylinder without appreciably loading the drive mechanism.
US08511516B2
The invention relates to a system (1) for hygienically reconstituting and delivering food preparations, such as drinks, comprising a metering and mixing device (3) connected to a container (4) containing a base liquid, in the form of a package (2) configured to be connected to a base station (5). The metering and mixing device comprises a pump for metering the liquid, a diluent intake and a mixing chamber. Coupling means (51) are provided for providing the diluent supply and the means for driving the liquid pump.
US08511515B2
A fluid dispenser device including a body, a reservoir, a dispenser head, and a dispenser member. The dispenser member includes a dispenser-member body and a movable member that moves axially in the dispenser-member body during actuation. The device includes a lateral actuator system secured to the body and having an actuator element that co-operates with the reservoir, with the dispenser member, or with an element secured to the reservoir and/or the dispenser member. The actuator element is movable between a rest position and an actuated position. The body includes a guide surface for guiding the actuator element, the guide surface is stationary relative to the dispenser head, and substantially parallel to the movement axis of the movable member in the dispenser-member body during actuation.
US08511511B2
A dispenser for a center-fed roll of web material in the form of tissue paper or nonwoven material has a dispenser opening which preferably has an elongated shape wherein one side edge is provided with tearing elements and the opposite side edge is smooth and free from tearing elements, and wherein the length of the dispenser opening is between 40 and 90% of the roll diameter and the width of the dispenser opening is at least 10 times the thickness of the web material and at least 5 mm, but no more than 40 mm. Preferably the dispenser is portable, wherein at least a substantial part of the dispenser is made of a moisture and tear resistant flexible material adapted for multiple use and the dispenser further includes a reclosable opening through which the roll of web material may be inserted into the dispenser.
US08511506B2
A transport case 1 with hinged side parts 3, 4 made of plastic is provided, whereby the height of the hinged side parts 3, 4 is greater than 16 centimeters or the permissible load of the transport case is greater than 16 kg, and wicket-shaped hollow stiffening strips 11, 12 are present in the hinged side parts 3, 4. The stiffening strips 11, 12 formed by injection of liquid have a surface roughness that is less than 10 micrometers.
US08511502B2
A litter bin includes a lid hingeably connected to a container. Opposite the hinge, a latch selectively secures the lid to the container. The latch includes a pivotably mounted latch member that has a center of gravity offset from its pivot point. The latch member also includes a catch portion that moves between a locked position and an unlocked position upon pivoting of the latch member. Because the center of gravity of the latch member is offset from the pivot point, tilting the litter bin causes pivoting of the latch member, thereby moving the catch portion from the locked position to the unlocked position.
US08511488B2
A protective covering system for wire shelving, designed for ease of attachment to any wire shelving system. The protective covering system comprises a substantially rigid base which exhibits through areas for attachment of fastening devices between the upper surface of the substantially rigid base and the upper portion of the individual wire shelving member to be engaged. The gripping of the individual wire shelving member on at least each of four areas, in conjunction with the positioning of the upper head portion of the individual fastening members restrains the substantially rigid base from movement by limiting the three translational displacement components of degree of freedom.
US08511477B2
A raw coal impurity automatic separator includes a rack and a shell; a rotating shaft set on the rack within the shell; shift teeth are arranged on the shaft; spiral-shaped scraping plates are fixed on the rack and are symmetrically arranged between the shift teeth; a slide block is arranged as a sleeve on each shift tooth; each slide block is provided with upper and lower rollers, between which the scrapping plates are set; a raw coal inlet is provided corresponding to an upper part of an inner cavity of the shell, a raw coal outlet is set on a lower part of the inner cavity; and an impurity outlet is set corresponding to an end of the scraping plates.
US08511469B2
Carton blanks are disclosed for accommodating articles therein to form packages. A packaging system for packaging articles within blanks is capable of packaging a wide variety of packaging configurations.
US08511466B1
A clothing transport device including a panel having a length defined between a top edge and a bottom edge and a width defined between a first side edge and a second side edge. An interior surface of the panel receives clothing to be transported. A first portion of the panel is defined between the first side edge and the clothing. The first portion is foldable over the clothing. Each of a plurality of closing straps is coupled to the second side edge of the panel. Each of a plurality of closing buckles is coupled to the exterior surface of the panel. A second portion of the panel is defined between the second side edge and the clothing and is folded over the first portion to encase the clothing in the panel. The closing straps releasably engage the closing buckles to secure the second portion over the first portion.
US08511465B2
The closure includes a rotary dispenser cap (1), and is used for metering of a component in the content of a so-equipped mixing vessel (17) before use. It contains a separately filled folding container (3) which is held on its lower side by resilient spacer elements (7) over stationary piercing teeth (8) and which is pusable downword by means of rotating the rotary dispenser cap (1) which will screw down the press ring (2) and press the container (3) over the piercing teeth (8). The folding container (3) is thereby torn open. By further screwing down of the pressing ring (2), the folding container (3) is being squeezed and pressed out, so that its contents are mixed in the underlying container (17).
US08511460B2
A modular conveyor belt and method provides a conveyor belt having rollers with metallic or magnetic rotors. A magnet or metallic element next to the conveyor belt is positioned to rotate the rotor. A magnetic field produced by the magnet or by the magnetic rotor rotates the rollers as they pass the magnetic field or as the magnetic field is changed. In one embodiment, the magnetic field is in the form of one or more switched reluctance motors.
US08511454B2
The present invention is to provide an elliptic rubber stopper supply method and device thereof, which can smoothly and steadily supply an elliptic rubber stopper to an assembling side of a rubber stopper without blocking a supply route with the rubber stopper. The elliptic rubber stopper supply device sprays alternately a gas on a rubber stopper, matches a minor axial direction of the rubber stopper to a spraying direction of the gas, and inserts the rubber stopper into an elliptic first hole in that condition. Also, the device includes first shape corrective portion for correcting a shape of the rubber stopper. The first shape corrective portion has a rubber stopper receiving portion and a pair of air outlets for spraying alternately a gas on both side surfaces of the rubber stopper. One of the air outlets is arranged on the one side of the rubber stopper receiving portion, the other is arranged on the other side thereof. Each the air outlet is offset in a rubber stopper axial direction and located.
US08511451B2
A clutch assembly for connecting a shaft to a rotary member mounted on said shaft in a rotationally fixed manner comprises: a sliding sleeve which is rotationally fixed to the shaft, is axially slidably mounted on said shaft and is provided with a first gearing. A clutch body is rotationally fixed to the rotary member and provided with a second gearing which can mesh with the first gearing to connect the shaft and the rotary member in a rotationally fixed manner. And, a locking synchronization unit having a synchronizer ring with a friction surface the ring permitting the speeds of the shaft and the rotary member to be synchronized before the meshing of the first and second gearings. The locking synchronization unit further comprises a locking member which is coupled to the sliding sleeve by a detent groove and to the synchronizer ring in the rotational direction (D) by a pair of locking surfaces. The pair of locking surfaces are situated between the locking member and a synchronizer member, the latter being coupled to the locking member in the axial direction (A) and to the synchronizer ring in the rotational direction (D).
US08511439B2
A self-energizing disk brake is described. The brake includes an electric actuator in which an activation force is amplified using a self-energizing device arranged between the electric actuator and a brake lining. The system includes a brake application unit for applying the brake lining to a brake disk with an application movement of the brake lining, relative to the brake disk, having a component extending parallel to a rotational axis of the brake disk and another component extending tangentially to the rotational axis of the brake disk. At least one electromotive drive for activating the brake application unit and at least two brake plungers of the brake application unit are provided. Pressure surfaces of the brake plungers have a recess with a ramp shaped contour for engagingly receiving a rolling element.
US08511435B2
A lubrication system, includes an auxiliary lubricant tank 48 and a supply conduit 58 extending from a source of lubricant 26 and through the auxiliary lubricant tank. A portion of the conduit resides within the tank and has an opening 136 for allowing lubricant transfer between the tank and the conduit.
US08511430B1
An improved ladder containment and lock device, comprising a left component, a right component, and a two piece bushing. There is a locking subassembly and a pair of coupling bolts, for coupling the components of the device. The two piece bushing has a passageway formed there through, with the passageway being angled relative to the right and left components.
US08511429B1
An acoustical ceiling panel comprising a flat core and an acoustically transparent face sheet adhesively attached to one of two oppositely facing major sides of the core, the core comprising a multitude of layers of corrugated fiberboard laminated together, the corrugated fiberboard layers each having a corrugated medium adhesively attached to a flat liner board, the corrugated medium forming regularly spaced flutes of curvilinear cross-section, the flutes of the layers of fiberboard being arranged in parallel directions extending perpendicularly to the major faces of the core.
US08511426B2
A sound attenuating air vent comprises: an air path and a discontinuous sound absorbing lining around at least a part of the air path. A method of designing such a sound attenuating air vent comprises: determining a target attenuation performance based on the noise source and the receiver noise sensitivity and the separating construction, and determining a desired arrangement for the discontinuous lining and/or vent based on the target attenuation performance.
US08511421B1
An apparatus disclosed herein includes a shell movably coupled to a base. The shell defines a chamber, and a counterweight is disposed in the chamber. A first spring is coupled to the shell and a first end of the counterweight, and a second spring is coupled to the shell and a second end of the counterweight. The first spring is oriented at a first angle, and the second spring is oriented at a second angle different than the first angle. The example apparatus further includes an actuator coupled to the first spring or the second spring. The actuator is to oscillate the counterweight to enable the shell to provide an acoustic signal.
US08511414B2
A system comprises a pressure raising valve having a valve member movable within a bore between a closed position and an open position in which fuel supplied to the pressure raising valve from a metering valve, in use, is delivered to an engine manifold, the valve member being urged towards its closed position by the fuel pressure within a control chamber, the pressure raising valve including a low pressure port which communicates with the control chamber when the valve member is in its closed position, the valve member closing the low pressure port upon movement thereof away from its closed position beyond a predetermined distance.
US08511413B2
Disclosed is a battery installation structure for an electric automobile. A battery case guide device guides the aforementioned battery case to a battery case housing section. The battery case guide device is provided with protruding parts and guide parts. The protruding parts are provided in an area near the right front corner on the front side surface of the battery case, an area near the right front corner on the right side surface thereof, an area near the left rear corner on the rear side surface thereof, and an area near the left rear corner on the left side surface thereof. The guide parts are provided to the aforementioned automobile body. The guide parts are capable of abutting the protruding parts. Of the two categories of parts mentioned above, namely, the protruding parts and the guide parts, those in one category have each a convex curved surface, and those in the other category have each an inclined surface capable of abutting the convex curved surface.
US08511404B2
The Smart Reamer® Tool, Apparatus or Method is used to underream an oil or natural gas well while interlinked calipers and calibration sensors simultaneously record data relating to the geometry of the drilling operation (well diameter, diameter of the underreamed zone) and drilling fluid properties (density). Further sensors provide data on the relative position of the cutting and stabilizing blocks. Other sensors measure vibration data. All the sensors are interlinked by means of microprocessors which compare and correlate said data to automatically verify and deliver a desired wellbore diameter without the need to unnecessarily stop drilling or trip out of the hole.
US08511402B2
In a dual-gradient drilling apparatus, a subsea solids processing unit includes a housing, a solids processing mechanism disposed in the housing between a drilling mud inlet and a drilling mud outlet, and a flushing mechanism configured to flush the solids processing mechanism with a flushing fluid. A subsea solids processing unit may be controlled by rotating the solids processing mechanism in a forward direction and increasing a drive torque when a measured speed of the solids processing mechanism is below a desired rotation speed. The desired rotation speed may be decreased when a measured torque exceeds a selected maximum and a rotation direction of the solids processing mechanism may be reversed when the measured speed falls below a selected minimum.
US08511392B2
The present invention provides a swivel sub for connection in a work string between a workstring and a downhole apparatus. The swivel sub includes a first substantially cylindrical body, including a sleeve portion having one or more teeth and a second substantially cylindrical body being partially located within the sleeve portion. The bodies are arranged to rotate relative to each other. The swivel sub also includes a sliding sleeve, having one or more teeth arranged mutually engage with the first teeth is axially moveable between disengaged and engaged positions, in one embodiment by a pressure differential being created in the sub. Further, the present invention provides methods for of running the tool, with particular application to setting and hanging of liners and screens.
US08511343B2
A bladderless reservoir tank is provided with a hollow body that forms a cavity for receipt of a working fluid. A pick-up tube is attached to the hollow body of the reservoir tank. A portion of the pick-up tube extends into the interior of the body such that a port of the pick-up tube is positioned at the centroid of the hollow body. The pick-up tube has a channel that extends from the port at the centroid to the exterior of the body of the reservoir tank.
US08511336B1
An irrigation valve vault including a base frame member having a plurality of sides forming an enclosed area including a first side having a water inlet passage with a plurality of apertures along its length and opening into the enclosed area, a second side having a plurality of apertures extending from the enclosed area to connection points for water lines located on the outside of the second side, a plurality of valves located within the enclosed area and connecting between apertures on the first side and apertures on the second side, a sloped compartment located on top of the base frame, and a lid placed on the top aperture of the sloped compartment.
US08511334B2
Manual-valve pistons, manual-valve assemblies comprising the manual-valve pistons, and compressed-gas systems comprising the manual-valve-assemblies are disclosed. A manual-valve piston for sealing a compressed-gas conduit may comprise a head portion, a sealing portion, and a stem portion between the head portion and the sealing portion. When the manual-valve piston in a conduit, a gap is defined between a blocking rim of the head portion that allows compressed gas to be trapped in an isochoric thermal isolation zone adjacent to the stem portion. The isochoric thermal isolation zone protects sealing rings seated in the sealing portion from extremely cold compressed gas being introduced into the compressed-gas system. Manual-valve assemblies comprise a manual-valve piston coupled to a coupling body. Compressed-gas systems comprise a fuel-storage vessel, a refueling port, internal conduits, and a manual-valve assembly disposed in one of the internal conduits.
US08511333B2
A double pipe apparatus that includes an outer pipe and an inner pipe inserted into the outer pipe, and regulates a flow of a gas flowing through the double pipe apparatus. The double pipe apparatus includes a flow regulating valve, a valve stem which which penetrates the outer pipe and the inner pipe, and fluid leakage preventing parts including a bellows which is provided between the outer pipe and the inner pipe and which prevents the gas from leaking outside the outer pipe. One end of the bellows is attached to an inner wall of the outer pipe, and the other end of the bellows is attached to a flange formed on the valve stem, so that the gas flowing through the inner pipe is prevented from leaking outside the outer pipe.
US08511331B2
A process liquid feed mechanism includes a fixed cylinder with a thread around a peripheral surface, a movable cylinder provided coaxially with the fixed cylinder, a process liquid feed tube and an operating rotator. The movable cylinder is screw-engaged to the fixed cylinder. The process liquid feed tube is fixed in an axial position relative to the movable cylinder and passes through the lid and a cylinder including the fixed cylinder and the movable cylinder to be axially movable relative to the cylinder. The operating rotator includes an annular portion provided coaxially with the movable cylinder. An engaging portion and an engaged portion, which are provided in the movable cylinder and the annular portion respectively, rotate the movable cylinder through engagement therebetween with rotation of the operating rotator and release the engagement as a torque on the movable cylinder increases.
US08511329B1
A metering valve assembly includes a metering valve sleeve and a metering valve spool. The metering valve sleeve includes an inlet window set and an outlet window set with a first outlet window having a first logarithmic contour and a second outlet window having a second logarithmic contour. A ratio of an inner width of the first outlet window to an inner length of the first outlet window is between 1.48 and 1.52. A ratio of an inner width of the second outlet window to an inner length of the second outlet window is between 2.21 and 2.29. The metering valve spool includes first, second, and third cylindrical portions. The metering valve spool is configured to move bi-directionally along a longitudinal axis of the metering valve sleeve and control fluid flow between the inlet window set and the outlet window set relative to the first, second, and third cylindrical portions.
US08511323B2
An oral care dispenser and oral care system implementing the same. In one embodiment, the dispenser may comprise a collar having an axial passageway in which a drive component is rotatably coupled. The collar comprises a segmented neck portion and a non-segmented body portion that comprises a plurality of protuberances extending into the axial passageway. The drive component comprises at least one resilient arm that interacts with the plurality of protuberances to generate an audible signal during relative rotation.
US08511321B2
A comb for treating pediculosis id provided. The comb may include a handle and a plurality of teeth, each provided with successive ridges or grooves intended for trapping and removing nits and lice from the hair, wherein each ridge or groove is flanked by a raised edge on at least one of the sides thereof.
US08511312B2
A respiratory auxiliary device includes a first conduit provided with a pair of nasal prongs and having two opposite end portions, two second conduits connected fluidly and respectively to the end portions, and a pressure-measuring pipe adapted for connection with a pressure-measuring device. One of the second conduits is adapted for discharging air exhaled by a patient. The other one of the second conduits is adapted to be connected to an air supply device. The pressure-measuring pipe is disposed within said one of the second conduits, and has one end extending into the first conduit in proximity to the nasal prongs.
US08511310B2
The present invention, in an exemplary embodiment, provides a therapeutic medical appliance, delivery device and method of use. In particular, plug therapeutic medical appliances are provided that allow for the interventional treatment of pulmonary disorders such as defects characterized by pulmonary blebs and/or diffused destructive parenchymal disease. The plug therapeutic medical appliances themselves combine many of the excellent characteristics of both silicone and metal therapeutic medical appliances while eliminating the undesirable ones. In particular, these therapeutic medical appliances are preferably self-expanding in nature and allow the predetermined differential selection of relative hardness/softness of regions of the therapeutic medical appliance to provide additional patient comfort. An exemplary embodiment also provides a family of delivery devices that facilitate flexibility, durability and/or proper installation of one or more medical appliances in a single procedure. Moreover, the preferred embodiment of the delivery device provides for the reloading of the delivery device with additional medical appliances for additional interventional procedures.
US08511309B2
A coupling for connecting a ventilator tube to a tracheotomy tube has a latching mechanism which prevents the coupling from axially displacing a tapered tubular extension of the tracheotomy tube after they have been mated in a pneumatically discrete path. For use with known adult tracheotomy tubes which have inner and outer cannulas, the latching mechanism engages the coupling with the leading end of the outer cannula collar with the inner cannula collar sandwiched therebetween. For use with known one piece children's tracheotomy tubes, the latching mechanism is a clamshell contoured to concentrically grip the tapered tubular extension of the tracheotomy tube. Interlocking the coupling and the tracheotomy tube prevents them from inadvertently axially displacing from each other. Non-axial force disengages the coupling from the tracheotomy tube so that the coupling can be axially displaced without exertion of excessive axial force on the system and the patient.
US08511302B2
A dose counter mechanism is suitable for use with a medicament delivery device. The dose counter mechanism comprises a rollable tape (20) provided with indicia (22), a tape housing (10) and a tape collector spool (40). The tape housing comprises a tape dispenser housing (14) within which, in use, a roll (24) of the tape is inserted and a tape collector spool housing (16) within which, in use, the tape collector spool is mounted. The tape dispenser housing and the tape collector spool housing are connected by a tape display area (15).
US08511296B2
Solar heating systems are provided which utilize an integrated fixture for transferring heat from a solar collector to a lower-temperature loop, e.g. a domestic hot water system or radiant heating system. The fixture provides a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the solar collector to the lower temperature loop. The fixture may also include a casting, in which are formed solar collector supply and return ports, lower temperature supply and return ports, a solar collector pump volute, and a lower temperature pump volute. The systems also include two pumps, and a temperature optimization control that varies the speed of at least one of the pumps depending on the temperature of the liquid in the solar collector.
US08511295B2
A modular-hinged grilling grate system may include a modular outer support structure and at least one attachable swivel grill grate section.
US08511290B2
An EGR valve device includes a housing having an exhaust gas passage formed inside, a support shaft slidably supported within the housing through a bearing, a valve disposed on the support shaft to open and close the exhaust gas passage, an urging member for urging the support shaft in a direction to close the valve, a valve seat, insert-cast integral with the housing, for closing the exhaust gas passage by abutting against the valve, and an actuator for driving the support shaft in a direction to open the valve, wherein a plurality of recesses or projections are provided axisymmetrically or uniformly in the peripheral portion of the valve seat to be insert-cast.
US08511283B2
A diesel fuel system includes a reservoir containing diesel fuel. A suction tube extends into the reservoir and has an inlet so that fuel can be suctioned into the suction tube. A fence is erected around the inlet to prevent ice wafers from entering the inlet and blocking the suction tube. The fence can be mounted on the floor of the reservoir. Or, the fence can be mounted on the suction tube.
US08511263B2
A pump attaching portion is formed at a specified outside portion of an engine body beside a boss portion of a cylinder-head fastening bolt in such a manner that the pump attaching portion is continuous from the boss portion. The pump attaching portion has an attachment face, which contains a cooling-water introducing port, which is located on the outside of the flange wall and faces toward an engine front side in such a manner that the position of the attachment face is retreated from the flange wall. Accordingly, the sufficient pump-support rigidity can be ensured, restraining the pump attaching portion from projecting greatly toward the side of the engine body.
US08511262B2
A slide-valve device sliding in a predetermined axial direction, includes a valve body having two chambers, the first chamber including a lateral fluid-intake opening and a fluid-outlet opening provided with a normally closed, conditionally opening plug device, the second chamber including first and second lateral fluid-outlet openings, mutually offset in the axial direction. Two inner regions of the second chamber are arranged contiguously in the axial direction and communicate with one another via an opening or an internal passage, and in that the sliding drawer includes a first plug member suitable for selectively plugging the communication opening or the internal communication passage or opening between the two regions and a second plugging member suitable for preventing fluid communication between the second lateral fluid-outlet opening of the second chamber and a first region of the second chamber, within a predetermined range of translation of the sliding drawer.
US08511260B2
An arrangement for a supercharged combustion engine for preventing ice formation in a cooler. A first cooling system with a circulating coolant. A second cooling system with a circulating coolant which during normal operation of the combustion engine is at a lower temperature than the coolant in the first cooling system. The cooler in which a gaseous medium for the engine and which contains water vapor is intended to be cooled by the coolant in the second cooling system. A heat exchanger. A valve which can be placed in a first position wherein coolant from at least one of the cooling systems is prevented from flowing through the heat exchanger and in a second position wherein coolant from both of the cooling systems flows through the heat exchanger so that the coolant in the second cooling system is warmed by the coolant in the first cooling system.
US08511250B2
The present disclosure provides for an apparatus for transferring fluid. The apparatus has a fluid transfer component, a fluid receiving component, a fluid supply, and a fluid motivating component. The fluid transfer component has a first surface, a second surface, a non-random pattern of distinct pores each defining a pathway between the first and second surfaces, a single entry point at the first surface, and a single exit point at the second surface. The pores are disposed at preselected locations to provide a desired pattern of permeability. The fluid receiving component comprises a fluid receiving surface. The fluid supply is adapted to provide a fluid in contact with and at a constant fluid pressure with the first surface of the fluid transfer component. The fluid motivating component is adapted to facilitate transport of the fluid from the first surface through the pores to the second surface.
US08511249B1
A method for marking a first tube in a shell and tube heat exchanger includes inserting a directional pointer into a second tube and directing the directional pointer toward the first tube.
US08511248B2
A suspension system for a lifeboat comprises a pair of hook assemblies each adapted for connection at spaced locations to a lifeboat and for coupling to the lifting links of a pair of suspension cables. Each hook assembly has a hook member pivoted for movement between a closed setting and an open setting and is of a load over center design. A single control mechanism is provided for both hook assemblies and is connected thereto by way of a pair of flexible cables. A primary release mechanism is arranged to pull the cables and so move the hook members to their open settings when the lifeboat is floating. Under emergency conditions when the hook assemblies are heavily loaded, an emergency release mechanism is arranged to move the hook members to their open settings notwithstanding the relatively large load thereon.
US08511243B2
A sewing machine having a bed, a first guide assembly, and a second guide assembly. The first and second guide assemblies are moveably disposed on the bed and spaced apart from each other. At least one of the first and second guide assemblies are actuated when a sensor detects that a workpiece is mispositioned.
US08511240B1
A baby valet assembly that is removably attachable to a tabletop comprising a base structure having a mounting bar removably coupled to a means for attaching the base to a tabletop such as a retractable C-clamp and a tray having a substantially planar eating surface with a raised lip removably coupled to the mounting bar. The mounting bar is removably coupled to the tabletop for the purpose of providing a security post for a toy.
US08511227B2
An apparatus for registering a printing plate includes a support surface. A first registration member provides an electrical signal to the printing plate when contact is established between the first registration member and a first edge of the printing plate. Each registration member in a set of two or more registration members receives the electrical signal provided to the printing plate when contact is established between an edge of the printing plate and the registration member. A set of two or more sensors detects a presence of the electrical signal received by a registration member. A plurality of actuators is operable for moving the printing plate towards a registration member. A controller determines a presence or absence of contact between the printing plate and a selected registration member based on information provided by each sensor. The controller selectively operates at least one of the actuators to move the printing plate towards the selected registration member.
US08511221B2
A machine for preparing coffee and milk based beverages having a steam generator, a first apparatus for producing coffee as well as a source of liquid milk and a second apparatus for preparing and dispensing a beverage from a concentrated fluid product. The second apparatus includes a beverage preparation device associated with a second dispenser connected via first line to a first connector unit of the second apparatus to receive a concentrated fluid product pre-diluted in the first connector unit and, via a second line, to the source of liquid milk to complete dilution and obtain a diluted product to be dispensed from the beverage preparation device.
US08511217B2
The present invention relates to an end cap for a rodless cylinder (101) provided with a sealing strip (110). The end cap comprises an end cap body (102, 104) and a channel (105). The end cap body (102, 104) is configured to sealingly fit to a cylinder body (101). The channel (105) is formed in the end cap body (102, 104) and adapted to receive the sealing strip (110). The end cap includes a clamping lever (15) pivotally affixed to the end cap body (102, 104), with the clamping lever (15) including a clamping surface (90) that clamps the sealing strip (110) within the channel (105) when the clamping lever (15) is moved to a substantially closed position.
US08511209B1
Auxiliary tool handling devices incorporating ergonomic-advantage designs selected from auxiliary handles, active movable forearm supports, foot pads, and wheels and various combinations of these are disclosed that allow many common tools to function in a safe, secure, convenient, ergonomic and efficient manner in performing many common chores.
US08511201B2
A noise reduction apparatus for a shift cable, may include a mounting socket that is fixed to a shift lever mounting bracket, with an inner cable of the shift cable therethrough, a cable connection pipe that has one side connected to a shift lever-sided end of an outer cable of the shift cable, and a housing connection pipe that has one end elastically-coupled to a shift lever-sided end of the cable connection pipe with a predetermined distance therebetween by a first antivibration member in a damper housing and the other end thereof elastically-connected to the shift lever mounting bracket by a second antivibration member in the mounting socket.
US08511198B2
A robot arm system includes a support base, a first robot arm, a first driving mechanism, a second robot arm, a second driving mechanism, and a wrist assembly. The first driving mechanism drives the first robot arm to rotate around the first rotation axis. The second driving mechanism drives the second robot arm to rotate around the second rotation axis. The robot arm system further comprises a first wheel positioned on the support base, a second wheel positioned on the second robot arm, a third wheel positioned on the wrist assembly and rotatably connecting to the second robot arm, a first flexible belt connecting the first wheel with the second wheel, and a second flexible belt connecting the third wheel with the second wheel. The first wheel, the second wheel, and the third wheel have the same radius.
US08511188B2
An energy conversion system that converts linear kinetic energy to rotational kinetic energy is disclosed. A force is applied to a coil spring, compressing the spring. The spring drives an arm forward as the spring returns to its uncompressed state. The arm, in turn, causes the driving portion of an over-running clutch to rotate forward and drive an output shaft. The linear motion of the arm being driven forward by the spring is converted to rotational kinetic energy in the output shaft. The output shaft may then be connected to an external device to drive that device.
US08511185B2
A sensor element assembly, including: a sensor element; lead frames provided with the sensor element therebetween, the lead frames fixing the sensor element; a first head protection film protecting the sensor element fixed between the lead frames; an insulating film covering the first head protection film and the lead frames to insulate the lead frames; and a second head protection film (resin layer) further covering the head covered with the insulating film. The sensor element assembly is advantageous in that an epoxy resin layer is formed on a film layer covering a sensor element, so that the strength of the sensor element assembly can be maintained by the epoxy resin layer itself, thereby improving the impact resistance and compressive strength thereof.
US08511180B2
A flowmeter device for measuring a flow rate of a fluid includes a conduit for the fluid flow. The conduit is characterized by a cross-sectional area and includes at least one section within which the cross-sectional area is different from the cross-sectional area of at least one other section of the conduit. The device also includes a reference tube separated from the conduit by a wall and at least one opening in the wall between the section and the reference tube. The device includes a flexible diaphragm forming a space between the diaphragm and a region of the wall at the section of the conduit, and which includes the opening, to inhibit flow of the fluid between the conduit and the reference tube. The diaphragm is deformable so as to allow measuring a parameter associated with the deformation of the diaphragm in response to a difference between fluid pressure in section and fluid pressure in the reference tube in fluid pressure between a fluid flowing through the section of the conduit and a fluid contained in the reference tube.
US08511172B2
A stretch-bend-draw simulator (SBDS) apparatus for approximating die stamping of a metal is disclosed. The simulator includes a tool having a surface for contacting a sheet metal strip clamped in a jaw grip adapted to pull the sheet metal strip to provide a force measurement. A tool holding and moving device can be included for mounting, translating, and positioning the tool with respect to the sheet metal strip. The tool can be mounted on the tool holding device at a distal end or on a mounting plate of the apparatus. The tool holding device is coupled to a contact force measuring load cell for measuring the contact force. A draw bead block holder is provided that is adapted to mount a corresponding male and female draw bead blocks. The holder includes a compressing means for compressing the draw bead blocks together to clamp the strip. A clamping force measuring load cell is provided for measuring a clamping force resulting from the draw bead blocks clamping on the sheet metal strip. The simulator can include a base clamping device for mounting the sheet metal strip at an opposite end. The base clamping device is positioned adjacent the draw bead block holder and coupled to a back force measuring means for measuring a back force resulting from holding the sheet metal strip while the jaw grip pulls the sheet metal strip. The apparatus is adapted to analyze skid lines on the sheet metal strip resulting from contact with the tool.
US08511170B2
A pressure transducer includes a substrate, a piezoresistive element, a first conductive element, a first terminal, and a test structure. The substrate has a surface and a cavity. A diaphragm layer is formed over the cavity and over the surface of the substrate. The piezoresistive element is formed in the diaphragm layer. The first conductive element is formed in the diaphragm layer, and has a first conductivity type. The first conductive element is coupled to the piezoresistive element. The first terminal is formed over a surface of the diaphragm layer and coupled to the first conductive element. The test structure has the first conductivity type and is formed in the diaphragm layer. The test structure has an edge spaced apart from an edge of the first conductive element by a predetermined distance. A surface charge accumulation on the diaphragm layer is detected using the test structure.
US08511166B2
A strain sensor apparatus for a rotatable shaft including an emitter/receiver, a vibration element attached to the shaft and arranged for receiving and reflecting signals to and from the emitter/receiver wherein the vibration element includes asymmetric stiffness properties between a radial and axial and/or circumferential directions relative to a rotational axis of the shaft.
US08511163B2
A piezoelectric cantilever sensor includes a piezoelectric layer and a non-piezoelectric layer, a portion of which is attached to the piezoelectric layer. In one embodiment, one end of the non-piezoelectric layer extends beyond the end of piezoelectric layer to provide an overhang. The overhang piezoelectric cantilever sensor enables increased sensitivity allowing application of the device in more viscous environments, such as liquid media, as well as application in liquid media at higher flow rates than conventional piezoelectric cantilevers. In another embodiment, the sensor includes first and second bases and at least one of the piezoelectric layer and the non-piezoelectric layer is affixed to each of the first and second bases to form the piezoelectric cantilever sensor. In this embodiment, the sensor is robust and exhibits excellent sensing characteristics in both gaseous and liquid media, even when subjected to relatively high flow rates.
US08511160B2
The invention provides a housing for a sensor having a semiconductor element for measuring hydrogen concentration in an insulating fluid in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment having a mounting flange on the equipment providing access to the interior of the equipment and provided with a plurality of bolt receiving openings arranged on the mounting flange in a first pattern, which includes a first flange having at least one or more openings for receiving one or more semiconductor hydrogen sensors and an outer periphery, a plurality of bolt receiving apertures arranged in a pattern corresponding to the first pattern within the outer periphery of the first flange, a second flange having a second plurality of bolt receiving apertures arranged in a pattern corresponding to the first pattern within the periphery of the second flange.
US08511155B2
The present invention relates to devices that include a mechanochromatic material (10) which changes color according to a pressure exerted on the device. As a result, the mechanochromatic material (10) functions as an indicator of pressure exerted on the device. A user can view the mechanochromatic material (10) to determine whether the pressure exerted on the device exceeds a threshold pressure, whereat a color change will occur in the mechanochromatic material (10).
US08511154B2
A method for estimating a cylinder air charge for an internal combustion engine includes determining a first volumetric efficiency corresponding to engine operation with an open exhaust gas recirculation valve, determining a second volumetric efficiency corresponding to engine operation with a closed exhaust gas recirculation valve, determining a cylinder air charge using a selected one of the first and second volumetric efficiencies.
US08511150B2
Methods and systems for using force measurements to determine the amount of material in a container and/or the rate at which material is discharged from a container are disclosed. A container for storing a desired material is positioned so that the center of gravity of the container shifts horizontally with changes in level of the material in the container. A plurality of load sensors are symmetrically arranged at a base of the container and are used to monitor the amount of materials in the container.
US08511148B2
A vessel includes a cylindrical section, a bottom section, a lower ring, and an upper ring. The cylindrical section includes an inside and, an outside vessel surfaces, an upper end region terminating at a rim circumscribing a vessel opening, a vessel groove formed at the outside vessel surface in the upper end region, and a lower end region axially spaced from the upper end region. The bottom section is disposed at the lower end region. The lower ring includes annular lateral and an annular flange portions. The lateral portion is disposed in the vessel groove and includes an outer lateral surface concentric with the inside vessel surface. The flange portion includes an upper and a lower flange surfaces perpendicular to the inside vessel surface. The upper ring includes an inner section extending over at least a portion of the rim, and an outer section securely engaging the upper flange surface.
US08511142B2
A substance detection sensor includes an insulating layer; two electrodes spaced in opposed relation to each other on the insulating layer; and conductive layers formed between the two electrodes on the insulating layer so as to electrically connect the two electrodes, and of which a swelling ratio varies depending on the type and/or amount of a specific gas. The conductive layers are formed by dividing into plural layers between the two electrodes.
US08511123B2
A pipe bending machine has a stiff-back which is driven by a pivoting wedge. A linkage applies force from the actuator to the wedge in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stiff-back. The stiff-back pivots on a first fulcrum and the wedge slides on a bed which pivots on a second fulcrum. The actuator drives the wedge between the stiff-back and the bed to rotate the stiff-back at the first fulcrum and bend the pipe seated in the stiff-back against the pipe bending face of a die. The conversion of the longitudinal force applied to the wedge into a transverse force applied to the stiff-back provides a significant mechanical advantage which varies directionally as the stiff-back rotates about its fulcrum to maintain a constant force on the stiff-back.
US08511115B2
A washing machine which includes a lid assembly opening/closing a laundry entrance hole, wherein the lid assembly includes a lid frame and a lid inner coupled to an inside of the lid frame and having a hinge unit, is provided. The lid assembly may be easily assembled and maintain a secure coupling, thereby allowing for a reliable and stable washing machine. Further, the lid assembly may be easily opened or closed by the hinge unit, and this increases convenience.
US08511111B2
An adsorber unit has an outer shell, a plurality of internal tubes extending through the shell for carrying heat transfer fluid, each tube having outwardly projecting fins along its entire length, and a solid adsorbent material in the shell surrounding the tubes such that the fins project into the adsorbent material, the fins being of a material (e.g., metal) of higher thermal conductivity than the adsorbent material. Metal wool loosely packed inside the tubes, or internal radial fins swaged into the tubes, increase internal surface area thereby enhancing convective heat transfer. Metal wool loosely packed between the external fins, or fine wire metal coils lightly squeezed between the external fins, further increase external surface area of the heat exchanger in contact with the adsorbent thereby enhancing contact heat transfer. Performance is enhanced because the external fins and wool or wire coils transport heat more efficiently to all regions of the adsorbent, and permit less non-adsorbent heat exchanger material (e.g., metal) to be used for a given amount of adsorbent. Two or more such units are used in an adsorption heat pump. This design utilizes existing components (e.g., shell-&-tube heat exchanger, internally and externally finned tubing, and metal wool or wire coils) in a novel manner heretofore untried. In one exemplary embodiment, automobile air conditioning, exhaust heat is used to power such an air conditioner.
US08511107B2
Disclosed is a refrigerator capable of purifying water discharged to a spout just before the water is dispensed. The refrigerator includes a spout, a water delivery system guiding water to the spout, and a water purification filter installed on the spout in order to purify the water just before the water is dispensed.
US08511101B1
An ice machine in which an icemaker sits atop the ice machine and makes ice that is processed by the ice machine to deliver on demand ice in bags to a paying customer. The customer places payment into the money acceptor and pushes a button indicating a demand to purchase an open bag of ice or a container of ice water provided by the ice water dispenser.
US08511100B2
A system is disclosed for cooling superconducting devices. The system includes a cryogen cooling system configured to be coupled to the superconducting device and to supply cryogen to the device. The system also includes a cryogen storage system configured to supply cryogen to the device. The system further includes flow control valving configured to selectively isolate the cryogen cooling system from the device, thereby directing a flow of cryogen to the device from the cryogen storage system.
US08511090B2
Nozzle exit configurations and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An aircraft system in accordance with one embodiment includes a jet engine exhaust nozzle having an internal flow surface and an exit aperture, with the exit aperture having a perimeter that includes multiple projections extending in an aft direction. Aft portions of individual neighboring projections are spaced apart from each other by a gap, and a geometric feature of the multiple can change in a monotonic manner along at least a portion of the perimeter.
US08511083B2
A turbocharger system having a compressor wheel including blades that define an inducer and an exducer, a compressor housing configured to receive the compressor wheel, and an impeller passage within which air is to be compressed by the blades, wherein the compressor housing forms an intake port configured to provide intake air to the inducer, and a bypass port opening into the impeller passage between the inducer and exducer. The bypass port places the impeller passage in fluid communication with the atmosphere without having a fluid interaction with the intake air. A bypass-air filter is adapted to filter air passing between the bypass port and the atmosphere, and is a portion of the intake-air filter.
US08511082B2
A heat transport system includes a fluid, a heat engine, and a component. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The heat engine is operable to transfer heat from one of the first fluid region and the second fluid region to the other of the first fluid region and the second fluid region in response to the crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy.
US08511081B2
For both adjustable flow restrictors D1, D2 having variable cross-sections a common adjustment element 21 is provided mechanically coupling the restrictors in a hydraulic damping assembly D for regulating parameters of a regulating system S, in particular of a variable displacement pump P, the restrictors D1, D2 being provided in discharge paths 12, 13 such that the restrictor cross-sections can be varied within an adjustment stroke h. The common adjustment element 21 allows to simultaneously and oppositely vary the flow restriction cross-sections A of both flow restrictors having a variable cross-section. The restrictor cross-sections A of both flow restrictors D1, D2 having a variable cross-section of a hydraulic damping assembly S in a regulating system S of a variable displacement pump P can be varied simultaneously and oppositely according to an imminent specification of the system set by the manufacturer.
US08511080B2
A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, a displacement control valve configured to affect displacement of the pump, and a tool control valve configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and to selectively direct to the pressurized fluid to a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have a controller in communication with the displacement control valve. The controller may be configured to determine a pressure gradient across the tool control valve substantially different than a desired pressure gradient, to determine a desired condition of the displacement control valve based the pressure gradient, and to determine a flow force applied to the displacement control valve based on the desired condition. The controller may be further configured to generate a load sense response signal directed to the displacement control valve based on the desired condition and the flow force.
US08511061B1
A gas turbine engine includes a core housing that has an inlet case and an intermediate case that respectively provide an inlet case flow path and an intermediate case flow path. The shaft supports a compressor section that is arranged axially between the inlet case flow path and the intermediate case flow path. The shaft includes a main shaft and a flex shaft having bellows. The flex shaft is secured to the main shaft at a first end and includes a second end opposite the first end. A geared architecture is coupled to the shaft, and a fan coupled to and rotationally driven by the geared architecture. The geared architecture includes a sun gear supported on the second end. A first bearing supports the shaft relative to the intermediate case and a second bearing supports the shaft relative to the inlet case. The second bearing is arranged radially outward from the flex shaft.
US08511055B2
A fluid distribution system for use in a gas turbine engine includes a fan shaft, a damper, a bearing, and a pump. The damper supports the bearing, and the bearing supports the fan shaft. The pump is connected to and driven by the fan shaft. The pump is also fluidically connected to the damper.
US08511048B2
An automated method for forming a packaged good article includes establishing a continuous path of travel for a mandrel. The mandrel defines an open interior between a package side and a loading side. With the mandrel at a first angle, a packaging material is wrapped about the mandrel at a first station along the path of travel to define a partial package. Product is dispensed into the partial package at a second station. With the mandrel at the second angle, the partial package and the mandrel are separated from one another at a third station. The first angle of the mandrel (at the first station) differs from the second angle of the mandrel (at the third station). The partial package is closed to form a packaged good article. In some embodiments, the mandrel is horizontal at the first station and is vertical at the third station.
US08511039B2
A safety barrier system for use in constructing multi-storey buildings has elongated safety barrier panels extending upwards from a first floor level a sufficient height to serve as effective safety barriers during the work for the subsequent floor. The panels are supported at their side edges in rails along which the safety barrier panels can slide. The rails are duplexed (siamesed) so as to link the respective safety barrier panels into a continuous peripheral barrier. The respective panels and rails are braced and independently supported, permitting the system elements to be ‘walked’ piecemeal up the face of a structure as required during its erection. Auxiliary barriers supplement the displaced panels, on lower levels, while toe-boards protect the floor-to-panel gap.
US08511037B2
An insulated concrete form structure is provided that includes a structure opening through the structure. The structure opening being defined by form edges and opening forms bonded to a concrete core of the structure. A method is provided that includes erecting a set of spaced apart forms on a base, positioning opening forms in the space between the forms around a form opening through the forms, securing the opening forms around the form opening, and pouring concrete to fill the space between the forms, around the opening forms, to a top portion of the forms, thus creating the concrete core of the structure.
US08511036B2
This invention relates to safety anchors for roof workers and in particular to a gutter ladder anchor, a ridge anchor, a rafter anchor, and a truss anchor. In a one aspect the invention is a gutter ladder anchor formed from a metal plate, and comprising a flat base, having left, right, rear, and front ends; a fold at the front end of the base; one or more legs extending from the fold; a flange at the end of each leg, folded upwards; one or more holes located in each leg for mounting a vertical eye or a ladder location attachment; a first pattern of spaced apart holes through the base for fixing the anchor to a batten or purlin, said first pattern extending from the left end to the right end; and one or more holes through the flange of each leg for fixing the anchor to a gutter.
US08511031B2
A set of essentially identical floorboards each including a front face and a rear face extending in the horizontal plane, a core, and a surface layer, a mechanical locking system is arranged at least at two opposite edges for connecting a floorboard with an adjacent floorboard in a horizontal and a vertical direction, said mechanical locking system being configured for connecting the floorboard with the adjacent floorboard by vertical folding, wherein one of said opposite edges is provided with a horizontally extending protrusion at an upper edge, and wherein said protrusion is configured to overlap a surface groove at an upper edge of the other of said opposite edges, such that two connected and adjacent floorboards have upper overlapping edges.
US08511029B2
This invention is a method and apparatus for repairing a hole in a surface with a perforated repair patch. The repair patch, which is affixed to and substantially cover over the hole, is indented inwards by applying cement compound into its perforations and pushing the repair patch into the hole as the cement compound hardens. A layer of drywall compound is then applied over the indented repair patch to smooth it with the rest of the wall. The perforated repair patch may include an additional layer of mesh sheet material to minimize cracking of the drywall compound.
US08511024B2
A veneer panel system is used with a wall or a retaining wall to provide a natural stone appearance and/or to improve the appearance of an existing wall. Panels can be interlocked to form a stable veneer structure. The structure is attached to a wall by various attachment devices.
US08511020B2
The disclosure describes, in part, apparatuses and methods for installing structures (e.g., foundations, footings, anchors, abutments, etc.) at work sites, such as difficult-access work sites. In some instances, a rotating drill assembly is assembled over a target location in order to excavate a radial array of batter-angled shafts associated with the target location in preparation for the installation of a radial array of micropiles. An operator utilizes the rotating drill in combination with a foundation pile schedule/decision matrix to design and install the radial array of batter-angled micropiles. This disclosure also describes techniques for designing, fabricating and installing structural caps to be coupled to the installed radial array batter angled micropiles. These structural caps are lightweight and, thus, more portable to difficult-access sites where they are coupled to the micropiles forming a foundation for structure to be installed at the difficult-access site.
US08511012B2
A window frame assembly for a window opening in which the assembly comprises a casing facing that covers the casing with a J-channel secured to the casing facing and defining an outwardly facing channel to receive bordering edges of siding material, and a casing molding having one longitudinal edge continuous with the casing facing and a second longitudinal edge outwardly and non-planar with the one longitudinal edge and engaging the J-channel. The casing molding of a color contrasting with either or both of the J-channel and casing facing.
US08511009B2
A securing configuration of a solar cell module includes a plurality of supporting members which are mounted on roof members; a plurality of crosspiece members each of which is inserted between and supported by the supporting pieces of the plurality of supporting members, has first holding portions which hold first fastener members in a slidable manner on both side faces and a second holding portion which holds a second fastener member in a slidable manner on an upper face, and which are arranged at a predetermined interval in the roof lateral direction; and securing members which secure the solar cell module installed on the plurality of crosspiece members such that long sides of the solar cell module are intersected with the plurality of crosspiece members to the crosspiece members through the second fastener members held by the second holding portions.
US08511008B2
A solar cell module attachment structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a solar cell module attachment structure for attaching, face-to-face, edges of two solar cell modules (2) that are disposed adjacent and spaced from each other on a top face (12) of an attachment base (11) disposed along the edges in a front-rear direction, wherein with the use of an upper fixing fitting 3a including a pressing plate 31 and protrusion pieces 32, a lower fixing fitting 4 including an upper plate 40 and a lower plate 50, and a bolt 8, the bolt 8 inserted from above into a pressing plate hole 33 formed in the pressing plate 31 is inserted and fixed in a lower plate connecting hole 51 formed in the lower plate 50 of the lower fixing fitting 4.
US08510994B2
A security apparatus may include a portion that engages a wall on one side of a doorway, a portion that extends through the doorway, and another portion that may engage the door on the opposite side of the doorway. In operation, the apparatus may function to transmit a force applied to the front of the door to the exterior wall to reinforce the door against an unauthorized entry (e.g., an intruder kicking the door).
US08510986B2
A material for maintaining hydration in plants, whether potted or in natural soils may include a substrate treated with a binder, securing a layer of hydrating particles thereto. Typical binders may include lignicite, or other naturally occurring materials such as sugars, molasses, corn syrup, gelatin, water, a combination, or the like. Substrates may include natural organic materials or inorganic materials. Various materials can serve as a hydrating, particulate coating. Polyacrylamide has been found to serve well in holding water near plants in a soil.
US08510983B2
A pivot mount base is assembled to or removed from the sight mounting rail of a firearm by a lever actuated cam energized rail clamping mechanism. A pivot shaft is fixed within an axially oriented pivot passage of the mount base and defines spaced external bearing surfaces. A pivotal accessory support device defines spaced pivot receptacles having a portion of said pivot mount base located therebetween and has bearing receptacles receiving the pivot shaft. The accessory support device is moveable both linearly and rotatably relative to the fixed pivot shaft and is urged toward a locked position with a locking pin by a compression spring and is moved against the spring force to free the accessory support device for manual rotational movement to a precision aiming position and to a laterally offset position.
US08510982B1
Disclosed is a light assembly for placement inside a handgun, with the battery of the light assembly replacing the recoil spring guide of the handgun. The recoil spring of the handgun fits over the battery of the disclosed lighting assembly. The light provides a primary or alternative light source for the user of a handgun, and may provide white light or infrared light. The light assembly disclosed may be mounted inside a handgun without making permanent modifications to the handgun.
US08510979B1
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention would comprise a light-emitting component and a less-than-lethal-agent-emitting component. An exemplary light-emitting component would comprise an exemplary broad-light-emitting device, such as, for example, a flashlight component, and an exemplary narrow-light-emitting device, such as, for example, a laser light. An exemplary apparatus would further comprise an exemplary less-than-lethal-agent-emitting component, such as, for example, an exemplary lachrymatory-agent-emitting device that would be capable of emitting an exemplary lachrymatory agent.
US08510973B2
A shoe and an apparatus for selectively extending spikes from the bottom of a shoe. The shoe has a sole having a longitudinal direction a plurality of spike apertures. The apparatus comprises a plurality of spike assemblies, each being locatable within one of the spike apertures an elongate member extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shoe and a cyclically alternating positioner for moving the elongate member between the first and second positions. The positioner including an actuating button. Depressing the actuating button a first time causes the positioner to move the elongate member to a first position whereat the spikes are extended from the sole. Depressing the actuating button a second time causes the positioner to move the elongate member to the second position whereat the spikes are retracted into the sole.
US08510964B2
A leveling rod for electronic level for easily expanding a measurable range for long/short distance measurements without inaccuracy even when mixed and used with a conventional level, has a first pattern having a grayscale of predetermined rules for a first distance range measurement, and a second pattern enlarged/reduced with respect to a pattern with the inverted grayscale of the first pattern for a second distance range measurement different from the first distance range. An electronic level includes a height measuring device measuring a collimation point height from an output signal from a line sensor for correspondence to the first pattern, a grayscale inverting device inverting the grayscale of the output signal from the line sensor for correspondence to the second pattern, and a height correcting device correcting the height measured by the height measuring device according to a reduction scale of the second pattern with respect to the first pattern.
US08510961B2
The invention of this application relates to a hand or power tool which can be used as a planer such that the movement of the tool along a workpiece causes a portion of the material of the workpieces to be removed by at least one cutter blade provided on the tool at a baseplate of the tool which contacts with the workpiece. The tool is provided with at least one movable portion which can be moved with respect to the baseplate and hence the tool. The movable portion can be angularly movable to allow a chamfer cut to be accurately achieved and/or can be slidably movable with respect to the baseplate so a to protrude from an edge thereof to allow greater cutting accuracy to be achieved. In a further embodiment the movement portion can be provided so as to be moved to allow user access to at least one debris conduit.
US08510955B2
A process of producing an inner joint part for a constant velocity plunging joint is disclosed. The process includes providing a preformed blank, hardening the preformed blank, hard-machining first track portions, while second track portions remain unmachined. The preformed blank includes a longitudinal axis, an outer face with circumferentially distributed tracks, a central through-aperture, a first end face and a second end face opposed thereto. The tracks each comprise a first track portion having, in a cross-sectional view, a smaller track radius and a second track portion having, in a cross-sectional view, a greater cross-section.
US08510952B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product are present for performing a manufacturing procedure. A component may be positioned in a work area. A plurality of groups of robots may be operated in parallel and robots of each group of robots of the plurality of groups of robots may be operated in synchronism for performing a plurality of manufacturing operations at a plurality of locations on the component.
US08510943B2
Methods are provided for repairing a frame configured to support a wind turbine generator. The method includes providing a frame support including a stand, tension member, and jack. The frame support includes a stand coupled to a first portion of the frame. The tension member is coupled to the stand and a second portion of the frame. The jack is configured to move the stand. The jack is actuated to move the stand and increase a tension in the tension member to move the second portion with respect to the first portion. The frame is repaired while the frame support is coupled to the frame. The jack is actuated to move the stand and decrease the tension in the tension member to move the second portion with respect to the first portion. The tension member is decoupled from the second portion. The stand is decoupled form the first portion.
US08510938B2
The present invention discloses a method for assembling a camera module. The method includes putting plural conductive bumps on a conductive contact of a substrate such that a large conductive bump is formed, and pressing the substrate and an image chip together such that the conductive contact contacts with a pad formed on the image chip through the large conductive bump to combine the conductive contact and the pad. Since there is no contact between the substrate and the image chip but the large conductive bump, the method decreases the probability for fracture between the substrate and the image chip and improves the quality of the camera module.
US08510935B2
A method for producing an assembly of electronic components and assemblies in accord with this, wherein the electronic components have component terminals. A conductive firmament having a first side and a second side is provided. Then the component terminals are connected to the first side of the firmament with an anisotropic conductor. A pattern is applied to the second side of said firmament. And portions of the firmament are removed based on the pattern, such that remaining portions of said firmament form the electrical circuit interconnecting the component terminals.
US08510934B2
A method is described for manufacturing a flexible electronic product, the method comprising the steps of—providing (S1) a flexible foil (10; 110) with a first and a second, mutually opposite main side (11, 12; 111, 112),—placing (S2) a component (30; 130) at the first foil at the first main side (11; 111), the component having at least one electrical terminal (31; 131) facing towards the second main side (12; 112)—estimating (S3) a position of the at least one electrical terminal (131),—adaptively forming (S4) a conductive path (40A, 40B, 40C) to the at least one electrical terminal, based on said estimated position.
US08510932B2
A method for manufacture of a conductor assembly. The assembly is of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or in which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, a voltage is induced. In an example embodiment one or more first coil rows are formed. The assembly has multiple coil rows about an axis with outer coil rows formed about inner coil rows. A determination is made of deviations from specifications associated with the formed one or more first coil rows. One or more deviations correspond to a magnitude of a multipole field component which departs from a field specification. Based on the deviations, one or more wiring patterns are generated for one or more second coil rows to be formed about the one or more first coil rows. The one or more second coil rows are formed in the assembly. The magnitude of each multipole field component that departs from the field specification is offset.
US08510929B2
This invention relates to an indexer for providing rotation of a part from a first index position to a second index position. The indexer comprises an indexer frame and a part for rotation. The indexer frame has at least one index feature, and the part has at least one index feature, wherein the at least one index feature on the indexer frame is co-operable with the at least one index feature on the part so as to provide two or more index positions of the part with respect to the indexer frame. In use the part locates with the indexer frame so as to form an axis about which the part is able to rotate relative to the indexer frame, the axis being kinematically located.
US08510924B2
A reconfigurable fixture device system, including: a base member; a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece; an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material; a controller in operable communication with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the activation device, and the base member; a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter associated with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece, wherein the plurality of sensors is in operable communication with the controller; and an actuator in operable communication with the controller and the at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece.
US08510915B2
A pull assembly has a knob and a detachable fascia. An insert is located inside the knob, and the fascia attaches to the insert. The insert has a keyed hole, into which a tab extending from a non-decorative face of the fascia is inserted. The fascia may be rotated between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the fascia is rotated into the unlocked position, the fascia can be detached, and when the fascia is in the locked position, the fascia cannot be detached.
US08510906B2
An upright type vacuum cleaner is provided that includes a cleaner body formed with a mounting space; a vacuum motor mounted in the cleaner body to produce suction force; a brush assembly connected to the cleaner body; a dust collection device mounted in the mounting space and having a dust collection bin; and a lifting/lowering unit for lifting or lowering the dust collection bin in relation to the cleaner body, so that the dust collection bin is anchored in the mounting space or removed from the mounting space, wherein the cyclone cylinder has a locking handle and a handle connection part is formed on a corresponding part of the cleaner body so that the locking handle can be removably connected to the handle connection part.
US08510875B2
An indicator that the cartridge is draining slowly is placed on top of the cartridge. When slow draining causes urine to pool on top of the cartridge, liquid enters a float housing, causing an indicator to change color. The indicator is visible through a lens in a diverter. The indicator may be a disk that undergoes a chemical reaction to change color or a float that flips over to reveal a side having a different color. When the cartridge is operating properly, the float displays a first color. Flipping of the float reveals a second color to the observer. A color change indicates, such as by signaling, that the cartridge needs to be replaced.
US08510873B2
An upper body support apparatus for toilets which enables a user to place his/her arms thereon when having a bowel movement. The upper body support apparatus includes a support board, which supports the arms of the user thereon, and a horizontal shaft, which provides a path, along which the support board slides relative to the horizontal shaft. The upper body support apparatus further includes a hinge unit, which supports a first end of the horizontal shaft such that the horizontal shaft is rotatable upwards or downwards within an angular range of 90° around the first end thereof, and a vertical frame, which supports the hinge unit and receives therein a drive unit, which rotates the hinge unit to the left or the right or moves the hinge unit upwards or downwards.
US08510872B2
Toilet flusher (1) comprising a power source (3), a control unit (4), and at least one first container (9) containing a first preparation (10), wherein the first container can be coupled to the toilet flusher (1), wherein at least the first preparation (10) has a viscosity less than 3,000 mPas, and wherein a pump (6) and/or a dispensing element (43) is configured so that when the pump (6) is idle or the dispensing element (43) is in the closed position, the preparation (10) is prevented from freely flowing into the surrounding area.
US08510870B2
A helmet, adjustable longitudinally and laterally to fit a variety of head configurations, includes an outer shell having front and a rear shell parts, which are movably joined with one another, and an adjuster. The rear outer shell and/or the front outer shell can include first and second lateral shell portions separated by a slot. The adjuster can move the first and second lateral shell portions away from one another from a narrowed mode to a widened mode to increase the lateral dimension of the helmet. Simultaneously, the adjuster can move the front and/or rear shell to increase the longitudinal dimension of the helmet as the first and second lateral shell portions move from a narrowed mode to a widened mode. A method is also provided for effecting the longitudinal and lateral adjustments of the helmet.
US08510867B2
An apparatus for educating children includes a first symbol for application to a first article of clothing and a second symbol for application to a second article of clothing. The first article of clothing is worn by a user at a same time as the second article of clothing and the first article of clothing and the second article of clothing are both part of a clothing set. The second symbol is non-identical to the first symbol and the first symbol corresponds to and matches the second symbol based on a relationship of an educational topic.
US08510866B2
The present invention provides a golf glove which allows a golfer to wear it or further fasten up the attachment member without bothering other players near the teeing ground or the putting green. When a dial member 13 is rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to a guide member 12, an interlocking groove 13D of a dial member 13 pulls a head portion 11D of an interlocking protrusion of a plate member in a direction indicated by the left pointing arrow along a long guide hole 12A of the guide member 12, and thus the guide member 12 on the attachment member 1C moves relatively in a direction of tightening up the attachment member 1C and the golf glove is put on a hand. When the dial member 13 is further rotated in a clockwise direction, the attachment member 1C is tightened up so that the worn golf glove fits more closely to the hand. No rasping and uncomfortable ripping noises which are peculiar to plane fasteners used in a conventional golf glove will be generated.
US08516607B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating data access controls in peer-to-peer or other similar overlay networks. A peer node storing a data object may receive a request for access to the stored data object, and may locate in the network an access control list associated with the data object using a routing mechanism included in the data object. The peer node may determine whether the requested access is authorized based on the access control list, and may grant or deny access based on the determination. A peer node storing an access control list may receive a request from a peer node storing a data object for information relating to access controls associated with the data object. The peer node storing the access control list may then send the requested information relating to the access controls associated with the data object.
US08516606B2
Systems and methods are provided for challenge/response animation. In one implementation, a request for protected content may be received from a client, and the protected content may comprise data. A challenge phrase comprising a plurality of characters may be determined, and a computer processor may divide the challenge phrase into at least two character subsets selected from the characters comprising the challenge phrase. Each of the at least two character subsets may include less than all of the characters comprising the challenge phrase. The at least two character subsets may be sent to the client in response to the request; and an answer to the challenge phrase may be received from the client in response to the at least two character subsets. Access to the protected content may be limited based on whether the answer correctly solves the challenge phrase.
US08516596B2
In certain embodiments, analyzing cyber attacks includes receiving cyber attack parameters. A cyber attack parameter describes a performance attribute of a cyber attack scenario. The cyber attack parameters comprises at least one temporal parameter describing a temporal feature of the cyber attack scenario. The following is performed for each cyber defense of one or more cyber defenses to yield one or more sets of cyber attack metrics: simulating the cyber attack operating with a cyber defense; and determining a set of cyber attack metrics describing the cyber attack operating with the cyber defense. The cyber defenses are evaluated in accordance with the sets of cyber attack metrics.
US08516593B2
A computer worm defense system comprises multiple containment systems tied together by a management system. Each containment system is deployed on a separate communication network and contains a worm sensor and a blocking system. In various embodiments, the computer worm may be transported from a production network, where the computer worm is not readily identifiable, to an alternate network in the worm sensor where the computer worm may be readily identifiable. Computer worm identifiers generated by a worm sensor of one containment system can be provided not only to the blocking system of the same containment system, but can also be distributed by the management system to blocking systems of other containment systems.
US08516579B2
A controlling device may acquire setting information regarding a wireless setting for a wireless communication currently being set in a wireless communication device. The controlling device may determine, using the setting information, whether the wireless setting indicates a first authentication method in which an authentication is performed by an authentication server or a second authentication method in which an authentication is performed by a device with which the wireless communication performing unit performs a wireless communication directly. The controlling device may provide a first screen to a displaying unit in a first case where a determination is made that the wireless setting indicates the first authentication method. The controlling device may provide a second screen which is different from the first screen to the displaying unit in a second case where a determination is made that the wireless setting indicates the second authentication method.
US08516573B1
Method and apparatus for port sweep detection in a network is described. In one example, log data is obtained for a period of time. The log data is associated with a plurality of devices in the network. The log data is processed to identify connection requests from a source key for a port at a number of target internet protocol (IP) addresses. An alarm is generated if the number of target IP addresses associated with the connection requests from the source key exceeds a threshold.
US08516571B2
An authentication method and an input device are provided in which a password which a user has inputted in person can be easily reproduced, and it is unlikely for a password leak to occur even when peeped at. An authentication password includes position identification information disposed in an arbitrary position in an input section of an input device. Position identification information corresponding to a first indicated position of an input trajectory inputted from the input section is acquired. Based on the input trajectory, trajectory information representing repetitions of the trajectory from the first indicated position and movement information representing a movement direction with respect to the first indicated position are calculated. The acquired position identification information, and the calculated trajectory information and movement information are compared with preset setting information, and whether they correspond to the setting information is determined, thereby the authentication is carried out.
US08516569B2
Techniques for uninterrupted virtual private network (VPN) connection service with dynamic policy enforcement are provided. An existing VPN session between a VPN client and a VPN server detects a change in a VPN network being used for the existing VPN session. New credentials and new policies are received by the VPN client. The new credentials are automatically used to re-authenticate the VPN client to the change during the existing VPN session, and the new policies are dynamically used to enforce the new policies during the existing VPN session on the VPN client.
US08516564B2
A first virtualization layer is inserted between (i) an operating system of a computer system, and (ii) at least first and second hardware devices of the computer system. Data is communicated between the first hardware device and the second hardware device, via the first virtualization layer, without exposing the data to the operating system.
US08516560B2
A method for securely authenticating a user of a portable consumer device at an access device comprising the following steps. First, a dynamic data element and a first set of transactional information is sent to the portable consumer device from the access device. Next, the portable consumer device creates an authentication code as a function of at least the dynamic data element, a subset of the first set of transactional information, and a password. The authentication code, along with other data, is then sent from the portable consumer device back to the access device. The access device then uses the authentication code to send an authentication request message to the service provider of the user. The service provider then attempts to authenticate the user by recreating the authentication code and comparing the recreated authentication code with the authentication code received from the access device.
US08516558B2
An exemplary authentication method includes sending a polling inquiry to an authentication module, identifying a passive notification sent from the authentication module in response to the inquiry, accepting authentication credentials in response to the passive notification, and transmitting authentication information based on the authentication credentials to the authentication module. An exemplary authentication system includes a remote server in communication with a client computer and hosting an access control module. An authentication server is in communication with the remote server and hosts an authentication module. A polling module is in communication with the authentication and access control modules, and is configured to send a polling inquiry to the authentication module, identify a passive notification sent from the authentication module in response to the inquiry, accept authentication credentials in response to the passive notification, and transmit authentication information based on the authentication credentials to the authentication module.
US08516551B2
In one embodiment, a processor can enforce a blacklist and validate, according to a multi-phase lockstep integrity protocol, a device coupled to the processor. Such enforcement may prevent the device from accessing one or more resources of a system prior to the validation. The blacklist may include a list of devices that have not been validated according to the multi-phase lockstep integrity protocol. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08516540B2
Methods and apparatus are described for facilitating communication among a plurality of entities via an interoperability network. Each entity has policy data corresponding thereto governing interaction with the entity via the interoperability network. A message is transmitted from a first one of the entities to a second one of the entities. The first entity has first policy data corresponding thereto and the second entity has second policy data corresponding thereto. The transmitted message was handled in the network according to combined policy data representing a combination of the first and second policy data.
US08516537B2
A downstream bandwidth conditioning device includes a forward path. A coupler is connected within the forward path providing a secondary path. A tuner connected to the coupler is tunable based on an input from a microprocessor. The tuner provides a tuner output of a selected channel, the selected channel being at least one high frequency channel and one low frequency channel. A channel analyzer connected to an output of the tuner provides the microprocessor with a modulation output that differs when the selected channel is an analog modulation versus a digital modulation. A slope adjustment circuit connected within the forward path between the coupler and the supplier side connector is adjustable based on an slope control output provided by the microprocessor. An output compensation circuit connected within the forward signal path between the coupler and the supplier side connector is adjustable based on a level control output from the microprocessor.
US08516532B2
An IP video delivery system and method that allocates a first number of video streams for delivery on a number of channels that, provides a number of bonding groups, where each bonding group bonds at least one of the channels, and allocates a second number of video streams for delivery on the bonding groups. In one aspect, the method delivers the first video streams as unbonded on the channels. The bonding groups utilize bandwidth unused by the first video streams. In one aspect, the method utilizes bandwidth unused by the first or second video streams for high speed data. The method provides instantaneous load balancing to spread the first and second video streams across all available bandwidth in the channels, and delivers those video streams using a variable bit rate with no additional statistical multiplexing rate shaping to fit video streams into the channels.
US08516527B2
A method and apparatus for the distribution of electronic media for distribution to employees of a subscriber. The system includes a controller having a storage on which an electronic media collection is stored, and a display connected to the controller for displaying selected electronic media collection. The display is provided with a first and a second frame where each frame displays selected electronic media from the electronic media collection. The system provides for a customer to set the electronic media collection. The system may further include a code, presented on the display that may be scanned and present additional information to the viewer. The additional information may be pushed to the scanning device, or the scanning device may be navigated to a website where the information may be presented.
US08516520B1
A television viewer interface system provides a viewer interface that allows the viewer to access different functions of a system. Information is presented in a successive disclosure format where the user navigates through menus by moving the highlight bar to the right to obtain more information or to the left to see less information and return to the previous location. A banner is displayed in the upper region of the screen and the user can rotate through three different levels of banners, each successively containing more information about the program.
US08516517B1
A system, method and a computer-readable medium having a computer-readable code embodied therein for wirelessly broadcasting advertisements to handheld television receivers, the method includes: selecting a first advertisement to broadcast to a first group of handheld television receivers within a cell that are tuned to a first program; wherein the selecting is responsive to profiles of a first group of users that use the first group of handheld television receivers; selecting a second advertisement to broadcast to a second group of handheld television receivers within the cell that are tuned to a second program; wherein the selecting is responsive to profiles of a second group of users that use the second group of handheld television receivers; and wirelessly broadcasting a multiplex that comprises the first program, the second program, the first advertisement and the second advertisement.
US08516509B2
Provided are methods and computer program products for monitoring system calls in an operating system using safely removable system function table chaining. Methods may include loading a collector application driver providing one or more dispatch functions corresponding to one or more system functions, each dispatch function operable to call a pre-hook function prior to calling a system function, to call the system function, and to call a post-hook function following the call to the system function. A metadata block in pinned kernel memory contains, for each system function, access descriptors to the system function and the pre- and/or post-hook functions for the system function. The dispatch functions are copied into the pinned kernel memory, and the operating system's access descriptors for the system functions are altered to instead point to the corresponding dispatch functions.
US08516505B2
A computer with a platform that reduces cross-platform compatibility issues associated with executable computer components. A context for a component to be executed on a computer is detected. The context may be detected by searching metadata associated with the component and locating the context therein. If the context is not found in the metadata, then a context may be inferred in other ways, such as from a subsystem major/minor version. Execution of the component invokes one or more components of a computer operating system that provides a platform for executing operations that support execution of the component. Branch components present in the platform are used to select behaviors for the operations based at least in part on the detected context of the component. By providing a context-based selection from any of multiple targeted behaviors for an operation performed by the platform, cross-platform compatibility is improved.
US08516503B2
A system for self-tuning hardware resources includes a processor, a hardware resource, an operating system (OS), a metric monitoring unit (MMU), and a configuration engine (CE). The OS determines: the hardware resource; a metric for monitoring the hardware resource; a hardware resource management policy for the hardware resource; and a primary and secondary sub-ranges for the metric. The OS sends a hardware resource management policy directive to the CE. The MMU monitors the hardware resource to obtain data for the metric. The CE receives the hardware resource management policy directive, determines the primary and secondary sub-ranges from the hardware resource management policy directive, obtains data for the metric from the MMU. When data is outside the primary sub-range and inside the secondary sub-range, the CE determines and executes a hardware resource optimization routine to bring hardware resource utilization into compliance with the primary sub-range.
US08516496B2
An electronic device comprising decode logic that decodes instructions and a stack coupled to the decode logic. A group of instructions causes the decode logic to push onto the stack, after halting processing of a first thread at a switch point and prior to processing a second thread, a minimum amount of information needed to resume execution of the first thread at the switch point and not information not needed to resume execution of the first thread at the switch point.
US08516493B2
A system and method for massively multi-core computing are provided. A method for computer management includes determining if there is a need to allocate at least one first resource to a first plane. If there is a need to allocate at least one first resource, the at least one first resource is selected from a resource pool based on a set of rules and allocated to the first plane. If there is not a need to allocate at least one first resource, it is determined if there is a need to de-allocate at least one second resource from a second plane. If there is a need to de-allocate at least one second resource, the at least one second resource is de-allocated. The first plane includes a control plane and/or a data plane and the second plane includes the control plane and/or the data plane. The resources are unchanged if there is not a need to allocate at least one first resource and if there is not a need to de-allocate at least one second resource.
US08516488B1
A database system includes an optimizer to generate resource estimates regarding execution of a request in the database system, and a regulator to monitor progress of execution of the request (and in some examples every step of the request), and to adjust the resource estimates based on the monitored progress. The regulator also adjusts a priority setting of the request according to the adjusted resource estimates.
US08516483B2
Operating system services are transparently triggered for thread execution resources (“sequencers”) that are sequestered from view of the operating system. A “surrogate” thread that is managed by, and visible to, the operating system is utilized to acquire OS services on behalf of a sequestered sequencer. Multi-shred contention for shred-specific resources may thus be alleviated. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08516482B2
In a system 1 to which the present invention is applied, a plurality of dispatch times for assigning a virtual machine created in an information processing device are set, the plurality of set dispatch times are sequentially assigned, the virtual machine measures a response time needed for an input/output using an external storage device configuring the information processing device, and an input/output device such as a communication device or the like, and an optimum dispatch time of the virtual machine is identified and applied based on a change of the dispatch time of the measured response time. By applying the optimum dispatch time, the execution efficiency of the virtual machine is prevented from being degraded while high response performance is being maintained.
US08516480B1
Virtualization snapshots are utilized for efficiently synchronizing virtual machines present on a client system and a server system. A snapshot of a virtual machine (VM) is taken by the client system before making modifications to the VM. The modifications to the VM are stored by the virtualization snapshot separate from the VM itself. The modified portions of the VM are communicated by the client system to the server system. The server system applies the modifications to a locally stored VM that corresponds to the original VM on the client system. The modified VM on the server system matches the modified VM on the client. As a result synchronization between the VMs on client system and the server system is obtained without transferring the entire VM multiple times. The server system performs format conversions between a format of the client system and the server system on the VM.
US08516470B1
A system comprises a plurality of nodes coupled via a network. The plurality of nodes are configured to communicate by transmitting and receiving messages between the plurality of nodes. Each message comprises a first version identifier indicative of a first version of an object in a first node of the plurality of nodes, wherein the first node is the transmitter of the message. A second node of the plurality of nodes receives the message, and is configured to upgrade to the first version of the object responsive to the first version identifier indicating that the first version is newer than a second version in the second node (as indicated by a second version identifier in the second node). The second node is configured to include the first version identifier in subsequent messages transmitted by the second node.
US08516469B2
The present invention provides a process for generating a shared function binding arrangement comprising a first module and a shared module which includes a plurality of functions and having means for binding a function shared between the first module and the shared module. The process comprises a linking phase for creating the first module and the shared module, a preparation phase for preparing the first module for calling the shared module without exposing details of the call, and a loading phase for loading the modules and linking the first module to a respective function in the shared module without exposing details of the call. The invention also provides a method and system for binding a function shared between a first module and a shared module by means of a linking arrangement a linking arrangement that enables the first module to call a respective function in the shared module without exposing details of the call.
US08516466B2
Various embodiments for optimizing automated system-managed storage (SMS) operations in a computing storage environment. An execution of at least one automatic class selection (ACS) routine is monitored to determine at least one frequently used instruction. The ACS routine is modified for at least one predetermined time interval. The at least one frequently used instruction is moved to a higher execution priority of the modified ACS routine.
US08516454B2
A computing method includes accepting a definition of a computing task (68), which includes multiple atomic Processing Elements (PEs—76) having execution dependencies (80). Each execution dependency specifies that a respective first PE is to be executed before a respective second PE. The computing task is compiled for concurrent execution on a multiprocessor device (32), which includes multiple processors (44) that are capable of executing a first number of the PEs simultaneously, by arranging the PEs, without violating the execution dependencies, in an invocation data structure (90) including a second number of execution sequences (98) that is greater than one but does not exceed the first number. The multiprocessor device is invoked to run software code that executes the execution sequences in parallel responsively to the invocation data structure, so as to produce a result of the computing task.
US08516452B2
A technique for feedback-directed call graph expansion includes performing symbolic analysis on an interprocedural control flow graph representation of software code, skipping over a virtual method call in the control flow graph, using information obtained from the symbolic analysis as feedback to identify a target of the virtual method call, and iterating the symbolic analysis on a modified version of the control flow graph that associates the target with the virtual method.
US08516426B2
A method is provided for managing power distribution on a three-dimensional chip stack having two or more strata, a plurality of vertical power delivery structures, and multiple stack components. At least two stack components are on different strata. Operating modes are stored that respectively have different power dissipations. A respective effective power budget is determined for each of the at least two stack components based on respective ones of the operating modes targeted therefor, and power characteristics and thermal characteristics of at least some of the stack components inclusive or exclusive of the at least two stack components. The respective ones of the plurality of operating modes targeted for the at least two stack components are selectively accepted or re-allocated based on the respective effective power budget for each of the at least two stack components, power constraints, and thermal constraints. The power constraints include vertical structure electrical constraints.
US08516422B1
A method for implementing a single file format for power-related information for an IC comprising: providing a circuit design in at least one design file in a non-transitory computer readable storage device; providing power-related design information in a file in the computer readable storage device that is separate from the at least one design file and that specifies multiple power domains within the circuit design, each power domain including one or more design object instances from within the circuit design and that specifies multiple power modes each power mode corresponding to a different combination of on/off states of the multiple specified power domains and that specifies isolation behavior relative to respective power domains; and using a computer to add power control circuitry to the circuit design that implements the power domains and power modes and isolation behavior specified in the power specification information.
US08516412B2
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for soft hierarchy-based synthesis for large-scale, high-performance circuits. One embodiment of a method for physically synthesizing a design of an integrated circuit includes compiling a logical description of the design into a flattened netlist, extracting a soft hierarchy from the flattened netlist, wherein the soft hierarchy defines a boundary on a die across which cells of the integrated circuit are permitted to move, and placing a cell of the integrated circuit on the die in accordance with the soft hierarchy.
US08516408B2
Techniques for forming a first electronic circuit including a plurality of instances of a repeatable circuit element include the steps of: obtaining a total number of instances of the repeatable circuit element in a design of an IC including the first electronic circuit and at least a second electronic circuit; and configuring at least one functional parameter of the first electronic circuit as a function of the total number of instances of the repeatable circuit element in the IC to thereby satisfy a prescribed minimum composite manufacturing yield of the IC and/or at least one specification of the IC under prescribed operating conditions.
US08516403B2
A mechanism is provided for multiple patterning lithography with conflict removal aware coloring. The mechanism makes multiple patterning coloring aware of the conflict removal overhead. The coloring solution explicitly considers ease of conflict removal as one of the coloring objectives. The mechanism pre-computes how much shapes can move in each direction. The mechanism generates a conflict graph where nodes represent shapes in the layout and edges represent conflicts between shapes. The mechanism assigns weights to edges based on available spatial slack between conflicting features. The mechanism then uses the weights to guide multiple patterning coloring. The mechanism prioritizes conflicting features with higher weights to be assigned different colors.
US08516400B2
A method for predicting tolerable contact-to-gate spacing is provided. At first, a wafer with a plurality of source/drain contacts are provided. Then, a plurality of testing gate lines are formed on the wafer by using a photomask. In one die, there are different contact-to-gate distances ranging from d+Δd to d−Δd wherein d is the standard spacing and Δd
US08516397B2
In certain exemplary embodiments, data representative of a proximity heuristic specifying a plurality of levels of an object detection zone associated with a display screen is maintained, an object is detected within the object detection zone, one of the levels is selected based on at least one attribute of the object, and an action associated with the selected level is performed. In certain examples, the action includes modifying a graphical user interface view displayed on the display screen.
US08516394B2
An apparatus and a method for adjusting a characteristic of a multimedia item are provided. The apparatus and method includes an auxiliary execution region and an execution region for adjusting a sound resource of a multimedia item, outputs a sound resource adjustment list on the auxiliary execution region according to the selection of a function of sound resource adjustment selected on the execution region, and outputs indexes capable of controlling a value of a corresponding sound resource adjustment if a specific sound resource adjustment item is selected. In this respect, the apparatus and method easily processes the sound resource adjustment based on the execution region and auxiliary execution region.
US08516392B2
Method and System for creating item configurators intended to run under the control of computerized devices possessing GUI. This method comprises creating a plurality of graphic layer files and graphic layer thumbnail files comprising various layers of the item desired for configuration. Generally at least some of this plurality of graphic layer files will contain some transparent pixels. The method also involves creating at least one main description file, which may be in XML format, which describes the relationships between this plurality of graphic layer files. An interactive generic configurator program (IGCP) that is capable of reading and parsing this main description file, and displaying icons on the GUI that are representative of various user configurator selections will then be used to implement the configurator, often within a web browser over the internet. The method allows users unskilled in computer programming, such as graphic artists, to create sophisticated configurator systems.
US08516389B2
An application is executed which provides a grid display and which includes: a spreadsheet generator for generating a screen comprising a group of display elements; a scroll controller for accepting a scroll operation of a screen displayed on a display device and for controlling the scrolling of the screen. If a cell is excluded from and a cell is newly included in a visible region displayed on the display device as a result of a scrolling operation, the scroll controller causes the cell included in the visible region to be displayed on the display device by modifying a content of an attribute, including location information, of a display element used to display the cell excluded from the visible region to a content for displaying the cell included in the visible region.
US08516387B2
A virtual address bar user interface control is presented. The virtual address bar comprises one or more interactive address segments and one or more conventional address segments. Each interactive address segment corresponds to a predefined filter comprising selection criteria applied to content stored on a storage device. Selection of the one or more interactive address segments navigates a user to content satisfying the predefined filters of the one or more selected interactive address segments. Each conventional address segment references content at the content's particular location on the storage device. Selection of the one or more conventional address segments navigates the user to content at the content's particular location.
US08516385B1
A method comprising associating a user interface object and a user interface state of a user interface, the user interface state being at least partially defined by respective configurations of a collection of user interface objects included within the user interface in the state. The method further includes receiving a link instruction identifying an association between the user interface object and a further user interface state. Additionally, the method includes processing the link instruction to associate the user interface object with the further user interface state. The method also includes displaying, a visual representation of the association between the user interface object and the further user interface state.
US08516379B2
A question-and-answer application with an “ask-to-answer” feature is described. The ask-to-answer feature enables any user to solicit an answer to a question from another user. Upon soliciting another user for an answer to a particular question, a message with a call to action is directed to the solicited user. The message may include a copy of the text of the question and may provide a mechanism (e.g., a selectable user interface element) enabling the solicited user to pass on answering the question. Subsequent to the solicitation, the question page for the question will include a notification with information about the solicitation, including in some instances information identifying the user who has been asked to answer the question and the number of times the user has been asked to provide an answer to the question.
US08516376B2
Identifying changes between network data processing systems is provided. A first number of attributes for a network data processing system are identified by a processor unit. A second number of attributes for a number of potential network data processing systems are identified by the processor unit. A graphical user interface with a graphical representation of a comparison of the first number of attributes and the second number of attributes is displayed on a display device.
US08516364B2
Displaying a plurality of objects on a grid. Metadata indicates an object's display column and span. A lowest position is determined from objects displayed in the same column span. The object is displayed in the column span at the lowest position. A lowest position is determined after the last object is displayed. The grid is resized to minimize whitespace beyond the lowest position to border whitespace. Display overlay of first and second graphical objects. When the first object is directly manipulated in a GUI, the second object is automatically manipulated the same way. When the first object is scrolled in a first direction by a first amount, the second object is automatically displaced opposite the first direction by the first amount. When the first object is resized in a first dimension by a first amount, the second object can be automatically resized by the first amount in the first dimension.
US08516363B2
In an image processing apparatus, a plurality of images and a page allocation area including a plurality of sections are displayed. The allocation unit determines which one of the images is to be allocated to which one of the sections and allocates the images to the sections, and a preview image generating unit generates a preview image of the page allocation area based on allocation made by the allocation unit, and displays the preview image on the screen.
US08516361B2
One or more servers are communicatively connected to a client. An application program and a dummy template engine run on the servers. The dummy template engine substitutes an original template engine that can run on the servers. The original template engine is normally used by the application program to fill parameters of a template at the servers. The dummy template engine has the same interface as the original template has, such that the application program accesses the dummy template engine no differently than it accesses the original template engine. The dummy template engine is thus accessed by the application program in lieu of the original template engine. The dummy template engine causes the parameters of the template to be filled at the client instead of at the servers, such that template parameter filling is offloaded to the client.
US08516360B2
A computing device comprising an application utilizing content comprising a plurality of JavaScripts, wherein the computing device compiles and executes a first of the plurality of JavaScripts substantially simultaneously as compiling and executing a second of the plurality of JavaScripts.
US08516346B2
A packet transmission apparatus to transmit a packet limited in arrival deadline through a best-effort network includes a packet automatic retransmission section to control retransmission of an undelivered packet, a forward error correction coding section to add redundant packet to a data packet block, and a redundancy determining section to dynamically determine redundancy of the redundant packet based on observed network state information so that a loss rate after error correction at a receiver achieved by only the retransmission of the undelivered packet satisfies an allowable loss rate after error correction.
US08516342B2
A triple parity (TP) technique reduces overhead of computing diagonal and anti-diagonal parity for a storage array adapted to enable efficient recovery from the concurrent failure of three storage devices in the array. The diagonal parity is computed along diagonal parity sets that collectively span all data disks and a row parity disk of the array. The parity for all of the diagonal parity sets except one is stored on the diagonal parity disk. Similarly, the anti-diagonal parity is computed along anti-diagonal parity sets that collectively span all data disks and a row parity disk of the array. The parity for all of the anti-diagonal parity sets except one is stored on the anti-diagonal parity disk. The TP technique provides a uniform stripe depth and an optimal amount of parity information.
US08516335B2
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and a data processing method which can improve the tolerance to errors of code bits of an LDPC code such as burst errors or erasure.Where one symbol is formed from two or more code bits of an LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code, a column twist interleaver 24 carries out a re-arrangement process of re-arranging the code bits of the LDPC code such that a plurality of code bits corresponding to the value 1 included in one arbitrary row of a parity check matrix are not mapped to one symbol. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a transmission apparatus which transmits an LDPC code.
US08516333B1
Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein using a pre-interleaving process to be performed at the transmitter. Data is rearranged at the transmitter, and the rearranged data is transmitted over the communication channel in an order that is more suitable for parallel processing at the decoder. Because processing at the transmitter is bit-wise rather than the multi-bit, soft-decision information at the decoder, pre-interleaving may reduce use system resources when compared to a re-interleaving process at the decoder.
US08516330B2
A decoder-implemented method for layered decoding that, when the decoder converges on a near codeword using an initial schedule, (i) selects a subsequent schedule from a schedule set based on the layer Lmaxb of the near codeword, which layer contains the greatest number of unsatisfied check nodes and (ii) re-performs decoding using the subsequent schedule. When used in an offline schedule-testing system, the layered-decoding method (i) identifies which schedules, out of a population of schedules, correctly decode a decoder input codeword and (ii) associates the identified schedules with the Lmaxb value of the near codeword.
US08516329B2
A method of generating a codeword for a control signal in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes preparing a control signal and generating a codeword by applying a Reed-Muller (RM) extension matrix to the control signal. The RM extension matrix is generated by extending a RM basic matrix. A control signal can reliably be transmitted by the codeword with low complexity.
US08516326B2
A data transmission apparatus including a receiving unit for receiving transmitted packets; a priority decision unit; a retransmission packet storage unit; a retransmission instruction receiving unit for receiving a retransmission request from a terminal at the receiving end; a retransmission decision unit; a transmission queue management unit; and a transmission unit.
US08516325B2
A communication method in a receiving node in a wireless communication system includes receiving, at a receiving node, a first coded message block that includes a plurality of parts distributed over a plurality of components. The method further includes detecting a decoding error associated with decoding the received first coded message block and, in response to detecting the decoding error, identifying a part of the first coded message block for which retransmission will be requested and a suggested retransmission setting. The suggested retransmission setting includes one or more of a component selection setting, a link adaptation setting, a power control setting, and a scheduling setting. The method also includes feeding back to the sending node feedback information indicating that the first coded message block could not be correctly decoded. The feedback information indicates the identified part of the first coded message block and the suggested retransmission settings.
US08516324B2
A data retransmission method for retransmitting a data using a wireless communication, including: receiving data transmitted from a transmitting apparatus; determining whether the received data is correct or not; transmitting data including information indicating that the received data is received correctly to the transmitting apparatus upon being determined the received data is correct, and transmitting data including information indicating that the received data is not received correctly to the transmitting apparatus upon being determined the received data is not correct; measuring an elapsed time from transmission of the data including information indicating that the received data is not received correctly; and monitoring whether to receive data corresponding to the received data from the transmitting apparatus before the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time.
US08516321B2
This disclosure describes a reduced pin bus that can be used on integrated circuits or embedded cores within integrated circuits. The bus may be used for serial access to circuits where the availability of pins on ICs or terminals on cores is limited. The bus may be used for a variety of serial communication operations such as, but not limited to, serial communication related test, emulation, debug, and/or trace operations of an IC or core design. Other aspects of the disclosure include the use of reduced pin buses for emulation, debug, and trace operations and for functional operations. In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, an interface select circuit, FIGS. 41-49, provides for selectively using either the 5 signal interface of FIG. 41 or the 3 signal interface of FIG. 8.
US08516319B2
An integrated circuit can have plural core circuits, each having a test access port that is defined in IEEE standard 1149.1. Access to and control of these ports is though a test linking module. The test access ports on an integrated circuit can be arranged in a hierarchy with one test linking module controlling access to plural secondary test linking modules and test access ports. Each secondary test linking module in turn can also control access to tertiary test linking modules and test access ports. The test linking modules can also be used for emulation.
US08516311B2
A method tests peripheral component interconnect express (PCI-E) switches. A second PCI-E switch to be tested electronically connects to a first PCI-E switch of a computing device. A first data packet is created by the computing device and sent from the first PCI-E switch to the second PCI-E switch. A second data packet sent back by the second PCI-E switch is received by the computing device. The second PCI-E switch works normally if the first data packet is identical to the second data packet. The second PCI-E switch does not work normally if the first data packet is not identical to the second data packet.
US08516310B2
The embodiments provide a failure diagnosis method for a main memory in an information processing device equipped with a write-back cache. According to the method, an application program stored in the main memory is divided by the storage size of write-back cache, and the regions are stored in advance. Then, a read signal from the main memory to the write-back cache is detected. It is determined whether the region corresponding to the read signal has yet to be diagnosed. If the region has yet to be diagnosed, a command to diagnose failure of the region is issued. If a write signal (write back) to a particular region is detected during the diagnosis of the particular region, the diagnosis of the particular region is stopped. Thus, the failure diagnosis of the main memory is executed in parallel with the execution of the application program.
US08516305B2
Dynamic power test slave (DPTS) modules are placed at selected locations of a data processing device to provide data to a logic module of the device at a high rate during testing of the device. The DPTS module intercepts data requests targeted to another logic module and the DPTS instead provides the requested data, thus simulating data transfer by the target logic module. The simulated data transfers can provide for transitions at the data processing device from a relatively high power state to a relatively low power state. Accordingly, the DPTS modules allow for simulation of expected normal operating conditions during testing of the data processing device.
US08516301B2
A method for diagnosing problems in a computer system by visualizing flows through subsystems of the computer system. Diagnostic tools include a user interface which includes a triage map which graphically depicts subsystems, such as applications, through which a Business Transaction flows, and the calling relationship between the subsystems. The subsystems can be depicted by nodes which include alerts and performance information. The user can run a command to find transactions of a specific Business Transaction and/or front end subsystem which meet filter criterion such as response time and user identifier. Each captured transaction can be listed with information such as response time and reporting agent. Details of a particular transaction instance, such as its invoked components, can also be viewed in a transaction trace.
US08516295B2
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of collecting and reporting exceptions associated with information technology services includes receiving exceptions associated with a service, including receiving exceptions associated with an infrastructure and exceptions associated with an application; formatting the exceptions into an exceptions list; correlating at least one of the exceptions associated with the infrastructure and at least one of the exceptions associated with the application to identify a service error condition; and storing the exceptions list and an identifier of the service error condition for presentation to a client associated with the service.
US08516289B2
A storage management apparatus includes a memory for storing logical volume information for indicating logical volumes and priority information for determining an order of the logical volumes to be activated, a first interface for connecting storages to the storage management apparatus, at least one of the storages corresponding to one of the logical volumes, a second interface connected to a power supply unit for supplying power to the storages, and a processor for executing determining whether the power supply unit is capable of supplying power for simultaneously starting the storages corresponding to the logical volumes corresponding to an access request for accessing the logical volumes, selecting one logical volume based on the priority information when the power supply unit is incapable of supplying power for simultaneously starting the storages, and transmitting a start request for staring the storages corresponding to the selected logical volume by using the first interface.
US08516277B2
A method for operating a control computer connected to a system to be controlled. The system is connected to a power supply line by a first switch, with the control computer being shut down by execution of a control command to enter an idle state. An uncoordinated switching of the control computer and the system is thereby avoided and operational reliability is increased.
US08516275B2
In a data structure of a multimedia file format, a movie box and a media data box are provided. In each box, a non-encrypted size field, a non-encrypted type field and box data field are provided. In box data of the movie box, information data regarding multimedia data is stored. The multimedia data is encrypted and stored in box data of the media data box. The information data is obtained by referring to the container in the movie box. This information data is held as encryption and encoding information data. By referring to the information data, a data unit of the encrypted multimedia data in the media data box is obtained, and the unit data is decrypted.
US08516268B2
A method and system for configuring a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) includes receiving an encrypted FPGA load-decryption key at an FPGA from a remote key-storage device. The remote key-storage device may be external to and operatively connected with the FPGA. The encrypted FPGA load-decryption key is decrypted using a session key, which may be stored at both the FPGA and the remote key-storage device. Encrypted FPGA-configuration data is received at the FPGA, and decrypted and authenticated using the decrypted FPGA load-decryption key. The decryption of the FPGA-configuration data may indicate a cryptographic state associated with the FPGA-configuration data, which may be used in recurring authentication of the FPGA-configuration data. For recurring authentication, a challenge message may be received at the FPGA from an authentication device, which may be encrypted using the cryptographic state and the session key to generate a response message. The response message may then be sent to the authentication device to determine authenticity of the FPGA-configuration data.
US08516265B2
An authentication method of performing authentication for an information processing device connected via a communication network by an authentication device, including: receiving information related to biometric authentication concerning the information processing device; receiving information related to identification information for identifying the information processing device; receiving information related to environment of the information processing device; receiving an electronic signature by a secret key which is paired with an electronic certification transmitted from the information processing device; and determining, by a control unit, a biometric level based on the received information related to biometric authentication, a device level based on the received information related to identification information and an environment level based on the received information related to environment; correcting, by the control unit, the determined level based on validity of the received electronic signature.
US08516249B2
A method including receiving a service registration request to register a service with a multi-tenant, multi-service cloud network from a user; registering object types that pertain to the service, wherein the object types include at least one service object type that is not an object type offered by the cloud network to the user; and registering objects based on the object types, wherein the objects include at least one object associated with the at least one service object type.
US08516246B2
In a communication network comprised of a central management entity and plurality of terminals, methods and systems for remotely binding terminals to the network and for unbinding already bind terminals when necessary. Once bind to a network, a terminal may not operate in another network, unless the two networks share a secret.
US08516239B2
A virtual authentication proxy server includes an authentication request acceptance unit, a terminal authentication program transmission unit and an authentication result transmission unit. When an application server which cannot use an authentication server accepts a user ID and a password together with a use request from a terminal, the authentication request acceptance unit accepts the authentication request. The terminal authentication program transmission unit transmits a terminal authentication program to a terminal device. The authentication result transmission unit causes the terminal device to execute the terminal authentication program so as to cause the authentication server to execute authentication. The authentication result transmission unit receives the received authentication result from the terminal device and transmits the authentication result to the application server.
US08516226B1
A method and system for flexible prefetching of data and/or instructions for applications are described. A prefetching mechanism monitors program instructions and tag information associated with the instructions. The tag information is used to determine when a prefetch operation is desirable. The prefetching mechanism then requests data and/or instructions. Furthermore, the prefetching mechanism determines when entry into a different execution phase of an application program occurs, and executes a different prefetching policy based on the application's program instructions and tag information for that execution phase as well as profile information from previous executions of the application in that execution phase.
US08516223B2
A priority circuit is connected to a reservation station and a plurality of arithmetic units that processes different operations and dispatches, when it is determined that an executable flag indicating that an instruction can be executed by only a specific arithmetic unit is on, an instruction to an arithmetic unit that is different from the specific arithmetic unit and of which a queue is vacant in accordance with the input performed by an instruction decoder and the reservation station.
US08516216B2
A system on chip includes electrical components and a first memory including memory blocks. A method of operating the system on chip includes generating an assignment of the memory blocks to the electrical components. The generating includes, initially, during a development phase of the system on chip, generating the assignment so that selected memory blocks of the memory blocks are assigned to first selected electrical components of the electrical components as emulated read-only memory. The generating includes, subsequently, during an operational phase of the system on chip, modifying the assignment so that one or more of the selected memory blocks are re-assigned to second selected electrical components of the electrical components as cache memory. The method also includes, according to the assignment, dynamically creating electrical connectivity between the memory blocks and the electrical components.
US08516212B2
A data processing apparatus uses a characteristic where an OS or an application program divides a file in units of cluster and writes information when information is written in an HDD and changes (redirect) a writing place in the units of cluster, thereby classifying and storing confidential information with a small consumption amount of the HDD. Therefore, the present invention provides a data processing apparatus that can classify and store confidential information and normal information with a small consumption amount of the HDD.
US08516209B2
A computer system in an embodiment comprises a storage apparatus, a host computer, and a copy control program. The storage apparatus performs copy operations of volumes allocated to a guest OS of the host computer. The copy control program obtains volume information of the guest OS from a VM control program at a given time. The control program compares the information with previous volume information of the guest OS and performs volume copy control for the guest OS in accordance with the comparison result. This process achieve appropriate copy operations even if the association relationship between the guest OS and volumes is changed during system operation.
US08516207B2
The present invention provides a remote online backup method based on stager fragmented transmission, comprising: defining a journal storage system as a journal relay system, i.e., a Journal Stager; dividing the Journal Stager into a Local Journal Stager and a Remote Journal Stager to optimize backup transmission performance of the whole online backup system; setting between the Local Journal Stager and the Remote Journal Stager a transmitter, by which a journal is transmitted from one stager to another stager; applying the journal to a backup storage device through a Journal Replayer at a backup destination site.
US08516201B2
A method and apparatus for protecting private data from cache attacks. One embodiment includes storing private data in a protected cache line to protect it from cache attacks. A snoop request may be received to the protected cache line. In response to the snoop request, a miss may be transmitted. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US08516195B2
A facility and cache machine instruction of a computer architecture for specifying a target cache cache-level and a target cache attribute of interest for obtaining a cache attribute of one or more target caches. The requested cache attribute of the target cache(s) is saved in a register.
US08516191B2
A storage system has NAS apparatuses each including virtual file servers to be provided to host apparatuses, a storage apparatus including logical units, and a management apparatus for managing the NAS apparatuses and the storage apparatus. The management apparatus requests the NAS apparatuses and the storage apparatus to transfer management information, acquires the management information. The management apparatus then creates system performance information concerning the virtual file servers based on the acquired management information to display the created system performance information on a user interface.
US08516162B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a connector, a graphics controller, a port setting module, a selector and a selector controller. The port setting module sets a first port used to output a video signal generated by the graphics controller as a data transmission port compliant with a first interface standard, and sets a second port used to output the video signal as a data transmission port compliant with a second interface standard. The selector connects one of the first port and the second port to the connector. The selector controller supplies a first signal to the selector in order to connect the first port to the connector when a first external unit is connected to the connector, and supplies a second signal to the selector in order to connect the second port to the connector when a second external unit is connected to the connector.
US08516158B1
WAN optimization devices and content delivery networks together optimize network traffic on both private networks and public WANs such as the internet. A WAN optimization device intercepts and optimizes network traffic from clients within a private network. The WAN optimization device communicates this first optimized network traffic to the nearest edge computer in the content delivery network via a public WAN, such as the internet. This edge computer further optimizes the network traffic and communicates the doubly optimized network traffic via the content delivery network to a second edge computer nearest to the network traffic destination. The second edge computer converts the doubly optimized network traffic back to its original format and communicates the reconstructed network traffic from the second edge computer to the destination via a public WAN. Licensing and configuration portals configure WAN optimization devices for specific network protocols, types of network traffic, applications, and/or cloud services.
US08516156B1
A method, system, and apparatus are directed towards compression of content over a network. The content may include content length information, such as within a header. In one embodiment, a portion of the content may be compressed to approximately fill a buffer of a predefined size. If there remains additional uncompressed content, a new content length may be determined based in part on the length of the compressed content and the remaining uncompressed content. The buffered content and the new content length may then be forwarded in response to the request. The remaining uncompressed content may be split into predefined blocks using identity compression. Identity compression may then be applied to the remaining uncompressed content which is then forwarded to a destination in response to the request.
US08516148B2
A packet transmission network, a plurality of routers have sessions among them based on a routing protocol to exchange routing and/or connectivity data indicating paths for transmitting packets over the network. Each router maintains a first routing table including data sent to another of said routers, and a second routing table including data received from another of said routers. To close at least part of the sessions of a given router, the method consists: in listing the data corresponding to the part of the sessions and contained in at least one of the first and second routing tables; sending an updating message based on the protocol indicating to neighboring routers that the paths indicated in the data are considered out-of-service; then closing the part of the sessions. The router continues transmitting packets emitted on the paths considered out-of-service until the closing step.
US08516145B2
An apparatus which transmits data generated by a device manufacturing apparatus to at least one terminal, comprises a communication unit, a transmission request processor configured to accept or reject a transmission request which the communication unit has received from the terminal, and a transmission controller configured to control the communication unit to transmit, in response to a transmission request accepted by the transmission request processor, data corresponding to the transmission request to a terminal, of the at least one terminal, which has transmitted the transmission request, wherein the transmission request processor accepts a new transmission request if a sum of transmission rates of the respective data concurrently transmitted from the communication unit in response to transmission requests which the transmission request processor has already accepted and a transmission rate at which data is transmitted in response to the new transmission request does not exceed a preset allowable transmission rate.
US08516144B2
Streaming media at an adaptive bitrate streaming media player. Tracking a bitrate history of the player. Determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history. Streaming at the determined bitrate. Tracking a bitrate history of the player can include storing tracked bitrates in a cookie accessible by the player; and determining a startup bitrate can include determining a startup bitrate from the cookie. Determining a startup bitrate can include determining an average tracked bitrate over the last N tracked bitrates. The average tracked bitrate can be weighted toward more recent tracked bitrates. Determining a startup bitrate can include determining a maximum startup bitrate. The bitrate history can include the maximum bitrate of the player over the last X sessions; and the maximum startup bitrate can be the lowest maximum bitrate over the last X sessions. The maximum startup bitrate can be the mode among maximum bitrates over the last X sessions.
US08516141B2
A system that facilitates enhancing security for a computer device utilizing an IPv6 network connection. The system includes a computer device having a software module, which performs the following steps: capturing outgoing IPv6 packets, the outgoing IPv6 packets having a stateless autoconfiguration IPv6 address, which is configured at least partially based on a computer device identifier; modifying the IPv6 address associated with the computer device identifier to generate a modified IPv6 address; and returning the outgoing IPv6 packet with the modified IPv6 address to a network layer of the Internet Protocol of the computer device. In accordance with an example, the computer device is an image forming apparatus.
US08516137B2
Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods to manage virtual hard drives as blobs are provided. The cloud computing platform includes fabric computers and blob stores. The fabric computers execute virtual machines that implement one or more applications that access virtual hard drives. The data in the virtual hard drives is accessed, via a blob interface, from blobs in the blob stores. The blob stores interface with a driver that translates some application input/output (I/O) requests destined to the virtual hard drives to blob commands when accessing data in the virtual hard drives.
US08516132B2
The present invention comprises a method of and apparatus for simplifying the process of access to a network for a roaming computer user, divides the responsibility of servicing a given user wanting to access the network between multiple parties and minimizes the possibility of improper dissemination of email header data as well as improper use of network resources (including server systems) by non-clients.
US08516129B1
A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing network communications between a client and a server by enabling the client to make decisions involving the selection of alternate network paths. The client and/or the server may be multi-homed to a network. In one embodiment, a link load balancer provides the client with a message and/or path data that enables the client to improve its connections with the server by redirecting network packets using an alternate network path. The message may be based on a static policy at the server, changes in availability of the network connections between the client and server, changes in a quality of the network connections, paths, or the like. Redirecting the network packet by the client may include closing one network connection and establishing another network connection, and/or employing an available alternate network path to re-route network packets towards the server.
US08516118B2
A system and method for managing, routing and controlling devices and inter-device connections located within an environment to manage and control the environment using a control client is presented. A user provides commands via the control client to a server that maintains a representation of the environment and the devices within the environment. The server provides commands to devices present within the environment in response to user commands and other events, including events from the environment. The commands cause the devices in the environment to adopt specific desired states thereby causing the environment and the devices within the environment to create desired connections by and between the devices and to otherwise control and effect the environment.
US08516112B2
A method, computer program product, and system for performance monitoring of a computer resource utilized by a user community. The computer resource is monitored, and sets of performance metrics characterizing a state of the computer resource are collected and analyzed to detect performance incidents. External information such as contextual information and user annotations are also collected and analyzed. If a performance incident is detected, its set of performance metrics and associated external information are used to search a data repository of past performance incidents for related incidents, in order to identify critical performance incidents, determine recommended solutions for the performance incidents, and determine performance forecasts for the computer resource.
US08516106B2
A method, system, and computer program product for displaying components assigned to events produced by resources, includes: registering a new resource by generating a label to which is associated a system specific device identifier used by the new resource within a computing environment; storing in a mapping table the generated label identifying the registered new resource together with an associated system specific device identifier; and updating the mapping table by associating to the label any other system specific device identifier used by the new resource within the computing environment; receiving events produced by resources when being executed within the computing environment, each event being associated with a list of labels for the resources relevant for the generation of the event; and maintaining a tag cloud including different tags, the different tags including labels for the resources associated with the received events to be displayed as components.
US08516103B2
Construction of virtual environment, isolate the end user to interact directly with the core data sources, deploy the network listener engine in a virtual environment, using listening and interception technology, a variety of fine-grained authorization aggregates attribute information data to achieve the control of the end user to access core data sources. The present invention implements centralized control of remote maintenance authority, to Encapsulated client application packaged in a virtualized environment, control user access to core data sources, cut off end-users access to core data sources directly. Unify the interface of the maintenance path by virtual environment, standardized login path of maintenance personnel and maintenance tools.
US08516102B2
A computer managing method includes the following steps. Firstly, a blade server system with M blade server units, which includes a number of server blades and a modular management blade (MMB), is provided, wherein the M MMBs are connected with each other via network paths and M is a natural number greater than 1. Then a master MMB among the M MMBs are selected in response to first user operation event. Next, the network parameter data of the master MMB are set in response to second user operation event. Then network topology of the master MMB and the rest of M−1 MMBs are obtained via the master MMB. After that, the rest of M−1 MMBs are driven for utilizing a network protocol service so that the M−1 MMBs are able to receive network parameter data from the master MMB and carry out parameter setting accordingly.
US08516094B2
A method for implementing Information Service (IS) level inheritance in a network management system includes: defining a WSDL file for an inheriting IRP, including the base management operations of the base IRP in the WSDL file for the inheriting IRP during the defining action to establish the IS level inheritance between the inheriting IRP and the base IRP; implementing conversion between a base management operation message and a SOAP format message according to the IS level inheritance. Apparatuses and other methods for implementing IS level inheritance are disclosed as well. The solution enables the inheriting IRP module of the network management apparatus to correctly execute the base management operation by establishing the IS level inheritance between the inheriting IRP and the base IRP, which meets the IS level description requirement of the IRP.
US08516084B1
The present disclosure relates to techniques for processing data requests using multiple request timers. An example method includes sending a request for data to an external device and starting a first request timer using a first request timeout value, the first request timeout value specifying a first amount of time to wait for receiving data that is responsive to the request. When first data responsive to the request is received prior to expiration of the first request timer, the method includes starting a second request timer using a second request timeout value, the second request timeout value specifying a second amount of time to wait for receiving additional data that is further responsive to the request. The method further includes determining whether the request is unsuccessful based upon expiration of the first request timer or the second request timer.
US08516080B2
A client-based computer system adapted to communicate with a remote server through a network and to provide access to content or services provided by the server. The system includes a storage device and a cache. The cache is adapted to communicate with the server over the network, to intercept a request from the client to the server, and to store responses from the server on the storage device. The cache is further adapted to automatically determine when to send the request to the server over the network. The cache is still further adapted to provide a response, including from the responses stored on the storage device based upon the request, to appear as through the server provided the response. The system may also include a crawler. The crawler is adapted to operate in conjunction with the cache to cause requests to be sent to the server over the network.
US08516071B2
Methods and devices enable a device located on a source network to appear as a virtual device on a target network. Agent applications running on computers on the source and target networks communicate over a peer-to-peer network enabled by a super-peer networking server on the Internet. To share a device, the target network agent requests the source network agent to provide access to a device in the source network. The source network agent sends the device name, properties, and service template information to the target network agent. The target network agent uses the received information to announce itself as the device to the target network. Devices on the target network may request device services from the target network agent. Such requests are repackaged by the target network agent and sent to the source network agent. The source network agent redirects the service request to the actual device and redirects received responses to the target network agent. The target network agent receives the processes forwards service response to the requesting device. Thereafter, the requesting device on the first network can directly access services from the device on the second network as if the two devices were on the same network. Using such methods, devices on a local network may access services available on an Internet server as if the server was on the local network.
US08516063B2
A system and process for coordinating streaming content or messages is provided. A network-connected server maintains a database containing media content-related data, such as the text of a message, accompanying media, time of airing, payment and related comments. A user can view these feeds or streams of these consciousness messages by downloading a mobile application or browsing to a website. The application can also be used to create, schedule and pay for a media content message.
US08516059B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for communicating automatic response messages based on a policy. In use, use of an automatic message generator utilized for automatically responding to receipt of a first message using a second message is identified. Additionally, it is determined whether a characteristic of at least one of the first message and the second message violates a predetermined policy. Furthermore, the second message is conditionally communicated based on the determination.
US08516053B2
Provided are a multimedia play apparatus and method. The multimedia play apparatus and method enable synchronization between an audio and a video through existing multimedia play time information, and even in a multimedia service that simultaneously provides multimedia and a message, the multimedia play apparatus and method enable synchronization between multimedia and a message that occurs by terminal characteristics between different environments and different users on the basis of existing multimedia play time information and multimedia meaning information. Moreover, by performing synchronization between multimedia and a message on the basis of the multimedia meaning information, the multimedia play apparatus and method can prevent the damage of a multimedia service that provides multimedia and a message together because of a spoiler corresponding to a malicious message.
US08516051B2
A method that includes receiving a message generated by a source terminal of a requestor; if there are one or more target terminals capable of receiving the message, among plural target terminals of a recipient, transmitting the message to the one or more target terminals, respectively; and transmitting a response message to the source terminal. Also is a method that includes: receiving, from a server, a message generated by a target terminal of a requestor; transmitting, from the mobile terminal to the server, a response message in response to the received message; generating, by the mobile terminal, a reply message in response to the message received from target terminal; transmitting the generated replay message to the server; and synchronizing with the server to receive another message, the another message having been generated by another terminal owned by a same user and intended to be transmitted to the target terminal.
US08516050B1
One example method for communicating a file modification during a collaboration event includes steps of a first computer communicating a file modification status request to a second computer, the status request including at least a file identifier and a file property. The second computer uses the file identifier from the request to identify a current property of a corresponding file. The second computer compares the current file property to the file property from the status request and communicates a response to the first computer when the current property does not match the property from the status request.
US08516043B2
The format of the Presence Information Data Format-Location Object (PIDF-LO) as defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is extended or modified to accommodate, within the standard PIDF-LO format, an association of geospacial location to virtual content on the Internet. A filename of virtual content is associated with geospatial location information (either a specific location, zone, or direction). The filename is inserted into a
US08516042B2
A client repeatedly transmits a firmware request including an obtaining start address and an obtaining data length. The obtaining start address indicates the first address of firmware data to be obtained from the server by the client. The obtaining data length indicates the length of the firmware data to be obtained from the server by the client with respect to each firmware request. The server receives the firmware request from the client repeatedly and returns the firmware data for the obtaining data length from the obtaining start address with respect to each firmware request. The client further obtains the firmware data returned from the server repeatedly and updates the firmware by using the firmware data obtained from the server.
US08516034B1
A system and method facilitate modifying behavior of an application coupled to a device and a server based on bandwidth. The method determines a first bandwidth state. A change is then detected from the first bandwidth state to a second bandwidth state. Subsequently, the behavior of an application is changed based on bandwidth parameters of the second bandwidth state.
US08516032B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for performing computations in a distributed infrastructure. Embodiments of the invention include a general purpose distributed computation infrastructure that can be used to perform efficient (in-memory), scalable, failure-resilient, atomic, flow-controlled, long-running state-less and state-full distributed computations. Guarantees provided by a distributed computation infrastructure can build upon existent guarantees of an underlying distributed fabric in order to hide the complexities of fault-tolerance, enable large scale highly available processing, allow for efficient resource utilization, and facilitate generic development of stateful and stateless computations. A distributed computation infrastructure can also provide a substrate on which existent distributed computation models can be enhanced to become failure-resilient.
US08516029B1
Methods and apparatuses for solving a system on a symmetric diagonally dominant matrix. The method includes constructing an equivalent symmetric diagonally dominant linear system Ax=b from the system on a symmetric diagonally dominant matrix, wherein the matrix A of the equivalent linear system Ax=b has negative off-diagonal entries and zero row sums; constructing a graph of the matrix A of the equivalent linear system; constructing a decomposition of the graph; constructing a two-level process using the decomposition of the graph, wherein the two-level process includes reducing the equivalent linear system Ax=b to a linear system By=c; and extending the two-level process to a multi-level process having more than two levels.
US08516018B1
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for managing image storage. An image source of a computing device can include one or more functions and a reference to image views for an image object, such as a bitmap object. The image object can include a reference to first storage that stores an image. The image source, the reference to the image views, and the image object are stored in a managed portion of memory. The first storage is stored in an unmanaged portion of memory differing from the managed portion. The computing device displays the image. Upon determining to discontinue displaying the image, an unbind function of the image source is called. The image source responsively discontinues display of the image. The image source receives an indication that the image views are solely weakly referenced. In response to the indication, the image source deallocates the first storage.
US08516011B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to data models. In aspects, data representing a source data model is obtained. Settings for use in generating a destination data model are also obtained. Based on the data and the settings, data representing a destination data model is generated by transforming entities of the source data model into entities of the destination data model according to the settings.
US08516010B2
A data structure maintained in a computational device stores how many control areas splits have occurred to store a data set, wherein each control area split causes an addition of a single new control area. A command is received to add a new data record to the data set. A determination is made as to whether adding the new data record to the data set will result in a threshold for control area splits to be exceeded. In response to determining that adding the new data record to the data set will result in the threshold for control area splits to be exceeded, creating at least two new control areas in addition to continuing to use one existing control area for storing the data set.
US08515988B2
Systems and methods that facilitate data retrieval in a stateless environment by limiting amount of retrievable data associated with a single client request. A retrieval limitation component partially satisfies a query and retrieves an initial batch of information. Moreover, identifications can further be designated to retrieve additional information if so is required. Accordingly, an application requesting data thru a query can initially be supplied with a limited number of data, which subsequently can be followed by additional data items returned as unique identifiers.
US08515979B2
A user device receives, from a user, a query regarding services to be performed by an application and conducts a search of metadata associated with a group of applications. The user device selects, based on the search of the metadata, potential applications, from the group of applications, that are responsive to the user query. The user device generates, based on the user query, commands to be executed by each of the potential applications. The user device generates, based on the commands, results from each of the potential applications, and formats, for presentation on a display, the results from each of the potential applications.
US08515970B2
A system for providing a recommended customized profile to a subject member of a social network for use in operating a subject customizable apparatus is described. The system includes a social network database storing profiles of members of the social network corresponding to multiple customizable apparatus including the subject customizable apparatus. The system also includes a central social network server having a processor and a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate the recommended customized profile, for use by the subject member in operation of the subject customizable apparatus, based on at least one matching profile of other members in the social network.
US08515967B2
Various embodiments for efficiently provisioning a storage area network (SAN) are provided. In one embodiment, SAN information is provided to an engine for optimization. The SAN information includes at least one of SAN configuration information, SAN usage information, at least one cost profile, and at least one chargeback model. Based on the SAN information, those of an available plurality of storage resources not meeting at least one storage criterion are filtered. The filtered storage resources are ranked on a cost basis. A resource configuration graph is constructed based on the ranked storage resources. The resource configuration graph is traversed to obtain a plurality of possible SAN configuration plans. At least one power profile is applied to the plurality of possible SAN configuration plans to rank the plurality of possible SAN configuration plans by energy consumption.
US08515965B2
Described embodiments process hash operation requests of a network processor. A hash processor determines a job identifier, a corresponding hash table, and a setting of a traversal indicator for a received hash operation request that includes a desired key. The hash processor concurrently generates a read request for a first bucket of the hash table, and provides the job identifier, the key and the traversal indicator to a read return processor. The read return processor stores the key and traversal indicator in a job memory and stores, in a return memory, entries of the first bucket of the hash table. If a stored entry matches the desired key, the read return processor determines, based on the traversal indicator, whether to read a next bucket of the hash table and provides the job identifier, the matching key, and the address of the bucket containing the matching key to the hash processor.
US08515960B2
Utilizing logical identifiers or sets of metadata to describe, organize, and index content associated with a software application system from one or more content contributors is provided. When a request is made for specific content, the request may point to a logical identifier, and pieces of content applicable to the requested content may be retrieved and presented to a user. By utilizing schematized metadata associated with individual content items, a user's experience may be improved by providing content available from a plurality of content contributors applicable to the user's query.
US08515951B2
Systems and methods that improve search rankings for a search query by using data associated with queries related to the search query are described. In one aspect, a search query is received, a population associated with the search query is determined, an article (such as a webpage) associated with the search query is determined, and a ranking score for the article based at least in part on data associated with the population is determined. Algorithms and types of data associated with a population useful in carrying out such systems and methods are described.
US08515950B2
Log-based rankers and document-based rankers may be combined for searching. In an example embodiment, there is a method for combining rankers to perform a search operation. A count of query instances in log data is ascertained based on a query. A search for the query is performed to produce a set of search results. The set of search results is ranked by relevance score with a document-based ranker and a log-based ranker using a weighting factor that is adapted responsive to the count of the query instances in the log data.
US08515948B2
Provided are techniques for creating one or more fine-grained access control rules that are associated with a base table. A materialized query table is created from the base table without applying the one or more fine-grained access control rules associated with the base table when obtaining data from the base table. A fine-grained access control protection indicator is turned on for the materialized query table. In response to receiving a direct access request to the materialized query table in a query referencing the materialized query table, access is provided to the data in the materialized query table by applying one or more fine-grained access control rules associated directly with the materialized query table to the data in the materialized query table before returning the data.
US08515940B2
A method and system for qualifying keyword(s) or phrase(s) to formulate a query string for submitting a search request when the query string contains one or more keywords that may have multiple meanings associated therewith. Database information containing keywords and associated meanings or forms of the keywords is maintained and a requester is prompted to identify one or more of the meanings of a keyword when building the query string. One or more advertisements pertaining to the associated meanings or forms of the keywords in the query string is presented to the requester submitting a search request.
US08515935B1
A method includes receiving search queries. Images are generated that represent the volume of each search query relative to all search queries over a period of time. The images are processed to generate wavelets for each image. Related queries having similar increases or decreases in volume are identified by comparing at least some of the wavelets corresponding to a first query to wavelets corresponding to other queries.
US08515933B2
A video search method including following steps is provided. Meta-data of a query clip is received, wherein the meta-data includes an index tag and a semantic pattern. One or more candidate clips are retrieved from at least one video database according to the index tag. The semantic pattern is compared with a semantic pattern of each of the candidate clips, and each of the candidate clips is marked as a returnable video clip or a non-returnable video clip according to a comparison result. The candidate clips marked as the returnable video clip are served as a query result matching the query clip. A video search system and a method for establishing a video database are also provided.
US08515931B1
Techniques for optimizing a search are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for optimizing search on a Web site comprises: retrieving first search results corresponding to a first search request from a remote data store, causing the first search results to be stored in a local data store, receiving an indication that a portion of the second search results that are to be returned in response to a second search request overlaps with the first search results, causing an overlapped portion of the second search results to be retrieved from the local data store, and retrieving a remaining portion of the second search results from the remote data store. The local data store comprises a database associated with a browser, a trusted frame associated with the Web site, or a trusted script associated with the site and configured to determine the overlap of the first and second search results.
US08515930B2
An approach for processing scanned document data includes a document merging network service receiving a request for existing electronic document data. In response, the document merging network service identifies and providing, to a scanning device, identification data that identifies existing electronic document data. The existing electronic document data may be stored by a third party storage service. In response to user selection of an existing electronic document identified in the identification data, the scanning device transmits, to the document merging network service, scanned document data, data that identifies an existing electronic document, and location insertion data. The document merging network service merges the scanned document data at one or more locations in the existing electronic document based on the location insertion data.
US08515928B2
An apparatus includes a first storing unit configured to store a plurality of files, wherein power supply to the first storing unit is restricted in a first sleep mode, a second storing unit configured to store file information about the plurality of files, a receiving unit configured to receive a data acquisition request from a client apparatus, a first reading unit configured to read a file from the first storing unit in response to the receiving unit when the apparatus is in a normal operation mode, a second reading unit configured to read the file information from the second storing unit in response to the receiving unit when the apparatus is in the first sleep mode, and a transmission unit configured to transmit one of the data read by the first reading unit and the data read by the second reading unit to the client apparatus.
US08515927B2
Methods and systems for identifying one or more indexes are described. A system can collect a set of database operations that were performed during a given time window. Next, the system can partition the set of database operations based on a set of database tables that were accessed by the set of database operations. Then, for each database table in the set of database tables, the system can determine a set of indexes that are candidates for improving database system performance. Next, based on the candidate indexes, the system can identify one or more indexes, one or more combinations of indexes, and/or a consolidated index that improve overall database system performance.
US08515925B2
A computerized system, method and process allows telecommunications carriers to find, evaluate and select locations for equipment through direct access to end users, while providing citizens the opportunity to offer the use of their dwelling or other assets to carriers. The system and method further provides a computerized mechanism for (a) creating an inventory and marketplace for available properties for use in telecommunications networks, (b) providing quality and/or performance monitoring and control for wireless communication systems based on data in the clearinghouse, and (c) providing localized content over wireless networks using the clearinghouse.
US08515924B2
Retention of data is managed and data holds are enforced. At least one event consumer data source contains data that is subject to a retention schedule that defines rules for the disposition of the data. An enterprise retention management (ERM) application accepts at least one hold request that defines at least a portion of the data that must be held from disposition. A disposition request is also accepted by the ERM that comprises an instruction to dispose of at least a portion of the data based on the rules within the retention schedule. The disposition request is filtered to dispose of the portion of data identified in the disposition request minus the held data, which comprises disposition survivor data. An event-driven disposition mechanism disposes of the disposition survivor data as soon as possible after the disposition survivor data is released from hold or unlocked.
US08515922B2
Exemplary methods, computer systems, and computer program products for smarter deduplicated caching of queries for green IT management in a computer storage device are provided. In one embodiment, the computer environment is configured for ascertaining the most-used data access chains. Multiple access paths to identical data are determined for the most-used data access chains. A generalized chain that is formed from the plurality of access paths to the identical data is determined. Multiple keys and information relating to the access paths to the identical data is deduplicated.
US08515917B1
A method of making a foreign law in usable in a network storage controller includes transparently converting the foreign logical unit to the native format of the file system in place, by progressively increasing the binding between the file system of the storage controller and the foreign logical unit, while the foreign logical unit remains online, without requiring copying of the foreign logical unit.
US08515912B2
A computer-based method and system for sharing and deconflicting data changes amongst a plurality of replication sites. In a particular embodiment, data changes at sites to data objects are tracked by each site on a per-data object basis using per-data object version vectors. In another particular embodiment, data changes at sites to links connecting two data objects are tracked by each site on a per-link set basis using per-link set version vectors. In another particular embodiment, per-object version vectors are used to detect a conflict resulting from concurrent changes at two or more sites in which one of the concurrent changes includes an object resolution change.
US08515906B2
Data processing architecture where submitters can write data and/or metadata changes to a destination through an asynchronous interface. The architecture includes a ticketing system that issues a ticket (a unique identifier) to the submitter in response to receiving a changelist from the submitter. When the changes are successfully completed at the destination, the cached destination data can be re-downloaded to the submitter, and the changes cached in the submitter, discarded. Absent this capability, a user has to manually manage the cached changes and cached data. The architecture can be distributed in that multiple submitters can submit changelists. The destination provides data integrity by managing submissions to assist in ensuring data integrity across multiple submissions. Automatic changelist cleanup is provided on the submitter so that changelists do not impact performance, memory, and storage.
US08515903B2
For integrating diverse databases, a server and universal index are provided to support a lexicon of variable definitions and formatting information. Subscribing databases establish equivalences between local variables and variables in the universal index, either directly or with translation such as a format conversion. For managing qualifying, preliminary processes can analyze database schema and stored variable values to assess likely matches between variables and universal definitions in the lexicon, presented tentatively to the local operator for approval or rejection. Matches can become approved for use in interaction with other subscribing databases. Processes enable the universal lexicon to be revised, e.g., expanded when a variable does not appear to match an existing definition. The universal index server can function as a data intermediary, or as a source of index definitions. Databases can indicate their compliance with the index during transmission of variable data referenced to index definitions.
US08515902B2
Systems and methods for supporting metadata for work items stored in a web-based content management system with collaboration environment are disclosed. Users uploading work items to a folder are not required to provide metadata for the work items. Collaborators of the folder can provide metadata to work items within the folder.
US08515897B2
A method and program product for automatically generating reports matching user interests represented in a dynamically adjusted user interest analytic model (UIAM). A Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) query is generated based on a user visit to a business intelligence application. Based on initial user visit(s), a cube-based UIAM is constructed by including a representation of a first set of user interest(s) in a first set of UIAM item(s). The cube-based UIAM is transformed into a data warehouse-based UIAM. Based on subsequent user visit(s), UIAM items are updated to represent a second set of user interest(s) and UIAM item scores are adjusted to specify how frequently and recently user interests are indicated by the user visits. An update of data in the data warehouse is detected. Reports representative of user interest(s) represented by the updated UIAM items having the top k scores are generated.
US08515891B2
Described are symbolic finite automata for symbolically expressing and analyzing regular expression constraints, such as for use in program analysis and testing. A regular expression or pattern is transformed into a symbolic finite automaton having transitions that are labeled by formulas that denote sets of characters (rather than individual characters). Also described is composing two or more symbolic finite automata into a resulting symbolic finite automaton that is fully satisfiable. A constraint solver may be used to ensure satisfiability.
US08515888B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for a social search engine. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an answer to a question from an answerer; identifying an entity in the answer, in which the entity refers to a product, a service, a company, or a merchant; obtaining permission from the answerer to provide an interactive link for the entity in the answer to a resource from which the entity can be obtained; receiving a user submitted query and determining that the query is related to the entity; and responsive to determining, providing the answer, including the link to the resource, as part of search results that are responsive to the query.
US08515884B2
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of decision-making comprising: a data input step to input data from a plurality of first data sources into a first data bank, analysing said input data by means of a first adaptive artificial neural network (ANN), the neural network including a plurality of layers having at least an input layer, one or more hidden layers and an output layer, each layer comprising a plurality of interconnected neurons, the number of hidden neurons utilized being adaptive, the ANN determining the most important input data and defining therefrom a second ANN, deriving from the second ANN a plurality of Type-1 fuzzy sets for each first data source representing the data source, combining the Type-1 fuzzy sets to create Footprint of Uncertainty (FOU) for type-2 fuzzy sets, modelling the group decision of the combined first data sources; inputting data from a second data source, and assigning an aggregate score thereto, comparing the assigned aggregate score with a fuzzy set representing the group decision, and producing a decision therefrom. A method employing a developed ANN as defined in Claim 1 and extracting data from said ANN, the data used to learn the parameters of a normal Fuzzy Logic System (FLS).
US08515882B2
Candidate solutions to an optimization problem comprise a set of potential values that can be applied to variables in a problem description. Candidate solutions can be large because of the complexity of optimization problems and large number of variables. The populations of candidate solutions may also be large to ensure diversity and effectiveness in computing a solution. When the populations and the candidate solutions are large for an optimization problem, computing a solution to the optimization problem consumes a large amount of memory. In some instances, several generations of candidate solutions are stored in memory. Compression of the candidate solutions can minimize the memory space consumed to compute a solution to an optimization problem.
US08515881B2
Embodiments described herein are directed to multiple hypothesis systems and methods for tracking observations that are domain agnostic and involves determining the probability that a given set of observations (i.e., a track) corresponds to a particular target, object or linked set of events. One embodiment described herein relates to cyber security tracking methods and systems.
US08515880B2
A method for monitoring the condition of apparatus located at an underwater facility that includes sensing at least one parameter associated with the apparatus, providing a model of expected behavior of said at least one parameter, comparing said sensed parameter with said model, and assessing the condition of the apparatus based upon said comparison.
US08515879B2
Supervised kernel nonnegative matrix factorization generates a descriptive part-based representation of data, based on the concept of kernel nonnegative matrix factorization (kernel NMF) aided by the discriminative concept of graph embedding. An iterative procedure that optimizes suggested formulation based on Pareto optimization is presented. The present formulation removes any dependence on combined optimization schemes.
US08515878B2
An energy consumption display arrangement, which includes a database in which is stored incident energy consumption data of a number of energy consumption sites stored over a period of time, a graphical user interface operable to retrieve selected consumption data of at least one energy consumption site from the database and to present said selected consumption data to a user, the graphical user interface having a user definable dashboard for displaying any one or more of incident power consumption-, accumulated daily power consumption- and accumulated monthly power consumption of the at least one energy consumption site.
US08515869B2
An Automated Teller Machine, ATM. Persons with physical disabilities sometimes have difficulty negotiating an ATM. Under the invention, two persons are involved in an ATM transaction. One person is equipped with a communicator, such as a cell phone, which contacts an ATM. That person enters necessary transaction data, such as a PIN, a desired cash amount, and so on, using the cell phone. The other person collects the cash dispensed, and any documents, at the ATM itself. This approach eliminates a need for one person to entrust an ATM card and PIN to another person. In another embodiment, the person located at the ATM was previously given a token or passcard by the customer. That person presents the token to the ATM, which prompts the ATM to call the cell phone of the customer, thereby initiating the transaction.
US08515862B2
Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for model validation of a model for compliance and credit risk. Model input, output, and processing validation areas are contained on a computer system. A handle data structure connects the model validation areas with handles that comprise a unified metric. A handle represents combinations of covariate patterns and describes the joint distribution of risk characteristics.
US08515861B2
A method for facilitating sale of a loan by a seller to a purchaser where the seller and the purchaser have an agreement regarding the sale of loans including terms and the loan has a set of loan data. The method includes determining a price for the loan prior to selling the loan to the purchaser. The price is based on at least the set of loan data and the terms for the agreement. The method also includes applying a set of business rules to the set of loan data prior to selling the loan to the purchaser to identify compliance with terms of the agreement and/or errors in the loan data.
US08515858B2
In an automated exchange, comprising a matching module, a received order is validated for risk purposes before a match process begins. Hereby it is made possible to reduce the total financial exposure by a customer to the automated exchange.
US08515857B2
An electronic trading marketplace (ETM) communicates with interfacing modules interfacing directly with order management systems (OMS's) at trading institutions. The interfacing modules automatically transmit orders from the OMS databases to the ETM and update the OMS databases in response to orders executed at the ETM. Traders can communicate with the ETM to anonymously negotiate trades of securities.
US08515853B2
A dealer sells match insurance to participants in an order matching process. If a participant's order is not matched in the match process, then the participant can exercise the match insurance to obtain a contra-side order that matches. Purchasing match insurance is similar to purchasing an option with a floating strike price; with the strike price being determined by the match price. The match insurance itself may be tradeable. Matching orders are executed. A participant may cancel some or all of its match insurance before the match occurs and the dealer refunds the insurance premium less a cancellation fee. Traders not participating in the match may obtain an immediate execution guarantee from the dealer, at the next match price, by paying a fee.
US08515845B2
An existing customer of a financial institution may open a new account with their financial institution using an optimized online interface. Initially, the interface presents a standard application for a new account in which an extensive number of fields for personal and financial information must be completed. A link is provided on this long application for use by existing account holders only. Upon selection of the link, an existing account holder is instead presented with a short application in which only the account holder's name, a portion of their social security number, their existing account number, and their account confirmation identifier are required to be entered.
US08515834B2
A statistical inventory management system may optimize inventory investment using historical usage and/or consumption of an inventory component by determining one or more target inventory levels (e.g., replenishment levels). Historical usage data may be summed for a plurality of at least partially non-overlapping time periods that may be each equal in duration to a supplier lead-time period for the component to create lead-time usage data. The lead-time usage data may be utilized to more accurately determine future inventory levels (e.g., target inventory levels) because the lead-time usage data may have a reduced variance compared to, for example, day-to-day usage. The inventory management system may be employable by a computing system having a display module (e.g., GUI) that allows a user to receive at least one graphical representation indicative of at least one target inventory level of at least one inventory component (e.g., by selectively interacting with the display module).
US08515829B1
A method includes receiving, from a computing device of a first party, a request to purchase a gift for a second party, identifying a location of the second party, determining whether a taxing authority of the second party's location imposes a tax on a purchase associated with redemption of the gift or a tax on the receipt of the gift, determining an amount of the tax imposed, generating a payment request for the gift including adding the amount of the tax to a cost of the gift, and transmitting the payment request to the computing device of the first party in response to the request to purchase the gift so that the first party has an option to pay the tax imposed based on the second party's location.
US08515827B2
A computer system for offering property for exchange over a computer network includes a master database for storage of information pertaining to the property that is located on at least one master server which can be accessed by an exchangee, e.g. through a browser. The system further includes local agent databases which store information pertaining to property offered for exchange by a particular exchanger. An agent server accesses the master server so as to transfer information stored on an agent database to the master database. The computer system also includes an exchange management program adapted to record information relating to the stages of exchange of property between the exchanger and the exchangees, wherein the exchangees access the master server and request particular information from the master database pertaining to the property.
US08515821B2
The system refers a prospective customer to one or more prospective dealers. It identifies those dealers closest to the customer and gives preference to those with which the customer has had a previous relationship. A database stores customer contact information and information related to dealer locations. Using a computer, the prospective customer is prompted to enter some personal information. A database query checks for matching data in the customer contact database. A search of the dealer locations nearest to the customer is then performed. Results are combined and the display recommends at least one dealer location, giving preference to those locations where there has been a prior relationship.
US08515819B2
A system, a method, a server, a computer processing platform, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for enabling the identifying of products and services on-line based on a user budget. A financial budget is generated based on personal financial information provided by a user. Search criteria are generated based on the budget and product/service criteria provided by the user. A search engine is accessed to initiate an on-line search using the generated search criteria. Returned search results are processed to generate purchase recommendations for the user based on the budget and the product/service criteria. The purchase recommendations are sent to the user where the user may make a purchase request based on the recommendations. The purchase of a product or service may be facilitated in response to the purchase request and the budget may be updated based on the purchase.
US08515817B2
A sales matching system which may match sales of products or services with consummated sales by collecting selected leads from a group of lead suppliers, collecting a plurality of sales records from multiple sales sources, and matching at least some of the sales records to selected leads. The matches may be assigned a matching confidence, and may reach a threshold level of confidence to be considered a matched sale. The system may also generate invoices to selected sellers identifying invoice-able sales for which compensation may be obtained in exchange for providing leads giving rise thereto.
US08515815B2
A computer system for processing purchase transaction payments with user oriented personal financial management support having a database with primary accounts each with a plurality of subaccounts each having a subaccount indicator and a user defined funding level, receiving a financial purchase transactions payment request for payment authorization of a financial purchase transaction payment associated with an activity of the user including a financial purchase transaction amount, the primary account number, and a user selected subaccount indicator, verifying the received financial purchase transaction amount is within the received funding level for the subaccount associated with the received user selected subaccount indicator contained within the received payment request in near real time; and transmitting a financial purchase transaction authorization in response in near real time to a positive verification that the received financial purchase transaction amount is within the funding level of the subaccount associated with the received subaccount indicator.
US08515806B2
A method and system for distributing an electronic publication allows the distribution of customized publications, including customized advertising, customized content, or both. In accordance with the method for distributing an electronic publication, an electronic publication is retrieved from storage. The electronic publication is delivered to the consumer by electronically sending the electronic publication to the consumer's electronic mail address. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the electronic publication may include customized advertising. A consumer profile associated with the consumer is stored in a database and comprises a plurality of profile data items. A database of content items and advertising items is created, including at least some targeted advertising items. Each targeted advertising is associated with an inclusion criterion wherein a decision as to whether the inclusion criterion for a particular advertisement has been met depends upon the value of one or more profile data items. The electronic publication is created and comprises some content items and at least one targeted advertising item. The targeted advertising item is included because the inclusion criterion for that targeted advertising item has been met.
US08515799B2
Techniques for constructing change plans from one or more component interactions are provided. For example, a computer-implemented technique includes observing at least one interaction between two or more components of at least one distributed computing system, consolidating the at least one interaction into at least one interaction pattern, and using the at least one interaction pattern to construct at least one change plan useable for managing the at least one distributed computing system. In another computer-implemented technique, a partial order of two or more changes is determined from at least one component interaction and is automatically transformed into at least one ordered task, wherein the at least one ordered task is linked by at least one temporal ordering constraint, and is used to generate at least one change plan useable for managing the distributed computing system, wherein the change plan is based on at least one requested change.
US08515797B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a multiprocessor computer system which has at least two microprocessors (102) and resources (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) which are jointly used by the microprocessors, programs (403) being able to be executed on the computer system, characterized by at least one resource manager (101) with the following features: a) the resource manager (101) manages resources (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) which are assigned to said manager and can be adjusted at least in terms of their time response, b) the resource manager (101) receives and processes reservation requests (401) for reserving desired resources (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108), which reservation requests are transmitted by programs (403), c) the reservation requests (401) describe at least the type, scope and time response of the desired resources (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108), d) the resource manager (101) allocates the respectively desired resources (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) to the requesting program (403) if said resources are available, e) the resource manager (101) adjusts the time response of the allocated resources (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) according to the time response requested with the reservation request (401).
US08515795B2
For creating a data governance assessment, a response module receives responses to an automated questionnaire. A scoring module computes a data governance assessment comprising a maturity level describing organizational adoption of data governance, a data governance model describing a data centralization level, and a framework describing a tier of data governance by calculating the maturity level, the data governance model, and the framework from the responses.
US08515793B2
A virtual production control system (VPCS), and a virtual production control method and a computer program product thereof are provided. At first, the VPCS processes historical work-in-process (WIP) information and a current shipping plan sent from a supplier side, thereby obtaining a plurality of sets of WIP input/output historical data and a goods output schedule. Then, the VPCS performs an integer programming (IP) method to find the latest output schedule in accordance to the current shipping plan; uses a genetic algorithm (GA) to fit the historical distributed-parameters; adopts a neural network (NN) method to predict the future distributed-parameters of production; and finally utilizes a Petri Nets to simulate and obtain a latest feasible input schedule and a latest feasible output schedule.
US08515791B2
Methodologies, systems, components and software are provided that perform web analytics to measure visitor to consumer conversion continuously throughout surfing, through conversion and past completion of a purchase on-line. In accordance with at least one embodiment, such methodologies, systems, components and software may be utilized to determine efficacy of a plurality of parameters relating to one or more Transaction Related Offerings (TROs). In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, such methodologies, systems, components and software may be utilized to configure one or more Consumer Behavior Decision Models (CBDMS) and/or generate consumer behavior data.
US08515785B2
A method for rewarding life insurance policy holders who satisfy requirements relating to insured individuals' wellness includes segmenting a group of insured individuals into a W group that qualifies for a wellness benefit and a S group that does not qualify for the wellness benefit. Qualification for the wellness benefit is based on compliance with one or more of said requirements relating to insured individuals' wellness. An aggregate wellness benefit pool available for distribution to members of the W group is then determined. The wellness benefits may be distributed in several forms or combinations thereof, such as cash dividends, reductions in premiums, free additional insurance coverage for a specified time period, credits towards policy cash value or increases in other benefits. The requirements relating to an insured individual's wellness may include one or more existing health (results-based) conditions or activity-based requirements, or a combination thereof.
US08515784B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for automatically substantiating claims for health care reimbursement account plans, such as a self-funded flexible spending account (FSA), an employer-funded health care savings account (HSA), or a health care reimbursement account (HRA) over a non banking network. In particular, in various embodiments, a claims processing system is configured for receiving a claim for a health care related expense over a non-banking communications network from a health care provider and processing the claim to determine if the health care reimbursement plan account is eligible, if the balance of the account is greater than or equal to the amount of payment requested, and if the claim is sufficiently substantiated.
US08515777B1
A healthcare provisioning system improves efficiency in providing healthcare services. Healthcare supply and demand models are analyzed by a healthcare provisioning system to efficiently allocate healthcare supply resources to satisfy healthcare demand. Healthcare supply resources are allocated so as to avoid tipping points that can result in increased costs and negative patient outcomes.
US08515774B2
A method is proposed for determining clinical study compliance. The method includes obtaining criteria for the clinical study and accessing stored clinical data relating to the clinical study. Thereafter, the criteria and clinical data are correlated to determine a measure of compliance with the criteria of the clinical study.
US08515769B2
An apparatus in one example comprises a receiver of a first mobile switching center. The receiver is configured to receive an input signal in a first encoding format. The input signal has an input payload. The first encoding format is a dual-mode InterSystem Link Protocol (ISLP)/Enhanced Variable Rate Coding (EVRC) codec. The apparatus further comprises a transcoder operatively coupled to the receiver. The transcoder is structured to transcode in a single channel the first encoding format to a second encoding format. The transcoder is configured to generate an output signal in the second encoding format for transmission over an internet protocol (IP) network to a second mobile switching center based on the input signal. The output signal has an output payload based on the input payload. The transcoder is configured to switch between a default voice handling mode for the EVRC codec and a clear channel mode for the ISLP codec to form the output payload.
US08515766B1
A computing device is configured to initiate actions in response to speech input that includes a name or other indication of an entity, in a first spoken utterance, followed by user choosing an application related to an entity, in a second spoken utterance. The computing device receives the first spoken utterance, identifies an entity based on the first spoke utterance, and indicates a plurality of available applications related to the identified entity. The computing device then receives the second spoken utterance and identifies a selection of at least one of the available applications based on the second spoken utterance. The computing device then invokes the at least one selected application.
US08515764B2
A question and answer database expansion apparatus includes: a question and answer database in which questions and answers corresponding to the questions are registered in association with each other, a first speech recognition unit which carries out speech recognition for an input sound signal by using a language model based on the question and answer database, and outputs a first speech recognition result as the recognition result, a second speech recognition unit which carries out speech recognition for the input sound signal by using a language model based on a large vocabulary database, and outputs a second speech recognition result as the recognition result, and a question detection unit which detects an unregistered utterance, which is not registered in the question and answer database, from the input sound based on the first speech recognition result and the second speech recognition result, and outputs the detected unregistered utterance.
US08515763B2
Methods and systems are provided for utilizing audio commands onboard an aircraft. A method comprises identifying a flight phase for the aircraft, resulting in an identified flight phase, receiving an audio input, resulting in received audio input, filtering the received audio input in a manner that is influenced by the identified flight phase for the aircraft, resulting in filtered audio input, and validating the filtered audio input as a first voice command of a first plurality of possible voice commands.
US08515751B2
This specification describes technologies relating to recognition of text in various media. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include receiving an input signal including data representing one or more words and passing the input signal to a text recognition system that generates a recognized text string based on the input signal. The methods may further include receiving the recognized text string from the text recognition system. The methods may further include presenting the recognized text string to a user and receiving a corrected text string based on input from the user. The methods may further include checking if an edit distance between the corrected text string and the recognized text string is below a threshold. If the edit distance is below the threshold, the corrected text string may be passed to the text recognition system for training purposes.
US08515749B2
Systems and methods for facilitating communication including recognizing speech in a first language represented in a first audio signal; forming a first text representation of the speech; processing the first text representation to form data representing a second audio signal; and causing presentation of the second audio signal to a second user while responsive to an interrupt signal from a first user. In some embodiments, processing the first text representation includes translating the first text representation to a second text representation in a second language and processing the second text representation to form the data representing the second audio signal. In some embodiments include accepting an interrupt signal from the first user and interrupting the presentation of the second audio signal.
US08515748B2
Mobile phone signals may be corrupted by noise, fading, interference with other signals, and low strength field coverage of a transmitting and/or a receiving mobile phone as they pass through the communication network (e.g., free space). Because of the corruption of the mobile phone signal, a voice conversation between a caller and a receiver may be interrupted and there may be gaps in a received oral communication from one or more participants in the voice conversation forcing either or both the caller and the receiver to repeat the conversation. Transmitting a transcript of the oral communication along with a voice signal comprising the oral communication can help ensure that voice conversation is not interrupted due to a corrupted voice signal. The transcript of the oral communication can be used to retrieve parts of the oral communication lost in transmission (e.g., by fading, etc.) to make the conversation more fluid.
US08515745B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus for selecting training data. In an aspect, a method comprises: obtaining search session data comprising search sessions that include search queries, wherein each search query comprises words; determining a threshold out of vocabulary rate indicating a rate at which a word in a search query is not included in a vocabulary; determining a threshold session out of vocabulary rate, the session out of vocabulary rate indicating a rate at which search sessions have an out of vocabulary rate that meets the threshold out of vocabulary rate; selecting a vocabulary of words that, for a set of test data, has a session out of vocabulary rate that meets the threshold session out of vocabulary rate, the vocabulary of words being selected from the one or more words included in each of the search queries included in the search sessions.
US08515744B2
Method, apparatus, and system for encoding and decoding signals are disclosed. The encoding method includes: converting a first-domain signal into a second-domain signal; performing Linear Prediction (LP) processing and Long-Term Prediction (LTP) processing for the second-domain signal; obtaining a long-term flag according to a decision criterion; obtaining a second-domain predictive signal according to the LP processing result and the LTP processing result when the long-term flag is a first flag; or obtaining a second-domain predictive signal according to the LP processing result when the long-term flag is a second flag; converting the second-domain predictive signal into a first-domain predictive signal, calculating a first-domain predictive residual signal; and outputting a bit stream that includes the first-domain predictive residual signal. Subsequent encoding or decoding process is performed adaptively according to the long-term flag; and it is not always necessary to consider the LTP processing result, thus improving the compression performance of codec.
US08515741B2
Presented herein are system(s), method(s), and apparatus for reducing on-chip memory requirements for audio decoding. In one embodiment, there is presented a method for decoding encoded audio signals. The method comprises fetching a first one or more tables from an off-chip memory; loading the first one or more tables to an on-chip memory; applying a first function to the encoded audio signals using the first one or more tables; fetching a second one or more tables from an off-chip memory after applying the first function; loading the second one or more tables to an on-chip memory; and applying a second function to the encoded audio signals, using the second one or more tables.
US08515739B2
A method for determining a sentiment associated with an entity includes inputting a plurality of texts associated with the entity, labeling seed words in the plurality of texts as positive or negative, determining a score estimate for the plurality of words based on the labeling, re-enumerating paths of the plurality of words and determining a number of sentiment alternations, determining a final score for the plurality of words using only paths whose number of alternations is within a threshold, converting the final scores to corresponding z-scores for each of the plurality of words, and outputting the sentiment associated with the entity.
US08515732B2
A first computer system sends a request to a second computer system. The second computer system determines that the first computer system utilizes a message catalog file that is not installed on the second computer system. As a result, the second computer system sends a catalog request that requests the message catalog file. The second computer system receives the message catalog file and sends a response message from the second computer system to the first computer system using the received message catalog file.
US08515727B2
A computer program product stored including machine executable instructions stored on machine readable media, the instructions configured for performing automatic logic build processes and implementing autonomic quality checking, by implementing a method including: providing a model repository for holding at least one component; updating the model repository with at least one component; creating a tag for each sub-component of a selected component of the model repository; associating each tag with a latest version of each respective sub-component; and issuing a component submit notice to identify at least one of a dependency and a priority between selected components. A system is also provided.
US08515725B2
A system, method and computer program product for modeling a semiconductor device structure. The system and method implemented includes performing a simulation of the circuit by applying at least one input waveform on a circuit input port, and loading an output port with at least one of output load; determining, at successive time steps of the circuit simulation, a voltage value Vi on the input port, a voltage value Vo on the output port, and a current values (ia) and (ib) on the respective input and output ports. Then there is computed from the respective current value for each successive time step of the simulation, at least one charge value (Qa(Vi, Vo)) and (Qb(Vi, Vo)), respectively, as a function of Vi and Vo voltage values; and generating a nonlinear charge source from the at least one charge value, the nonlinear charge source used in modeling a dynamic behavior of the cell. A voltage controlled charge source (VCCS) is thereby determined by capturing the natural digital circuit cell behavior.
US08515713B2
A method for embellishment placement may include receiving a parameter value defining a minimum distance between an embellishment and another feature of the item, defining points on the item, randomizing the points, eliminating one or more points based on the parameter value and leaving remaining points, the remaining points defining the positions for embellishments on the item, and manufacturing the item.
US08515710B2
Methods and systems for detecting faults in temperature sensors on engine systems provided with equipment for treatment of combustion products of an exhaust effluent stream during engine operation include determining sensor faults from differences in temperature between sensors present in such systems over time. Estimated exhaust gas temperatures may be compared against real time temperature measurements to arrive at a diagnostic residual value representing the difference between a modeled value and measured value, and deviation of the measured value from the modeled value is used to indicate a sensor fault.
US08515705B2
A circuit board testing system and a circuit board testing system for testing a circuit board of keys. The circuit board testing system includes a computer and a test frame. The circuit board is placed on the test frame. The computer includes a script database with plural pin test scripts, a script generation program and a test program. The test program is used for searching a pin test script corresponding to the circuit board from the script database, and testing the circuit board according to the pin test script. If the pin test script is not searched from the script database by the test program, the script generation program is activated to create the pin test script.
US08515704B2
The calibrating breathalyzer comprises an alcohol sensor, a non-volatile memory, a processing unit or processor, a display and a housing to house these components. The processing unit can calibrate the breathalyzer using the user's body as a simulator based on the user's metabolism rate, type and amount of alcohol consumed by the user. The processing unit determines a sample time to receive a breath sample from the user based on a time to a predetermined calibration point from the drinking start time calculated using the user's metabolism rate and the determined maximum alcohol level. The BAC % measurement based on the user's breath sample at the sample time is used as a reference point in calibrating the breathalyzer.
US08515701B2
A method for detecting particulate contamination under a workpiece fixtured by a calibrated material handling system includes performing 3D measurements of a workpiece at multiple of positions to construct a 3D map of the workpiece, calibrating the 3D map by comparing a pre-computed calibration map to the 3D measurements, and detecting particulate contamination by processing the calibrated map.
US08515696B2
A system for acquiring and analyzing fault conditions for at least one coil of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system. Each of the at least one coils is electrically connected through a transmit/receive (T/R) bias circuit to an interface. The system has a central processing unit with a processor configured to execute programmable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to conduct circuit tests at predetermined intervals for the at least one coil, acquire data for the at least one coil to construct a data log with a plurality of input events, and algorithmically filter and analyze the plurality of input events to create an output configured to predict a failure event of the at least one coil. A method for analyzing and acquiring fault conditions is also provided.
US08515693B2
By detecting the pressure time characteristic on the high-pressure side of an injection pump, the delivery volume of the pump is able to be determined without intervention in the injection system.
US08515688B2
A system to predict a fatigue life of an aluminum alloy is disclosed herein. The system comprises a computer-readable medium cooperative with micromechanics-based fatigue life models for cyclic multiaxial loading. The fatigue life models predict the fatigue life by processing information received by the system relating to the aluminum alloy and the stress state present in the aluminum alloy. The received information comprises at least one of: a critical shear plane, a damage factor, a hardening factor defined by at least one of a plurality of uniaxial cyclic hardening factor parameters related to probabilistics of defects and microstructure characteristics in the aluminum alloy, an additional hardening factor related to non-proportionality, and thermophysical and mechanical properties of the aluminum alloy. The defects and microstructure characteristics can be calculated using mathematical modeling of casting, solidification and heat treatment processes or by an extreme value statistics based on metallography measurements.
US08515675B2
A method for estimating a shape, the method including: selecting a structure comprising a plurality of strain sensors inoperable communication with the structure, each strain sensor configured to provide a strain measurement; placing the structure in a borehole; receiving the strain measurements from the plurality of strain sensors; creating a mesh grid having nodes, each node related to a location of one strain sensor and assigned a strain value measured by the one strain sensor; creating an additional node for the mesh grid wherein a strain value assigned to the additional node is derived from the strain value corresponding to at least one adjacent node; and performing an inverse finite method using the mesh grid with the assigned strain values to estimate the shape.
US08515670B2
In a method for refining a position estimate of a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite a first position estimate of a LEO satellite is obtained with a GNSS receiver on-board the LEO satellite. The first position estimate is communicated to a Virtual Reference Station (VRS) processor. VRS corrections are received at the LEO satellite, the VRS corrections having been calculated for the first position estimate by the VRS processor. The VRS corrections are processed on-board the LEO satellite such that a VRS corrected LEO satellite position estimate of the LEO satellite is generated for the first position estimate.
US08515667B2
A navigation system using a mobile terminal, GPS receiver and navigation software, wherein the navigation software is arranged to switch the mobile terminal into a power saving mode if there are no further instructions needed for a determined period of time or distance. The power saving functionality comprises turning the backlight off and changing the visualization of the display for better readability without the backlight.
US08515664B2
A navigation system includes a display for displaying at least a part of a digital map. The navigation system includes a navigation database which stores any text and/or symbol(s) associated with a signpost independently from a background of the signpost. The text and/or symbol(s) and the background may be retrieved from the navigation database and displayed as a signpost image in the displayed part of the digital map.
US08515658B1
In one advantageous embodiment, a method for managing presentation of a navigational chart on a touchscreen display device is presented. A user input is received on a surface of the touchscreen display device on which the navigational chart is presented. A number of portions of the navigational chart corresponding to the surface on which the user input was received are identified, using a processor unit connected to the touchscreen display device. A number of graphical indications are presented on the navigational chart in association with each of the number of portions identified by the processor unit.
US08515655B2
A navigation device includes: a position detecting unit; a remaining energy level detecting unit; a storage unit that stores map information including position information of a charging point of a drive energy; an energy consumption amount calculation unit that calculates a consumption amount of the drive energy when a vehicle travels along any link included based upon the map information; a route calculation unit that calculates a route from a current position to a destination point; and a route guidance unit. The route calculation unit calculates a recommended route with a minimum attainment cost among routes in which the remaining level does not fall below a predetermined threshold level based upon the map information, the remaining level on departure of the vehicle detected by the remaining energy level detecting unit, and the consumption amount calculated by the energy consumption amount calculation unit.
US08515654B2
Described is a technology in which Bluetooth® devices, e.g., navigation devices, are enhanced with additional power amplification to allow long range radio communication links between moving vehicles and/or between moving vehicles and roadside hubs. In one example, collection and dissemination of traffic information, including aggregation and filtering, is facilitated via a Bluetooth® vehicle-to-vehicle and/or vehicle-to-roadside hub ad-hoc network. Also described is efficient connection establishment and data transfer for vehicle to vehicle and vehicle-to-roadside hubs via the enhanced Bluetooth® radio. The ad-hoc network comprising a mesh of vehicles/a supernode also facilitates the exchange of information that originated at an Internet source.
US08515653B2
A drive control method of a flow rate control valve in a common rail type fuel injection control apparatus, in which an integral value of a difference between a target current and an actual current is used in feedback control of an energization current of the flow rate control valve such that the actual current of the flow rate control valve becomes closer to the target current, the flow rate control valve controlling an amount of fuel supplied to a high pressure pump that pressure feeds high pressure fuel to a common rail.
US08515652B2
A control device for an internal combustion engine is provided. The control device includes means which controls fuel injection by a fuel injection device, and means which controls the throttle. The fuel injection control means sequentially restarts fuel injection for each cylinder in accordance with an ignition sequence among cylinders when cancellation conditions of fuel cut are satisfied during implementation of the fuel cut. Meanwhile, the throttle control means firstly controls the throttle to a closing side when the cancellation conditions of fuel cut are satisfied. The throttle is controlled to the closing side, whereby the air amount in the intake pipe is decreased, and the air amount in a cylinder which is the basis of calculation of a fuel injection amount is also decreased.
US08515648B2
A control device for an internal combustion engine provided by the present invention is a control device which can enhance precision of realization of required torque while enhancing emission performance by positively changing an air-fuel ratio. The present control device generates a target air-fuel ratio by lessening a change speed of a required air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine. However, in a situation in which the required air-fuel ratio is made rich with return from fuel cut, lessening of the change speed of the required air-fuel ratio is stopped, and the required air-fuel ratio is directly outputted as a target air-fuel ratio. The control device calculates a target air quantity for realizing the required torque under the target air-fuel ratio. For calculation of the target air quantity, data in which relationship of torque generated by the internal combustion engine and an air quantity taken into a cylinder is fixed by being related to an air-fuel ratio can be used. The present control device manipulates an actuator for air quantity control in accordance with the target air quantity, and manipulates an actuator for fuel injection quantity control in accordance with the target air-fuel ratio.
US08515646B2
A control apparatus of an internal combustion engine capable of appropriately reflecting various requests relating to the performance of the internal combustion engine. Specifically, the control device of the internal combustion engine acquires various requests relating to the performance of the internal combustion engine, and sets restricted ranges of the value of the control variable in accordance with the details of the requests. At this moment, the control device temporally changes the set restricted ranges for specific requests associated with the time integral value of the control variable rather than the instantaneous value of the control variable. Subsequently, the control device determines a final restricted range on the basis of the overlap between the restricted ranges set for each request, and determines the target value of the control variable in the final restricted range.
US08515644B2
A method and a device for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle in terms of a constant distance control in the case that at least one preceding vehicle was detected by a radar sensor or in terms of constant speed control in the case that no preceding vehicle was detected by a radar sensor, the distance to the preceding vehicle being able to be set by the driver in the form of a time gap, wherein the longitudinal dynamics of the speed control may be changed when the time gap changes.
US08515630B2
A method for determining the output speed (N_AB) of a manual transmission of a motor vehicle. The output speed (N_AB) is calculated during a period of a shifting operation in which the current gear is disengaged and the new gear has yet to be engaged. The calculated output speed (N_AB) is used for controlling adjustment of the speed of the transmission input shaft (N_EG) to the speed of the transmission output shaft, or the calculated output speed (N_AB), is used for checking the plausibility of a value of the output speed (N_AB) as determined by the sensors.
US08515627B2
A machine includes a chassis, a linkage having a first end pivotally attached to the chassis at a first pivot point, and a bucket pivotally attached to a second end of the linkage at a second pivot point and rotatable about the second pivot point from a first position where gravity resists rotation of the bucket to a second position where gravity assists rotation of the bucket. A tilt actuator rotates the bucket about the pivot point and one or more sensors provide physical data of the bucket. A processor of the machine receives the physical data, determines from the physical data an equilibrium position of the bucket, determines a location of the center of gravity of the bucket with payload from the physical data and the equilibrium position, and estimates the weight of the payload based on the physical data and the location of the center of gravity.
US08515617B2
A control system for a motor vehicle comprises an output control unit for outputting data related to the operation of the motor vehicle and an operation control unit spatially separated from the output control unit for generating or providing data related to the operation of the motor vehicle. The output control unit comprises a data storage for storing data related to the operation of the motor vehicle and the data related to the operation of the motor vehicle can be read out of the data storage and outputted by the output control unit.
US08515613B2
An environmental map correction device that acquires an environmental map that matches an actual ambient environment includes a conversion unit arranged to convert object existence probability information of respective grids configuring a global map into image information (shading information of a black and white image), a display unit arranged to display a global map image based on the converted image information, an operation input unit arranged to receive a correcting operation from a user, a correction unit arranged to correct the global map image displayed by the display unit according to the correcting operation by the user, and an inversion unit arranged to acquire a corrected global map by inverting the corrected global map image (shading information) into the object existence probability information.
US08515608B2
A reduce electric power consumption when an electric motor starts an engine and the time required to start the engine. Engine start control is implemented as follows. The RPM of the engine is increased to an RPM (R1) by the electric motor. Fuel is supplied to the engine of which RPM has reached to the RPM (R1) and further increases in the RPM are detected. If a further increase in the RPM is not detected, the supply of electric power to the electric motor is temporarily stopped. If the RPM has decreased to a RPM (R2), the supply of fuel to the engine is interrupted and also the supply of electric power to the electric motor is resumed. If a further increase in the RPM is detected or if the RPM has not decreased to the RPM (R2), it is determined that the engine has been started.
US08515605B2
A power supply device for a vehicle that is chargeable from an external power supply (90) provided external to the vehicle, including a main battery (BA) and a battery pack (39) that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle. The battery pack (39) includes a sub battery (BB1) for driving electric loads (inverters 14 and 22) common to the main battery (BA) and the sub battery (BB1), and a connector (52) provided with a first storage unit storing information related to the sub battery (BB1). The power supply device for the vehicle further includes a control device (30) performing control related to the main battery (BA), and reading the information from the first storage unit and performing control related to the sub battery (BB1).
US08515602B2
A method for checking the function of an engine system having an internal combustion engine includes: (a) ascertaining a first charge adaptation value for acting on a manipulated variable for setting an air supply to the internal combustion engine, and ascertaining a first mixture adaptation value for acting on a manipulated variable for setting a fuel supply at a predefined first operating point of the internal combustion engine, in each case with the aid of a predefined adaptation method; and (b) establishing that an error is present in the engine system when at least one of the offset adaptation values is outside a particular predefined adaptation value range.
US08515596B2
Disclosed herein is a method and system for flying a ducted-fan aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The method includes receiving a flight plan comprising a plurality of waypoints and a plurality of path segments connecting the plurality of waypoints in an order of execution. The method further includes determining actual flight instructions for the ducted fan unmanned aerial vehicle based on (i) the received flight plan, (ii) a predetermined set of operating parameters associated with the ducted fan unmanned aerial vehicle, and (iii) an iterative analysis of a plurality of ordered triples. The method further includes sending the actual flight instructions to at least one processor of the ducted fan unmanned aerial vehicle configured to implement one or more portions of the actual flight instructions.
US08515591B2
A device for estimating a turning characteristic of a vehicle estimates a stability factor indicating the turning characteristic of a vehicle. The device for estimating the turning characteristic calculates the transient yaw rate of a vehicle involved in the relationship of a primary delay relative to the steady-state standard yaw rate of a vehicle, and calculates the deviation between the transient yaw rate of the vehicle and the actual yaw rate of the vehicle. The device for estimating the turning characteristic corrects the estimated value of the stability factor so as to approach the true stability factor by correcting the initial value of the stability factor supplied to the calculation of the standard yaw rate of the vehicle on the basis of the relationship between the deviation of the yaw rate and the lateral acceleration of the vehicle so that the transient yaw rate of the vehicle approaches the true yaw rate.
US08515584B2
An energy-reducing method and apparatus for retrofitting a constant volume HVAC system, with or without an economizer, that provides heating, cooling, and ventilation to occupants within a building space. The present invention includes the introduction of a programmable logic controller and variable frequency drive (VFD) that takes control of the existing fan, heating, cooling, and optional economizer operation. The controller is programmed for the reduction of fan speed in the heating and cooling modes. The reduction of the fan speed in the ventilation mode when the 100% operation is not needed saves significant energy of the existing constant volume HVAC system where the fan motor is designed to run 100% of the time. The fan speed may be further reduced upon a reduction in sensed occupancy levels of the space, such as with a CO2 sensor. Additionally, the fan speed may be reduced in the heating and/or cooling mode to further reduce energy consumption. The controller may also be programmed and equipped with sensors to allow simultaneous mechanical compressor cooling and economizer free cooling operation, for the operation of the economizer in response to the monitoring of outside air and return air to determine the preferred source for cooling operations, to keep the outside air damper closed during the unoccupied heating modes such as morning warm-up, and/or to provide fault detection. The retrofit method and apparatus may be employed in a stand-alone or networked version.
US08515583B2
A machine motion control system for testing electronic devices includes two test machines, a control card and a main controller. The test machines secure the electronic devices, whereby each test machine includes a plurality of moving parts for securing the electronic devices and a plurality of driving modules. The driving modules drive and control the corresponding moving parts of the test machine. The control card controls the driving modules. The main controller provides and transmits a movement instruction to the control card, the control card monitors and controls the driving modules according to the movement instruction, and the driving modules accordingly adjusts and drives the test machines and the moving parts on the test machines.
US08515582B2
A control system for controlling operation of a fossil fuel fired power generating unit. The control system including both a combustion optimization system and an oxygen optimization system. Both the combustion optimization system and oxygen optimization system each including a model for predicting values of controlled variables and an optimizer for determining optimal setpoint values.
US08515571B1
A method and apparatus for automated assisted sewing of an oversized, digitized sewing pattern, using a fabric retention mechanism and an automated sewing machine positioning mechanism. The sewing machine positioning mechanism is controlled by an actuator and provides for two dimensional positioning of a sewing machine with respect to the fabric retention mechanism. The oversized sewing pattern is segmented into pattern segments and the pattern segments are sewed sequentially in accordance with a selected order, with the fabric being repositioned after each segment is sewed. Cut points for pattern lines on the border of each pattern segment are matched by start points on the adjacent border of a subsequently sewed, adjacent pattern segment. A pattern program adjusts the pattern lines of each subsequently sewed segment to provide for continuity and alignment of the pattern lines which cross the borders between pattern segments.
US08515569B2
The content of an operating instruction to each worker in a manufacturing process is controlled in the following way based on a manufacturing direction to the worker and on manufacturing achievement, work proficiency, and the like of the worker for the manufacturing direction. A deviation between a manufacturing direction and manufacturing achievement is calculated. Manufacturing direction parameters acting as factors of the calculated deviation are specified for each product to be manufactured. The above information is stored in a deviation factor database. For a new manufacturing direction, manufacturing direction parameters therein are checked against the deviation factor database to determine alarm information to be given to a worker on a manufacturing line, and the determined alarm information is outputted.
US08515564B2
A method for operating an automation system which executes, as an automation solution, a control program having a plurality of software modules, where the method comprises replacing at least one software module comprising an old software module at the runtime of the control program with a new software module wherein the new software module is loaded into a memory of the automation system, an old data area associated with the old software module is compared with a new data area associated with the new software module, program code instructions for converting data for or from the old data area into data for or from the new data area is generated, and a program code instruction for invoking the old software module is replaced with program code instructions for invoking the generated program code instructions for data conversion and for invoking the new software module.
US08515562B2
A computer based control system including a field network to which field devices equipped with hardware addresses and logical names are to be connected, a control device performing addressing control in relation to the field devices and their logical addresses and a simulation handling device. The simulation handling device has an own logical address, an own hardware address and is capable of obtaining a logical address, as well as possibly a logical name and/or a hardware address of at least one field device involved in the simulation. It notifies the control device that the field device is connected to the field network, detects a control signal directed towards field device addressed using the logical and/or hardware address of this field device and responds to the control signal with simulation results using the same logical and/or hardware address as the source of the response.
US08515555B1
In one embodiment, a lead extension comprises: a lead body; a plurality of conductors disposed within the lead body; a plurality of terminal contacts on a proximal end of the lead body, wherein the plurality of terminal contacts are electrically coupled to the plurality of conductors; and a housing structure disposed at a distal end of the lead body, the housing structure enclosing a plurality of electrical connectors for making electrical contact with terminal contacts of a stimulation lead, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors are electrically coupled to the plurality of conductors; the housing structure comprising an outer body of a first material and an inner reinforcing structure of a second material, wherein the first material is a relatively pliable biocompatible polymer material and the second material is a relatively rigid material, the reinforcing structure holding the plurality of electrical connectors in a relatively fixed arrangement.
US08515554B2
A radiometric heating/sensing probe for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting electromagnetic waves of a second frequency emitted by the tissue indicating tissue temperature. The probe includes a dual frequency antenna, a signal transmitting path to the antenna and a signal receiving path from the antenna to a radiometer. A diplexer connected between those paths inside the probe includes a quarter wave stub in the form of a shorted slab line-type transmission line in the signal transmitting path. The entire probe package is only about 0.4 in. long and 0.08 in. in diameter so that it can be used in many minimally invasive applications.
US08515551B2
An electrical interferential device comprises a circuit for delivering electrical interferential energy into the body of a patient. A sensor detects a function of the autonomic nervous system of the patient and provides an output indicative of the response of the autonomic nervous system to the electrical interferential energy. A treatment regimen is selected which uses a combination of carrier and beat frequencies and electrode placement pattern that produce a desired response in the autonomic nervous system of the patient. In one embodiment of the invention, a diagnostic tool is used to determine which combination of carrier and beat frequencies are desirable and treatment is provided by a second electrical interferential device. In another embodiment of the invention, the same diagnostic tool or a portion of the same diagnostic tool may be used to treat the patient.
US08515547B2
A portable housing supports a processor coupled to memory for storing medical firmware and wireless radio firmware, first and second radios, a processor, and a power source. Communications are effected between an implantable medical device and the first radio in accordance with program instructions of the medical firmware, and between the second radio and the wireless network in accordance with program instructions of the wireless radio firmware. The first and second radios are configured to operate cooperatively in a first testing configuration, by which the first radio operates as a transmitter and the second radio operates as a receiver, and cooperatively in a second testing configuration, by which the second radio operates as a transmitter and the first radio operates as a receiver. Functional testing of the first and second radios is implemented using one or both of the first and second testing configurations.
US08515539B2
An implanted device is equipped with a flag that indicates to a remote monitoring unit that an event such as a patient medical emergency or device failure has occurred. The remote monitoring unit is configured in some embodiments to maintain a low power communication link with the implanted device when they are within range. When the flag indicates an event has occurred, the remote monitoring unit quickly downloads sensed data collected by the implanted device and transfers it over a network so that it can be utilized by a medical practitioner. The remote monitoring unit is further configured in some embodiments to query the implanted device at regular intervals. The remote monitoring unit may read a subset of the data stored by the implanted device and, based on that data, determine whether to complete a full or partial download.
US08515535B2
Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems employing dyspnea measurement. An implantable cardiac device may sense transthoracic impedance and determine a patient activity level. An index indicative of pulmonary function is implantably computed to detect an episode of dyspnea based on a change, trend, and/or value exceeding a threshold at a determined patient activity level. Trending one or more pulmonary function index values may be done to determine a patient's pulmonary function index profile, which may be used to adapt a cardiac therapy. A physician may be automatically alerted in response to a pulmonary function index value and/or a trend of the patient's pulmonary index being beyond a threshold. Computed pulmonary function index values and their associated patient's activity levels may be stored periodically in a memory and/or transmitted to a patient-external device.
US08515527B2
An imaging system for use in a medical intervention procedure is disclosed. A first image acquisition system is configured to produce a fluoroscopy image of an anatomical region. A second image acquisition system is configured to produce a 3D model of the anatomical region. An interventional tracking system, which includes a position indicator, is configured to maneuver within the anatomical region. A first anatomical reference system is common to both the first and the second image acquisition systems, and a second anatomical reference system is common to both the first image acquisition system and the interventional tracking system. A processing circuit configured to process executable instructions for registering the second image acquisition system with the first image acquisition system to define a first registration, registering the interventional tracking system with the first image acquisition system to define a second registration, and in response to the first and second registrations, registering the interventional tracking system with the second image acquisition system.
US08515515B2
According to various embodiments, a medical sensor assembly may include compressible light barriers configured to prevent undesired light from being detected. The compressible light barriers may protrude from the surface of the sensor. However, when applied to the tissue, the compressible light barriers may be compressed to the point of being substantially flush with the tissue.
US08515510B2
A method and system for attaching medical devices to a patient are provided. In accordance with an embodiment, a medical device is formed with or is coupled to an attachment structure including a plurality of electrodes capable of generating differential voltages at adjacent electrodes, to thereby provide electrostatic adhesion with the tissue of a patient. In an embodiment, the attachment structure includes an insulative material between the respective electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.
US08515507B2
Devices, systems and methods for detecting in vivo pathology are provided. An in vivo sensing device comprises a reacting layer with at least one type of binding agent attached thereon, a sensor configured for sensing an optical change occurring on the reacting substrate, and at least one illumination source. In-vivo fluids are in constant contact with the reacting substrate so that in vivo marker indicating pathology may bind to the binding agent attached onto the reacting layer and may be viewed by the sensor.
US08515505B1
An apparatus worn by a user providing an interface with a mobile device. The apparatus includes a main body having a display, at least one strap for attaching the apparatus to the user, and a microcontroller for wirelessly communicating with a mobile device of the user. The microcontroller provides an interface for using the mobile device from the apparatus. The apparatus may be a wrist watch worn by the user. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include a wand for providing phone operations. In another embodiment, the wand may include a sound projection speaker allowing sound to be redirected and amplified by a users palm. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include a wireless dongle for providing phone functions to the user.
US08515503B2
A wireless headset with an integral display is provided, the headset capable of communicating via a wireless network to a cellular telephone, cellular telephone adaptor, land-line telephone, land-line telephone adaptor, computer, personal digital assistant, or other device capable of communicating via the wireless network. The wireless headset of the invention includes an input transducer (e.g., a microphone), an output transducer (e.g., a speaker), a wireless networking subsystem and a controller/controller interface. The headset may also include means for attaching the headset to the user in order to allow hands-free operation. The integral display, fabricated using any of a variety of suitable technologies, allows headset and system information to be displayed (e.g., battery levels, signal levels, call status, caller identification, incoming call alert, current time, current date, elapsed use time, etc.). The integral display can also be used to aid headset/system configuration (e.g., headset volume, voice dialing, ring mode, roaming mode, etc.). The integral display can also provide added functionality to the headset (e.g., phone lists, text messages, calendar functions, appointment and/or task lists, etc.).
US08515502B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for state detection and terminal equipment. The apparatus for state detection includes: capacitive touch sensors arranged in the first cover of the terminal equipment a metal structure arranged in the second cover of the terminal equipment and grounded, the capacitive touch sensors being triggered by the metal structure, such that the capacitance of the capacitive touch sensors is changed and a state determiner to determine that the second cover is opened or closed relative to the first cover according to the changed capacitance of the capacitive touch sensors. The opening and closing of the terminal equipment may be detected without the participation of the user, thereby providing a better user experience with high precision of detection.
US08515501B2
A portable communication device having a touch-screen locking unit that can prevent operation of the touch screen due to an unwanted screen touch is disclosed. The device comprises a main body housing having a touch screen. A mount is formed in the main body housing. An input unit is attached to or detached from the mount. A locking unit is provided on the mount and turns on/off a locking state of the touch screen according to attachment/detachment of the input unit. The locking state of the touch screen can be automatically set to an ON/OFF state by attaching/detaching a stylus pen to/from a mounting groove. When the touch screen is carried or kept, a touch screen operation or change according to an external environment can be prevented.
US08515495B2
A device and method including a plurality of transmitters and/or receiver units and antennae therefore, and wherein each of said units are arranged radially to cover a plurality of sectors; and including at least one component necessary for the operation of said units, and arranged such that said component is shared between two or more units and/or their respective antennae. The device and method has application to MIMO systems.
US08515492B2
A method and a system are described for adapting a service provided by a base station in a cellular communication network to mobile stations in its coverage area. The base station is supplied with energy from a renewable energy generator and/or from a back-up battery supply. The back-up battery supply is at least partially charged by the renewable energy generator. The service is adapted in terms of coverage and/or capacity provided to the mobile stations as a function of the stored energy in the back-up battery supply and/or as a function of a forecast regarding the amount of energy supplied by the renewable energy generator over a time period.
US08515478B2
Techniques to support fast state transition by a user equipment (UE) are described. The UE may operate in a first state (e.g., a CELL_PCH state) in which the UE does not transmit or receive user data. The UE may receive a paging message carrying first configuration information. The UE may transition from the first state to a second state (e.g., a CELL_DCH state) in response to receiving the paging message. The UE may determine a set of communication parameters based on the first configuration information received from the paging message and second configuration information stored at the UE. The UE may then exchange user data based on the set of communication parameters. The UE may use default values for some parameters in order to reduce the amount of first configuration information to send in the paging message.
US08515476B2
Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of a subscriber station transceiver allocating and transmitting groups of subcarriers between a plurality of transceiver antennas are disclosed. One method includes the subscriber station transceiver receiving at least one downlink signal through each of the plurality of subscriber station antennas. The subscriber station transceiver characterizes a received signal of the at least one downlink signal over multiple subcarriers. The subscriber station transceiver allocates groups of subcarriers for uplink transmission through each of the plurality of subscriber antennas, wherein the allocation is based on the characterized received signal of the at least one downlink signal over multiple subcarriers.
US08515473B2
In a method of cognitive communication for non-interfering transmission, wherein the improvement comprises the step of conducting radio scene analysis to find not just the spectrum holes or White spaces; but also to use the signal classification, machine learning and prediction information to learn more things about the existing signals and its underlying protocols, to find the Gray space, hence utilizing the signal space, consisting of space, time, frequency (spectrum), code and location more efficiently.
US08515470B2
A source mobile telephone detects that a telephone number of the telephone has changed to a new number, and in response, sends a text or short message service (SMS) notice message to contacts identified in the mobile telephone to indicate that the source mobile telephone has a new telephone number. In response to receiving the text or SMS notice message, a contact telephony device may update its contact list to reflect the new number. Other embodiments are also described.
US08515468B2
Disclosed are a system, method and article of manufacture for calculation of higher-order data from context data are disclosed. An application program interface receives a set of context data in conjunction with a calculation module. A calculation module calculates a higher-order data using the set of context data. A signal-generation module embeds the higher-order data in a telecommunication signal. The calculation module may create a coordinate space for the set of context data. The calculation module may define a property of the coordinate space. The calculation module operates to define a function that describes a relation between each member of the set of context data.
US08515467B2
The present system includes a bridge (or adapter) that connects two synchronization endpoints over two different networks. The bridge first receives information to be synchronized and generates metadata to form it into messages transported over the first network according to a first protocol. A gateway receives the messages over the first transport mechanism and generates a synchronization feed that can be transported over the second network according to a second protocol.
US08515458B2
A wireless telephone system may be provided with a relay device, first and second wireless telephone devices. The relay device may receive a call request from the first wireless telephone device, determine whether the second wireless telephone device is being located within a wireless communication area of the relay device, and send connection information of the second wireless telephone device to the first wireless telephone device on a condition that it is determined that the second wireless telephone device is being located within the wireless communication area of the relay device. The first wireless telephone device may send a connection request for a direct communication with the second wireless telephone device with the connection information of the second wireless telephone device as a destination thereof. The second wireless telephone device may receive the connection request.
US08515452B2
Method and apparatus are for monitoring the location of a wireless device and taking supervisory action in response to that location. Location information obtained from a user's wireless device, or otherwise concerning the present location of the user, is monitored and compared with one or more locations previously approved for that user. An exception is noted if the user reaches a non-approved location, or fails to timely arrive at an approved destination. In response to an exception, supervisory action is taken which may include contacting the wireless device, partially or completely disabling further service of that device, or contacting another person.
US08515432B2
Call control for originating and terminating calls in a visited circuit-switched subsystem (CS) or home multimedia subsystem (MS) as well as transferring calls between the visited CS and the home MS may be anchored at a continuity control function (CCF) in the home MS. Call signaling for the call may be passed through the CCF. When the user element is homed to the home MS and served by the visited CS, the bearer path for the call is established based on the relative proximity of the home MS and the visited CS. When a local MS is more proximate to the visited CS, the bearer path may be routed through a gateway in the local MS, instead of through the gateway in the home MS. When the home MS is sufficiently proximate to the visited CS, the bearer path is routed through the gateway in the home MS.
US08515430B2
A wireless communication system according to the present invention includes a first base station forming a unicast area and a second base station forming a multicast area. The first base station is provided with a load status reporting unit for reporting the load status of the unicast area of the first base station to the second base station forming the multicast area within a certain distance from the unicast area of the first base station. The second base station is provided with a transmission power controlling unit for controlling, based on the reported load status of the unicast area, the transmission power of a signal transmitted in the multicast area of the second base station.
US08515429B2
A method of controlling operation of a wireless telecommunications network is disclosed. The method uses location information as part of a dead reckoning algorithm to determine the general direction and average speeds of either an individual mobile station or herd of mobile stations at varying levels of abstraction. This information is then used to provision the telecommunications network in advance of a herd's arrival at a particular destination.
US08515428B2
There is provided a method for a mobile communication device registering in second radio cell of a mobile communication network based on a deactivation of a first radio cell in which the mobile communication device was located. An exemplary method comprises determining a random time interval by the mobile communication device. An expiration of the random time interval is determined starting from a predetermined point in time. The exemplary method also comprises registering in the second radio cell, when the expiration of the random time interval has been determined.
US08515425B2
In one embodiment, the method of carrier handoff includes receiving a measurement report from a mobile providing information regarding path loss as measured at the mobile for a serving one of the multiple carriers on the downlink. The serving carrier is the carrier over which the mobile communicates on the uplink. The method further includes selectively sending an instruction to the mobile to handoff to a non-serving one of the multiple carriers depending on whether a threshold requirement associated with the serving carrier has been met. Meeting the threshold requirement is based on the received measurement report, and each of the multiple carriers has an associated threshold requirement.
US08515424B2
Embodiments described herein relate to connected-state radio session transfer in wireless communications. A source access network controller may lock a source radio session associated with an access terminal (e.g., in response to detecting a handoff condition associated with the access terminal), where the source access network controller may be in communication with a data network. The source access network controller may also instruct a target access network controller to create a target radio session corresponding with the source radio session, and to establish a communication route between the data network and the access network via the target ANC. The source access network controller may then freeze a state associated with the source radio session and transmits the frozen state to the target access network controller. The target access network controller may subsequently unfreeze the received state and further unlock the radio session, hence resuming control of the access terminal.
US08515420B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) of communicating with a roaming partner. The method may include: defining a roaming partner profile including a network identifier and a primary realm; receiving a session establishment request at the PCRN; extracting a subscription identifier from the session establishment request; determining an active roaming partner by comparing the subscription identifier to the network identifier; and establishing an S9 session with the primary realm of the active roaming partner. Another method may include: defining a roaming partner profile including a primary realm and at least one secondary realm; receiving an S9 session establishment request; extracting an origin realm from the S9 session establishment request; determining an active roaming partner by comparing the origin realm to the primary realm and the secondary realms of the roaming partner profile; and responding to the S9 session establishment request.
US08515419B2
A method and system for implementing inter-network SMS interworking in NP service are provided in the present invention. The method includes: before initiating a MT-SMS, if a first SMS Center of GSM network (G1-SMSC) judges that the destination user is not a user of local network, then it delivers a SRI message to an interworking SMSC; the interworking SMSC queries the NPDB in CDMA network for the home network of the destination MDN, and if the home network is a second GSM network, the interworking SMSC sends a SRI message carrying the destination MDN to the HLR in the second GSM network (G2-HLR); and G2-HLR sends a SRI response carrying the address information of the MSC where the destination user is located to G1-SMSC, and the G1-SMSC initiates a MT-SMS to the MSC where the destination user is located according to the address information.
US08515412B2
A method and apparatus for performing a software upgrade are disclosed. The method determines a plurality of mobile endpoint devices affected by a wireless network access software upgrade, and schedules a deployment of the wireless network access software upgrade. The method transmits a notification to the plurality of mobile endpoint devices, wherein the notification is configured to cause each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices to store user settings in a memory of each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices. The method downloads the wireless network access software upgrade wirelessly to the plurality of mobile endpoint devices, wherein the wireless network access software upgrade is configured to cause each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices to install the wireless network access software upgrade and to restore the user settings from the memory of each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices.
US08515390B2
When a network-based wireless device such as a mobile phone or data terminal is reported lost or stolen or is determined to be malfunctioning, a service provider can immediately deny the device access to the network. However, any management operation to secure data carried by the wireless device cannot be carried out as the device is no longer reachable from the network. Therefore, the data should be secured before the device is rendered inoperable. Apparatus and methods are provided to back-up the data or wipe the data before the system denies access to the device. A system and method are provided by which a security manager works in conjunction with an equipment register of the network to lock and wipe data on the wireless device before the device is denied access to the network. Similarly, for a wireless device that is later recovered or determined to be operable, the device can be granted access to the network again and any data that was locked or wiped can be unlocked or restored over the network.
US08515388B2
A method and system for remotely accessing an intelligent IP telephony device is provided. Information about at least one IP telephony device associated with a user is stored in a database. The database is accessible to a user through a secured environment. From a remote location, the user may logon to the database and select one or more actions to be performed on any of the IP telephony devices to which they have access.
US08515387B2
A system and method are disclosed for segregating transactions in a multimode communication device. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device (102) has a controller (206) for managing operations of a wireless transceiver (202) that supports a plurality of access technologies. The controller can be programmed to update (301) a phonebook stored in the communication device, wherein each entry in the phonebook comprises a calling number and one among a plurality of account designations, and submit (344) the phonebook to a network management system (110) for segregating (514) billing of incoming and outgoing calls directed to and from the communication device on each of the access technologies according to a corresponding account designation retrieved (510) from the phonebook according to said calls.
US08515377B2
A radio base station (20) comprises an antenna (22); a first power amplifier (241) configured to receive a first carrier signal; a second power amplifier (242) configured to receive a second carrier signal; and an imbalanced combiner (30). The imbalanced combiner (30) is configured to apply a power imbalanced combined signal to the antenna. The power imbalanced combined signal has a power imbalance between a first power level of the first carrier signal and a second power level of the second carrier signal as transmitted from the antenna (22).
US08515376B2
In one embodiment, a receiver is provided for use in a multiple-input system that includes a receiving antenna receiving a time-domain signal corresponding to a plurality of signals transmitted from a plurality of transmitting antennas. The receiver includes: (a) a transform unit adapted to transform the time-domain signal into a frequency-domain signal; (b) a channel estimation unit adapted to estimate, based on the frequency-domain signal and a frequency-domain pilot signal, a combined transfer function corresponding to a plurality of transfer functions of respective channels between the plurality of transmitting antennas and the receiving antenna; and (c) a channel separation unit including a plurality of frequency-domain convolution units that separate the combined transfer function into a plurality of estimated channel transfer functions.
US08515375B2
A receiver includes a mixer, a filter, a received signal strength indicator, and a control loop. The mixer is adapted to convert the frequency of a received signal. The filter is adapted to filter out undesired signals that may be present in the output signal of the mixer. The received signal strength indicator is adapted to detect blocker (also known as jammer) signals that may be present in the output signal of the low-pass filter and generate a feedback signal in response. The control loop is adapted to vary its bandwidth in response to the feedback signal of the received signal strength indicator. The control loop supplies an oscillating signal to the mixer.
US08515371B2
A tuner system for receiving a plurality of frequency bands includes a low noise amplifier coupled with a band selection filter to select a desired band. The tuner system further includes a complex RF filter to produce a complex RF signal from the selected band. The tuner system includes two double-quadrature converters, the first double-quadrature converter frequency down-converts the complex RF signal to a complex baseband signal. The complex baseband signal passes through a baseband filter that contains two identical lowpass filters for obtaining a baseband in-phase (I) signal and a quadrature (Q) signal. The second double-quadrature converter up-converts the baseband I and Q signals to respective IF I and Q signals that are significantly free of the positive third IF harmonic. The third IF-harmonic free I and Q signals are further processed by a complex bandpass filter. The bandpass filter has a programmable frequency center and a programmable bandwidth.
US08515369B2
An apparatus and a method for selecting a transmission mode in a multi-antenna system are provided. The method includes checking a channel characteristic of a transmitting end using a signal received over at least two antennas; and determining a multi-antenna transmission mode according to the channel characteristic. Accordingly, the loss of the system capacity gain can be reduced and the capacity gain of the system can be increased.
US08515365B2
A signal processing circuit is disclosed, comprising a first node for coupling with a first antenna, a second node for coupling with a second antenna, a third node for receiving a first signal from a transmitting circuit, a fourth node for coupling with a receiving circuit, a signal dividing circuit, a phase shifting circuit, and a signal combining circuit. The signal dividing circuit divides the first signal into a second signal and a third signal, and transmits the second signal to the first antenna. The phase shifting circuit shifts the phase of the third signal to generate a fourth signal for canceling at least part of a coupled signal between the third node and the fourth node. The signal combining circuit combines the fourth signal and a fifth signal received from the second antenna, and transmits the combined signal to the receiving circuit.
US08515360B2
Aspects of a greedy search user group selection scheme with range reduction for FDD multiuser MIMO downlink transmission with finite-rate channel state information feedback are provided. The method may comprise receiving feedback information via a communication channel for a plurality of users in a frequency division duplex system. The system capacity may be maximized using the feedback information based on a signal from a single user within a reduced search range or based on the signal from the single user and at least one other signal from another user within a remaining portion of the search range. The feedback information may comprise quantized gain and/or direction of the channel state information of the users.
US08515358B2
A method and device provides for the testing and validation of a control module for receiving wireless data and communications utilizes a transmission line coupler mounted proximate the control module generates a signal that couples to an antenna of the control module. The control module produces a signal in response to coupling of the antenna with the signal produced by the transmission line coupler. The resulting signal is utilized to check, verify and validate operation of the control module.
US08515347B2
A method of integrating devices using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology can include tracking movement of an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag is associated with a user, and determining proximity of the RFID tag to a communication device. The method also can include initiating a programmatic action with the communication device according to the proximity of the RFID tag to the communication device, wherein the programmatic action is associated with the user.
US08515332B2
In an image forming device, a fixing unit thermally fixes a development image transferred onto a first surface of a recording medium, the recording medium having a second surface opposite to the first surface. The conveying wall defines a conveying path, along which the recording medium is conveyed from the fixing unit in a conveying direction, the recording medium being conveyed along the conveying path with the first surface of the recording medium confronting the conveying wall, the recording medium having a pair of lateral parts in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, the recording medium being curled at the pair of lateral parts to bring the first surface to face outwardly and the second surface to face inwardly. The abutting member is provided in confrontation with the conveying wall, with the conveying path being defined between the conveying wall and the abutting member, the recording medium being conveyed along the conveying path between the conveying wall and the abutting member with the second surface confronting the abutting member, the abutting member being urged so as to be capable of being in abutment contact with the lateral parts of the recording medium to eliminate the curling of the recording medium.
US08515331B2
An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming section that adheres toner to a sheet to form a toner image, a discharge unit into which the sheet is discharged, a conveying unit that conveys the sheet on which the toner is adhered by the toner image forming section and discharges the sheet to the discharge unit, a cooling section that cools the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, a sheet type instructing section that instructs the type of the sheet, and a controller that controls, in accordance with the type instructed by the sheet type instructing section, the conveyance speed when the conveying unit conveys the sheet.
US08515330B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section attached on an apparatus main body, having a forming and writing section that forms and writes an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier based on image information, and a transfer section which transfers a developed image after the electrostatic latent image has been developed, onto a sheet; a sheet conveyance section detachably attached on the apparatus main body, which conveys the sheet to the image forming section; a sheet detection section attached on the apparatus main body, which detects a sheet position conveyed to the image forming section by the sheet conveyance section; and a position correction section which corrects an image writing position for an image in the image forming section based on information of the detected sheet position.
US08515324B2
A fixing device includes an endless, rotatable fixing member, a rotational pressing member, a nip formation member, and an urging unit. The rotational pressing member is rotatably provided in contact with the fixing member. The nip formation member is disposed opposite the rotational pressing member via the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the rotational pressing member. The urging unit is disposed opposite the rotational pressing member via the nip formation member and the fixing member to push against and deform the nip formation member to change a curvature of a contact face between the fixing member and the rotational pressing member at the fixing nip.
US08515318B2
Rollers for high speed printers and paper handling devices are fabricated by reacting polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate with a polyester polyol and/or polyester polyamine and an optional extender, together with a metal salt, a catalyst, and one or more other optional additives, including a liquid conductive additive. The resulting rollers provide a hardness as low as 15 A on cube, a resistivity as low as 5E4 Ω·cm, a compression set as low as 0.5% at room temperature and as low as 3% at 157° F., and low tackiness as low as 13 g/cm of adhesion force.
US08515317B2
There is provided a developer conveyance member that conveys a contained developer from one end side of a delivery region to other end of the delivery region while agitating the contained developer in a developer container, in which the developer is contained. Around a rotation shaft of the developer conveyance member, a spiral wing toward from one end side to other end side is formed. A plurality of paddle parts for conveying the developer in a direction that is perpendicular to a shaft core are formed around the rotation shaft in a delivery region. The paddle parts are arranged with their positions deviated in a circumferential direction.
US08515316B2
A developing device includes a developer supply part and a developer collecting part, wherein the developer supply part has a developer inlet port for introducing a developer supplied from a reservoir into the developer supply part and a developer extraction port provided on the side of the developer inlet port to remove a portion of the developer so as to define a quantity of the developer to be introduced in the developer supply part, and wherein the developer extraction port and the developer collecting part are connected to the reservoir.
US08515314B2
A developing device is provided with a developer conveyance path for conveying a developer containing nonmagnetic toner and magnetic carrier, a wall portion including a wall surface for defining the developer conveyance path, a developing roller for supplying the toner from the developer conveyance path to an image bearing member, a conveying member extending in the developer conveyance path for conveying the developer while agitating it, a toner supply port arranged above the developer conveyance path for supplying new toner into the developer conveyance path from the outside, and a scraping member arranged at a position below the toner supply port in the developer conveyance path and adapted to scrape off the toner adhering to the wall surface while sliding in contact with the wall surface of the wall portion.
US08515309B2
A developing cartridge includes: a housing that rotatably supports a developing roller; and a plurality of conveyance guide members, which are arranged along an axial direction of the developing roller and parallel to each other on an outer side of the housing, and which guide a recording medium along a conveyance path. The conveyance guide members include: conveyance ribs extend in a conveyance direction of the recording medium orthogonal to the axial direction of the developing roller so as to protrude from the housing toward the conveyance path of the recording medium; and end ribs, which are provided at both end portions in the axial direction of the developing roller, which are inclined outward with respect to the axial direction of the developing roller toward a downstream side in the conveyance direction, and which protrude further from the housing into the conveyance path side than the conveyance ribs.
US08515307B2
A process cartridge incorporates a developing device including a rotatable developer carrier for supplying a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier. The process cartridge includes: a bearing that supports a rotating shaft of the developer carrier; and a pressing unit that presses the bearing toward the latent image carrier. A notch having an opening, which extends over a part of a circumference of the rotating shaft, is formed on the bearing, and the notch portion is used as an attachment and removal portion of the rotating shaft.
US08515300B2
A high-density area of a low-reflectance patch image is accurately detected. There is an image forming apparatus that detects the density of a patch image by radiating light from a laser oscillator 701 and receiving reflected light reflected off the patch image using a line sensor 704. The density of a black patch image 720 having a low reflectance is detected from the difference between the position at which reflected light from a yellow patch image 710 is received and the position at which reflected light from a superimposed toner image that is transferred in such a manner that the yellow patch image 730 is superimposed on the top of the black patch image 720 is received.
US08515297B2
An image forming apparatus including a fixing device using an induction heating method determines a driving frequency for a switching element configured to drive an induction coil, according to a difference between a detected temperature of an electrically conductive heating element provided in the fixing device and a target temperature. When the determined frequency is a predetermined minimum frequency and a current flowing through the induction coil is at a predetermined value or less, the image forming apparatus generates a signal indicating the abnormality of electric power supplied to the induction coil.
US08515289B2
A wavelength sensing lighting system may include a light source, a sensor and a controller. One or more light sources and sensors may be included in an array. The light source may emit an illuminating light and the sensor may sense an environmental light. The illuminating light may include data light. The lighting system may include a plurality of nodes connected in a network. The nodes may communicate by emitting and receiving the data light, which may be analyzed by the controller. The light source and the sensor may be provided by a light emitting semiconductor device that is capable of emitting illuminating light and receiving environmental light. A conversion material may convert the wavelength of a source light into a converted light. The conversion material may increase the wavelength range of light emittable and detectable by the lighting system.
US08515286B2
A coherent optical receiver for a data-frame format in which a data frame has two or more pilot-symbol blocks, each having a cyclic prefix or suffix, and one or more payload-symbol blocks, each of which is concatenated with at least one adjacent block without a guard interval between them. The receiver uses optical signals corresponding to the pilot-symbol blocks to perform data-frame synchronization, frequency-offset correction, and channel-estimation procedures, which are robust even in the presence of certain transmission impairments. The receiver applies block-overlap processing with a sliding window to recover the payload data in a manner that substantially cancels the adverse effects of inter-block interference caused by the absence of guard intervals in the payload portion of the data frame. In one embodiment, the receiver performs channel-estimation and block-overlap processing for polarization-division-multiplexed signals in a manner that enables a combined, intertwined application of channel-response-compensation and polarization-demultiplexing procedures.
US08515284B2
An optoelectronic transceiver includes an optoelectronic transmitter, an optoelectronic receiver, memory, and an interface. The memory is configured to store digital values representative of operating conditions of the optoelectronic transceiver. The interface is configured to receive from a host a request for data associated with a particular memory address, and respond to the host with a specific digital value of the digital values. The specific digital value is associated with the particular memory address received form the host. The optoelectronic transceiver may further include comparison logic configured to compare the digital values with limit values to generate flag values, wherein the flag values are stored as digital values in the memory.
US08515281B2
Methods and systems for providing flexible node segmentation are provided. For example, the system can be configured to delay node segmentation in the headend/hub even though the fiber node has been segmented. When a desire for node segmentation in the headend/hub arises, the receiver can be efficiently upgraded through the use of a control signal to provide a receiver output port to each sub-service area.
US08515275B2
It is possible to provide a user-friendly camera. Provided is an illumination device for emitting illumination light for photographing by a camera including: a light emission unit which can emit lights of a plurality of different colors and/or a plurality of different light emission amounts as the illumination light; and a light emission control unit which controls the light emission unit so as to continuously emit the illumination light while changing the color and/or the light emission amount as the time elapses, independently of photographing by the camera.
US08515274B2
An illumination device including a light guide unit in which an optical path through which light propagates is formed in an annular shape such that the light propagating in the optical path is emitted from a front surface side of the light guide unit; a local reflection unit provided on the rear surface side of the light guide unit such that light is emitted from only a portion of the front surface side of the light guide unit; and a light source that moves between the light guide unit and the local reflection unit. When the light source is positioned on the light guide unit side, light output from the light source propagates in the optical path of the light guide unit and is emitted from the front surface side in an annular shape. When the light source is positioned on the local reflection unit side, the light output from the light source is reflected by the local reflection unit and emitted in a concentrated manner from only the portion on the front surface side of the light guide unit.
US08515270B1
A method for generating a series of time-lapse photographs exhibiting minimal flicker is presented. The preferred method is adaptable to capture a series of time-lapse photographs of a sunset from full daylight to darkest night or vice versa while minimizing flicker between the images. The method utilizes a software program designed to achieve an even transition of the time-lapse and to minimize flickering of an image sequence. The software program features a flicker minimizing function designed to control several factors affecting the time-lapse technology. The present method utilizes data regarding a time-of-day a time zone at a geographic location. Latitude and longitude coordinates are utilized to automatically adjust the rate of change of exposure in a period of twilight. The software program is executed with a time-lapse interval between a plurality of images.
US08515268B2
The invention relates to a boiler for heating water in a coffee or espresso machine, comprising a boiler housing (1), a cold water inlet (7), a hot water outlet (8) and an electric heating device (5). Said boiler housing (1) is cylindrical and comprises a boiler cover (2), a boiler top (4) and a boiler base (3) having a cylinder axis (A) that is horizontal when in operation. The cold water inlet (7) and the hot water outlet (8) and the electric heating device (5) are mounted on the boiler base (3) of the boiler housing (1), that extends vertically, and the heating device (5) is configured in such a manner that each point inside the container volume is at a normal distance from the heating device (5) that is less than 40% of the container diameter (D).
US08515266B2
An image reproducing apparatus is an apparatus in which a BD player and a VC player are integral with each other. The image reproducing apparatus includes a panel switch unit for operating the BD player and the VC player, a mode set switch for selecting a BD reproduction mode or a VC reproduction mode, a sub microcomputer for controlling the operation of the BD player, and a VCP microcomputer for controlling the operation of the VC player. The sub microcomputer includes a DA converter which converts the digital signals into analog signals so as to transmit the converted analog signals to the VCP microcomputer when determined to be the VCP reproduction mode. The VCP microcomputer includes an AD converter which converts the analog signals transmitted from the DA converter into digital signals and a reproduction control unit which starts the operation of the VCP based on the converted digital signals.
US08515265B2
A method and apparatus for providing a trick play service in a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) adaptive streaming (HAS) architecture for adaptively streaming media data according to fluctuation of a streaming environment are provided. The method at a server includes: generating a media presentation description (MPD) file including information about at least one piece of trick play data; transmitting the MPD file to a client; and transmitting the at least one piece of trick play data to the client in response to a request by the client based on the MPD file. The method at a client includes: receiving a media presentation description (MPD) file including information about at least one piece of trick play data; and receiving the at least one piece of trick play data from a server based on the MPD file.
US08515261B2
A data recording medium by which, when encoding an externally input AV signal to an MPEG transport stream, the MPEG_TS can be quickly and efficiently converted to an MPEG program stream conforming to a DVD standard, is provided. An apparatus and method for recording to the data recording medium are also provided. A flag indicating that a first stream (such as an MPEG transport stream) is recorded in a constraint format enabling efficient conversion to a second stream (such as an MPEG program stream) is written to the management information (VOBI). By referencing this flag the recorder can easily determine if the recorded data was recorded in the specified constraint format without analyzing the data recorded to the data recording medium.
US08515253B2
Automated creation of videos for interactive entertainment, such as video game highlights, may be based on events that occur within that entertainment, for example based on video game events. A series of events that can occur within a play session may be designated. The game keeps track of sufficient replay data such that these discrete events can be identified. Upon replay generation, the game searches over the historical data for that session and identifies the events that have occurred. The game may present several combinations of views of those events. For example, the game can create a highlights reel of the entire play session by linearly displaying several of the discovered events, or the highlights from several games can be selected by one or more individuals to generate a “highlights of highlights” video. Another embodiment allows the player, or group of players or other individuals, to choose which events to view. The events could also be categorized, allowing the player to view a collection of a selected event type, such as all flag capture videos or all long-distance shots.
US08515250B2
A video reproduction apparatus includes audio data reading unit for reading audio data in a second file; video data reading units for reading video data in a first file; audio decoding unit for generating an audio signal from the audio data read by the audio data reading unit; video decoding unit for decoding the demultiplexed video data; and read controlling unit for controlling the audio data reading unit and the video data reading unit. The read controlling unit reads the first file using a band other than a band required to read the second file, and instructs to output skipped video data.
US08515249B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems for writing a playable unfinalized disc. The method generally includes the steps of (a) recording data to the disc, (b) calculating a length of metadata based at least in part on a writing position on the disc, (c) determining a content of the metadata based at least in part on a data format and/or a disc format, and (d) recording the metadata to the disc at a position following and adjacent to the data. The apparatus generally includes (a) a disc loader configured to write data to the disc and to write metadata to the disc at a position following and adjacent to the data, and (b) a burning engine configured to send the data to the disc loader and to calculate a length of the metadata based at least in part on a writing position on the disc. The present invention advantageously allows users to view and/or share video content at any time without finalizing the disc (e.g., without recording on the lead-in area of the disc). Thus, users may append additional data to the unfinalized disc, and thereby more fully utilize space on the disc.
US08515248B2
In the data structure for managing reproduction of text subtitle data, a text subtitle information area stores at least one text subtitle information segment. The text subtitle information segment is represented by a single PES packet of transport packets. In one embodiment, the text subtitle information segment includes an identifier identifying the text subtitle information segment as a text subtitle information segment and includes style information for text subtitle data.
US08515246B2
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface.
US08515225B2
Provided is an optical device that includes a ring-shaped optical waveguide and an input/output optical waveguide, and that changes a resonant wavelength of the ring-shaped optical waveguide, in which the ring-shaped optical waveguide includes in part a refractive index control section for controlling a refractive index at a guided wavelength, and the refractive index control section is formed of an optical material having a thermo-optic effect with its sign different from that of an optical material that forms a section of the ring-shaped optical waveguide other than the refractive index control section.
US08515222B2
Methods and apparatus for a fiber optic display screen of adjustable size. In one embodiment, a screen comprises: a plurality of pixels formed by a terminal end of at least one optical fiber, wherein the pixels are substantially equidistant from each other along a first axis in a first screen size and in a second screen size that is larger than the first size.
US08515219B2
In an optical device 1 in which a wavelength converting element 20 is disposed as an optical element on a silicon substrate 10, configuration includes heaters 40a and 40b formed on the silicon substrate 10; and micro bumps 30a, 30b that are made of Au, that bond the silicon substrate 10 and the wavelength converting element 20, and that transfer the heat generated by the heaters 40a, 40b to the wavelength converting element 20.
US08515218B2
Light redirection systems and methods including an optical fiber having first and second ends, an optical element mounted to each of the first and second ends to direct light into and out of the optical fiber, respectively, and a mounting element to mount the optical fiber to an article of apparel such that the optical fiber is invisible to an outside of the article, and the optical elements are visible to the outside from opposing sides of the article, respectively.
US08515215B2
A medical instrument system includes an elongate instrument body defining a longitudinal axis and capable of being twisted about its longitudinal axis and an optical fiber sensor coupled to the instrument body. A detector is operatively coupled to the optical fiber sensor and configured to detect respective light signals transmitted on the optical fiber sensor. A controller is operatively coupled to the detector and configured to determine a twist of a portion of the instrument body about its longitudinal axis based on an analysis of detected light signals.
US08515213B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and computer instructions for aiding analysis of an image used in a medical examination. An image analysis system used in a medical examination includes an input module configured to input an image a search module configured to locate information regarding an image that is similar to the input image and an output module configured to output a link to the located information, wherein the located information is displayed when the link is used. The image analysis system used in the medical examination further includes a communication module, wherein the communication module is configured to output the input image and the located information, and wherein the communication module is configured to receive a responsive communication.
US08515185B2
A live video stream captured by an on-device camera is displayed on a screen with an overlaid guideline. Video frames of the live video stream are analyzed for a video frame with acceptable quality. A text region is identified in the video frame approximate to the on-screen guideline and cropped from the video frame. The cropped image is transmitted to an optical character recognition (OCR) engine, which processes the cropped image and generates text in an editable symbolic form (the OCR'ed text). A confidence score is determined for the OCR'ed text and compared with a threshold value. If the confidence score exceeds the threshold value, the OCR'ed text is outputted.
US08515184B1
Described is a system for visual object recognition using heterogeneous classifier cascades. Visual object recognition is one of the most critical tasks for video and image analysis applications. The present invention utilizes a cascade of classifiers, wherein each stage is dedicated to a certain task such as achieving high accuracy or reducing false alarms. The stages are then appropriately trained using either the training data or false alarm datasets, respectively. Additionally, the features that are employed by the classifier cascades are heterogeneous and complementary in that several types of features may be used. The system described herein has multiple applications in a variety of fields including automotive safety, factory automation, surveillance, force protection, and automatic target recognition.
US08515182B2
Method and system for determining a measure of quality for images by using multi-level decomposition are presented. Multi-level decomposition of images is performed in the wavelet domain producing subbands at each level of decomposition. Aggregation of subbands is performed across multiple levels to produce an accurate measure of image quality. By aggregating only selected subbands the computational complexity of the method is greatly reduced.
US08515178B2
Image feature extraction includes extracting an cutout image that includes an object from an original image; filling borders of the cutout image with a single color as a background to generate a minimum square image; resizing the minimum square image into a resized square image having a first predetermined size; dividing the resized square image into sub-image blocks having a second predetermined size; computing luminosity derivatives of neighboring pixels in horizontal, vertical, positive 45°, and negative 45° directions for each of the sub-image blocks; obtaining a quintuplet characteristic vector for each of the sub-image block; and forming an image characteristic vector of the original image using the quintuplet characteristic vectors of all the sub-image blocks.
US08515177B2
An image processing apparatus executes smoothing processing (reduction conversion) of an input image to acquire a smoothed image (reduced image), acquires a normalization parameter for normalization from the smoothed image, and normalizes pixel values of the input image based on the normalization parameter.
US08515176B1
Determination of an underlying grid structure that facilitates layout of East Asian text is disclosed. The underlying grid structure includes both a size of character frames and a size of a text block frame. The East Asian text may be obtained from a scan of printed material that has the text formatted according to layout conventions established by the publisher. The text may be reformatted to appear on a display of an electronic device in a manner similar to the formatting in the original scanned document. Reformatting may include reflowing the text in order to fit a greater or lesser number of characters on a line. The reflowing may maintain character spacing from the original document and follow formatting rules against locating certain characters at the start or end of a line.
US08515175B2
A program causes a computer to function as a document recognition apparatus, having an extraction unit for extracting connected components of pixels from an input image, a generation unit for generating a reference element that is connected components of pixels extracted by the extraction unit and combined elements obtained by combining the reference element and connected components of pixels adjacent to the reference element as an element to be estimated, a calculation unit for calculating a degree of certainty that indicates how much the element to be estimated generated by the generation unit seems to be a character, and a determination unit for identifying elements that seem to be characters among the elements to be estimated based on the degree of certainty calculated by the calculation unit.
US08515174B2
Techniques are described to employ image recognition techniques to content. In an implementation, one or more images are identified in content using a signature derived from the one or more images. Metadata associated with the content is then supplemented based on the identified one or more images.
US08515165B2
A method of detecting an object using a camera is provided, which includes dividing image data into pre-established areas, creating a detection window for each area, and calculating a histogram for each created detection window. Weights are determined for each pixel located within each detection window according to a determined similarity between a pre-stored histogram corresponding to the object and the histogram corresponding to the detection window. Each detection window is moved in a direction corresponding to the determined weights according to an average movement to converge the detection windows towards the object and a detection window is selected having a histogram with maximum similarity to the pre-stored histogram corresponding to the object from the detection windows converging to the object.
US08515155B2
Although there has been a method for evaluating pattern shapes of electronic devices by using, as a reference pattern, design data or a non-defective pattern, the conventional method has a problem that the pattern shape cannot be evaluated with high accuracy because of the difficulty in defining an exact shape suitable for the manufacturing conditions of the electronic devices. The present invention provides a shape evaluation method for circuit patterns of electronic devices, the method including a means for generating contour distribution data of at least two circuit patterns from contour data sets on the circuit patterns; a means for generating a reference pattern used for the pattern shape evaluation, from the contour distribution data; and a means for evaluating the pattern shape by comparing each evaluation target pattern with the reference pattern.
US08515152B2
A process for identifying, analysing and estimating deformations in motor vehicles is presented. The process includes loading image data relevant to at least a three-dimensional image of a damaged vehicle in memory, calling up image data of a sample vehicle from a database of sample vehicle images, the sample vehicle image corresponding to the damaged vehicle type, displaying image data relevant to the damaged vehicle image and the corresponding undamaged sample image, comparing the respective images to identify damage location or deformation and detecting deformed regions, computing at least one of area and volume of damaged or deformed region(s), and identifying the location in space of the damage on the vehicle using a defined algorithm and the results of said comparison.
US08515135B2
Provided is a method for determining a resonant frequency of a biometric sensor. The method includes obtaining first pixel data from a first scan by scanning the biometric sensor with a first frequency. Second pixel data is obtained from a second scan by scanning the biometric sensor with a second frequency that is different from the first frequency. A respective first and second reference value is calculated from the first and the second pixel data. A highest reference value is determined from the first and the second reference values. The first or the second frequency is selected as the resonant frequency based on the highest reference value.
US08515132B2
Hands may be tracked before, during, and after occlusion, and a gesture may be recognized. Movement of two occluded hands may be tracked as a unit during an occlusion period. A type of synchronization characterizing the two occluded hands during the occlusion period may be determined based on the tracked movement of the occluded hands. Based on the determined type of synchronization, it may be determined whether directions of travel for each of the two occluded hands change during the occlusion period. Implementations may determine that a first hand and a second hand are occluded during an occlusion period, the first hand having come from a first direction and the second hand having come from a second direction. The first hand may be distinguished from the second hand after the occlusion period based on a determined type of synchronization characterizing the two hands, and a behavior of the two hands.
US08515130B2
To provide a conference system, a monitoring system, an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer-image processing program capable of accurately and effectively recognizing an object based on a fisheye-distorted image photographed at a wide angle.When an instruction of selecting an arbitrary point Ci(ui, vi) of a 2D-viewable planar regular image generated based on a fisheye-distorted image S photographed by a fisheye lens is received, point Si(xi, yi) on the fisheye-distorted image S is calculated as a coordinate corresponding to Ci(ui, vi), and a pixel information group configuring the planar regular image is newly generated based on a pixel information group configuring the fisheye-distorted image S.
US08515129B2
A displacement detection method includes the steps of: capturing a first frame and a second frame; selecting a first block with a predetermined size in the first frame and selecting a second block with the predetermined size in the second frame; determining a displacement according to the first block and the second block; comparing the displacement with at least one threshold; and adjusting the predetermined size according to a comparison result of comparing the displacement and the threshold. The present invention further provides a displacement detection apparatus.
US08515126B1
A multi-stage method of visual object detection is disclosed. The method was originally designed to detect humans in specific poses, but is applicable to generic detection of any object. A first stage comprises acts of searching for members of a predetermined general-class of objects (such as humans) in an image using a cognitive swarm, detecting members of the general-class of objects in the image, and selecting regions of the image containing detected members of the general-class of objects. A second stage comprises acts of searching for members of a predetermined specific-class of objects (such as humans in a certain pose) within the selected regions of the image using a cognitive swarm, detecting members of the specific-class of objects within the selected regions of the image, and outputting the locations of detected objects to an operator display and optionally to an automatic response system.
US08515123B2
Systems and methods are described for imperceptibly embedding information by identifying locations that can be imperceptibly modified by replacing original content using replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream to remove at least a portion of the original content, generating at least one piece of replacement data for each identified location, where overwriting a portion of the compressed bitstream with replacement data prevents a decoder from decoding original content due to decoding replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream, selecting pieces of replacement data using an embedding device, where overwriting portions of the compressed bitstream using pieces of replacement data encodes payload information in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme, and embedding the payload information in the compressed bitstream by using the embedding device to overwrite at least a portion of the compressed bitstream with the selected replacement data.
US08515121B2
The disclosure provides apparatus related to arranging objects (e.g., circles, dots and other shapes) in images and graphics to convey a machine-readable signal. One claim recites an apparatus including: electronic memory for storing image or graphic data; and an electronic processor programmed for: integrating a plurality of objects in stored image or graphic data, the objects being arranged in a pattern that is machine-readable, the plurality of objects being integrated in the image or graphic so that the pattern is hidden in the image or graphic through cooperation with design elements of the image or graphic; and providing a visible structure for aiding in machine-reading of the pattern. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well.
US08515116B2
A headphone having a waveguider is disclosed which can control the amount of air flowing into the headphone. The headphone includes: a housing having a receiving space therein and at least one or more air inlets at one side thereof, in which the housing is opened at the front side thereof a speaker placed in the receiving space, for generating audio sounds according to input electrical signals; a cover for closing the front side of the housing, the cover forming a plurality of audio sound through-holes through which the audio sounds from the speaker pass; and a waveguider slidably and rotatably installed to the housing. The waveguider includes a kernel part protrudently formed, for guiding the audio sounds passing through the cover to the inner ear, and an opening/closing part for closing at least one or more air inlets according to a rotation angle thereof to control the amount of air that instantly flows into the housing. The waveguider is slidably and rotatably moved to partially or completely close a plurality of air inlets formed in the housing. Therefore, the amount of air flowing into the housing can be controlled and thus the intensity of the bass can be adjusted.
US08515108B2
A method and auditory device for automatic evaluation of an input signal for use in an auditory device, the method including the steps of: detecting a signal; processing the signal to determine one or more shape parameters relevant to the change of spectral shape over time of said signal, and the signal level; and on the basis of the shape parameter and the signal level, and a predetermined set of rules, evaluating whether said signal is a useful input signal for said device.
US08515105B2
A system and method for generating a sound that simulates a fictitious sound perceived to emanate from a fictitious sound location is disclosed. In at least one aspect, the system includes a first surface serving to at least partially enclose a first region, a first speaker positioned on the first surface, a second region within the first region, and a sound reflecting boundary to enclose the first region. The system further includes a first fictitious source location within the first region, the location being outside of the second region, and a control device coupled at least indirectly within the first speaker. The control device generates control signals configured to cause the first speaker to generate sounds that in turn produce actual sounds that simulate fictitious sounds perceived to emanate from fictitious sound locations.
US08515104B2
A method of processing at least one input signal by a set of binaural filters such that the outputs are playable over headphones to provide a sense of listening to sound in a listening room via one or more virtual speakers, with the further property that a monophonic mix down sounds good. Also an apparatus for processing the at least one input signals. Also a method of modifying a pair of binaural filters to achieve the property that a monophonic mix down sounds good, while still providing spatialization when listening through headphones.
US08515101B2
A bending vibration type sound transmitter includes a plurality of vibrating bodies that perform resonant vibration and two lids. The plurality of vibrating bodies is fastened between the two lids.
US08515096B2
The quality of sound recorded from a plurality of people speaking at the same time is improved by incorporating prior knowledge into an independent component analysis (ICA) separating algorithm. More particularly, prior knowledge is defined as a probability distribution according to some prior situation (e.g., prior distribution of people in a room). A mixture of sounds (e.g., mixture of voices) from a plurality of sources (e.g., people) captured by one or more recording devices (e.g., microphones) is separated into individual components (e.g., individual voices from respective people) by applying an maximum a posteriori (MAP) ICA algorithm which incorporates prior knowledge of the respective sources (e.g., location of sources) directly into the MAP ICA algorithm thereby allowing recovery of independent underlying sounds associated with individual sources from the mixture. Therefore, incorporating prior knowledge into an ICA algorithm provides sound quality substantially equal to existing ICA systems, but at reduced computational complexity.
US08515079B1
In one embodiment, a rekey distribution process transmits, from a key server, a multicast probe message intended to be received by at least one group member device. The rekey distribution process also receives, at the key server, an acknowledgement message from each group member device that received the multicast probe message. In turn, the rekey distribution process transmits, from the key server, a multicast rekey data message intended to be received by each group member device from which the key server received an acknowledgment message. Furthermore, the rekey distribution process transmits, from the key server, a unicast rekey data message to each group member device from which the key server did not receive an acknowledgment message.
US08515075B1
A method of identifying malicious code based on identifying software executing out of writable memory of the computer system. In one embodiment, the identification of the malicious code occurs when the code accesses a predetermined memory address. This address can reside in the address space of an application, a library, or an operating system component. In one embodiment, the access to the predetermined address generates an exception invoking exception handling code. The exception handling code checks the memory attributes of the code that caused the exception and determines whether the code was running in writeable memory.
US08515070B2
Enhanced security is provided in a system comprising a medical device and a monitoring device. The medical device is configured for implantation into a living organism, and comprises processing circuitry and an interface for communicating with the monitoring device. Access to the medical device by the monitoring device is controlled based on measurement of one or more physiological values of the living organism by at least one of the two devices. In an illustrative embodiment, the medical device and the monitoring device are configured to include respective physiological value sensors for measuring respective dynamic physiological values of the living organism. The medical device is further configured to determine if the dynamic physiological values are sufficiently similar to one another and to grant or deny the monitoring device access to the medical device based on the determination.
US08515067B2
According to one embodiment, an account aggregation system includes an information processing apparatus and an account aggregation server. The information processing apparatus includes a database, an automatic sign-on process module and an encryption key processing module. The automatic sign-on process module is configured to provide authentication data the service providing servers have requested for, by using the authentication data stored in the database. The encryption key processing module is configured to register, for the account aggregation server, an encryption key for encrypting authentication data to be stored in the database or for decrypting the authentication data stored in the database, to acquire the encryption key from the account aggregation server when a process is performed by using the encryption key, and to erase the encryption key after the process is performed. The account aggregation server includes an encryption key management module which is configured to manage the encryption key.
US08515058B1
Embodiments of the present invention describe a fully homomorphic encryption scheme using a “bootstrapable” homomorphic encryption scheme that evaluate a function ƒ when ƒ is the encryption schemes own decryption function. Specifically, the fully homomorphic encryption scheme uses the “bootstrapable” homomorphic encryption scheme to determine the decryption function to decrypt data encrypted under the fully homomorphic encryption scheme.
US08515053B2
A method for changing ICS session media includes: receiving a media type change request comprising a new media type sent from one of a terminal equipment, a mobile switching center (MSC), or a second party; releasing a circuit-switched (CS) call leg based on an original media type between an IMS CS control function (ICCF) and the terminal equipment; establishing a CS call leg based on the new media type between the ICCF and the terminal equipment; and updating the media type of a second call leg between the ICCF and a second party into the new media type or establishing a second call leg based on the new media type between the ICCF and the second party.
US08515052B2
A system and method for processing a plurality of channels, for example audio channels, in parallel is provided. For example, a plurality of telephony channels are processed in order to detect and respond to call progress tones. The channels may be processed according to a common transform algorithm. Advantageously, a massively parallel architecture is employed, in which operations on many channels are synchronized, to achieve a high efficiency parallel processing environment. The parallel processor may be situated on a data bus, separate from a main general purpose processor, or integrated with the processor in a common board or integrated device. All, or a portion of a speech processing algorithm may also be performed in a massively parallel manner.
US08515043B2
The invention relates to a conferencing unit for multi-point communication in the course of a telephone conference. Previously, it was not possible to call up and document agreements and decisions in voice-based telephone conferences in a computer-aided manner. The reason was that in traditional conferencing units, all audio channels were mixed into an overall channel and therefore an undisturbed interaction of individual participants with the system is not possible. The invention enables an individual association of a conference participant with a decision processing unit, in which decisions can be announced in a dialog system and stored in a computer-readable format.
US08515041B2
An audio conference of three or more communication devices is set up. An audio stream of at least one of the communication devices is identified as having an audio signal that is disruptive of the audio conference. For example, a disruption to the audio conference can be where a user has placed the audio conference on hold with music-on-hold, typing without talking, the user is speaking too loudly, the user is speaking too softly, there is echo, there is a bad connection, and the like. A feedback message is sent to the communication device associated with the audio stream with the disruptive signal. The feedback message can cause the user of the communication device who is disrupting the audio conference to take action without disrupting other participants in the audio conference.
US08515036B2
A method may include receiving, at a service server, a request for services from a requesting device. The service server may identify one or more service options responsive to the request and send a list of the identified service options to the requesting device. The service server may receive a selected service option from the requesting device. The service server may collect payment information for the selected service option from the requesting device and providing accounting information to a service provider of the selected service option based on the payment information.
US08515034B2
An apparatus for selectively allowing calls to a device, such as a fax machine, that may receive calls on a signal line. The apparatus is arranged to, upon detecting an incoming call, initiate a blocking period during which the incoming call is prevented from reaching the device, and to terminate the blocking period when a predetermined threshold, for example a number of rings or period of time, has elapsed, and upon termination of the blocking period to initiate said enabled time period. Hence, incoming calls are not prevented from reaching the device if their duration exceeds the predetermined threshold. The apparatus helps to reduce the number of unwanted calls being received since spam calls commonly emanate from automated sending devices with a ring duration that is typically less than that of legitimate callers.
US08515033B2
A facsimile communication apparatus for transmitting/receiving image data via a telephone public circuit network is provided. The apparatus includes: a detection unit configured to detect whether a call signal is being received from the telephone public circuit network; an acceptance unit configured to accept, when the detection unit detects that the call signal is being received, an instruction from a user to perform line capture for the call signal; and a control unit configured to control, when the acceptance unit accepts the instruction to perform line capture, the apparatus to perform line capture. When the acceptance unit accepts the instruction to perform line capture, the control unit controls the apparatus not to perform line capture during a call signal-on interval of the call signal.
US08515029B2
A method for delivery of a voice mail message to a recipient. The method includes identifying the recipient of the voice mail message, receiving a notification indicative of one of the subscriber's availability, the subscriber's presence and the subscriber's location, recording the voice mail message, selectively converting the voice mail message to a text message based on the notification, and delivering either the text message or the voice mail message to a device of the recipient based on the notification. The method may further include receiving an alternative destination device for delivery of the text message or the voice message and delivering the text message or the voice message to the alternative destination device using internet protocol.
US08515027B2
Techniques and systems for recalling voicemail messages from remote voicemail systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for recalling a voicemail message from a target mailbox can include: accessing a voicemail system by a caller using a device; authenticating the caller using speaker verification; and deleting the voicemail message from the target mailbox. The target mailbox owner can be a member of the voicemail system, while the caller can be a non-member of that voicemail system. The device may be configured to support a telephony user interface (TUI), for example.
US08515017B2
Systems and methods for performing loop termination are described. One embodiment is a method that comprises receiving a per-port calibrated echo signal of a loop under test, receiving a region designation and a loop length for the loop under test, and determining whether the loop is terminated by a short or open termination based on phase of the per-port calibrated echo signal.
US08515013B2
A grid (1) for selective transmission of electromagnetic radiation and a method for manufacturing such grid is proposed. Therein, the grid (1) comprises a structural element with walls (3) comprising a plurality of particles (19) of a radiation-absorbing material wherein the particles (19) are sintered together such that pores (21) are present between neighboring particles (19). The pores (21) are at least partially filled with a second solid material. The filling of the pores (21) can be done by inserting the second material in a liquid, preferably molten form into the pores. The second material can be itself radiation-absorbing as well and may help to both, increase the mechanical stability of the grid and to enhance the radiation-absorbing properties.
US08515004B2
One embodiment of the present disclosure sets forth a method for determining a movement of a target region using tomosynthesis. The method includes the steps of accessing a first set of projection radiographs of the target region over a first processing window defined by a first range of projection angles, accessing a second set of projection radiographs of the target region over a second processing window defined by a second range of projection angles, wherein the first processing window moves to the second processing window, and comparing a first positional information derived from the first set of the projection radiographs and a second positional information derived from the second set of the projection radiographs with the first positional information to determine the movement of the target region.
US08514999B2
Occurrences of a particular event in an electronic device are counted by incrementing an event counter each time a variable number of the particular events have occurred, and automatically increasing that variable number as the total count increases. The variable number (prescale value) can increase geometrically according to a programmable counter base each time the count mantissa overflows. The event counter thereby provides hardware-implemented automatic prescaling while significantly reducing the number of interface bits required to support very large count ranges, and retaining high accuracy at very large event counts.
US08514996B2
A method for clock monitoring in a network is provided. The method comprises receiving a first network clock signal at a network device and comparing the first network clock signal to a local clock signal from a primary oscillator coupled to the network device.
US08514990B2
Automatic gain control device for satellite positioning receivers characterized in that it comprises means for estimating the temporal occupancy rate of the pulses within the useful band, closed-loop control of the automatic gain control being applied in an optimal manner as a function of the said temporal occupancy rate, in such a manner as to reduce the influence of the pulsed interference within the band and out-of-band; notably, an AGC decision module returns a control signal for the attention of a non-linear function module applying a given weighting to the signals resulting from a comparison between the power or the amplitude of digitized input signals and a setpoint threshold value CAGC.
US08514984B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for iterative decoding with re-transmissions of data and to a method for iterative decoding with soft decision directed channel estimation.
US08514983B2
A signal selection apparatus for selecting a target signal from a plurality of input signals is provided. The input signals correspond to different time indexes. The signal selection apparatus comprises a weight calculation unit for generating a corresponding weight respectively for each of the input signals, a processing unit for processing the input signals respectively to generate a plurality of processed signals according to the weights, and a selection unit for selecting a signal with a larger energy from the processed signals as the target signal, wherein the weights are used for adjusting an individual energy of the input signals such that the time index of the target signal is earlier within the input signals.
US08514979B2
A superheterodyne receiver includes an A/D converter for converting an IF signal to a stream of samples at a sampling frequency that is four times the IF and a splitter that splits the stream of samples into a first set of even samples and a second set of odd samples. A first quadrature demodulator demodulates just the first set of even samples to produce one of real (I) and imaginary (Q) components of a complex signal at one half of the sampling frequency, and a second, parallel quadrature demodulator demodulates just the second set of odd samples to produce the other of the I and Q components. The demodulated first set is filtered using a first subset of filter coefficients, and the demodulated second set is filtered using a second subset of filter coefficients. The filter outputs correspond to a baseband complex signal. The technology disclosed reduces overall hardware complexity and operating frequency by a factor of two or more.
US08514971B2
A base station apparatus used in a mobile communication system where user terminals with various numbers of reception antennas may be situated includes a providing unit configured to provide plural reference signals according to the number of transmission antennas; a precoding unit configured to replicate each of a predetermined number of input signal sequences according to the number of transmission antennas, apply a predetermined precoding vector to each of the replicated sequences, and generate output signal sequences corresponding to the number of transmission antennas; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit transmission signals including the output signal sequences from plural transmission antennas; wherein at least one of the input signal sequences includes a control signal and one of the plural reference signals.
US08514968B2
Methods and apparatus for communicating the location of a mobile wireless communications device are described. Codewords, e.g., values or sets of bits, are selected from a codebook mapping different codewords to corresponding pieces of location information. In a first approach location information is communicated by using codewords from different codebooks with the product, e.g., intersection of location information provided by the codewords, providing relatively detailed location information using relatively few bits. In a second approach user specific codebooks are defined for individual users. The codewords in the codebook corresponding to a particular user map to locations the individual specific user is likely to frequent. In another approach codewords are transmitted at different power levels and/or using different coding rates. Received codewords corresponding to a device may be used in combination to determine the location or refine the understanding of the device location.
US08514966B2
A method for communication includes modulating data to produce a series of symbols defined in a signal space. The symbols are pulse-shaped using a given pulse shape. A signal, which includes a sequence of the pulse-shaped symbols (104A . . . 104C) transmitted at a symbol rate that is higher than a Nyquist rate defined for the given pulse shape, is transmitted to a receiver (40). Prior to pulse-shaping the symbols, Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) in the signal is pre-compensated for by applying a lattice precoding operation to the symbols. The lattice precoding operation confines the symbols to a predefined volume (110) in the signal space and is computed independently of any feedback from the receiver.
US08514959B2
MIMO transmitting apparatus wherein data to be retransmitted and data to be transmitted anew are rearranged, thereby using HARQ technique to improve the reliability of the system transmission, while increasing the system throughput and improving the efficiency of the whole data transmission. In this apparatus, a retransmittal data selecting means (400) temporarily stores data, and outputs, as retransmittal data, the data when it is determined, based on feedback information, that the data must be retransmitted. A deinterleaving means (404) performs a deinterleaving process under control of an interleaving control means (408). The interleaving control means (408) controls, based on the feedback information, an interleaving process.
US08514958B2
An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) communication system comprises OFDM transmitters and an OFDM receiver. The system comprises a subcarrier status data controller for transmitting subcarrier status data to the OFDM receiver. The subcarrier status data indicates the active subcarriers of the OFDM transmitters. The OFDM receiver comprises a receiver which receives a signal comprising a desired signal component from a first OFDM transmitter and interference from at least one interfering OFDM transmitter. The OFDM receiver further comprises a subcarrier status processor which receives the subcarrier status data and a channel estimator which determines channel estimates for at least an air interface communication channel from the first OFDM transmitter and an air interface communication channel from the interfering OFDM transmitter. An interference mitigation processor performs interference mitigation of the interference in response to the subcarrier status data and the channel estimates.
US08514935B2
An image coding apparatus including an accumulating unit which accumulates a reference image, a predicted image generating unit which generates a predicted image of the current image to be coded by performing motion compensation with weighted prediction or motion compensation without the weighted prediction, and a coding unit which codes a difference between the predicted image generated by the predicted image generating unit and the current image to be coded. The image coding apparatus also includes a determining unit which determines whether or not the current image to be coded is included in a picture group which is a group of successive pictures and indicates motion equal to or larger than a predetermined amount of motion and which generates the predicted image by performing the motion compensation with the weighted prediction when it is determined that the current image to be coded is not included in the picture group.
US08514929B2
A combined audio video device includes inputs for receiving an audio video signal from a source. The device includes in one enclosure audio and video processor portions configured such that the audio and video processors use a common communications line for coupling electrical signals form the device to a host computer. The audio processor is operable to accept an audio signal and to provide audio enhancements to the audio signal. In one embodiment, the common communications line is a USB cable. In another embodiment, a USB hub is integrated into the device.
US08514926B2
Disclosed is a system and method for encryption of a scalable video coding (SVC) bitstream, which is the next-generation coding technology. The encryption method encrypts Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) data identified according to multidimensional scalability for space, time, and quality with respect to a bitstream created after an SVC encoding, thereby providing a multidimensional scalability function for space, time, and quality even after the encryption, so that the scalability is also maintained even in a bitstream extraction process after the encryption. According to such a scalable encryption method, a specific portion of an encrypted bitstream is removed in a bitstream extraction process, and user access to the bitstream is limited based on a combination of keys for accessing a specific scalability. Therefore, it is possible to protect scalable video content and to access the video content based on scalabilities.
US08514925B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for joint adaptation of filter values in two communicating devices, such as a link partner and a link device. The disclosed joint adaptation process initially adapts the filter coefficient values in a first of the two communicating devices until a predefined stopping criteria is satisfied. Thereafter, the filter coefficient values in a second of the two communicating devices are adapted once the predefined stopping criteria for the first communicating device is satisfied. The filter coefficient values can comprise coefficient values of a multi-tap filter. The predefined stopping criteria may determine, for example, whether the first of the two communicating devices is overequalized. The filter coefficient values can be determined by including a contribution of only certain cursor tap values of the channel impulse response.
