US08544525B2
A pull cord mechanism for a window shade includes a frame (1), a shade (2), a shade driving mechanism (3), and a bead chain or pull cord (4) for driving the shade driving mechanism (3). A sliding block (7) is slideably received in a barrel (5) receiving the pull cord (4). A handle (8) is mounted outside of the barrel (5) and connected to the sliding block (7). A pivotal plate (12a) is pivotably supported in a passageway (11) of the sliding block (7). A recess is defined in one of a rear side (12a1) of the pivotal plate (12a) and a wall (11a) of the passageway (11) facing the rear side (12a1). A positioning block (12c) is located between the rear side (12a1) of the pivotal plate (12a) and the wall (11a) of the passageway (11). A gear (12b) is located between the section (4a) of the pull cord (4) and a front side (12a2) of the pivotal plate (12a) opposite to the rear side (12a1).
US08544521B2
A mobile tarping system has a framework with a base section and a height adjustable main section connected to a cradle support. A rolled up tarp within the cradle support, can be unrolled and retracted by a spring-loaded roll-out and retraction assembly or a manual crank for covering the open container. The system is separate and independent from the container. Wheels extending from the base section permit the mobile tarping system to be transported between various containers, when a given container is filled with loose debris and must be covered.
US08544519B2
The present invention is to provide a tack labeler capable of automatically adhering tack labels without using release papers to articles to be adhered. The present invention is provided with a roll holder 10 for rotatably holding a base material pair roll MPR, a reeling-out unit 20 for reeling out a label formation base material pair LMP from the base material pair roll MPR set in the roll holder 10, a base material pair accumulation unit 30 for accumulating the reeled label formation base material pair LMP, a delivering unit 40 for bringing out and delivering the label formation base material pair LMP from the base material pair accumulation unit 30, a separating-delivering unit 50 for separating the delivered label formation base material pair LMP into label formation base materials LM and delivering the label formation base materials LM, cut units 60 for cutting the separated and delivered label formation base materials LM by predetermined length so as to form individual tack labels, and adhering units 70 for adhering the tack labels cut off from the label formation base materials LM to containers C conveyed to adhering positions.
US08544518B2
A supply group of a packing band from reels, with an automatic change of the reel for an object-packing machine, includes a supply conveyor along which the packing band runs, a device for transversally cutting the band located at a start of the supply conveyor, a device for supporting one reel of the band of slim packing material and a device for supporting a second reel of band of slim packing material. The group includes a first entry conveyor of the first band from the first reel to the supply conveyor, a second entrance conveyor of the second band from the second reel to the supply conveyor, a device for advancing for introducing or extracting the front end of the first band to or from the supply conveyor, and a device for advancing for introducing or extracting a front end of the second band into or from the supply conveyor.
US08544514B2
A spoked wheel rim for a wheeled vehicle, a mounted assembly incorporating this rim for such a vehicle and a method for assembling this mounted assembly is provided. This rim has two rim edges and a rim bottom covered by an annular ribbon that is flexible and sealed against the inflation gas that is intended to receive a tire and that is fitted with an inflation valve for inflating this tire. The ribbon includes a central portion conforming to the shape of this rim bottom and two lateral portions protruding axially from these rim edges. The lateral portions are capable of having a portion of their axial width cut off by the detachment of two respective peripheral sections of these lateral portions, so that this ribbon extends from one of the said edges to the other following this detachment.
US08544512B2
A sipe formed in a block of a tread surface is provided with a first sipe portion having a first wide portion, a second sipe portion having a second wide portion in a different side from the first wide portion in a sipe width direction and positioned close to a sipe bottom portion side of the first sipe portion so as to become wider than the first sipe portion, and a third sipe portion having a third wide portion in the same side as the first wide portion in the sipe width direction and positioned close to a sipe bottom portion side of the second sipe portion so as to become wider than the second sipe portion.
US08544511B2
A tire is provided having a plurality of shoulder blocks separated by axial grooves and located along at least one side of the tire. Apertures extend through the shoulder blocks to connect with a circumferential groove. The apertures are located within a certain radial position relative to the axial grooves. Each aperture has a bottom positioned at a radial depth HB relative to the shoulder block and extends completely through the shoulder block along the axial direction. Each aperture has a radial overlap HL with the axial grooves. The ratio HL/Ho is about 0.15 or less and the ratio of HB/H is in the range of about 1.0 to about 1.1.
US08544510B2
Provided is a pneumatic tire with noise reducer, which can reduce the cost for manufacturing a noise reducer and which can keep the effect to suppress cavity resonance. The pneumatic tire with noise reducer 1 comprises a pneumatic tire 3 and a noise reducer 7 attached to a tire cavity surface 6 of the tire. The noise reducer 7 is formed into a ring shape by butting both end faces 12e of elongated sponge material 12 disposed along the tire circumferential direction. In the noise reducer 7, moreover, a butt-joint face 8 formed by butting both of the end faces 12e of the sponge material 12 is a substantive plane.
US08544499B2
A simplified variable orifice for a conduit furnishing a stream of particulate coal to a burner for a turbine in an electrical utility plant. Two plates are installed across the conduit, one of them being fixed and the other being variable in angular position relative to the first. A lockable mechanism is provided externally of the conduit to manually adjust the degree of blocking and to indicate the position of the movable plate.
US08544497B2
Fluid transfer apparatus including a body having a bore formed through at least a portion of its interior. Contained within the bore is a movable plunger that moves without changing the axial dimensions of the body. A first end of the body contains a face designed to be attached to an upstream component. A second end of the body is connected to a downstream component such as a filter, pipeline, etc. A first end of the plunger, when it is in the closed position, is in alignment with the face of the body, which combined form a steamable surface and a sterile barrier against the environment to the remainder of the interior of the body, the plunger and downstream components. An outer annular collar is rotatable relative to the body and causes the plunger to move axially within the bore from an open to a closed position.
US08544487B1
The accessorized cane device provides advantages such as the focus on handle comfort. The lower rounded edges of the t-handle add to comfort, as does the t-handle itself. High density memory foam further adds to handle comfort, as does the finger slot. The sprung sliding action of the two sleeves contributes to comfort and function. The release mechanism may provide sprung use and un-sprung use. The spring loaded button is disposed conveniently within the bottom of the t-handle. The clock even provides an alarm and therefore offers further advantage. The light is especially useful, as placing a cane during walking in low light conditions can be extremely hazardous to a user. The stand provides for more secure standing for a user, and also for allowing the cane device to stand by itself.
US08544475B2
A packaging and applicator assembly may include: a container containing a composition for application, the composition including magnetic bodies; a magnetic device configured to enable a pattern to be made on at least one layer of composition applied on keratinous materials; and at least one item of information representative of a pattern that can be made on the composition with the magnetic device.
US08544463B2
A respiratory access assembly includes a distal plate having one port and cuff and an axially aligned proximal plate including a first port and first cuff and a second port and second cuff. The distal plate is configured to move relative to the proximal plate. The respiratory access assembly includes an actuator, which has a plurality of predetermined positions. The actuator includes a blocking portion that controls the movement of the plates. The blocking portion moves slidably within an O-ring that prevents loss of pressure from the artificial airway system. The O-ring may be molded in place using an injection molding process, thus ensuring good adhesion to the disk.
US08544461B2
A device and a process for the heating and humidification of gas, especially respiratory gas. Fluid from a fluid reservoir is supplied to a sprinkling type chamber where, for the purpose of humidification, it is moved through the gas. The point is that the fluid is heated by a temperature controlled heater to a preset temperature. In addition to the description of the device, a description of the process underlying the operation of the device is described.
US08544455B1
A band-powered speargun has a release mechanism incorporating a line-drop feature for releasing a coiled line attached to a spear. An approach to attaching the line to the spear involves a linking ring having a size selected so that the ring passes over a protective cone near the spear tip and is captured by an element protruding outward from the spear shaft. The protective cone also shields hinged barbs from impact damage.
US08544453B2
A supercharger cooling system provides a path for coolant from an air/coolant heat exchanger to a supercharger intercooler and loops around a hot outlet end of a screw type supercharger and back to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be a dedicated air/coolant heat exchanger or be a vehicle radiator. The intercooler is sandwiched between the supercharger and intake manifold and cools the flow of hot compressed air from the supercharger into the intake manifold. The supercharger cooling loop circles the front rotor bearings thereby cooling the bearings and seals, the forward ends of the male and female rotors, and the male and female rotor gears. The cooling loop is preferably located in the outlet end wall between the supercharger rotors and the rotor drive gears to form a barrier to heat. A dedicated pump cycles the coolant flow and restrictions control the flow of coolant to the supercharger.
US08544451B2
According to the present teaching, a fuel vapor processing apparatus includes a fuel tank, a canister capable of adsorbing fuel vapor produced in the fuel tank, a fuel pump disposed within the fuel tank, a fuel recovery device configured to recover the fuel vapor from the canister into the fuel tank, and a control device configured to stop recovery of the fuel vapor by the fuel recovery device based on at least one of parameters representing the amount of the fuel vapor remaining within the canister.
US08544442B2
A method for the production of a multi-part piston for an internal combustion engine involves producing an upper piston part having a piston crown as well as an inner and an outer support element, and producing a lower piston part having a skirt and having pin boss supports and pin bosses connected with the pin boss supports, and an inner and an outer support element. A separate cooling oil collector having at least one cooling oil opening is inserted into the upper piston part or the lower piston part. The upper piston part and the lower piston part are connected in such a manner that the inner and outer support elements of the upper and lower piston parts, delimit an outer circumferential cooling channel and a cavity that is open toward the pin bosses and provided with the cooling oil collector.
US08544441B2
A piston for an internal combustion engine including a piston body (20). The piston body (20) defines a first cooling chamber (46) that is sealed closed and contains a first cooling medium (48) other than air. During operation of the piston, the first cooling medium (48) extracts heat from the surrounding regions of the piston body (20) to cool the piston body (20). The piston body (20) also defines a second cooling chamber (50) adjacent to the first cooling chamber (46). A cooling oil (51) is projected into the second cooling chamber (50) and against the portion of the piston body (20) separating the first and second cooling chambers (46, 50) to extract heat from the first cooling medium (48). The cooling oil (51) is redirected within the second cooling chamber (50) to extract additional heat from the first cooling medium (48) or directly from the piston body (20).
US08544440B2
A marine vessel propulsion device includes an engine, an intake pathway which has a gas flow hole in the inner surface thereof and is arranged to supply air to the engine, and an air restrictor disposed on the upstream side with respect to the gas flow hole of the intake pathway. The air restrictor has a vent hole, and is arranged to restrict the amount of air to flow into the engine via the intake pathway. The vent hole of the air restrictor is arranged at a position which is near the inner surface of the intake pathway and corresponds to the gas flow hole.
US08544435B2
A hydraulic valve lifter apparatus including a seal at the interface of a pushrod seat and a pushrod is provided herein. In one form, the hydraulic valve lifter apparatus includes a body, a piston slidably disposed within the body including a pushrod seat for contacting a pushrod, and a seal located between the pushrod seat and the pushrod.
US08544424B2
A system, a controller, and a method for transmitting and distributing a data stream from a host to a storage device having a non-volatile memory and a chip are provided. A specific mark is added into a data stream which is transmitted from the host to the storage device, such that the data stream can be dispatched to the chip by transmitting a write command. Then, a response message generated by the chip can be received inerrably by executing a plurality of read commands.
US08544421B2
An animal control pole has a first end adapted to be held by a user, and a second end adapted to ensnare and assist in the control of an animal. The pole has an axial bore extending therethrough and a cable that extends through the axial bore and extends from each end of the pole. A retaining element is located at the second end of the pole and retains the free end of the cable that extends from the second end, so as to form a closed animal engageable adjustable loop. The animal control pole includes dual release mechanisms. A first release mechanism releases the free end of the cable that extends through the second end of the pole. A second release mechanism forces an additional length of cable through the axial bore of the second end and thereby increases the size of the loop.
US08544412B1
A holder for frictionally holding a container of pre-packaged pet food has a bowl into which the container of pre-packaged pet food in placed and an anchor arm extending radially outwardly from the bowl. A plurality of ribs protrude inwardly from the inside walls of the bowl. The ribs terminate in edges having a compound curvature which frictionally engage the outside walls of the prepackaged container of pet food to the extent that it cannot easily be dislodged by the efforts of a pet to consume the food that is in the container. The pet food holder is provided with a slip resistant bottom surface and is manufactured from a material that has sufficient elastomeric properties that the cavity can accommodate pre-packaged containers of various sizes and shapes and sufficient frictional properties as to promote frictional interaction with the surface upon which the pet feeder is placed. The anchor arm can be engaged by the pet's paw or wedged under fixed objects to further prevent it from moving about as the pet consumes its contents.
US08544411B2
A plasma processing apparatus comprises a processing chamber in which a plurality of substrates are stacked and accommodated; a pair of electrodes extending in the stacking direction of the plurality of substrates, which are disposed at one side of the plurality of substrates in said processing chamber, and to which high frequency electricity is applied; and a gas supply member which supplies processing gas into a space between the pair of electrodes.
US08544408B2
A system for applying a metal particulate onto an object is disclosed herein. The system can include sources for a metal particulate and a hot pressurized air in communication with a spraying device having a nozzle assembly configured to: receive, mix, and expel the metal particulate and the hot pressurized air. The hot pressurized air can form a venturi effect within the nozzle assembly to draw in the metal particulate. The nozzle assembly can include a nozzle cap with a tapered nozzle having a helical channel, and an outer tip connected to the nozzle cap having a venturi effect chamber, a mixing conduit, and rifling. The helical channel can form a vortex flow of the metal particulate, and the mixing conduit can form a vortex flow of the air metal mixture. A nozzle orifice can expel the air metal mixture to onto the object to form a coating thereon.
US08544407B2
An attachment module for a safety cone permitting a variety of safety enhancing devices to be easily attached to the cone. The attachment module comprising a top ring and a bottom ring joined together to form an assembly. The top ring and bottom ring sized to conform to a predefined safety cone angle or range of angles, the assembly having an attachment arm for attaching a safety-enhancing device. Examples of safety enhancing devices include, but are not limited to a flag, a sign, a safety tape holder, a light, or other safety-enhancing device. The assembly may be placed over a safety cone and is held secure by gravity and the wedge of the cone angle. Safety enhancing devices may then be attached to the module and thus to the cone to improve the effectiveness of the cone.
US08544405B1
The density of “ready for take-off” aircraft on a flight deck of a ship is increased by orienting the aircraft at orientation angles between 20° and 180° from dead ahead. Preferred ships are modified from, or utilize a design derived from an existing ship, especially a large containership or other commercial ship. One or more payload staging decks can be advantageously located under the flight deck. All suitable types of aircraft are contemplated, including especially helicopters, tilt-rotors, and other rotorcraft. In preferred embodiments at least three, five, or ten aircraft are vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Also in preferred embodiments, at least five of the first plurality of the aircraft are capable of carrying a payload greater than 20,000 pounds.
US08544402B2
An offshore structure having a vertically symmetric hull, an upper vertical wall, an upper inwardly-tapered wall disposed below the upper vertical wall, a lower outwardly-tapered wall disposed below the upper sloped wall, and a lower vertical wall disposed below the lower sloped wall. The upper and lower sloped walls produce significant heave damping in response to heavy wave action. A heavy slurry of hematite and water ballast is added to the lower and outermost portions of the hull to lower the center of gravity below the center of buoyancy. The offshore structure includes one or more movable hawser connections that allow a vessel to be moored directly to the offshore structure during offloading. The movable hawser connection includes an arcuate rail with a movable trolley that provides a hawser connection point that allows vessel weathervaning.
US08544401B2
A cleat attachable device for attachment to a cleat with horns. The device includes a frame having a base end, a distal end, a center post, and lateral posts. The lateral posts are disposed opposite one another and connected to the center post. The lateral posts each have a respective outer edge opposite one another. The outer edges are spaced apart at the base end at a distance. The distance is at least as great as a length of the horns. The center post has a mounting end projecting beyond the lateral sides at the base end. The mounting end is configured for mounting to the cleat.
US08544399B2
A method for producing a composite part is provided that includes the steps of obtaining a fibrous mat having an outer surface; stitching an ornamental feature over the outer surface of the fibrous mat; and encapsulating the fibrous mat with the ornamental feature stitched therein in a transparent matrix with the ornamental feature outwardly visible through the matrix.
US08544398B2
In one embodiment, an agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame. A support member is pivotably coupled to the attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of the support member relative to the attachment frame, and at least one furrow-closing device is mounted on the support member. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the support member for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil. The hydraulic cylinder includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for urging the ram in a first direction that pivots the support member in a first vertical direction. An accumulator has a fluid chamber containing a pressurized gas for urging the ram in a second direction that pivots the support member in a second vertical direction.
US08544397B2
An agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a linkage pivotably coupled to the attachment frame, and a row unit frame having a leading end pivotably coupled to the linkage to permit vertical pivoting movement of the row unit frame relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to the attachment frame and the linkage, for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil, includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the ram in a direction that pivots the linkage and the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil. An accumulator positioned adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder has a fluid chamber containing a diaphragm, with the portion of the chamber on one side of the diaphragm being connected to the hydraulic-fluid cavity in the hydraulic cylinder, and the portion of the chamber on the other side of the diaphragm containing a pressurized gas.
US08544389B2
A guide rail that is provided in a track and is brought into contact with a guide wheel of a vehicle to restrict a rolling direction of a running wheel of the vehicle, to thereby guide the vehicle along the track, includes: a rail that comprises a guide portion formed with a guide rail surface with which the guide wheel is brought into contact; and a vibration-isolating member that is provided so as to be in contact with a back surface of the guide rail surface of the guide portion.
US08544386B2
Embodiments herein comprise an apparatus that includes a printing engine and an interposer adapted to receive printed sheets from the printing engine. The interposer adds insert sheets between printed sheets. The interposer includes a decurler positioned within the interposer so as to decurl the printed sheets after the interposer adds the insert sheets. The printing engine adds a curl to the printed sheets and the decurler removes the curl from the printed sheets. The decurler can comprise a roller-based decurler, a heated decurler, a pressure based decurler, and/or a moisture-vacuum based decurler.
US08544367B2
A socket for a wrench comprises a fixed portion provided with a first fastener receiving aperture and a rotatable portion provided with a second fastener receiving aperture. The fixed and rotatable portions are disposed such that the first and second fastener receiving apertures are in overlying relationship to define a fastener receiving space and the rotatable portion is rotatable with respect to the fixed portion to adjust the fastener receiving space.
US08544366B2
A spark plug removal tool apparatus and method for a spark plug having components of an extended smooth spark arc producing terminal portion, an adjacent helical threaded portion, an adjacent hex drive, an adjacent insulator portion, and a terminal electrical interface extension. The tool apparatus includes a non rotating collet extension having a plurality of fingers to removably engage the electrical interface and an inner surrounding sidewall that threadably engages the collet, also an outer surrounding sidewall rotatably engaged to the inner surrounding sidewall not having one-way axial movement as between the inner and outer surrounding sidewalls, wherein the collet, inner, and outer surrounding sidewalls are all co-axial. Operationally, when the tool starts to unscrew the spark plug from an engine head, an axial non-rotating force is applied to the electrical interface extension that helps prevent separating damage between the spark plug components.
US08544362B2
A crankshaft flange protector comprising a cover having a top wall, a bottom wall and a sidewall, the top wall having a recessed portion formed of an interior sidewall and a recessed portion bottom wall sized to correspondingly receive and support the crankshaft flange therein.
US08544358B1
An actuating device for selecting gear steps in a gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that can be moved between at least two drive-setting positions and a locking mechanism for restricting the movement range of the lever and locking certain positions or for locking the selector lever. The locking mechanism comprises a locking recess connected to the selector lever and a blocking cam that can be rotated by an actuator. The cam engages in the locking recess. Complex locking tasks are possible with the simplified actuating device. In addition, the range of movement of the selector lever can be freely positioned largely variably and its width can be changed. Furthermore, the selector lever of the actuating device is movable by the actuator or locked in a desired position.
US08544351B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for characterizing the flowability of a dry powder, and particularly for use with toner particles. The methods and apparatuses use an optionally transparent or semi-transparent cylindrical container. When the container is partially filled with dry powder, the dry powder is aerated and torque measurements are then taken while rotating the container to determine the flowability of the dry powder.
US08544337B2
An impact sensor includes a piezoelectric transducer operatively connected to a chromic device. The chromic device includes a chromic material that changes from a first color state to a second color state in response to electric power generated by the piezoelectric transducer when exposed to a given level of impact force. The chromic material is bistable so that the chromic material remains in the second color state for a significant amount of time. An impact force to which the sensor has been subjected may be quantified by observing the chromic device. In one embodiment, the chromic material is an electrochromic material, such as a viologen, that changes through a color gradient of light transmission states from the first color state to the second color state. A printed color gradient may be used to aid in quantifying the impact force. In another embodiment, the chromic device includes a thermochromic material.
US08544324B2
A sensor device, method of fabricating the same, and a method of sensing a physical quantity. The sensor device comprises a substrate; a flexure member, one end of the flexure member being attached to the substrate, and a free end of the flexure member having an edge surface; a counter surface formed on the substrate such that the counter surface faces the edge surface of the flexure member and such that a separation distance between the counter surface and the edge surface remains substantially constant for movement of the edge surface as a result of flexure of the flexure member, each of the edge surface and the counter surface including one or more conductor layers disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a flexure direction of the flexure member; and means for applying an electrical potential difference between the conductors of the edge surface and the conductors of the counter surface for detecting a quantum tunnelling current therebetween.
US08544323B2
A sensor device includes: a sensor component including a package, connection terminals including first connection terminals on a terminal forming surface of the package and a sensor element housed in the package; and mounting leads including a one-end part coupled to one first connection terminal so that a main surface thereof faces a main surface of the one first connection terminal face; an intermediate part extending toward a mounting surface of the sensor device from the one-end part; and another-end part. The sensor component is tilted or orthogonal relative to the mounting surface. The connection terminals are provided along one of the sides forming an outline of the terminal forming surface, the one side being tilted or orthogonal with respect to the mounting surface. The intermediate part includes an angled part.
US08544317B2
A method and apparatus provide for simultaneously moving multiple semiconductor wafers in opposite directions while simultaneously performing processing operations on each of the wafers. The semiconductor wafers are orientated in coplanar fashion and are disposed on stages that simultaneously translate in opposite directions to produce a net system momentum of zero. The die of the respective semiconductor wafers are processed in the same spatial sequence with respect to a global alignment feature of the semiconductor wafer. A balance mass is not needed to counteract the motion of a stage because the opposite motions of the respective stages cancel each other.
US08544308B2
The invention relates to a roll stand comprising at least one roll (1) having a rotation axis (a), said roll being supported in two installed parts (2, 3) disposed in the axial end regions of the roll (1) and each having a center plane (M), wherein the roll (1) can be positioned in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction (F) of the product to be rolled by means of at least one positioning element (4). In order to be able to introduce a bending moment acting counter to the roll bending moment into the roller in a simple manner and without additional elements, according to the invention, each installed part (2, 3) is connected to a bending lever (5, 6) and the positioning element (4) is disposed such that the positioning force thereof is introduced into the bending lever (5, 6) at a location (G) removed from the center plane (M) of the installed part (2, 3), and thereby into the installed part (2, 3).
US08544306B2
A plug includes a front edge portion having a convex curvature; a cylindrical portion having a truly or nearly cylindrical shape; a trunk portion having an outer diameter gradually increasing toward a rear edge thereof; a mandrel joint provided in a rear edge portion of the plug; a lubricant ejection hole running through the trunk portion from the mandrel joint that opens on the surface of the cylindrical portion; and a coating comprising oxides and Fe that is formed on the base metal surface of each of the front edge portion as well as the trunk portion by arc spraying using an iron wire. In this way, the plug can prevent inner surface flaws from occurring in a hollow blank that is deformed by piercing-rolling, and can extend its life without requiring a long time for making it.
US08544297B2
A process and apparatus is provided for enhancing the formation of a uniform population of hollow glass microspheres. A burner head is used which directs incoming glass particles away from the cooler perimeter of the flame cone of the gas burner and distributes the glass particles in a uniform manner throughout the more evenly heated portions of the flame zone. As a result, as the glass particles are softened and expand by a released nucleating gas so as to form a hollow glass microsphere, the resulting hollow glass microspheres have a more uniform size and property distribution as a result of experiencing a more homogenous heat treatment process.
US08544290B2
A single medium voltage starter box is mounted on a chiller unit with the other components of the chiller system. The starter box can be positioned on the chiller system unit to permit the starter box to be close coupled to the motor, and specifically to the main motor lead exit hub without the need for any power conduit connections between the starter box and the motor. In addition, the starter box also does not require any control interface and receives controls from a control panel. A short conduit connection between the control panel and the starter box is used to provide the necessary connections between the control panel and the starter box.
US08544288B2
The present invention provides a method for enhancing dehumidification of a conditioned space, while optimizing the effectiveness of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) devices that are present in the HVAC system. After the system compressor is shut off, the actual space humidity is compared to the desired humidity. If the actual humidity is very close to or lower than the desired level the indoor blower (air handler) is allowed to continue running. However, if the actual humidity is greater than the desired level by a specified amount, the blower is forced off for a period of time proportional to the difference between the actual and desired humidity. At the next compressor activation, the blower is allowed to run as normal.
US08544283B2
A condenser evaporator system includes: a condenser constructed for condensing a gaseous refrigerant from the source of compressed gaseous refrigerant; a controlled pressure receiver for holding liquid refrigerant; a first liquid refrigerant feed line for conveying liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the controlled pressure receiver; an evaporator for evaporating liquid refrigerant; and a second liquid refrigerant feed line for conveying liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver to the evaporator. The condenser evaporator system can be provided as multiple condenser evaporator systems operating from a source of compressed gaseous refrigerant.
US08544273B2
A solar thermal power plant is provided. The plant includes a steam-electric power plant associated with a steam generation system operationally connected thereto for providing heat to drive its operation, a solar collection system designed to heat thermal fluid and is in communication with the steam-electric power plant to provide heat thereto for driving its operation, and a non-solar power plant including a power generation unit and a waste heat recovery unit. The solar thermal power plant further includes a controller configured to selectively operationally connect the solar collection system and the waste heat recovery unit to the steam-electric power plant to provide heat thereto.
US08544272B2
A method for generating steam for a turbine electric power plant uses solar radiation. Solar radiation is directed onto a solar receiver. The solar receiver includes a first section, which receives feedwater input and is arranged to heat the feedwater input to generate steam using the directed solar radiation. Feedwater flows through a feedwater vessel to serve as feedwater input to an inlet of the first section of the receiver. Water is separated from the steam in steam separation vessel, which is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first section of the receiver. The feedwater input may be selectively preheated by a source of preheat other than solar energy in response to system operating conditions, predicted insolation schedule, or an electrical energy tariff schedule.
US08544265B2
A hydraulic pressure multiplier having a housing, a bore in the housing and an outer piston slidably positioned within the bore. The pressure multiplier also includes an inner piston having a bore therethrough, the inner piston being positioned within a bore within the outer piston. An opening is provided through an end wall of the outer piston, and a mechanism is provided to selectively control hydraulic fluid flow into the bore within the outer piston. Hydraulic fluid first flows through the opening in the outer piston and through the bore through the inner piston to actuate a slave cylinder or a hydraulic piston within a brake. After a threshold pressure is reached within the slave cylinder, the valve closes and the outer piston is caused to move axially, thereby providing an increased hydraulic pressure within the slave cylinder.
US08544259B2
An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine is provided with an exhaust treatment device which purifies exhaust, a fuel feed device which is arranged at an upstream side from the exhaust treatment device and which feeds fuel to the engine exhaust passage, an ignition device which causes fuel which is fed from the fuel feed device to ignite, and a flow regulating device which regulates the flow rate of exhaust gas which flows toward the ignition device. The fuel feed device is formed so as to feed liquid fuel. The system has an operating region in which due to the fuel which is fed to the engine exhaust passage burning, backflow of the exhaust gas occurs. Fuel is made to burn in the operating region. Further control is performed to make the flow rate of the exhaust gas increase during the period from when combustion of fuel should be started to when combustion of the fuel ends.
US08544257B2
The present invention provides an electrically stimulated catalytic converter for treating engine exhaust from a vehicle engine. The electrically stimulated catalytic converter includes an exhaust conduit having one end thereof adapted to be connected to an exhaust pipe, and the other end thereof opened to the atmosphere outside the vehicle or connected to a reduced-size catalytic converter; and a corona charger apparatus operatively connected to the exhaust conduit. The corona charger apparatus is housed with a housing unit disposed between the ends the exhaust conduit. The corona charger is intrusively or non-intrusively associated with a main flow path defined by the exhaust conduit. The corona charger includes at least one electrode which may be recessed away from the main flow path. A plurality of corona chargers may be used in various combinations. The electrically stimulated catalytic converter is adapted to reduce exhaust pollution.
US08544242B2
When sheets (1, 2) with different sizes are processed to a mail item, sheets (1, 2) with different sizes in conveying direction are supplied along first and second conveyor tracks, gathered into a stack and then folded. The folding of the stacked set (7) takes place with at least one predetermined folding length (a). In response to a difference between the folding length (a) and the size of the sheet (2) of the second size, which is within a predetermined range, the conveyor tracks (5, 6) are controlled by the control structure (9) for combining at least the sheets (1, 2) with leading edges (10, 11) at a mutual distance in the conveying direction (3) and with trailing edges (12, 13) at a mutual distance in the conveying direction (3) to form the set (7). From the combining until the folding, the sheets (1, 2) are mutually fixed and during folding, at least one fold (14) is provided in the sheets (1, 2).
US08544228B2
A spacer for an anchor includes a base having first and second sides. The first side is adapted for engagement with an anchor. At least two spikes extend from the second end of the base. An opening is provided within the base.
US08544220B2
A procedure for making swimming pools and artificial lakes in general includes the following steps: excavation of a tank; preparation of a subgrade by spreading the bottom of the excavation with a layer of sand; then spreading one or more sheets of nonwoven fabric on the inside surface of the excavation, over the layer of the subgrade; placement of a waterproofing layer over the sheet(s) of nonwoven fabric; installation of the equipment needed for proper functioning of the tank, swimming pool, etc; and application of a coating on the inside walls and/or on the bottom and/or around the edge of the tank, with holes or interstitial spaces such to enable water contained inside the tank to come into contact with the sheets, wherein the thrust of the water contained in the tank thus comes to bear on the sheets.
US08544219B1
A system adapted to remove radon gas and drainage liquid from a subterranean chamber or basement having a floor and an ambient environment. The system has a drainage channel forming a drainage portion and a venting portion. A valve is located between the drainage portion and the venting portion. Drainage liquid flows into the drainage portion and from the drainage portion through the valve into the venting portion. A pressure gradient is between the drainage portion and the venting portion. The valve substantially prevents the ambient environment from entering the venting portion while allowing drainage liquid to flow from the drainage portion into the venting portion.
US08544217B2
A building panel and a building formed therefrom, where the building includes a plurality of building panels arranged to form a cylindrical shape, where each panel comprises a single, or monolithic, glass piece, where each glass piece is substantially rectangular and includes two opposing long sides extending in a height direction and two opposing short sides extending substantially in a width direction, and where each glass piece forms an identical circular arc when viewed from either of the two opposing short sides.
US08544214B2
A wind turbine tower assembly includes a tubular section having a first longitudinal axis and a base section assembly including a plurality of legs. The base section assembly is configured to be assembled into a base section having the legs coupled together at an interface such that the base section has a second longitudinal axis and such that the legs are obliquely oriented relative to the second longitudinal axis at the interface, wherein the base section is configured to support the tubular section on the legs and in substantially coaxial alignment with the base section.
US08544205B2
An increase in the total grain and biomass yields and photosynthetic rates of plants grown at high densities achieved by novel methods of defoliating the primary-source leaf of a majority of such plants. In particular the methods provide for increased grain and biomass yields, including for example, increased average kernel mass for maize plants, and photosynthetic rates through the timely removal of the primary-source leaf of a majority of the plants grown at high densities. This invention also relates to seeds obtained by using the disclosed methods.
US08544203B2
A projectile cartridge device designed with internal sighting and aiming system, which incorporates and leverages electromagnetic radiation as the means for aiming the projectile.
US08544202B2
A shooting rest assembly is engageable with a stand for supporting a weapon in the stand. The shooting rest assembly includes a base having at least one clamp for coupling to the stand. A platform is rotatably coupled to the base and has a platform frame and a telescoping member telescopically coupled to the platform frame. The telescoping member is configured to move along a longitudinal axis relative to the platform frame between a retracted position and an extended position. A front rest and a rear rest are spaced along the longitudinal axis and are mounted to the telescoping member in fixed positions so that each of the front rest and the rear rest move with the telescoping member as the telescoping member moves along the longitudinal axis between the retracted and extended positions relative to the longitudinal axis.
US08544200B2
A weapon safety apparatus comprising a sleeve comprising a cavity portion open to receive a trigger portion of a weapon and free of any structures that impede movement of the trigger. The sleeve further comprises a body portion comprising at least one closed portion preventing access to a trigger of the weapon. The sleeve is shaped to provide access to all loading or unloading components of the weapon. The cavity portion of the sleeve may be further open to receive a handle of the weapon. A method for loading and unloading a weapon using the above weapon safety apparatuses is also provided.
US08544199B1
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns having a plurality of units each with a motor, a rotary member, a cord attached at its distal end to the circumferential edge of the rotary member, an attaching mechanism affixed to the proximal end of the cord, and an object removably connected to the attaching mechanism. A computer or microprocessor is provided and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the objects between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements.
US08544198B2
The present device relates to a license plate holder, and more specifically to a license plate holder with illumination for attachment to remote locations on a vehicle. The license plate holder includes a backing plate sized for attachment of a license plate. A support member extends outwardly from the backing plate and is sized and shaped for insertion into a boat rod holder. A self-contained electrical system is included in the license plate holder for illumination of the license plate. The self-contained electrical system includes at least one LED, a switch, an electrical storage device and at least one solar panel. The illuminated license plate holder may be mounted on a watercraft while being hauled on a trailer so that the license plate is not subject to scraping, mutilation, or destruction; as typically occurs when a license plate is affix to a trailer.
US08544197B2
An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes an illuminable panel and a plurality of strands positioned to extend adjacent and parallel to the illuminable panel. The illuminable panel has a surface with a covered area and an exposed area. The covered area includes a substantially opaque covering, and the exposed area is at least partially visible from the exterior of the footwear. The strands are located to correspond with the exposed area of the illuminable panel. Light from the exposed area of the illuminable panel may enhance, highlight, or otherwise increase the visibility of the strands or areas of the upper that include the strands.
US08544189B2
A modular sole assembly system for footwear and components thereof.
US08544188B2
A dryer is provided. The dryer may include a main body having an inner space formed therein, a support body arranged in the main body so as to form a frame of the main body, a flexible drum rotatably installed on the support body so as to have a non-circular cross-section as it is rotated, and rotation guides arranged between the support body and the flexible drum so as to guide rotation of the flexible drum. A distance from a center of rotation of an inscribed circle contacting the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum to one random point on the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum is greater than a distance from the center of rotation of the inscribed circle to another point on the inscribed circle such that the drum maintains a non-circular cross section.
US08544180B2
An opacity changing peep sight device is disclosed wherein the peep sight comprises a photochromic substance sensitive to UV light. When there is plenty of available UV light, the peep sight becomes substantially opaque. When there is little available UV light, the peep sight becomes substantially translucent. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08544175B2
An improved method for manufacturing hand guards, utilizing this method multiple sheets can be stacked and then clamped to a XY cutting table to cut multiple patterns therein, subsequently a forming tool or die is used to form complex 3 dimensional shapes in any XY, XZ, YZ or XYZ planes in a single operation.
US08544172B2
A clamping apparatus, for a crimping machine (1), which comprises a crimping tool head (2) with an end wall (9), in a cable feed direction, a crimping tool base body (3) with an anvil (4) and a front knife (21), an insulation stripping apparatus (5); a contact element feed apparatus (6); and a coupling part (7) for coupling the crimping machine (1) to the crimping tool head (2). The clamping apparatus (10) clamping the electric cable (8) to be processed both during the insulation stripping and crimping processes. The clamping apparatus (10) is connected to the crimping tool head (2) via its end wall (9) and is movable vertically with the crimping tool head (2). At least one of the clamping apparatus (10) and the crimping tool head (2) is arranged centrally in a longitudinal direction of the cable path (8′) above the anvil (4) and the front knife (21).
US08544165B2
A method of aligning electronic components comprising providing a positioning member 110 having at least one formation 120 for receiving an electronic component; said at least one formation having lateral boundaries 35, 36 for constraining movement of an electronic component; placing a first electronic component 10a in said at least one formation; and providing a force for actively aligning said first electronic component with a lateral boundary of said at least one formation. The force may, for example, be provided by tilting the positioning member, by providing suction or by using an actuator. An apparatus for aligning electronic components and a 3D system of stacked electronic components is also disclosed.
US08544163B2
A robot is placed on a first surface of a panel. The robot includes a body and first and second feet connected to the body via joints. A flux conducting device is positioned on an opposing second surface of the panel, opposite the robot, so that each foot of the robot is magnetically coupled to the flux conducting device. The flux conducting device is moved along the exterior surface to pull the robot along the interior surface until an obstacle on the first surface is encountered. The robot decouples one of the feet from the flux conducting device, lifts the decoupled foot above the obstacle, and moves the decoupled foot past the obstacle.
US08544160B2
A stent crimping assembly is provided for crimping a stent from a first diameter to a reduced second diameter. The crimping assembly includes a plurality of movable wedges disposed about a rotational axis to form a wedge assembly. Each wedge includes a respective first side and a second side converging to form a tip portion. The tip portions are arranged to collectively form an iris about the rotational axis thereof. The iris defines a crimp aperture about which the movable wedges are disposed. A control unit is electronically programmed to control the mechanical components. A method of calibrating the control unit includes inserting a quill of known diameter into the iris and reducing the diameter of the iris onto the quill.
US08544157B2
A method for producing a liquid transport apparatus includes forming a recess, on a surface of a vibration plate on a side not facing the pressure chamber, in one of areas which are defined by dividing an area overlapping with a pressure chamber in a predetermined direction; forming a piezoelectric layer by depositing particles of a piezoelectric material on the surface of the vibration plate on which the recess is formed so that a thickness of a portion of the piezoelectric layer corresponding to the area formed with the recess is thinner than a thickness of a portion corresponding to an area not formed with the recess; and forming a first electrode, on a surface of the piezoelectric layer on a side not facing the vibration plate, in an area overlapping with the pressure chamber and corresponding to the area of the vibration plate not formed with the recess.
US08544148B2
A traverse rod system for manipulating one or more hanging objects is provided. The traverse rod system includes a hollow longitudinally extending tube having an opening that extends along an upper length of the tube as well as a number of rings that at least partially encircle the tube and that are directly or indirectly coupled with one or more hanging objects. A cord is suspended within the tube and secured by one or more cord carriers, each having a top portion that attaches to one of the rings and a bottom portion that is freely suspended through the opening and into the hollow tube such that other than the cord and the cord carriers, an interior of the hollow tube remains substantially free of structure relating to the traverse rod system. Movement of the cord causes the cord carriers to traverse an interior of the tube while the attached rings traverse an exterior of the tube. As a result, the hanging object(s) move in connection with the cord and the cord carriers in a desired direction or directions.
US08544145B2
A surface treating head in the form of a floor tool for a vacuum cleaner includes a main body, a suction cavity and an outlet. The suction cavity includes first and second suction channels, bounded on both sides by respective working edges. A fluid flow path extends from the first suction channel to the second suction channel and from there to the outlet. The plurality of suction channels permits effective pick-up of dirt. To enable the surface treating head to be used to treat both carpeted floor surfaces and hard floor surfaces, the surface treating head may be provided with a brush unit and a drive mechanism for moving the brush unit between a stowed position and a deployed position.
US08544140B2
A releasable squeegee assembly for coupling to a surface maintenance machine and including a compliant bushing and an over-center lever attached to a pull rod and compliant spring. The compliant bushing is compressed via said over-center lever with said compliant spring providing a spring force. A bushing sleeve is provided to limit the degree of compression of said compliant bushing by the over-center lever. A method of coupling a squeegee assembly to a surface maintenance machine is also provided.
US08544138B2
A windscreen wiper device, particularly for automobiles, includes an elongated wiper blade, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped. The windscreen wiper device includes a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm is pivotally connected with its first end to the connecting device and with its second end to a mounting head on a drive shaft, and wherein the oscillating arm is provided with a longitudinally extending base and two spaced-apart sidewalls extending outwardly along opposite sides of the base to form a tube having an open face. The oscillating arm is produced integrally form a single sheet material, wherein outboard edges of the sidewalls are folded inwardly towards each other to partially close the open face of the tube.
US08544135B2
A towel for cleaning and drying a surface includes a first portion, a second portion, and a pocket formed in the first portion. The first portion includes an underlying layer of material and two outer layers of material. The second portion is formed primarily of a material different from the outer layer of the first portion. The pocket is formed in the first portion between the underlying layer and the outer layer for receiving a user's hand or foot.
US08544132B2
An oral care implement (100), comprising an oral care region (124,127) attached to a body (125), a portion (126) of the body being configured for gripping by a user; a memory configured to store a plurality of audio signals from an external signal source; at least one measurement component configured to measure a parameter of use of the oral care region (124,128); and a processor configured to change output of a first audio signal of the plurality of audio signals to a second audio signal of the plurality of audio signals based on the measured parameter from the at least one measurement component.
US08544131B2
An oral hygiene implement comprising having a handle, head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head is described. The head has a plurality of cleaning elements and/or massaging elements attached to the head. The oral hygiene implement also has a force sensor and an output source. The output source provides a plurality of output signals which correspond to a plurality of conditions to a user.
US08544130B2
Example dock levelers at a truck-loading platform include a stationary curved transition plate extending between a rear edge of the leveler's pivotal deck and a rear edge of a pit at which the leveler is installed. The transition plate has a curved portion that extends underneath the deck's rear edge. The plate provides a smooth transition for forklifts traveling between the platform and the deck, thus reducing and/or minimizing the jarring of the forklift and its driver. To prevent debris and obstructions from getting trapped within the deck's rear hinge, the rear edge of the deck rises up and over the transition plate as the deck pivots upward, thereby providing a self-cleaning effect. With the rear edge of an inclined deck being above the transition plate, water runoff from the deck drains onto the transition plate rather than through the hinge gap to a generally inaccessible area underneath the deck.
US08544118B2
A helmet padding consists of sets of tubes. An armature and tubes are connected and mounted within the shell. A fastener fastens a cage to the shell allowing sides of the cage to be mounted directly against the shell. The shell is molded with recessed portions receiving two branches of the chin bar on each side where they will be fastened to the shell to provide a smooth transition and reduce weight. An adjustment device includes a star wheel on each side of the helmet attached to an arcuate flexible strip extending rearwardly around the occipital area of the skull. A sliding mechanism attached to the strip allows the strip to be moved forward and backward to allow it to be tightened or loosened, respectively, with respect to the player's head. A ratcheting lateral adjustment device is also disclosed.
US08549658B2
A system and method are used to connect an installed device to a local premise network, such as a home network provided by a router in the home. A user may use a host device, such as a mobile telephone that is already connected to the home network to provide the home network credentials to the installed device without having to enter the home network credentials manually into the installed device such as a thermostat.
US08549652B1
A document rights management system (DRM) defines an unrenderable origin designator in a media item that does not display or alter the physically rendered version of an instantiation of the media item. The unrenderable designator does not appear as an obscured or occluded feature in a printed or displayed versions. The rendered version is unaffected by the unrenderable designator because it does not result in any displayable features. The unrenderable designator is stored in a display list of the media item and appears as an attribute of objects such that the function to cause the display object to be undisplayable, or unrenderable, are not immediately apparent. The DRM system encodes a designator in an attribute of a display object for rendering according to a media rendering format such as PDF, such that the designator causes the display object to be unrenderable and indicates the origin of the media item.
US08549650B2
The system and method for three-dimensional visualization of vulnerability and asset data described herein may provide a management console that integrates various active vulnerability scanners, various passive vulnerability scanners, and a log correlation engine distributed in a network. In particular, the management console may include a three-dimensional visualization tool that can be used to generate three-dimensional visualizations that graphically represent vulnerabilities and assets in the network from the integrated information that management console collects the active vulnerability scanners, the passive vulnerability scanners, and the log correlation engine distributed in the network. As such, the three-dimensional visualization tool may generate three-dimensional representations of the vulnerabilities and assets in the network that can be used to substantially simplify management of the network.
US08549649B2
Systems and methods for sensitive data remediation include calculating a Probability of Loss of data on a given computer based on measures of control, integrity, and potential avenues of exploitation of the given computer, determining an Impact of Loss of the data on the given computer based on a type, volume, and nature of the data, and correlating the Probability of Loss with the Impact of Loss to generate a risk score for the given computer that can be compared to other computers in the network. The computers with higher risk scores can then be subjected to data remediation activity.
US08549645B2
Systems and methods for detecting a denial of service attack are disclosed. These may include receiving a plurality of web log traces from one of a plurality of web servers; extracting a first set of features from the plurality of web log traces; applying a first machine learning technique to the first set of features; producing a first plurality of user classifications for communication to the web server; extracting a second set of features from the plurality of web log traces; applying a second machine learning technique to the second set of features; producing a second plurality of user classification for communication to the web server; communicating the first plurality of user classifications to the web server based at least on the plurality of web log traces; and communicating the second plurality of user classifications to the web server based at least on the plurality of web log traces.
US08549641B2
Embodiments of present disclosure provide a method and system for remotely auditing a security posture of a client machine at a centralized server. The system receives an integrity-protected report from the client machine, or other devices related to the client machine, the report comprising entries associated with security events or security states or both related to the client machine. The report entries comprise characteristics of the security events or security states to facilitate identification of a probable security attack at the client machine. The system also detects a pattern among one or more reports. Finally, the system classifies the security posture of the client machine based on the detected pattern, which could indicate a probable security attack at the client machine.
US08549638B2
A computer worm containment system comprises a detection system and a blocking system. The detection system orchestrates a sequence of network activities in a decoy computer network and monitors that network to identify anomalous behavior and determine whether the anomalous behavior is caused by a computer worm. The detection system can then determine an identifier of the computer worm based on the anomalous behavior. The detection system can also generate a recovery script for disabling the computer worm or repairing damage caused by the computer worm. The blocking system is configured to use the computer worm identifier to protect another computer network. The blocking system can also use the recovery script to disable a computer worm within the other network and to repair damage caused to the network by the worm.
US08549634B2
A method and apparatus for detecting a rogue access point in a communication network is described herein. The method includes a probing unit sending a pre-detection message to an associated access point in the communication network. The pre-detection message indicates a start of rogue access point detection mode and informs the associated access point not to respond to probe requests following the pre-detection message. The method further includes the probing unit broadcasting probe requests in the communication network. The probing unit detect that one or more of the plurality of access points is the rogue access point based on receiving a probe response in reply to the broadcasted probe request from the rogue access point. A method for detecting a rogue access point includes broadcasting a probe request with a proprietary information bit and detecting the rogue access point based on receiving a probe response for the broadcasted probe request.
US08549633B2
A security controller has first and second read request paths for performing security checking of read requests received from a master device and for controlling issuing of the read request to a safe device. If the first read request path is selected for an incoming read request then the first read request path controls issuing of the read request in dependence on result of the security checking. If the second read request path is selected, then the incoming read request is issued without waiting for a result of the security checking, and tracking data is stored indicating the result of the security checking. When receiving a response to a read request issued using the second read request path, a response path modifies the response to mask read data if the tracking data stored for the corresponding read request indicates that a security violation occurred.
US08549616B2
Methods and apparatus to dynamically control access from VPNs to shared resources are disclosed. A disclosed example route reflector comprises a memory to implement a database, a user interface module to receive a request to permit access for a VPN to a shared resource, a BGP engine to process BGP advertisements, a network interface to receive a first BGP advertisement from a PE router associated with the VPN that includes a first RT associated with the VPN, and a shared resource access controller to update the database based on the request, to query the database to determine whether the VPN has access to the shared resource in response to the first BGP advertisement, and to direct the BGP engine to form a second BGP advertisement based on the first BGP advertisement that includes a second RT associated with the shared resource when the VPN has access to the shared resource.
US08549609B2
A host rule mapping module in a firewall server may receive an update notification from a name server. The update notification may indicate a change to an address associated with a host name of a host machine. In response to receiving the update notification, the host rule mapping module may request a record corresponding to the host name identified in the update notification. The host rule mapping module may receive a contents of the record in response to the request from the name server, and update a firewall rule corresponding to the address identified in the update notification to include the contents of the record.
US08549605B2
A system includes a video display and a processor controlling the display. The processor accesses computer readable instructions to cause the processor to access a server associated with the service over a network responsive to viewer selection of a service. The processor then, without any viewer interaction, executes authentication with the server. Thereafter, responsive to successful authentication, the processor provides the service to a viewer at least in part by presenting an image associated with the service on the display. Responsive to the server indicating that a session for which the authentication is valid is expired, the processor automatically and without viewer input executes authentication with the server to establish a new session.
US08549593B2
A network access control system includes an information device that has access to a relay device which relays communication in a communication network, by the use of access information, and performs communication via the relay device, and a management unit that finds information devices, wherein when the found information device has no access to the relay device and is a second information device which is allowed to have access to the relay device by a first information device, the management unit transmits the access information to the second information device without a request for authentication.
US08549589B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving from a credential a credential-owner authentication information associated with an identity of an individual. A issuer validation information associated with an issuer of the credential is also received. The method also includes providing a plurality of options, including a first option associated with a first domain and a second option associated with a second domain mutually exclusive from the first domain. The method also includes sending to a portion of the first domain the credential-owner authentication information and the issuer validation information in response to the first option being selected.
US08549584B2
A unified access control component (UACC) can maintain information relating to network access information and physical location information associated with respective users who may access a network that can include network resources (e.g., applications, information). The UACC can cross reference the network access information (e.g., user network access events, credentials, and policy) and physical location information (e.g., user physical access events, credentials, and policy) and can generate and enforce a unified network access policy based on network access information and physical location information associated with a particular user. After network access privileges have been granted to a user, the UACC can continue to monitor the user. The UACC can include a dynamic authentication component that can request a user re-authenticate if a change in the physical location and/or network access associated with the user is detected, such that a re-computation of network access privileges is desired.
US08549574B2
A method comprising combining Internet linear video together with interactive video content into a single video stream that is compressed and transmitted in the form of streaming interactive video through the Internet to a user client device.
US08549564B1
A wireless access system comprises a base station and a control system. The base station wirelessly broadcasts a pilot signal including a network access provider identifier that identifies a wireless video service. The base station wirelessly receives a wireless video uplink request from a wireless video device in response to the pilot signal. The control system processes reservation data for the base station to determine if the wireless video device has a current wireless video uplink reservation and directs the base station to provide a wireless video uplink to the wireless video device if the wireless video device has the current wireless video uplink reservation. The base station wirelessly receives video data from the wireless video device over the wireless video uplink as directed by the control system.
US08549561B2
A “recommendation” genus entry is added to the list of other genre in a TV “favorites” menu. Entries in the recommendation genus entry are depicted in a stack and sorted by recommendation strength and channel number. A user can elect to hide the recommendation entry from the favorites menu.
US08549555B2
A method for presenting advertisements for commercial products in video productions, whereby the commercial product is placed in the video production as an element of the video production. A viewer is enabled to interact with the video production to select the product. Information is then displayed about the selected product; and the viewer is enabled to purchase the selected product.
US08549538B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for coordinating communication medium state for subtasks. Embodiments of the invention use a received view of the contents of a message to produce a stream of subtask messages. Subtask message properties are each connected to the mechanism for performing the state coordination pattern on the original message. Subtask messages may each have the same message contents as the original message or may have message contents that vary according to the subtask. A message processor may then consume subtask messages from the subtask message stream and perform the state coordination pattern on each subtask message to reflect partial forward progress executing the original message. The outcome of the state coordination pattern for the original message is responsive to the collective outcomes of the state coordination patterns for the subtask messages.
US08549531B2
Systems and methods for monitoring the performance associated with fulfilling resource requests and determining optimizations for improving such performance are provided. A processing device obtains and processes performance metric information associated with processing a request corresponding to a set of resources. The processing device uses the processed performance metric information to determine a resource configuration to be associated with the set of resources. In making such a determination, the processing device can assess performance metric information collected and associated with subsequent requests corresponding to the content associated with the set of resources and using each of a variety of alternative resource configurations. The processing device may also consider a number of factors. Aspects of systems and methods for generating recommendations to use a particular resource configuration to process a subsequent request corresponding to the content associated with the set of resources are also provided.
US08549525B2
A method for executing a first and a second task in M time units is disclosed. The method includes comparing the priority of the first task and the task. If the first task has a higher priority than the second task, the first task is executed. The first task is then suspended after the first duration, and the second task is executed for a second duration.
US08549516B2
A system for controlling, by a hypervisor, access to physical resources during execution of a virtual machine includes a physical disk and a hypervisor. The physical disk is provided by a computing device and stores at least a portion of a virtual disk. The hypervisor executes on the computing device. The hypervisor allocates, to the virtual disk, an amount of access to the physical disk. The hypervisor determines that a level of utilization of the physical disk has exceeded a threshold. The hypervisor limits, in response to the determination, access by the virtual disk to the physical disk.
US08549513B2
Model-based virtual system provisioning includes accessing a model of a workload to be installed on a virtual machine of a system as well as a model of the system. A workload refers to some computing that is to be performed, and includes an application to be executed to perform the computing, and optionally includes the operating system on which the application is to be installed. The workload model identifies a source of the application and operating system of the workload, as well as constraints of the workload, such as resources and/or other capabilities that the virtual machine(s) on which the workload is to be installed must have. An installation specification for the application is also generated, the installation specification being derived at least in part from the model of the workload and the model of the virtual system.
US08549510B2
The firmware update apparatus is configured so that data required for update is accessible from both of normal firmware and emergency firmware and is provided with a section which sets the next-time boot destination to the emergency firmware during update, a section which saves a file before update into an area originally occupied by an update file, a section which inspects that a file required for booting the normal firmware is not broken or confirms that activation is actually possible from a virtualized environment, during activation of the emergency firmware, a section which restores the state before update by the saved files before update and a new update procedure automatically generated by reversing the contents of operations of the update procedure, and a section which, for each update file, describes a necessary reactivation target in the update procedure.
US08549506B2
APIs are provided, that are external to a programming language but that provide functionality that can be plugged into a language compiler. The provided APIs tailor functionality associated with asynchronous programming, iterators or writing symmetric co-routines using a generalized pattern-based approach. Several types of resumable methods are provided in the APIs which can be applied to method bodies written in traditional program code. Syntactically distinguishable control points in method bodies written in traditional program code invoke transformation of the code by the compiler using the external APIs. The transformed code enables the pausing and resumption of the code sandwiched between control points in the transformed code. The source code contained within a method having control points in it is transformed so that code within the method can be executed in discrete parts, each part starting and ending at a control point in the transformed code.
US08549500B2
A device receives, via a technical computing environment, a program that includes a parallel construct and a command to be executed by graphical processing units, and analyzes the program. The device also creates, based on the parallel construct and the analysis, one or more instances of the command to be executed in parallel by the graphical processing units, and transforms, via the technical computing environment, the one or more command instances into one or more command instances that are executable by the graphical processing units. The device further allocates the one or more transformed command instances to the graphical processing units for parallel execution, and receives, from the graphical processing units, one or more results associated with parallel execution of the one or more transformed command instances by the graphical processing units.
US08549499B1
A method of dynamic parallelization for programs in systems having at least two processors includes examining computer code of a program to be performed by the system, determining a largest possible parallel region in the computer code, classifying data to be used by the program based on a usage pattern and initiating multiple, concurrent processes to perform the program. The multiple, concurrent processes ensure a baseline performance that is at least as efficient as a sequential performance of the computer code.
US08549477B2
A usage pattern detector includes a determining module configured to determine that a monitored code feature of a software application has been executed on a first computer. The usage pattern detector also includes a recording module configured to record an indication that the monitored code feature has been used and an indication providing module configured to provide the indication that the monitored code feature has been used to a second computer.
US08549476B2
A system comprises a first computer on which a software program is executed. The software program causes an operation to be performed. The system also comprises a second computer coupled to the first computer and executes a different version of the software program. The second computer automatically duplicates the operation on the different version of the software program. An activity server is also coupled to the first and second computers to analyze a result of the operation on the first computer against a result of the operation on the second computer and to generate a notification when the result of the operation on the second computer is different.
US08549471B2
The present invention provides an open application program interface (API) service. A method of providing the API service includes generating meta-data for executing an API, generating resource data for generating a mash-up of the API, generating description data corresponding to the API, the meta-data, and the resource data, and generating an API package comprising the API, the meta-data, the resource data, and the description data. Accordingly, mash-up contents can be easily generated from various types of APIs.
US08549463B2
A die expansion bus efficiently couples a supplemental portion of a processing system to an original portion of the processing system on a die. The die expansion bus couples bus subsystems of the supplemental portion of the processing system to the bus subsystems of the original portion of the processing system. The original portion of the processing system is arranged to control the data resources of the supplemental portion of the processing system by accessing memory mapped control registers associated with the bus subsystems of the supplemental portion of the processing system.
US08549445B2
Targeted production control using multivariate analysis of design marginalities. A list of a plurality of metrology operations is accessed during production of an integrated circuit device. The list is generated from operations performed in the design of the integrated circuit device. At least one of the plurality of metrology operations is performed on the integrated circuit device. A manufacturing process of the integrated circuit device may be adjusted responsive to results of the performing.
US08549424B2
Methods and systems for text disambiguation and context designation in incremental search are provided. A method for selecting items in response to ambiguous keystrokes entered by a user and unambiguous metadata associated with a previously selected search result includes receiving ambiguous keystrokes, selecting and presenting a first subset of items and metadata associated with the items presented based on the ambiguous keystrokes. The method also includes receiving a selection of one of the items from the user, and, in response to a locking operation received from the user, locking in fixed relation at least one of the ambiguous keystrokes to at least one metadata term associated with the selected item. The method further includes, subsequent to receiving the locking operation, selecting and presenting a second subset of items based at least in part on the locked metadata term, and presenting the second subset of items.
US08549418B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems to receive, via at least one sensor device, data related to an area around the at least one sensor device. A target area around the sensor device to project an interactive display space via a projector is determined based, at least in part, on the data received from the at least one sensor device. The target area will include a projected interactive display space wherein interactions and objects within the projected interactive display space are to be processed via a computing device operatively coupled to the at least one sensor device.
US08549417B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for editing an on-demand database service graphical user interface. These mechanisms and methods for editing an on-demand database service graphical user interface can enable embodiments to edit desired portions of the interface, in a more flexible manner. The ability of embodiments to provide such additional flexibility may lead to more efficient and effective interface editing.
US08549413B2
An activity tracker defines a context for a screen sharing session, wherein the context includes at least one term of metadata. The activity tracker establishes a shared link to a second computer, comprising authenticating the second computer. The activity tracker shares at least a first resource rendered by a first application, wherein the first application renders data of the first resource. The activity tracker receives a preliminary user input to access a second resource, wherein the preliminary user input to access is a command to render a resource. The activity tracker or sharing controller renders the second resource to form a rendered second resource, wherein a computer environment comprises the first resource and the second resource. The activity tracker determines that the second resource fails to satisfy the context.
US08549404B2
Some embodiments provide a media editing application. The application places several committed media clips in a composite display area to specify a description of a composite presentation. In response to receiving a request to create a new version for a first media clip placed at a particular location in the composite display area, the application creates an audition set at the particular location in the composite display area. The application creates a second media clip from the first media clip. The application adds the first and second media clips to the audition set. At least one of the first and second media clips is a candidate media clip that is insertable at the location in the composite display area but is not a media clip that has been committed for inclusion in the description of the composite presentation.
US08549392B2
Table styles provide a way to format an entire spreadsheet table quickly and easily. According to described implementations, table styles can be created and customized for repeated use in a spreadsheet application. As a result, a user does not have to manually modify multiple formatting options for each table included in one or more spreadsheets. A graphical user interface is also described that provides simple user access to existing table styles that can be modified according to the user's requirements.
US08549390B2
A markup element of a markup language document references a resource with a resource indicator. A method for verifying the content of the resource includes extracting a characteristic of the content from the markup element, retrieving a resource according to the resource indicator, and comparing a characteristic of the content of the retrieved resource to the extracted characteristic. A computer readable program for authoring a markup language document when executed on a computer causes the computer to include in a markup element of the markup language document a characteristic of the content of a resource that is referenced by the markup element with a resource indicator.
US08549389B2
Systems and methods for 1553 bus operation self checking are provided. In one embodiment, a fault tolerant computer comprises a self-checking processor pair that includes a master processor, a checking processor, and self-checking pair logic; a 1553 bus transceiver; and a device comprising 1553 self-checking logic coupled between the self-checking processor pair and the 1553 bus transceiver, wherein the 1553 self-checking logic manages data communication between the 1553 bus transceiver and the self-checking processor pair. The 1553 self-checking logic includes a primary logic and a secondary logic that operate in lock-step. When the 1553 self-checking logic writes data to the 1553 bus transceiver, the 1553 self-checking logic compares a first 1553 formatted message generated by the primary logic to a second 1553 formatted message generated by the secondary logic, and generates an error indication when the first 1553 formatted message does not match the second 1553 formatted message.
US08549387B2
A receiver apparatus comprises a LDPC decoder that can apply an accelerated belief propagation method for iteratively decoding each code block. When the number of iterations reaches a certain threshold value, the accelerated belief propagation method can adjust the initial condition used in each iteration. The initial condition is adjusted so as to enhance the likelihood of convergence in the iterative method. As a result, performance of the decoder and receiver apparatus can be improved.
US08549386B2
A pre-decoded tail-biting convolutional code (TBCC) decoder and a decoding method thereof are provided. The decoder includes a pre-decoder, a storage module, and a control module. The pre-decoder receives a current state, a neighboring state, and a current path status corresponding to sequential data encoded in TBCC, generates predicted decoded bits, and determines whether states corresponding to minimum path metrics of neighboring stages are in continuity according to the current state, the neighboring state, and a current path status. The storage module is connected to the pre-decoder and stores the predicted decoded bits. The control module is connected to the storage module and the pre-decoder. In addition, the control module selects to output the decoded bits from the storage module when the continuity between the states corresponding to the minimum path metrics of the neighboring stages reaches a truncation length.
US08549378B2
Error correction and detection in a redundant memory system including a a computer implemented method that includes receiving data including error correction code (ECC) bits, the receiving from a plurality of channels, each channel comprising a plurality of memory devices at memory device locations. The method also includes computing syndromes of the data; receiving a channel identifier of one of the channels; and removing a contribution of data received on the channel from the computed syndromes, the removing resulting in channel adjusted syndromes. The channel adjusted syndromes are decoded resulting in channel adjusted memory device locations of failing memory devices, the channel adjusted memory device locations corresponding to memory device locations.
US08549374B2
A method for reporting uplink control information (UCI) on a user equipment (UE) is described. It is determined a number of bits in a sequence of bits for transmission is greater than 11 and less than or equal to 21. The sequence of bits for transmission is segmented into a first segment and a second segment using a floor function. The first segment is encoded using a first Reed-Muller encoder. The second segment is encoded using a second Reed-Muller encoder.
US08549370B2
An on-chip functional debugger includes one or more functional blocks each providing one or more functional outputs. A hierarchical selection tree is formed by one or more selectors having the output of one of the selectors as a final output and individual selector inputs coupled either to a functional output from the functional blocks or to an output of another selector. A selection signal coupled to the select input of each of the selectors to enable a selected one of its output. An output node coupled to the final output. A method of providing on-chip functional debugging is also provided. A desired functional output from one or more available functional outputs is selected and then the selected functional output is coupled to an output node.
US08549366B2
The optimization of a refresh cycle is carried out in harmony with the error occurrence state in the memory with the presence of a normal patrol controlling section controlling a normal patrol operation that patrols the memory; an additional patrol controlling section controlling an additional patrol operation that patrols, if a first error in the memory is detected during the normal patrol operation, an error occurring area in which the first error occurs and which is included in the memory; a measuring section (15) measuring, if a second error is detected in the error occurring area during the additional patrol operation, an error frequency representing information of error in the error occurring area; and a refresh cycle adjusting section adjusting the refresh cycle in accordance with the error frequency measured by the measuring section.
US08549363B2
A processor-implemented method for determining aging of a processing unit in a processor the method comprising: calculating an effective aging profile for the processing unit wherein the effective aging profile quantifies the effects of aging on the processing unit; combining the effective aging profile with process variation data, actual workload data and operating conditions data for the processing unit; and determining aging through an aging sensor of the processing unit using the effective aging profile, the process variation data, the actual workload data, architectural characteristics and redundancy data, and the operating conditions data for the processing unit.
US08549358B2
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for performing session establishment management. For example, the method detects an evolved packet system establishment success rate that is measured over a predefined period of time falling below a predefined threshold, and performs, via a rule management server, an analysis on a bearer portion. The method then associates, via the rule management server, a root cause that contributed to the evolved packet system establishment success rate falling below the predefined threshold.
US08549352B2
An integrated microprocessor system for safety-critical control systems, comprising at least two microprocessor system modules each comprising at least one processor core, a read/write memory and a memory protection unit, and a read-only memory which is jointly assigned to the processor cores of the microprocessor system modules. Each of the microprocessor system modules executes a main program and a monitoring program which may comprise a plurality of subprograms. If the memory protection unit detects unauthorized operations by one of the programs for accessing a separate address area (A, B) of another program, then the respective memory protection unit assigns a separate address area (A, B) of the read/write memory to the main program and to the monitoring program.
US08549351B2
A method begins by a processing module receiving a data retrieval request and determining a read threshold number of dispersed storage (DS). The method continues with the processing module sending read request messages to DS units and receiving encoded data slices to produce received encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module determining an incremental number of encoded data slices based on the number of received encoded data slices, determining an incremental number of DS units, and sending a read request message to each of the incremental number of DS units when the number of received encoded data slices compares unfavorably to a decode threshold number. The method continues with the processing module dispersed storage error decoding the received encoded data slices to produce data when the number of received encoded data slices compares favorably to the decode threshold number of encoded data slices.
US08549346B2
Example systems and methods associated with router synchronization are described. One example method includes reducing a likelihood that a first network device will be favored over a peer device as a router. This likelihood may be increased after the first network device has received a threshold amount of routing information from the peer device. This may allow the first network device to begin performing non-routing related tasks after it starts up without causing interruption of data streams for which the first network device does not have current routing information.
US08549345B1
Methods and apparatus for processing a network connection in a computer system including a software network protocol stack and a network interface card including a hardware network protocol stack are disclosed. State information associated with the network connection is provided to or received by the driver associated with the network interface card. The driver provides the state information to the network interface card, thereby enabling the network interface card to process the network connection. In addition, any packet that is processed by the network interface card is also provided to the driver. Since the driver can maintain a copy of the state information and a copy of the data packet, the software network protocol stack can obtain the state information and the data packet from the driver in the event of a failure of the network interface card.
US08549337B2
A memory card control device includes an insertion unit to which a memory card is inserted, a memory card controller to control writing and reading of data to/from the memory card inserted in the insertion unit, an interface controller to send and receive the data written or read to/from the memory card to/from a host computer, a clock supplier to supply a clock signal to the memory card controller and the interface controller, a memory card detector to detect presence or absence of the memory card inserted in the insertion unit, and a low power consumption mode switching unit to switch the memory card controller and the interface controller to a low power consumption mode in response to the absence of the memory card detected by the memory card detector.
US08549331B2
Redundancy of data and/or inline power in a wired data telecommunications network from a pair of network devices via a selection device is provided by communicating redundant signals with each of the pair of network devices and coupling ports of the first network device and corresponding ports of the second network device to paired inputs of the selection device. The selection device operates: 1) under the control of the pair of network devices, one acting as master and one as slave, the master selecting (for each port or for all ports) one of the two paired inputs and causing the selection device to communicate data and/or inline power via a third port of the selection device to a third network device receiving data connectivity and/or inline power from the selection device; or 2) to route two redundant signals to a third network device which then selects one for use.
US08549327B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for a local collection tool that is configured to run as an authorized background service process. As such, the local collection tool of the present invention is capable of being executed in the absence of the device user's credentials. As a result, local collection can be accomplished without the user being present or covertly without the user's knowledge of collection process. Moreover, the back-up file generated by the collection tool may include encrypted data, which can automatically be decrypted by the collection entity through application of a master key.
US08549323B2
An information processing apparatus includes: a data processing unit that generates data for copy of data recorded on an information recording medium, wherein the information recording medium has a configuration in which data encrypted by applying an individual unit key in unit of a unit, which is segment data corresponding to an individual title, is recorded, and the data processing unit acquires title information recorded in copy processing information acquired from the information recording medium or a management server, acquires a unit key corresponding to the acquired title information, and executes decryption processing in unit of the unit by the acquired unit key to generate the data for copy.
US08549322B2
A method of scanning secure data in a data store is performed in a manner that does not expose the scan data, the files being searched, or information about when matches occur between the scan data and the files. During the scan process, encrypted versions of searched files are compared to encrypted versions of match strings, and any resulting match data is encrypted before being written into a results file. In addition, to disguise when match entries are written, during the scan one or more encrypted dummy items are written into the results file.
US08549321B2
An IC chip, a board, information processing equipment, and a storage medium are provided that can prevent, even when information is transferred between a plurality of programs, leaking of the right protection algorithm of information in connection with the transfer. A security board is included an IC chip having a secure module. The secure module receives an encryption key request signal, and generates a communication encryption key every time when the encryption key request signal is received, the communication encryption key being used to encrypt information to be transferred between a plurality of programs. The number of times the communication encryption key is supplied is counted. If the counted number is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the communication encryption key is supplied to outside. If the counted number exceeds the predetermined number, the supply of the generated communication encryption key to outside is stopped.
US08549315B2
A password management system and method for securing networked client terminals and mobile devices is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for encrypting randomly generated administrator-level passwords and providing a means for decrypting the randomly generated passwords for single-use unrestricted access to a designated terminal or mobile device. When unrestricted access to the terminal or mobile device is required, the encrypted administrator-level password is decrypted using a shared symmetric key, which is generated during encryption of the administrator password, to reveal the administrator-level password for the terminal or mobile device. The administrator-level password is a single-use password, wherein upon use of the administrator-level password a new administrator-level password may be automatically generated for the corresponding terminal or mobile device.
US08549302B2
Provided are a Downloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS), and a channel setting method and a message format for a 2-way communication between a terminal and an authentication server in the DCAS. The DCAS may include: a verification unit to verify an electronic signature and an integrity with respect to a message received from the authentication server; an extraction unit to extract network access information of the authentication server from the message in which the electronic signature and the integrity are verified; and a channel setting unit to set a communication channel with the authentication server based on the extracted network access information.
US08549297B1
A method of distributing a key to encrypt data for storing on a removable data storage item in a data transfer device library, the library comprising a controller having a key associated therewith and being connected to a plurality of data transfer devices each being operable to transfer data to a removable data storage item and having a key store, the method comprising: providing the key for the library to the controller; the controller providing the key to the key store of each data transfer device connected to the controller. A data transfer device library is also disclosed.
US08549295B2
Establishing secure, mutually authenticated communication between a trusted network and a perimeter network. Servers on the perimeter network may be securely and automatically configured to communicate with the trusted network. Servers not functioning properly may be stopped from communicating with the other servers. Credential information relating to a perimeter server may be automatically, and regularly, updated without intervention.
US08549294B2
The invention is a new protocol for securing the communication link between the Home Agent and the Mobile Node. A cipher key and an integrity key are generated at a home AAA server and are also generated independently at the Mobile Node. The two keys generated at the home AAA server are transmitted to the Home Agent to secure information packets transmitted between the Mobile Node and the Home Agent. The cipher key and integrity key are used to establish a security association used for information packet transmissions. The cipher key is used to encrypt the information packets, and the integrity key is used to ensure that the contents of the encrypted message are not altered.
US08549292B2
An authentication agent apparatus includes a communication request reception unit that receives a communication request to a client B of an authentication server from a client A of the authentication server, a data reception unit that receives data to be transmitted to the client B from the client A, an authentication request unit that issues to the authentication server an authentication request on the client A, a communication enabling request unit that requests the authentication server to enable communication between the client A and the client B, an enabling data acquisition unit that acquires enabling data to enable the communication with the client B from the authentication server, and a generation unit that generates transmission data to be transmitted to the client B on the basis of the enabling data and the data to be transmitted.
US08549288B2
A trusted platform module is presented that is capable of creating, dynamically, multiple virtual trusted platform modules in a hierarchical organization. A trusted platform module domain is created. The trusted platform module creates virtual trusted platform modules, as needed, in the trusted platform module domain. The virtual trusted platform modules can inherit the permissions of a parent trusted platform module to have the ability to create virtual trusted platform modules themselves. Each virtual trusted platform module is associated with a specific partition. Each partition is associated with an individual operating system. The hierarchy of created operating systems and their privilege of spawning new operating systems is reflected in the hierarchy of trusted platform modules and the privileges each of the trusted platform modules has.
US08549285B2
Methods, apparatus, system and computer program are provided for concealing the identity of a network device transmitting a datagram having a network layer header. A unique local identifier and broadcast address are determined in accordance with a next-hop address. A partially encrypted network layer header is determined by encrypting a plurality of identifying portions of the network layer header, where one portion of the network layer header is the unique local identifier. The datagram is encapsulated with another network layer header whose address is set to the broadcast address. The encapsulated datagram can be received and detunneled, and an address of a recipient can be extracted from the network layer header. The datagram is then admitted into a network domain.
US08549284B1
A method and system is provide for performing a certificate validity check between a vehicle receiving a message and an entity transmitting the message in a vehicle-to-entity communication system. The message includes a digital certificate. A determination is made whether the digital certificate is expired. A determination is made whether the digital certificate is listed in a local certificate revocation list stored in a memory of the vehicle in response to a determination that the digital certificate is not expired, otherwise, disregarding the message. An elapsed time is determined since a last freshness check in response the digital certificate not listed in the local certificate revocation list. The elapsed time is compared to a threshold requirement. The digital message is accepted for additional processing in response to the freshness check meeting the threshold requirement, otherwise, the message is disregarded.
US08549282B2
A method for efficiently decrypting asymmetric SSL pre-master keys is divided into a key agent component that runs in user mode, and an SSL driver running in kernel mode. The key agent can take advantage of multiple threads for decoding keys in a multi-processor environment, while the SSL driver handles the task of symmetric decryption of the SSL encrypted data stream. The method is of advantage in applications such as firewalls with deep packet inspection in which all encrypted data traffic passing through the firewall must be decrypted for inspection.
US08549253B2
A system integrates an intelligent storage switch with a flexible virtualization system to enable the intelligent storage switch to provide efficient service of file and block protocol data access requests for information stored on the system. A storage operating system executing on a storage system coupled to the switch implements the virtualization system to provide a unified view of storage to clients by logically organizing the information as named files, directories and logical unit numbers. The virtualization system may be embodied as a file system having a write allocator configured to provide a flexible block numbering policy to the storage switch that addresses volume management capabilities, such as storage virtualization.
US08549252B2
A file-mapped volume is a logical volume in which the data storage of the logical volume is the data storage of a regular file associated with the logical volume. The regular file can be a file of a first file system, and a second file system can be built upon the file-mapped volume. These two file systems can have distinct inode address spaces, yet files of the first file system are easily moved to the second file system by changing pointers to inodes of these files. The second file system can be easily copied, attached, or transported by copying, attaching, or transporting the regular file containing the second file system, yet files in the second file system can be accessed in real time via file access routines of the operating system.
US08549251B1
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a register having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the register has multiple bits and the second portion of the register has multiple bits. Each bit from the multiple bits of the first portion of the register is associated with a bit from the multiple bits of the second portion of the register such that a bit from the multiple bits of the first portion of the register is set for its associated bit from the multiple bits of the second portion of the register to be written.
US08549248B2
A volume group comprising one or a plurality of logical volumes is set. A coexistence avoidance volume group having different array groups can be set to the volume group. Upon execution of preset volume search criteria, a logical volume is specified by carrying out a search in which are excluded array groups to which logical volumes in the coexistence avoidance volume belong.
US08549243B2
To prevent loss of a data volume by unintended deletion, including various versions of the data volume, the data is preserved, and, when needed, is regenerated at a different volume address than that of the deleted volume. In a computer-implemented data storage system, a method responds to a received command to delete a volume of data identified by a volume address, preserving data of the volume prior to deletion, and generates a unique token associated with the volume and version of the volume as of the deletion. The unique token is communicated as associated with the received delete command. The method responds to a received command to regenerate the data of the deleted volume, generating a command to find the data identified by the unique token, and creating a new, different, volume address for the data of the preserved deleted volume, thereby keeping both volume versions.
US08549242B2
A mechanism is provided for adding point-in-time copy relationships to a data processing system. A request is received to establish a first point-in-time copy relationship. Responsive to determining that a first target of the first point-in-time copy relationship is target write inhibited, that a source of the first point-in-time copy relationship is a source of a first continuous synchronous copy relationship, that a target of the first continuous synchronous copy relationship is part of a second point-in-time copy relationship, and that the source of the first point-in-time copy relationship is part of a volume swap configuration, a volume swap relationship is added between the first point-in-time target volume and the second point-in-time target volume to the volume swap configuration. Both point-in-time copy relationships are established and any continuous synchronous copy requirements of the volume swap relationship between the first point-in-time target volume and the second point-in-time target volume are disabled.
US08549236B2
A storage subsystem contains multiple non-volatile memory arrays that are accessible to a host system when the storage subsystem is connected thereto. The storage subsystem implements commands and/or modes for enabling the host system to create and use backup copies of files, such that the host system can recover when files become corrupted or otherwise lost. In one embodiment, the storage subsystem presents the non-volatile memory arrays to the host's operating system as distinct storage devices (e.g., ATA device 0 and 1), and implements special commands for copying data between these storage devices. The subsystem may alternatively present the memory arrays to the host operating system as a single storage device. The storage subsystem may have a standard form factor, such as a form factor commonly used for memory cards.
US08549232B2
An information processor includes processing units each processes an out-of-order memory access and includes a cache memory, an instruction port that holds instructions for accessing data in the cache memory, a first determinator that validates a first flag when a request for invalidating cache data is received after a target data of a load instruction is transferred from the cache memory and a load instruction having a cache index identical to that of a target address of the received invalidating instruction exists, a second determinator that validates a second flag when the target data of the load instruction in the instruction port is transferred after a cache miss of the target data occurred, and a re-execution determinator that instructs to re-execute an instruction that follows the load instruction if the first and the second flags are valid when a load instruction in the instruction port has been completed.
US08549228B2
A processor includes: a processing unit that has a first unit; a second unit that holds part of the data held by the first unit; a third unit that receives from the processing unit a first request including first attribute information for obtaining a first logical value and a second request including second attribute information for obtaining a second logical value and that holds the first request until receiving a completion notification of the first request or holds the second request until receiving a completion notification of the second request; and a control unit that receives the first and second requests from the third unit and, replaces the first attribute information by the second attribute information when data of the addresses corresponding to the first and second request are not in the second unit, and supplies the completion notification for the second request to the first unit.
US08549204B2
Systems and methods schedule periodic and non-periodic transactions in a multi-speed bus environment that includes in a downstream hub a data forwarding component, such as a USB transaction translator, which accommodates communication speed shifts at the hub. The method may comprise receiving a split packet request defining a transaction with a device, tagging the request with an identifier allocated to the data forwarding component, storing the request in a transaction list associated with the identifier, initiating transfer of payload data, and updating a counter associated with the identifier to reflect an amount of payload data for which transfer was initiated. The identifier may have associated therewith a counter for tracking a number of bytes-in-progress to the data forwarding component and one or more transaction lists configured to store a plurality of split packet requests awaiting execution and state information regarding an execution status of the requests.
US08549195B2
Disclosed is a communication apparatus and method in a programmable logic controller (PLC). In a communication method, a micro processing unit (MPU) decides whether or not an interrupt signal is generated. When it is decided that the interrupt signal has been generated, the MPU communicates with an external programming and debugging tool (PADT).
US08549192B2
A stream data control server includes: a processable flow rate managing unit which manages a processable flow rate corresponding to an amount of data per unit time, which can be processed in each of storage units serving as storing destinations; a classified data flow rate managing unit which manages a data flow rate corresponding to an amount of data processed per unit time for each class of data to which a data priority is attached; and a storing destination control unit which controls the storing destinations of respective data based upon the processable flow rate of each of the storage units and the data flow rate for each class in such a manner that the data having higher data priorities are stored in the storage units having higher priorities within a range of the processable flow rate of each of the storage units.
US08549190B2
An information processing device, to which a peripheral device 3 using a consumable item is connected, includes: an information acquisition section 101 that acquires peripheral device information including a use amount of the consumable item used on the peripheral device 3, acquires a cumulative use amount of the consumable item by accumulating the use amount, and acquires an event log including contents of an event that has occurred on the information processing device and an occurrence date/time of the event; a limit value calculation section 104 that calculates an estimated limit value of the use amount of the consumable item based on the cumulative use amount of the consumable item obtained at the occurrence date/time of the event regarding the event log including the contents regarding the consumable item; and a threshold value calculation section 106 that calculates a threshold value for judging a timing to output a replacement/replenishment prompt notification in comparison with a current cumulative use amount based on a use tendency of the consumable item and the limit value.
US08549180B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for optimizing access to federation infrastructure-based resources. Various different layers within a federation infrastructure can signal location change events indicating the hosting location and/or access location for a resource is to be optimized. In response to a location change event, redirection information for accessing the resource is updated within the federation infrastructure. The redirection information is used to redirect resource access requests to appropriately optimized locations within the federation infrastructure. Redirecting resource access requests reduces communication within the federation infrastructure.
US08549177B2
Method for delivering data streams over communication networks is disclosed, the method comprising determining reference points in a stream of data being locations in the stream where predefined number of characters fulfill a predetermined criterion; registering digital signatures being values returned from a predetermined function taken over predefined ranges of content, the ranges are in correlation with the reference points; using the digital signatures to locate locally stored content, and using the reference points or creating a dictionary and using it to synchronize between currently received pieces of data and between locally stored matching content. Communication server implementing the method is also disclosed, and further disclosed are communication systems comprising at least one said server.
US08549163B2
A method for characterizing website visitors based on visitor passive parameters and using the characterization to select and/or market website content. The passive visitor parameters include data in the browser agent, time of a website visit, IP address, etc. Such visitor passive parameters are available each time a visitor visits a website. In a first step, a first embodiment of the method anonymously compares the visitor passive parameters with known demographics, for example, at financial websites, to create a statistical mapping between the visitor passive parameters and the demographics. In a second step, the mapping is used to estimate demographics data for future website visitors and then site content provided to the future website visitors is based on the estimated demographics.
US08549157B2
Various systems, apparatus, and methods include an apparatus comprising a transparent proxy coupled to a plurality of non-configured clients and coupled to one or more servers, the transparent proxy operable to intercept a request for a secured connection to a first server of the one or more servers, the request from a first non-configured client of the plurality of non-configured clients and including a server name indication extension, and to supply a proper certificate to the first non-configured client including the server name indication extension as a common name in the proper certificate.
US08549150B1
A method and system for a client device to download media content directly from a group of other client devices which play a role of edge servers placed by a content service provider. According to some embodiments, an end user can use his/her client device to stream or download media content from the source client devices selected based on the geographic locality, network topology, etc. The fractions of data corresponding to a portion of media content are stored on the source client devices such that only a subset of the fractions of data are needed to recreate the corresponding portion. That is, by using the first received of the minimum number of fractions to reconstruct each portion of media content, the system does not need to wait for the slowest fractions to arrive, which contributes in reducing latency.
US08549149B2
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for dynamically deploying and executing acceleration functionality on a client to improve the performance and delivery of remotely accessed applications. In one embodiment, the client-side acceleration functionality is provided by an acceleration program that performs a transport layer connection multiplexing technique for improving performance of communications and delivery of a remotely-accessed application. The acceleration program establishes a transport layer connection from the client to the server that can be used by multiple applications on the client, or that is otherwise shared among applications of the client. The acceleration program multiplexes requests from one or more applications via the same transport layer connection maintained by the acceleration program. As such, the acceleration program can utilize the idle time of one application in using the transport layer connection to service a request of a second application through the same transport layer connection.
US08549148B2
Techniques are provided to enable a network device, such as a switch, to perform global server load balancing (GSLB) while operating as a proxy to a domain name system security extensions (DNSSEC)-capable authoritative DNS server. The network device preserves an original signature generated by the DNSSEC-capable authoritative DNS server for a resource record set contained in a DNSSEC reply.
US08549139B2
A system and method is provided for detecting, tracking and/or blocking control signal attacks, which can occur between local computer systems and/or between remote computer systems, network links, and/or routing systems over a computer network. The system includes a router monitor adapted to receive a plurality of control signals and related information from the computer network and to process the plurality of control signals and related information to detect one or more control signal anomalies. The router monitor is further adapted to generate a plurality of alert signals representing the one or more control signal anomalies. The system further includes a controller that is coupled to the router monitor and is adapted to receive the plurality of alert signals from the router monitor. The controller is constructed and arranged to respond to the plurality of alert signals by tracking attributes related to the one or more control signal anomalies to at least one source, and to block the one or more control signal anomalies using a filtering mechanism executed in close proximity to the at least one source.
US08549137B2
Diverting condition storage unit 15 stores diverting conditions describing conditions for hardware configurations and software configurations. Monitoring data storage unit 13 stores monitoring data on the hardware configurations and the software configurations on monitored devices. Monitoring setting information storage unit stores monitoring setting information on the monitored devices. By referencing monitoring data and diverting conditions, first setting-diverting unit judges if monitoring setting information set in a monitored device may be diverted as monitoring setting information on another monitored device and outputs the result to a management terminal. The system administrator diverts the monitoring setting information among multiple monitored devices based on judgment result.
US08549129B2
Migrating services and clients from a legacy topology to a new topology. A method includes receiving user input selecting a first client managed by a first configuration management system to migrate to a second configuration management system. Dependencies of the first client are determined, including determining services on which the first client depends to function in a topology. The dependencies of the first client including services and their data on which the first client depends to function in a topology are migrated to a second configuration management system or an administrator is alerted to the dependencies of the first client including services and their data on which the first client depends to function in a topology.
US08549127B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for activating a blade server in a blade server system. The method comprises receiving a request for activating the blade server and obtaining a hardware feature of the blade server. The method further comprises determining a virtual machine management program corresponding to the hardware feature of the blade server in accordance with a correspondence relationship between the hardware feature of the blade server and the virtual machine management program and remotely activating the blade server via a management bus by using the determined virtual machine management program. In accordance with the method, a suitable built-in virtual machine management program may be determined according to user requirements, and system security and stability upon blade server activation may be ensured.
US08549126B2
A broadcast message may be initiated or received at a peer node. The node obtains an uplink bandwidth available for broadcasting the message over the network and a number of copies that can be broadcast based on the available bandwidth. The node determines a range of key values for finger nodes that should receive copies of the broadcast message from a finger table. The finger table entries include references to finger nodes and key values associated with the finger nodes. The node determines which other nodes should receive copies of the broadcast message from range of key values and the number of copies. The node also determines an End ID for each recipient node. A copy of the broadcast message and corresponding End ID is sent to a finger node if the finger node's key value is within a range of key values specified by the End ID.
US08549125B2
Implementation of environmentally sustainable computing in a distributed computer network is provided. A method includes receiving a request from a node in the network to perform a computational task and identifying nodes in the network having resources to facilitate performance of the task. Using an environmental impact rating for each of the identified nodes, selecting one or more transmission paths in the network and/or at least one of the identified nodes to facilitate performance of the task based on corresponding environmental impact ratings and applied performance efficiency criteria. Selected identified nodes represent those having the lowest environmental impact rating while meeting the applied performance efficiency criteria. The method further includes executing the task on the node via the transmission paths and/or selected identified nodes.
US08549121B2
A data management system and method including a point of control configured to manage one or more target systems. The point of control divides a command sequence into a number of individual commands, and provides the individual commands to the stateless-agentless target system for execution. Furthermore, the point of control maintains the state of the command sequence and monitors the target system. As such, the target system is both “stateless” (i.e., the target system maintains no state information related to the command sequence) and “agentless” (i.e., the target system includes no software for the purpose of monitoring the target system.
US08549109B2
A portable terminal includes a receiving unit which receives content information, an external device communication unit which conducts communication with an external information device, a display unit which displays the content information received by the receiving unit, an acquiring unit which acquires identification information identifying the content information displayed by the display unit, an operation unit which receives an operation indication from a user, and a control unit which conducts control such that if a transmission indication of the identification information is received by the operation unit while the content information is being displayed, the identification information acquired by the acquiring unit is transmitted to the external information device and the display of the content information by the display unit is terminated.
US08549105B1
Map tile data for displaying graphic elements of a web-based mapping system in a smart phone or other mobile computing device may be pre-fetched to the device based on device activities. For example, a user activity system may receive user activity data from the mobile device. The user activity system may then extract geographic location data from the user activity data and send the geographic location data to a mapping system via a network connection. The mapping system may then match map tile data to the geographic location data extracted from the user activity data and send the matched map tile data to the mobile computing device for cache storage at the mobile computing device. The user activity system may also analyze the user activity data to determine whether the extracted geographic location data is relevant enough to warrant pre-fetching the tile data.
US08549100B2
Provided is a client device communicating with a server device, the client device including: a display section for displaying a page including at least one display object on a screen; a transmitting section for transmitting a processing request to the server device in response to an event where the display object receives an operation by a user; an obtaining section for obtaining, before the operation by the user, an estimate of time required for processing that will be executed by the server device in response to the processing request; and an output section for outputting the obtained estimate of the required time in association with the display object.
US08549098B2
Methods and systems for protocol offload and direct I/O with I/O sharing in a virtualized network environment are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a plurality of GOSs sharing a single network interface circuitry, or a network interface card, (NIC) that may provide access to a network. The NIC may directly handle processing of data to be transmitted to the network and/or data received from the network for each of the GOSs without a TGOS for the GOSs handling the data to be transmitted to the network and/or data received from the network. The data may be copied directly from a buffer in the single NIC to an application buffer for one of the plurality of GOSs and/or directly from an application buffer for one of the plurality of GOSs to the buffer in the single NIC.
US08549094B2
Automatically converting a synchronous data transfer to an asynchronous data transfer. Data to be transferred from a sender to a receiver is initiated using a synchronous data transfer protocol. Responsive to a determination that the data is to be sent asynchronously, the data transfer is automatically converted from the synchronous data transfer to the asynchronous data transfer.
US08549092B2
Apparatus and systems may include a first node group include a first network node coupled to a memory, the first network node including a first port, a second port, a processor port, and a hop port. Network node group may include a second network node coupled to a memory, the second network node including a first port, a second port, a processor port, and a hop port, the hop port of the second network node coupled to the hop port of the first network node and configured to communicate between the first network node and the second network node. Network node group may include a processor coupled to the processor port of the first network node and coupled to the processor port of the second network node, the processor configured to access the first memory through the first network node and the second memory through the second network node. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08549090B2
One embodiment of the invention includes a message tracking system. The system comprises a message agent programmed to detect messages transmitted from one application to at least one other application. The system also comprises a detector programmed to determine a protocol that is associated with a given message of the messages detected by the message agent. The system further comprises a tracking manager programmed to generate tracking information for the given message based on the protocol determined by the detector and to store the tracking information in memory.
US08549088B2
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a system and method for facilitating the interpretation of Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) data. Specifically, embodiments disclosed herein are directed to receiving MIME data and identifying structural information encoded within the MIME data. A MIME reader is then used to analyze the MIME data to interpret the encoded structural information and generate at least one primitive based on the encoded structural information. A MIME writer may be used to generate corresponding MIME data from the at least one primitive based on the encoded structural information. Embodiments also provide that corrupted MIME data interpreted by the MIME reader may be identified and corrected.
US08549083B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for notifying external message centers when a mobile device becomes available to receive a text message. One embodiment includes a message waiting system that identifies a failed delivery attempt of a text message to a mobile device that is unavailable, where the text message originated from an external message center. The system identifies routing information for the external message center based on the failed delivery attempt, generates a Message Waiting Indicator (MWI) record for the text message that includes the routing information for the external message center, and stores the MWI record. When the system identifies that the mobile device becomes available, the system identifies the MWI record that includes information on the failed delivery attempt to the mobile device, and sends a notification indicating that the mobile device is available to the external message center based on the routing information in the MWI record.
US08549080B2
A method, system and computer program product for displaying authorship and time stamp data within an electronic mail (e-mail) message comprising multiple contributors. The recipient of a multiple author e-mail may view an e-mail inclusive or exclusive of an author's comments. The e-mail client is capable of identifying the author and insertion date of content included within an e-mail message by hovering on or near the word(s)/or phrase utilizing a pointing device. E-mail content may be viewed in chronological order of contribution(s) as selected by the recipient. Contributed content may be displayed chronologically, or color coordinated to avoid displacing key information.
US08549079B2
Methods and Systems are provided for efficiently forwarding e-mail. The e-mail is forwarded in response to being dragging and dropping it into another e-mail. A user selects the e-mail to be forwarded, drags and drops it into another e-mail with the desired distribution list, resulting in a third e-mail being created addressed to the desired distribution list and including the e-mail to be forwarded.
US08549073B2
Disclosed in some examples is a method of aggregating social networking data by receiving first authentication information for a first social networking service, the first authentication information being associated with a user and being received from a first social networking application, receiving second authentication information for a second social networking service, the second authentication information being associated with the user and being received from a second social networking application, requesting first information regarding the user from the first social networking service using the first authentication information, receiving the first information regarding the user from the first social networking service and storing the received first information, requesting second information regarding the user from the second social networking service using the second authentication information; and receiving the second information regarding the user from the second social networking service and storing the received second information.
US08549070B2
A request for real-time transfer protocol (RTP) data is sent from the caching proxy server to the server. The request may be for one specific type of data or multiple unrelated types of data. The server responds to the request indicating its support for the requested data. The caching proxy server determines whether to proceed or terminate the data transmission process based on the response provided by the server. If it is determined to proceed with the data transmission process, the caching proxy informs the server to send the requested data. The server sends the requested data in a body of a RTP packet. The RTP packet uses a RTP Meta-Info payload format, which includes a body and a field header. The field header includes fields to identify the streaming media data, and the field body includes the requested streaming media data.
US08549065B2
A method and a corresponding device are disclosed for communicating between clients and servers of a client/server system using the standard protocol OPC UA, and for the interaction of an OPC UA client with an OPC UA server, OPC UA service calls are used. In order to integrate a transaction context in OPC UA service calls, all OPC UA servers of the system are complemented by a transaction management component, and in order to carry out transactions, appropriately configured OPC UA clients communicate with respective OPC UA servers using transactions.
US08549061B2
A social media and social networking system accessible on the Internet, mobile devices, smartphones, cell phones, and tablet computers. Users in the social media and social networking system may be enabled to have one, two, or multiple customized profiles, thereby allowing for multiple identities on the Internet and the system. The social media and social networking system may be configured to display full, partial, or customized profile information based on the individual or groups viewing the social data. The social media system may provide access to multiple groups or sub social networks based on match between profile data such as an email address domain name and an access control list. The social media and social networking system may personalize websites and search result content based on a user's profile.
US08549059B2
An N-point Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) using mixed radix stages with in-place data sample storage may be performed by decomposing N into a product of R sequential mixed radix stages of radix-r(i). N data samples are partitioned into at least B memory banks, where B is equal to a largest radix of the R radix stages. Each input data sample to each radix-r(i) butterfly comes from r(i) different memory banks and the output data samples are written to the same memory locations in the r(i) memory banks. Determining from which memory bank the input data samples and output data samples of the butterflies are stored is done based on the radix size and sequential position of the radix stage. Determining the address of the input data samples and the output data samples within each memory bank is based on the radix size and sequential position of the radix stage.
US08549050B2
In a storage network including at least a computer system, at least an external storage and at least a network system for communication of input/output data between the computer system and the external storage, a method of collecting the performance data on the network system and the software operated on the network system, in which the range or degree of data collection is automatically adjusted as required based on the performance data collected.
US08549048B2
A method of managing workflows related to storage services provided by a service provider to a customer (via a management system) is presented. The management system includes a Web server and a workflow process. The Web server presents to a customer a task screen (or set of task screens) for a customer-selected work order request type so that the customer can prepare and submit a work order request to the management system. After receiving the work order request, the Web server uses information contained in and associated with the request to create a database object that includes some or all of the following elements: customer identifier; work order identifier, date/time of request; request state (e.g., new, open or closed); type of request; parameters or arguments to the request; and any textual description provided by the customer. The Web server stores the object in a database. The workflow process locates the new request in the database, performs the task specified by the request and closes the work order request by updating the object with the appropriate state. The workflow process generates a billable event corresponding to the work order request and enters that billable event in an account record of the customer that submitted the request. The account record can then be used to generate billing information. If the workflow process cannot complete the task successfully, an administrator of the service provider may perform the task, close the work order request and enter the billable event in the customer account record.
US08549041B2
A system includes reception of a request for a page location corresponding to a logical page number, determination of a difference between the logical page number and a smallest logical page number of each of a plurality of converter leaf pages descending from a parent converter inner page, determination of a smallest number 2x that is greater than the number of logical page number-to-page location mappings within each one of the plurality of converter leaf pages, right-shifting of a binary representation of the difference x positions to determine a branch index, identification of one of the plurality of converter leaf pages based on the branch index and on an indexed list of converter page identifiers within the parent converter inner page, logically ANDing of the binary representation of the difference with a binary representation of 2x−1 to determine a mapping index of the identified converter leaf page, identification of a mapping of the identified converter leaf page based on the mapping index, and determination of the page location corresponding to the logical page number based on the mapping.
US08549039B2
Systems and a method are described. The method includes identifying and presenting a plurality of data items comprised of receiving a selection that identifies a parent category; identifying a first plurality of categories based on the parent category, the first plurality of categories including a first category, the plurality of data items not being user-classifiable under the first plurality of categories; identifying the plurality of data items based on a link from the first category to a second category, the second category being included in a second plurality of categories that are respectively associated with the first plurality of categories, the plurality of data items being user-classified under the second category; and communicating, over a network, a user interface response to the receiving the selection, the user interface including the plurality of data items.
US08549025B2
An information retrieval method includes inputting a symbol string, specifying an arbitrary position in the input symbol string, changing a symbol in the specified position in the symbol string and changing the symbol string into a symbol string which is positioned before or after in a specified arrangement order.
US08549021B2
An apparatus, method, and system of generating a confidential document by adding additional information to image data are described, each of which obtains administrator setting information set by an administrator, and user setting information set by a user. Information for display to the user is controlled based on at least the administrator setting information to satisfy the requirement set by the administrator setting information even when the user setting information differs from the administrator setting information.
US08549019B2
A method and system dynamically create aggregate tables. An aggregate table manager is instantiated that receives a plurality of aggregate table definitions, and generates aggregate tables based on the received aggregate table definitions. The aggregate table manager creates a view corresponding to each of the aggregate tables. The aggregate table manager creates and updates data entries in the aggregate tables based on their corresponding aggregate table definitions and data extracted from web site log files.
US08549017B2
Disclosed herein are an information processing apparatus and method, a program, and a recording medium, in which a content is recommended to each user on the basis of even the metadata that is assigned with no classification. A metadata analysis block resolves metadata acquired by a metadata acquisition block into components. A dictionary data generation block generates dictionary data in which genre is correlated with keyword and each component. An associated information database generation block references the dictionary data to assign genre to the metadata which are assigned with no genre, thereby generating an associated information database of content. An associated information search block references the dictionary data to identify a genre from a keyword of interest data to search for associated information, thereby recommending content to the user. The present invention is applicable to personal computers or HDD recorders.
US08549013B1
Systems and methods are provided for determining customer interest associated with an item or category of items. In some embodiments, one or more discussion forums associated with each of a plurality of items may be determined. For each item, interest criteria associated with the item may be determined based at least in part on the one or more discussion forums associated with the item. The interest criteria may include the number of user posts in the one or more discussion forums and/or the number of users who have participated in the one or more discussion forums. An interest score associated with each item may be determined based at least in part on the interest criteria. In some embodiments, interest ranking information for an item or category may be generated by comparing the interest score associated with an item or category and interest scores associated with other items or categories.
US08549012B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a method for exception handling comprises accessing an exception type for an exception, filtering historical data based on at least one defined criterion to provide a data train comprising data sets, assigning a weight to each data set, and providing a current control parameter. The data sets each comprise a historical condition and a historical control parameter, and the weight assigned to each data set is based on each historical condition. The current control parameter is provided using the weight and the historical control parameter for each data set.
US08549011B2
When a user enters an information retrieval query, a topic feed is generated for publication or distribution to a set of followers or recipients who have elected to receive the topic feed from the user or based on the subject matter content of the query. The topic feed is distributed and includes the query. Experts in subject matter can be identified based on the user's queries and other text in the topic feed that the followers interact with.
US08549009B2
XML analyzer 11 analyzes and decomposes XML data ina into nodes and assigns node identifiers to the nodes to produce XML data inb while creating indexes ix for specifying node identifiers for XML data inb on the basis of XPath expression F. Storage 12 stores XML data inb while index storage 13 stores indexes ix. XPath expression processor 14 uses indexes ix to acquire the node identifiers corresponding to XPath expression F while acquiring XML data inc corresponding to the node identifiers from stored XML data inb.
US08549008B1
A system, method, and computer program determines section information of a digital volume. Digital volumes include digital representations of human-readable content, such as digitized books. Phrases are extracted from a table of contents of a digital volume. Matching phrases that at least approximately match the extracted phrases are identified in the body of the digital volume. A best matching phrase is determined for each extracted phrase based on the ordering of the extracted phrases and the matching phrases, and based on match scores indicating the quality of the matches. Section information is generated, including section headings and section start locations based on the best matching phrases. The digital volume is presented to users with links from the table of contents to the section headings on the section start pages. The section information is also used to enhance searching of the digital volume by users.
US08549001B1
A method for gathering and providing consumer intelligence includes the steps of receiving and storing data in a first database relating to a transaction between a consumer and a business enterprise, receiving and storing cognitive data in the first database, wherein at least some of the cognitive data relates to the consumer's emotions during a transaction between the consumer and the business enterprise, receiving and storing data in the first database relating to a transaction between two or more business enterprises, and providing data from the first database to a business enterprise in response to a request for data sent by the business enterprise.
US08548995B1
A ranking component refines an initial document ranking in which the initial ranking is based on a scoring criterion. The ranking component generates or receive a set of documents that are related to a document. The set of documents may be related in a number of ways, such as similarity in authorship or publisher. The ranking component then applies the scoring criterion to the set of related documents to generate a related set score. The related set score is used to refine the initial rankings.
US08548988B2
An educational institution (also referred as a university) is structurally modeled using a university model graph. Such a model helps compare educational institutions at various levels—university level, department level, faculty member level, or student level. One of the requirements of comparison is to normalize the similarities and identify and elaborate the differences across multiple educational institutions. A way to achieve this is to model the educational institutions using comparable elements; specifically, the university model graph allows for such comparison as multiple educational institutions are modeled based on the same set of concepts and notions. A system and method for comparing educational institutions based on their respective university model graphs is discussed.
US08548983B1
Methods, computer-readable media, and machines are provided for transforming a query by removing a correlated predicate from a lateral view in an initial query. A query processor may transform the lateral view into a regular view such that a transformed query with the regular view is semantically equivalent to the initial query. The transformed query may support a larger set of access paths, join methods, and join permutations, may qualify for other transformations or optimizations, or may otherwise be executed or optimized differently from the initial query. The lateral view may reference an aggregation function, and the query processor may add a GROUP BY operator to the transformed query to preserve, after the correlated predicate has been pulled out of the lateral view, an interaction that was present between the aggregation function and the correlated predicate when the correlated predicate was in the lateral view.
US08548971B2
Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses are disclosed for reconciling sets of financial transactions. A reconciliation input set of positive and negative numbers may be received, and a positive subset size and negative subset size may be determined for one or more reconciliation attempts. Maximum and minimum subset sums for the positive and negative subset sizes may be determined, and certain overlapping and non-overlapping portions may be identified between the positive subset sum range and the negative subset sum range. For any overlapping portions, a plurality of subset sum comparisons may be performed between positive subsets of the determined positive subset size and negative subsets of the determined negative subset size.
US08548965B2
There is provided, in a computer processing system, an apparatus for managing object data. The apparatus includes a changed objects manager for creating and managing a changed objects list that at least identifies the objects that have changed based on time of change. The changed objects list is associated with a plurality of time buckets. Each of the plurality of time buckets is associated with a respective date and time period and with object change records for objects having a timestamp falling within the respective date and time period. Each of the object change records is associated with a unique object identifier and the timestamp for a corresponding one of the objects. The timestamp specifies a date and a time corresponding to a latest one of a creation time or a most recent update time for the corresponding one of the objects.
US08548963B2
A system and method for making media content sensitive to a context, such that the media content carries information needed to automatically process the media content in a target environment which includes a context processing engine. The engine processes a first set of rules and methods for media content objects and compares the first set to a second set of rules and methods for media context to decide which methods are to be applied on the media object to process the media content in a target environment.
US08548961B2
Embodiments are directed towards a dynamic change evaluation mechanism, whereby items having a detected possible change are scheduled for re-evaluation for possible changes at a higher frequency than items detected to not have previously changed, while those items detected as not to have changed are dynamically scheduled for re-evaluation based on an evaluation backlog that may be in turn based, in part, on a time from when an item is assigned an expiration time to when the item is evaluated. In one embodiment, a possibly changed item may be assigned a new expiration time independent of the evaluation backlog. In another embodiment, if no change is detected, then the item may be assigned a new expiration time as a function of a previous expiration time and on the evaluation backlog.
US08548954B2
An enterprise management system includes transaction/analytic applications and an archiving system in which data object lifecycles are pre-computed when the data object is created by the transaction application or analytic application. Having pre-computed the data lifecycle via the transaction/analytic applications, an archiving system need not re-determine whether the criteria for archiving are met. When the archiving system is initiated, the archiving system may identify the data objects having lifecycle dates that match the current date and archive them directly.
US08548943B2
A wireless handheld device operable to continuously synchronize PIM information with a host desktop computer. The device comprises a software module for updating a handheld PIM database to reflect a change to PIM information, a software module for updating a handheld mirror database to reflect the change to PIM information, a software module for generating a PIM message relating to the change to the PIM information, a software module for translating the PIM message from a handheld data format into a network data format and a software module for sending the PIM message from the client wireless handheld device to the host desktop computer via a wireless network.
US08548941B2
A document management system allows designation of process owners, approvers, trainers and users of specified documents. The system automatically notifies designated participants of documents to be created, documents awaiting approval, training required, training schedules, and tests. Notifications of approved documents are automatically sent to designated users and trainers for scheduling and tracking user training. The system accommodates requests for document revisions and justifications and allows custom reports to be created and tracked. The system allows for the creation of custom tests that are linked to documents and graded automatically to be used as a final phase of training.
US08548938B2
A metadata management system for importing, integrating and federating metadata, including a configurable metamodel, a metadata repository for storing metadata whose structure reflects the metamodel, at least one external metadata source, which is able to persist metadata in accordance with the structure of a meta-schema, a mapping module for mapping the meta-schema to the metamodel, and a transformation module, operatively coupled to the metadata mapping module, for translating specific metadata from the at least one external metadata source to the metadata repository, for use in import, export or synchronization of metadata between the external metadata source and the metadata repository. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also described.
US08548927B2
A method for registering biometric information for use in a transponder-reader system is disclosed. The method includes steps of detecting, verifying and storing a proffered biometric sample. During detecting, a sensor detects a proffered biometric to obtain a biometric sample. During the verifying step, the biometric sample is compared with other stored samples and/or other information. During the storing step, the biometric sample is stored on a database, for use by the transponder-reader system in authorizing transactions.
US08548920B2
A method including receiving, by a processor of a computing system, a submission from a user, authenticating, by the processor, the submission received from the user with a unique identifier of the submission, tracking, by the processor, the unique identifier to detect a presence of the submission, determining, by the processor, whether the presence is authorized, and distributing, by the processor, a portion of proceeds to the user if the presence is authorized is provided. Furthermore, an associated computer program product and computer system is also provided.
US08548918B1
Content distributions may be optimized based on data from past distributions, including recipients, content metadata, and distribution path strength parameters. A content distribution package may be assembled, with the package including content metadata and an optimized distribution path. Clients that receive the package may modify the distribution. The details of the modified distribution may be reported back for inclusion in the distribution history records. In some embodiments, updates to the distribution records may be reflected in real-time such that ongoing distributions of content may be adjusted in response to feedback regarding distributions of other content. Each client may maintain a content management queue for users to specify, for each content package, which content is to be downloaded, which content is to be disregarded, and parameters and preferences for further distribution of the package itself.
US08548903B2
Systems and methods for identifying, evaluating, and accounting for effects of authorized user trade lines are disclosed. The systems and methods incorporate use of credit characteristics that describe the nature of authorized user trade lines on a credit file or across credit files, and the influence of those authorized user relationships relative to the non-authorized user trade lines on the credit file in the evaluation of credit risk. Systems and methods incorporating these credit characteristics can be used in identifying any bias in perceived credit risk, in the evaluation of credit risk, or other credit-related evaluation.
US08548900B1
To improve the performance of a market data platform, a market data platform includes a hardware offload solution that allows received financial information to bypass the software portion of the platform and be written directly into memory. The hardware offload solution includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) that takes over responsibility for some tasks that were previously performed in software. These tasks include performing line arbitrage on financial information feed pairs to ensure that an accurate copy of the financial information feed is obtained and stored in memory as quickly as possible. These tasks also include performing memory paging in order to allow financial orders to be stored and accessed in an efficient manner.
US08548893B2
A system and method for facilitating tri-party repurchase (or other) agreement transactions. A dealer or trader sends instructions to an intermediary third party characterizing a previously agreed-upon set of terms for a repurchase agreement between the dealer and an investor. The parties can thereafter approve or reject the deal allegement via an on-line system. In addition to, or instead of, dealer or investor approval, an instruction matching utility is provided to automatically or substantially automatically match instructions received from dealers and investors related to a plurality of deal allegements. In either case the status of the trade will be displayed to all parties.
US08548892B2
Benchmarks for the price of a financial instrument such as FX spot rate for a currency pair are calculated by an algorithm based on a previous benchmark and a market price. The market price is derived from a deal price and a quote price. The deal price is based on deals conducted since the last benchmark and the quote price is based on bids and offers entered since the last benchmark. For each of the deal and quote prices, a price, weight and scatter is calculated which is used to calculate a benchmark price, weight and scatter and a benchmark error.
US08548878B1
A product catalog includes information regarding products for sale online by various merchants. An analysis software module can collect information regarding new product offers and associate that information with existing product information in the catalog. The module can identify one or more potential product matches in the catalog based on identical or similar strong identifier information between the offer and the potential match, and/or based on query search result relationships between the offer and the potential match. The analysis module can evaluate each potential match by performing an image comparison between one or more product images provided with the offer and one or more representative images selected by the analysis module for the potential matching product. If the analysis module confirms a match, the analysis module can add information regarding the new product offer to the product catalog, associating the new product offer with the confirmed matching product.
US08548873B2
Product configuration selections automatically cross-over between plural product types based upon end user component selections. If end user component selections initiate a cross-over trigger, the end user is presented with an option to cross over from an initially-selected product type to a product type associated with the cross-over trigger. Upon selection of the cross-over product type, the product configuration is automatically reconfigured to update components selected by the end user for the initially-selected product type to components associated with the cross-over product type.
US08548867B2
A computer-implemented system leverages binary decision diagram (BDD) structures to provide selectable attribute values for one or more configurable products. The BDD structures may define offering attribute nodes and non-offering attribute nodes. The offering attribute nodes may represent product attribute values selectable by the user based on product configuration rules, and the non-offering attribute nodes may represent product attribute values not selectable by the user based on the product configuration rules. The computer-implemented system may further include at least one memory storage device that stores one or more product configuration rules used to define permissible product configurations and attributes of the products. By evaluating the BDD structures and the product configuration rules, the computer-implemented system may prepare a customized set of product records for transmission to a user, wherein the customized set of product records contains product attribute values corresponding to the offering attribute nodes.
US08548865B1
Systems and methods for organizing and conducting group gift exchanges among two or more participants generally enable multiple participants to order an item and to receive an item in return. Items may be allocated on a random basis, or on some other basis, such as the cost or other characteristic of the respective items, or the known preferences or interests of the respective participants. The systems and methods may take the form of free-standing applications or may be incorporated into existing merchant web sites or social networks, and may include components or processes for receiving orders of items and for allocating items among each of the participants.
US08548862B2
An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a color matching scheme using color codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to a colored article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a colored structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the colored article and the colored structure satisfy a color-matching criterion.
US08548851B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing conversion path performance measures and reports. In one aspect, user interaction data are obtained, were the user interaction data specify user interactions for a plurality of conversions. User interactions that are associated with each conversion are selected from the user interaction data, where the associated user interactions for each conversion are user interactions with a converting user during the conversion cycle for the conversion. Using the user interaction data for the selected user interactions, a quantity of user interactions that are associated with each conversion and occurred during the conversion cycle for the conversion are determined. In turn, conversion path performance measures are computed and reports specifying the conversion path performance measures are generated.
US08548846B2
A system and method are provided for delivering a message while simultaneously promoting a brand in a trusted online environment. The system may include a sponsor selection mechanism for allowing a communicating user to select at least one sponsor from a list of provided sponsors. The system may additionally include a text input area for allowing the communicating user to input text for display in conjunction with the selected sponsor and a target user selection mechanism for allowing the advertising user to select at least one target user for receipt of the selected sponsor display and the input text in a billboard advertisement.
US08548845B2
Identifying a vehicle in a toll system includes accessing a set of toll transaction entries. Each entry in the set designates a toll transaction between a vehicle and the toll system and includes a transaction descriptor and a transaction time stamp. A series of toll transaction pictures is accessed. The series includes a plurality of pictures, each of which is associated with a picture time stamp. A toll transaction entry is identified from the set as a violation transaction entry based on the transaction descriptor. A toll transaction picture is selected from the series. The transaction time stamp of the violation transaction is compared, using a processing device, with the picture time stamp of the selected toll transaction picture. The selected toll transaction picture is identified as a violation picture corresponding to the violation transaction entry based on a result of the comparison.
US08548831B2
A system for monitoring a title insurance policy including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor is disclosed. The system includes computer readable logic stored on the memory and executable on the processor. The computer readable logic configured to receive a title record including both owner identification information and property identification information, query a title record database to determine if the received title record has experienced an extinguishment event selected from the group consisting of: a loan modification; a foreclosure; a sale; an arms-length ownership change; and a change to a real-estate owned (REO) property, set an inactive indicator associated with the title insurance policy if an extinguishment event is determined to be associated with the owner identification and property identification information of the title record, set, in the absence of an inactive indicator, an active indicator associated with the title insurance policy if an extinguishment event is not determined to be associated with the owner identification and property identification information of the title record, and generate, if the active indicator is set, a monitoring flag associated with the received title record associated with the title insurance policy of interest.
US08548829B1
Loan guarantee or surety insurance processes and systems for use in a commercial loan arrangement between a borrower and a lender, in which the borrower is typically required to provide to the lender a personal guarantee of some or all of the amount of the commercial loan to obtain the loan, wherein loan guarantee insurance of an insured amount is calculated and provided, in exchange for payment of premiums, by a loan guarantee insurance provider or similar third party in order to replace some or all of the personal guarantee amount required of the borrower. The terms of the loan guarantee insurance is calculated and based on information about the commercial loan, the underlying project, the borrower, and other underwriting criteria.
US08548814B2
A phonetic language translation system receives audio output from an audible program presented to the user, so as to identify any speech signal contained within the audio output. The speech signals are broken down into recognizable phonemes which make up the most basic elements of speech in spoken languages. The sequentially generated phonemes are then regrouped to form recognizable words in one of native languages spoken around the world. While watching the audible program, the activity of language area of user's brain is recorded using electrodes in the cap. The recorded language area brain signals are analyzed and compared with brain language area activity knowledge base to identify the native language of user. Sentences are formed using the grammatical rules of the native language. Each sentence is then translated into the identified native language and broadcast to the user using a voice synthesizer.
US08548799B2
Methods and apparatus provide the capability of receiving at least a portion of a message in natural language format from a user prior to submission of the message to an automated agent for a response, analyzing the at least the portion of the message, and providing a suggestion to the user, based upon the analyzed at least the portion of the message, for altering the message to improve ability of the automated agent to respond to the message.
US08548794B2
A statistical machine translation (MT) system may include a noun phrase/prepositional phrase (NP/PP) translation subsystem to translation NP/PPs as a subtask in an MT operation. The NP/PP translation subsystem may use a model trained on an NP/PP corpus and a decoder to generate an n-best list of candidate translations and a re-ranker to re-rank the candidate translations based on a machine learning method and additional features based on known properties of NP/PPs.
US08548791B2
A method of determining the consistency of training data for a machine translation system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal indicative of a source language corpus and a target language corpus. A textual string is extracted from the source language corpus. The textual string is aligned with the target language corpus to identify a translation for the textual string from the target language corpus. A consistency index is calculated based on a relationship between the textual string from the source language corpus and the translation. An indication of the consistency index is stored on a tangible medium.
US08548790B2
A mechanism is provided for determining fragmentation in a computing environment. A simulation of virtual machine requests for resources in the computing environment is run for a predetermined time. The simulation is scaled down when the predetermined time exceeds a threshold. The scaling down includes scaling down the resources in the computing environment and/or scaling down a number of the virtual machine requests. The scaled down simulation is run iteratively to estimate relative fragmentation of the virtual machine requests against the resources in the computing environment.
US08548776B2
A parallel physics solver may solve an equation to determine the characteristics of motion after a collision. In some embodiments, the physics solver solves the equation AX=B, where A is a sparse constrained matrix and B is the right hand vector. The sparse constrained matrix may be formed of 6×K blocks, where K is a tuning parameter that divides into the width of a single instruction multiple data processor used to implement the physics solver, without residue.
US08548771B2
An improved system and method for automatically inspecting the quality of newly-manufactured containers is disclosed that detects containers that are out-of-round by more than a predetermined amount so that they may be rejected to ensure that containers that are passed are of acceptable quality. One or more ultrasonic sensors are located at fixed positions with reference to a container that is rotated. If any sensor detects that the distance between the sensor and the container falls outside of an acceptable range, the container is rejected.
US08548765B2
A dynamically self-adjusting sensor is disclosed. In one embodiment, a sample module repeatedly generates an electronic signal related to a characteristic of an environment. A window module receives the electronic signal and provides an average signal for a pre-defined number of the electronic signals. A delta comparator module receives the electronic signal from the sample module and compares the electronic signal with a previously received electronic signal from the sample module to establish a change, wherein an output is generated if the change is greater than or equal to a threshold, the delta comparator module further receives the average signal from the window module and compares the average signal with a previously received average signal from the window module to establish an average change, wherein the output is generated if the change is greater than or equal to a threshold.
US08548764B1
A method and system for increasing optical instrument calibration and prediction accuracy within and across different optical instrument platforms can include two main submethods or routines. The first routine can include one for correcting differences among optical instruments of different model types regardless of the manufacturer and correcting differences among optical instruments of the same model type. The second main routine or sub-method can include one for analyzing new samples of a product over time and maintaining prediction accuracy as compared to a reference method over time. The first routine can include a “TRANS” procedure, a “MIN” procedure, and checkcell tests. The second main routine provides techniques on how a product database can be cleaned, condensed, and expanded automatically as it is used by one or more different optical instruments.
US08548763B2
Embodiments of a method and apparatus for variable sensing using the frequency domain are taught herein. An exposure of a system to a physical variable is determined by periodically sensing the physical variable to produce a plurality of digital samples. The plurality of digital samples is converted to respective frequency domain representations. The exposure is calculated using the frequency domain representations.
US08548756B1
A system for providing traceable, verifiable complete MAOP or MOP information for a specific pipeline to users in an automated manner that is viewable continuously via a network. The system comprises a processor in communication with the network; a data storage in communication with the processor. The data storage includes computer instructions for identifying a specific pipeline, providing a unique identifier for the specific pipeline, collecting authenticated pipeline segment information related to the specific pipeline, collecting non-authenticated pipeline segment information related to the specific pipeline, automatically identifying gaps in MAOP or MOP data, automatically identifying gaps in user established MAOP or MOP; automatically filling the gaps in MAOP or MOP data, calculating MAOP or MOP for the specific pipeline, and showing valid and invalid MAOP or MOP to a user using an executive dashboard.
US08548736B2
Navigational routing is generated incorporating an estimation of future traffic conditions. The future traffic conditions are estimated based on historical traffic data, e.g., obtained over a recent period of time. The system provides navigational routing based on historical traffic data incorporated into a calculated route of travel. The historical data is used to calculate a probability that given roads along the route will be problematic at a certain time of the day, i.e., at the time, day of week, and place that you would be expected to be traveling on that certain road. Accordingly, historical traffic data is used to help determine a best route based on the probability of certain roads being problematic at a certain time of day.
US08548724B2
The positioning terminal of the present invention includes a positioning unit 103 configured to perform positioning processing for acquiring position information which indicate a current position of the positioning terminal, a route storage unit 104 configured to store a registered route formed by concatenating location points indicated by position information previously acquired by the positioning unit 103, a route matching determining unit 106 configured to determine whether or not the positioning terminal 10 moves on the registered route, and a continuous positioning control unit 109 configured to change a positioning interval at which the positioning unit 103 performs positioning processing from a time interval TI1 to a time interval TI2 which is longer than the time interval TI1, when it is determined that the positioning terminal moves on the registered route.
US08548711B2
Provided is a control device of an inverted pendulum type vehicle capable of adjusting a deviation of a tilt angle of a base body from a desired tilt angle so as to maintain the vehicle in a normal state where the tilt angle matches the desired tilt angle and the vehicle is in halt. When an update condition for updating a tilt offset adjusting variable θb_xy_offset is satisfied (STEP 21), a posture control calculator 80 performs a first mode arithmetic process (STEP 22) to update the tilt offset adjusting variable θb_xy_offset, and meanwhile determines imaginary wheel rotational angular acceleration commands ωwdot_x_cmd and ωwdot_y_cmd via a second mode arithmetic process (STEP 23) by using the tilt offset adjusting variable θb_xy_offset updated in the first mode arithmetic process.
US08548708B2
A brake system for a vehicle has a first and a second brake control device, four wheel actuator devices, and a first and a second signal line, the first signal line connecting the first brake control device to two of the four wheel actuator devices and the second signal line connecting the second brake control device to the two other wheel actuator devices, each of the four wheel actuator devices in the active state being additionally designed to detect whether a specified number of brake control devices and/or wheel actuator devices are in the inactive state, in which case a specified braking torque is exerted on the wheel of the vehicle associated with the brake control device.
US08548706B2
A device operable to control a turning of a vehicle, includes: a motion controller operable to: control a first adjuster so as to increase a drive force applied to at least one of front wheels and rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning, and control a second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning; and control the first adjuster so as to increase the drive force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning, and control the second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning.
US08548697B2
There is provided a shift control device which is provided in a shift operation unit including: a plurality of shift positions corresponding to states of a transmission; a shift lever which selects one of the plurality of shift positions; a home position to which the shift lever automatically returns; and a shift position detecting unit which outputs a shift position signal when the shift lever is positioned in one of the plurality of shift positions, the shift control device detecting, when the shift position signal is input to the shift control device for more than a recognition time period set for the shift position where the shift lever is positioned, that the shift position is selected or that the shift operation unit has a failure, and including a deterioration state detecting unit which detects a deterioration degree of the shift operation unit, wherein the recognition time period is changed in accordance with the deterioration degree.
US08548670B2
A shift lever position determining unit determines whether a shift lever position of a vehicle satisfies predetermined conditions. If the shift lever position is determined to satisfy the predetermined conditions, a travel distance adding-up unit adds up an optimum shift lever position travel distance. If the shift lever position is determined not to satisfy the predetermined conditions, the travel distance adding-up unit adds up an inappropriate shift lever position travel distance. A fuel-saving driving rating unit rates driving by a driver based on each added-up value added up by the travel distance adding-up unit. A fuel-saving driving advice generating unit notifies the driver of fuel-saving driving advice together with a rating result in accordance with the rating result. Therefore, it is possible to encourage the driver to select an optimum shift lever position with high fuel efficiency and thereby to improve the driver's knowledge and awareness of the fuel-saving driving.
US08548669B2
Systems, methods, devices, and computer programming products useful for the gathering and use of data relating to structural loading and other operational use of transit and other vehicles, and their systems. Systems according to the invention can, for example, comprise one or more data acquisition devices such as strain gauges, accelerometers, or other sensors; data processors; memories; and communications systems. Such systems, methods, and programming are useful in a wide variety of ways, including, for example, monitoring the structural status and use of vehicles and their systems, including fatigue other operational analyses; gathering and applying data useful in the maintenance of such vehicles and the routes they travel; monitoring the use/abuse of such vehicles by operators and other individuals; reporting traffic events or anomalies; and routing transit and other vehicles around such events or anomalies. Rainflow, level-crossing and other peak-counting or event-counting algorithms are applied to advantage, such that required data storage is greatly reduced, and life-long monitoring is feasible.
US08548668B2
A control system is disclosed for use with a machine having a work tool and operating at a work site. The control system may have a sensor associated with the work tool and configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the work tool, an offboard worksite controller, and an onboard controller in communication with the sensor and the offboard worksite controller. The onboard controller may be configured to receive from an operator an input indicative of a current task being performed by the machine, and track movement of a portion of the work tool corresponding with the operator input. The onboard controller may also be configured to communicate the tracked movement to the offboard worksite controller.
US08548665B2
A movable body system includes a movable body to which an image pickup apparatus is attached; an image analyzer that performs image matching between the image captured by the image pickup apparatus and an image, which is previously captured on the travel path of the movable body; a wall-surface detector that detects directions of the movable body with respect to wall surfaces, which are arranged along the travel path, and distances between the wall surfaces and the movable body; and a traveling-direction calculator that detects a shift of the movable body with respect to the travel path from an output of the image analyzer or the wall-surface detector, and calculates a traveling direction to cause the movable body to travel on the travel path.
US08548664B2
In an autonomic traveling apparatus for a vehicle, vehicles usually travel an independent travel lane and when there are two approaching vehicles on the independent travel lane, they switch to pass-by lanes to pass by each other. To do this switching operation effectively, respective vehicles check and obtain road conditions around them while they are traveling and the obtained road conditions are transmitted to and collected by a travel administration center so that the road conditions at various points along the lanes can be obtained from the travel administration center. Accordingly, when the autonomic traveling trucks approaching each other and supposed to pass by each other, switch to the associated pass-by lanes, they change travel lanes avoiding the point of bad road condition on the basis of the road conditions sent from the travel administration center.
US08548662B2
The present invention provide a hybrid vehicle comprising a first and a second transmission mechanisms, an electric motor connected to the first transmission mechanism, an internal combustion engine, a motor control unit and a transmission control unit. The transmission control unit changes, when the motor control unit executes a decelerating regeneration in response to a braking request of a driver, and when a braking request amount of the braking request is decreased by a predetermined amount while a predetermined shift range attained by the first transmission mechanism is selected, a shift range to a shift range on a lower-speed side than the predetermined shift range, which is attained by the first transmission mechanism, and to maintain the predetermined shift range when the braking request amount is not decreased.
US08548659B2
Provided is a practical plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle as well as a charge system, a fuel consumption measurement system, and an environment protection system for the vehicles. The charge system includes an electric power source charging a vehicle having a battery, a power supply unit for supplying electric power from the electric power source to the vehicle, and a power cable communication unit for performing power cable communication concerning the vehicle and the charging via the power supply unit. The vehicle includes a fuel tank for receiving oil from outside, a storage unit for storing oil supply information, a power source which consumes the fuel in the fuel tank and provides a travel power, a travel distance information acquisition unit, and a control unit which automatically calculates the fuel consumption according to the oil supply information in the storage unit and the travel distance information in the travel distance acquisition unit.
US08548655B2
Apparatus and methods for a grade crossing protection system include at least one camera providing surveillance of a grade crossing, the at least one camera coupled to a transmitter configured to transmit a signal that includes imagery of the grade crossing to a transceiver onboard a train. A display unit onboard the train is provided to allow the train operator to view the grade crossing. A control unit in communication with the transceiver is configured to monitor the received signal and, based upon a determined location of the train relative to the train crossing, issue a command to the train's brake system to reduce the speed of the train, or stop the train, before the train reaches the grade crossing.
US08548654B2
A message that contains train on-track information and reservation information of a train detection section and direction information and reservation information of a switch is circulated among a train detector, switch machine, signal device controller and a route indicating device. Via a signaling message, the train detector transmits the train detection result to the signal device controller and the route indicating device, the switch machine can transmit switch condition to the signal device controller, the route indicating device transmits route reservation to the switch machine and the signal device controller. Based on the transmitted train detection result, switch condition and route reservation condition, the signal device controller transmits travel permission or travel non-permission for the assigned route to a train.
US08548652B2
A brake monitoring system is described for use on aircraft having carbon brakes. The system displays the number of times the brakes have been applied in a preselected counting interval such as during each takeoff and landing cycle. By raising the pilot's awareness of the number of times the brakes have been applied, a more efficient brake use is encouraged in view of the knowledge that carbon brake wear is substantially a function of the number of applications rather than the total energy that is converted thereby. Additionally, the monitoring system provides an indication of the temperature of the brakes which encourages the pilot to maintain a minimum temperature therein beyond which wear is reduced.
US08548651B2
The invention relates to a piloting device comprising a piloting component (10) which is connected to at least one steering component (13), at least one force sensor (17) which measures the forces imparted into the kinematic chain (12) by said piloting component (10), a logic circuit (23) which is adapted to develop a speed reference signal according to a predetermined function of said force signals, and a circuit for controlling at least one parallel actuator (14) as regards speed.It extends to a method for the motorised assistance and control of a device of this kind and to an aircraft comprising a device of this kind.
US08548638B2
An energy management system manages energy consumption of managed device(s) disposed to receive energy via a meter connected to an energy supply, the energy supply. A system controller has a computer processor that instructs the managed device(s) to employ an operational mode based on the priority, the energy need, the demand state, and whether the energy consumption rate of the managed device(s) exceeds energy available from at least one of the external energy source and internal energy source.
US08548635B2
A system and method of managing energy use in a home, and more particularly to energy management of household consumer appliances, are provided. Existing appliances can be modified with add-on features or modules, and likewise new energy saving features and functions can be incorporated into new appliances. Communication among a home energy manager, an appliance, and a utility meter measures energy usage and/or a local generator controls operation of various appliances such as a refrigerator, washer, dryer, oven/range, microwave oven, dishwasher, HVAC system hot water heater, and the like.
US08548630B2
The disclosure includes an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the HVAC data processing and communication network includes a first system device and a second system device. The first system device is configured to send and receive messages over a data bus. The second system device is configured to send configuration data associated with a configuration of the second system device to the first system device. The first system device is further configured to receive and persistently store the configuration data.
US08548628B2
The invention relates to a method and to a system for aligning and controlling the position of a robot tool, wherein a monitoring device is equipped with a detection unit and processing unit which co-operates with the control device of the robot and automatically determines the alignment of the robot tool by means of the detection unit by taking into account at least one pre-determined reference direction of the robot tool, in addition to at least one predetermined tolerance angle which defines a tolerance range for the at least one reference direction of the robot tool. The processing unit compares the determined alignment to the predetermined reference direction and/or to the tolerance values predetermined by the defined tolerance range and/or of the at least one tolerance range is not respected, the respective robot tool is disconnected and/or deactivated in co-operation with the control device of the robot.
US08548627B2
Systems and methods for automatically organizing and achieving a pre-given task by means of plurality of robots, each robot having a robot specific set of functionalities, are described. In an example implementation, a method can include the following steps: providing and exposing, for each robot, a semantic description of the robot's robot specific functionalities by respective semantic web services; providing a semantic description of the pre-given task; matching the semantically described task with the semantic web services describing the robot specific functionalities; and combining automatically a coordinated set of the plurality of robots according to the matching result, such that the task is achieved when the robots are sequentially working upon invocation.
US08548617B2
A sound output control device is disclosed. The sound output control device includes an application information acquisition section and a control section. The application information acquisition section is configured to acquire application information from an external device having multiple applications for sound output. The control section is configured to process audio data streamed from the external device through causing the external device to start one of the multiple applications. The control section has a predetermined selection criterion to select a start-candidate application from the plurality of applications. The control section is further configured to select the start-candidate application according to the application information acquired from the external device and the predetermined selection criterion, and cause the external device to start the selected start-candidate application.
US08548602B2
A device for brain stimulation includes a cannula configured and arranged for insertion into a brain of a patient; at least one cannula electrode disposed on the cannula; and an electrode lead for insertion into the cannula, the electrode lead comprising at least one stimulating electrode.
US08548599B2
Methods for focused remodeling and downsizing the volume of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, body contouring, and tightening skin tissue, using controlled heating of the targeted areas on the body. The electromagnetic energy heats the subcutaneous tissues which provides the desired effect. The electromagnetic energy is applied via an applicator without touching the skin. A spacer of insulating or dielectric material may be provided between the applicator and the skin.
US08548594B2
According to one aspect, a stimulation system is provided for electrically stimulating a predetermined site to treat a neurological condition. The system includes an electrical stimulation lead adapted for implantation into a subcutaneous area in communication with a predetermined site, wherein the site is neuronal tissue that is associated with C2/C3 dermatome area, or stimulating cervical nerve roots and/or stimulating cranial nerves and/or stimulating any area associated with the occipital area. The stimulation lead includes one or more stimulation electrodes adapted to be positioned in the predetermined site. The system also includes a stimulation source that generates the stimulation pulses for transmission to the one or more stimulation electrodes of the stimulation lead to deliver the stimulation pulses to the predetermined site to treat a neurological disorder or condition.
US08548592B2
Implantable medical devices including an ultrasonic transducer and methods of optimizing an ultrasonic transducer of an implantable medical device are disclosed. The implantable medical device can include a housing, an ultrasonic transducer disposed within an interior of the housing, and a limiting structure configured to constrain deformation of the ultrasonic transducer. The limiting structure can include a separate structure coupled to the housing, or can comprise a resonant portion of the housing itself. During operation, the ultrasonic transducer is configured to communicate at a frequency at or near a resonant frequency of the housing.
US08548589B2
Implantable systems, and methods for use therein, perform at least one of a cardiac assessment and an autonomic assessment. Premature atrial contractions (PACs) are induced to thereby cause corresponding premature contractions in the ventricles. Short-term fluctuations in cardiac intervals, that follow the premature contractions in the ventricles caused by the induced PACs, are monitored. At least one of a cardiac assessment and an autonomic assessment is performed based on the monitored fluctuations in cardiac intervals that follow the premature contractions in the ventricles caused by the induced PACs. This can include assessing a patient's risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), assessing a patient's autonomic tone and/or detecting myocardial ischemic events based on the monitored fluctuations in cardiac intervals that follow the premature contractions in the ventricles caused by the induced PACs.
US08548583B2
A method of modifying tissue behavior, comprising: determining a desired modification of tissue behavior for at least one of treatment of a disease, short or long term modification of tissue behavior, assessing tissue state and assessing tissue response to stimulation; selecting an electric field having an expected effect of modifying protein activity of at least one protein as an immediate response of a tissue to the field, said expected effect correlated with said desired modification; and applying said field to said tissue.
US08548577B2
A device detects electrical and mechanical cardio-vascular activities of patient, especially early decompensation detection of congestive heart failure patients (CHF). The device includes a transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic signals of a predefined frequency into the chest of the patient, a Doppler radar sensor (1) for detecting a Doppler radar signal reflected in the patient's chest, and an ECG unit (3) for capturing an ECG signal of the patient's heart. This device allows for simultaneous detection of electrical and mechanical cardio-vascular activities of a patient which can be used in an easy and reliable way and which allows for implementation in a hand-held or wearable device.
US08548573B2
Methods and implantable devices that detect cardiac events using dynamic filtering. Illustratively, default filtering is performed except for a predefined period of time following detection of cardiac events, during which post-beat filtering is performed instead. The example post-beat filtering applies a narrower pass-band to the signal than the default filtering in order to attenuate T-waves more greatly than the default filtering during a time period after a detected event that is expected to correspond to occurrence of T-waves.
US08548569B2
A head fixation assembly includes a head fixation frame, a plurality of upper head fixation members, a plurality of lower head fixation members, and at least one drive mechanism. The head fixation frame includes a pair of upwardly extending spaced-apart arms defining a free space therebetween. At least one upper head fixation member extends from each of the respective arms of the head fixation frame, with each upper head fixation member adjustable relative to the head fixation frame and adapted to engage a patient's head within the free space of the head fixation frame. The lower head fixation members extend from the head fixation frame between the pair of arms, with each member adjustable relative to the head fixation frame and adapted to engage an underside of the patient's head within the free space of the head fixation frame. The at least one drive mechanism is in communication with the lower head fixation members, and is externally accessible so as to allow a user to be able to directly or indirectly advance and/or retract the lower head fixation members while the patient's head resides in the free space of the head fixation frame.
US08548568B2
A method includes fitting a motion map from a first imaging modality with a first FOV to a second imaging modality different from the first with a second FOV sized differently than the first FOV.
US08548563B2
A method and apparatus for registering physical space to image space is disclosed. The system allows for determining fiducial markers as pixels or voxels in image data. The system can correlate and register the determined fiducial points with fiducial markers in physical space.
US08548560B2
A data rate controlling feedback loop evaluates an actual instantaneous available quality of service of a communication link for transmitting data and controls the data rate based on an evaluation result, Feedback control may both be local to a device for acquiring examination data, such as a magnetic resonance imaging coil, or over the communication link by reducing the data rate at least momentarily to fit the communication link's performance over time, enabling a graceful degradation of an image quality at lower data rates.
US08548557B2
The present disclosure provides electrodes that possess hydrogels for contacting skin. In embodiments, an electrode of the present disclosure may include a substrate and a conductive composition on at least a portion of a surface of the substrate, the conductive composition including at least one hydrogel and at least one component capable of providing either a cooling or warming sensation upon contact with tissue of a patient. Methods for forming these hydrogels and electrodes are also provided.
US08548553B2
Systems and methods for processing sensor analyte data, including initiating calibration, updating calibration, evaluating clinical acceptability of reference and sensor analyte data, and evaluating the quality of sensor calibration. During initial calibration, the analyte sensor data is evaluated over a period of time to determine stability of the sensor. The sensor may be calibrated using a calibration set of one or more matched sensor and reference analyte data pairs. The calibration may be updated after evaluating the calibration set for best calibration based on inclusion criteria with newly received reference analyte data. Fail-safe mechanisms are provided based on clinical acceptability of reference and analyte data and quality of sensor calibration. Algorithms provide for optimized prospective and retrospective analysis of estimated blood analyte data from an analyte sensor.
US08548548B2
A sensor interface is configured to receive a sensor signal. A transmitter generates a transmit signal. A receiver receives the signal corresponding to the transmit signal. Further, a monitor interface is configured to communicate a waveform to the monitor so that measurements derived by the monitor from the waveform are generally equivalent to measurements derivable from the sensor signal.
US08548547B2
An aircraft cockpit with health monitoring system and method enables an occupant (e.g. a pilot) and/or a ground station to monitor the physical condition of the occupant during a flight. A sensor such as a pulse oximetry sensor is in predetermined location to an occupant seat (e.g. an aircraft cockpit seat), within the field of reach of a person seated in the seat. The sensor is supported in the predetermined location in a stable manner that provides sufficient reaction to insertion of a finger to enable insertion of a finger in the sensor while the person is in a seated position, and the sensor is in communication with a control box that processes data from the sensor, and presents the data, e.g. at a the multi functional display in an aircraft cockpit. During a flight, a pilot seated in the aircraft cockpit seat will be prompted to insert a finger into the pulse oximetry sensor to produce output at the multi functional display.
US08548545B2
One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a biogenic substance concentration measuring method with improved measuring accuracy. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for measuring a concentration of a biogenic substance contained in a living body, the method comprises steps of preparing a measuring device, wherein the measuring device comprises a light source, an optical filter, and a light receiver; irradiating a substantially-parallel light from the light source onto a particle chip implanted in a skin though a position on the surface of the skin to generate a reflected light; inclining the light source and calculating the concentration of the biogenic substance on the basis of the difference of signals before and after the inclination.
US08548539B2
Provided is a mobile communication terminal that includes a case with internal and external surfaces, antenna patterns that transmit or receive radio signals corresponding to frequency bands, a circuit board that processes signals that conform to the transmitted or received radio signals, a connection unit that electrically connects the antenna patterns to the circuit board, an accommodation chamber that accommodates a battery, and a cover detachably mounted on the case and covering the accommodation chamber and the antenna patterns.
US08548537B2
A mobile wireless communications device is for use with a hearing aid including a hearing aid compatible (HAC) coil. The device may include a portable housing and a wireless receiver carried by the portable housing. The device may also include at least one image capture component and a positioning coil associated therewith and carried by the portable housing. A controller may also be carried by the portable housing for selectively operating the positioning coil for image capture, and for inductively coupling received signals from the wireless receiver to the HAC coil.
US08548534B2
A wireless headset system including a switching unit having a detection circuit coupled to a wireless adapter. The detection circuit provides a first output signal to the wireless adapter upon detection of a triggering event, such as activation of a manual switch or detection of voltage of an audio output signal from a mobile communications device. The first output signal causes the wireless adapter to enter into an active audio channel mode. The detection circuit also provides a second output signal to the wireless adapter when no triggering event is detected, and the second output signal causes the wireless adapter to enter into a standby mode. Placing at least the wireless adapter in a standby mode saves battery life of the system.
US08548532B1
A method of communicatively coupling a handheld mobile device and a head unit comprising monitoring, by the handheld mobile device, a port of the handheld mobile device; sending, by the handheld mobile device, an application to the head unit when the head unit device contacts the handheld mobile device via the port of the handheld mobile device; and conducting, by the handheld mobile device, an operation of the handheld mobile device, using the head unit device as the user interface for the handheld mobile device.
US08548511B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for wireless communications, wherein first number of transit antennas is advertised, but a different number of transmit antennas are actually used for transmission.
US08548506B2
A technique for locating a device uses connectivity to find a distance between an access point (AP) and a device. The AP transmits a frame to a device and receives an acknowledgement frame from the device. The amount of time for a signal to pass between the AP and the device is estimated and multiplied by the speed of light to find the distance between the AP and the device.
US08548502B2
Spatial mapping of wireless access point service area. A means is presented by which a WACN's (Wireless Access Control Node's) service area is spatially mapped providing information corresponding to coverage region(s) within the WACN's service area. This spatial mapping may be generated and stored within either communication device at either end of a communication link (e.g., in a WACN or in a communication device operable to connect to the WACN). From the WACN's perspective, the spatial map can include its one or more coverage regions within its service area. From a communication device's perspective (e.g., a communication device that is capable to connect to a WACN), the spatial map can include multiple service areas provided by multiple WACNs and the various coverage regions therein. The partitioning of a WACN's service area into coverage areas can be performed along various lines (e.g., signal strength, history of connectivity, operational parameters employed, etc.).
US08548483B2
A position of a device within a cluster of multiple devices is determined and stored in a memory. An uplink radio resource is mapped from a downlink radio resource in dependence on the determined position of the device within the cluster of multiple devices. In an embodiment the respective uplink and downlink radio resource is a PUCCH and PDCCH of a cellular network, and the cluster is a D2D network. In one embodiment the device position is an index j which is used to offset from a predetermined mapping pattern. In another embodiment the position of the device corresponds to an individual field of a transmission on the PDCCH and the mapping is in dependence on a bit value in the individual field.
US08548481B2
A communications base station is installed at a selected new location and the base station, prior to going “online” monitors the wireless traffic from other base stations within interference range of the new base station's coverage area. The new base station also monitors the wireless traffic between mobile devices within its coverage area and these other base stations. Based upon these monitored conditions, as well as other known conditions, the new base station then determines the transmitting parameter configuration it should imply in order to achieve a desired optimization between capacity and coverage area. After the new base station is online, a central control can monitor the entire network to determine if any additional changes are necessary and if so the new transceiver, or any other transceiver, can be instructed to monitor itself with respect to interference and to take corrective action to improve overall network coverage and capacity.
US08548477B2
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps: transmitting, from an exchange (MME) to a first radio base station (eNB), a location information reporting instruction which provides an instruction to report location information on a mobile station (UE); reporting, the first radio base station (eNB) to the exchange (MME), the location information on the mobile station (UE), in accordance with the location information reporting instruction; transmitting, the location information reporting instruction to a second radio base station (eNB), in a handover procedure of the mobile station (UE) from the first radio base station (eNB) to the second radio base station (eNB); and reporting, from the second radio base station (eNB) to the exchange (MME), the location information on the mobile station (UE), in accordance with the location information reporting instruction.
US08548476B2
Disclosed is a method of managing an X2 interface, a handover method, an interference coordination method and an apparatus for LTE and LTE-Advanced system. X2 interface management includes: finding by a first eNB, a new neighboring cell, i.e., a second cell corresponding to a second HeNB; determining by the first eNB, an access mode of the second cell; and establishing a first X2 interface between the first eNB and the second HeNB when the access mode of the second cell is an open mode or a hybrid mode. The X2 interface may be managed dynamically and the mode for establishing the X2 interface, such as direct X2 interface or gateway-proxied X2interface, may be selected. The expansible problem and system overhead due to the X2interface in the LTE and LTE-Advanced system may be reduced effectively to better support handover and interference coordination.
US08548472B2
A Mobile Station (MS) operation method for cell selection at initial access in a wireless communication system in which one or more small Base Stations (BSs) are included within a macro BS service coverage area is provided. The method includes performing synchronization based on a preamble signal, after performing the synchronization, transmitting a ranging code to a first BS, after transmitting the ranging code, transmitting a ranging request message including position information of the MS, to the first BS, and receiving a ranging response message including information on at least one candidate BS from the first BS. Thus, the MS can select a BS using position information of the MS in a wireless communication system in which various types of BSs coexist.
US08548468B2
A service method of a femtocell for simultaneously providing a plurality of femto services to a plurality of mobile stations, and a transmitter and receiver for the same. When a femto advanced base station supports a plurality of femtocell subscription types, and it simultaneously provides data services with different qualities to mobile stations having subscribed to different femtocells. The femtocell subscription type supported by the femto advanced base station is advertised to the mobile station through an identifier at a PHY level or an identifier at a MAC level. A CSG-closed femtocell provides a high-quality data service to limited subscribers, a CSG-open femtocell provides a relatively low quality data service to limited subscribers, and an OSG femtocell provides the lowest quality data service to all mobile stations irrespectively of subscription states.
US08548467B2
Aspects describe spectrum authorization, access control, and configuration parameters validation. Devices in an ad-hoc or peer-to-peer configuration can utilize a licensed spectrum if the devices are authorized to use the spectrum, which can be determined automatically. Aspects relate to distribution of authorization tickets by an authorization server as a result of validating a device's credentials and services to which the device is entitled. An exchange and verification of authorization tickets can be performed by devices as a condition for enabling a validated wireless link using the spectrum.
US08548466B1
A smart antenna system is provided for communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of different fixed base stations using one or more channels and one or more beams. The smart antenna system includes a control subsystem, a radio transceiver and an antenna subsystem coupled to each other and adapted to perform scanning of one or more combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of the fixed base stations where the test links use at least some of the channels and the beams. A first combination of base station, channel and beam is selected based on the scanning; and a first operating link is established for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using the selected channel and beam.
US08548465B2
Methods and apparatus for transmission of selected segments of information (such as system context information). In one embodiment, a cognitive pilot channel base station (CPC-BS) is disclosed that enables the distribution of context information to various user equipment and mobile devices in an efficient manner. The exemplary CPC-BS is also optionally capable of distributing sensing tasks to external entities, and compiling the data results from these distributed tasks for use in performing future CPC transmissions based e.g., on the operational mode of the system. On-demand provisioning of context information over both broadcast and peer-to-peer communications with served users is also disclosed. In addition to the distribution of context information via the use of a single CPC-BS, master-slave relationships between multiple CPC-BSs are also described, which permit for a distributed architecture in providing context information to served users.
US08548462B2
A method and apparatus for determining user equipment cell identification examines the age of the cell identification known to the user equipment when determining whether to use that cell identification or to obtain the cell identification through alternate means. The age of the cell identification known to the user equipment is examined by the user equipment, the communication system, or both by comparing the age to a predefined value. The age indicator can be transmitted by the user equipment to a network. If the age exceeds a predefined value, then the cell identification is obtained through network procedures. If the age is less than a predefined value then the cell identification known to the user equipment is accepted as current. Position information for the user equipment can be based upon the cell identification known to the user equipment or as obtained through network procedures.
US08548461B2
A method for communication includes communicating between a first transceiver and a wireless communication terminal on a first channel, while identifying the first transceiver to the terminal with a transceiver identity. A roaming condition, which determines whether the terminal is to roam to a second transceiver operating on a second channel, is evaluated. Upon meeting the roaming condition, the terminal is instructed to switch to the second channel, and the terminal is subsequently communicated with using the second transceiver on the second channel while identifying the second transceiver to the terminal with the same transceiver identity as the first transceiver.
US08548449B2
Systems and methods for managing contact information on mobile devices is provided. When a telephone call is initiated or received, a contact record associated with the call is accessed to determine if it includes notes to be displayed during the call. If there are notes to be displayed, they are displayed for the user during the call. Notes may include display tags indicating they should be displayed as well as action tags specifying actions to take for calls with the contact. An option to dismiss the note(s) can be provided, as well as an option to edit the note. When calls complete, the system provides options to the user to create and save a new note for the contact record. In some embodiments, the system provides options for the user to record audio from telephone conversations. The recording is translated to text and optionally stored in a contact record.
US08548438B2
A method for managing incoming voicemail messages at a visual voicemail (VVM) system can include receiving a new voicemail message for a voicemail account associated with a mobile device, generating a deposit notification message at the VVM system in response to receiving the new voicemail message, sending the notification message to the mobile device, and receiving a request for voicemail message header information from the mobile device. The method can further include sending the voicemail message header information to the mobile device. The mobile device uses the voicemail message header information to determine a status for each voicemail message presently stored on the mobile device to identify the new voicemail message. The method can further include the VVM system receiving a request for the new voicemail message, and sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device for storage and playback on the mobile device.
US08548436B2
A method, apparatus, and computer product for avoiding redundant data transmissions during communication via multimedia mobile phones. In operation, a sending party inquires whether intended for transmission data already resides in a mobile phone of a receiving party Depending on a content of the response from the receiving party, the sending party transmits the data or a request for displaying the already available data.
US08548431B2
Notification techniques are described. In an implementation, an unlock screen is displayed by a mobile communications device that indicates that one or more keys of the mobile communications device are locked. If an input is detected at the mobile communications device to remove the lock, an animation is displayed that gives an appearance that the unlock screen is a page that is being turned and removing the lock of the one or more keys.
US08548430B2
A set of one or more positional control parameters includes at least one of a geographic limit, a velocity limit, and a direction of travel limit. A control list identifies at least one feature in a mobile device. The at least one feature may be associated with at least one of the positional control parameters.
US08548423B2
A mobile based neighborhood watch system capable of group interactions, anonymous messages and observation reports. Employing a downloadable mobile client application in their mobile device, members of a local neighborhood watch group can send messages to each other, wherein messages can include voice recorded on their mobile devices and photos taken using their mobile devices. They can also provide comments on messages received, and make observation reports regarding a task they have conducted, something they have noticed, a situation they have witnessed, etc. The membership of the local neighborhood watch group is maintained by a server, and such membership typically includes people staying in a neighborhood, local law enforcement officials, local fire department workers, etc. The server makes it easy to create such groups and manage the membership.
US08548422B2
A versatile personal emergency, especially medical emergency, communication system includes a user-carried portable communication unit having a single button, which when depressed by the user, wirelessly sends a call request signal to a base unit. The base unit initiates a telephone call through a dial-up network to an emergency response center and places an operator at the emergency center in wireless voice communication with the portable unit when the call is connected. The telephone number of the emergency responder to be called is stored in the system. A program is used to set up the system to a selected one of a central monitoring station and a 911 operator. Voice messages are stored in the system and are used to advise the user of the status of the call, and to provide the user with verbal confirmation that functional systems of the base unit are operating properly. The units are programmable selectively by phone, voice or computer.
US08548408B2
A method of operating a single-tuner radio includes tuning into a first frequency. A pause in a first signal associated with the first frequency is detected. Tuning is switched from the first frequency to a second frequency during the pause. Fieldstrength, multipath, adjacent channel energy, frequency offset and FM modulation for the second frequency are measured. Tuning is switched from the second frequency to the first frequency. Tuning is switched from the first frequency to the second frequency dependent upon the measuring step.
US08548405B2
A method of controlling the phases of RF output signals from a number of radio transmitters. A given radio has at least one synthesizer as a source of its RF output signal, and the synthesizer produces an output the phase offset of which relative to a reference signal is controlled by a phase offset command. A path from an antenna port of the radio obtains a fed back RF output signal and a phase difference between the reference signal and the fed back RF output signal is measured. A value of a zero degree phase offset command for the synthesizer is determined such that the phase difference between the reference signal and the fed back RF signal is nominally zero, and the value is stored. A phase offset command for providing a desired phase offset for the RF output signal is then determined based the stored value of the zero degree phase offset command.
US08548383B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate adjusting power spectrum density (PSD) for wireless devices according to multiple possible step sizes. A step size for an adjustment can be selected based at least in part on a received overload indicator from one or more access points, a PSD required to achieve a target signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) for a wireless device, and a PSD previously assigned to the wireless device. Once the step size is selected, it can be applied to the previous PSD to generate a new PSD for the wireless device, and the wireless device can accordingly adjust PSD to mitigate inter-cell interference with the one or more access points.
US08548367B2
A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotatably provided and heats an image formed on a recording material to fix the image to the recording material, a contact member that moves the recording material by being rotationally driven while coming into contact with the fixing member, and is provided to be separated from the fixing member, and a rotating member that is mounted on the contact member, is disposed to come into contact with the fixing member while the contact member is separated from the fixing member, rotates while interlocking with the contact member, transmits a rotational driving force from the contact member to the fixing member, and rotates with respect to the contact member when the fixing member is rotated by an external force and a rotational driving force is transmitted to the rotating member from the fixing member.
US08548366B2
A fixing device includes a fixing member formed into a loop inside which a nip formation member, a core holder, a heater support, and a laminated heater are provided, and a pressing member provided outside the loop formed by the fixing member. The pressing member is pressed against the nip formation member via the fixing member. The heater support is between the laminated heater and the nip formation member to support the laminated heater. The core holder is between the nip formation member and the heater support to support the nip formation member and the heater support.
US08548359B2
A charging member is provided which can not easily cause vibration and can stably charge a photosensitive member, even where a high-frequency alternating-current voltage is applied thereto. It is a charging member having an electrically conductive substrate, an electrically conductive elastic layer and a surface layer, and the elastic layer has, in the order from the substrate side, a first rubber layer and a second rubber layer laminated to the first rubber layer, and, where the natural vibration frequency of the first rubber layer is represented by f1 and the natural vibration frequency of the second rubber layer is represented by f2, has a natural vibration frequency ratio, f2/f1, of from 2.35 or more to 10.0 or less.
US08548349B2
A method and apparatus that uniformly distributes a material on an image transfer surface is disclosed. The apparatus may include a circulation mechanism to circulate an image transfer surface in a two-dimensional manner around an axis and a retractable blade which is movable between a smoothing position contacting the material on the image transfer surface and a stand-by position departing from the material on the image transfer surface. Additionally, a cam on a lever moves the retractable blade to the stand-by position or to the smoothing position. In an image forming apparatus a retractable blade is used to smooth contamination of unknown distribution on a belt and to move corresponding to the movement of a roller disposed proximate to the belt.
US08548348B2
The high-voltage output apparatus includes a voltage application part that applies a DC voltage to the charge member; a current detection part that detects a value of a current flowing in the image bearing member when the DC voltage is applied to the charge member; and a control part that calculates a plurality of discharge start voltages for the image bearing member, based on a plurality of current values detected by the current detection part as a result of the voltage application part applying a plurality of different DC voltages to the charge member, and controls the DC voltage applied to the charge member, using the plurality of calculated discharge start voltages. Consequently, a high-quality image can be formed by maintaining a potential on a photosensitive drum to be constant irrespective of the states of the circumstances and/or the drum layer thickness.
US08548347B2
A color image forming apparatus including a test pattern formation portion that forms test patterns of a plurality of colors in an image formation area in which images of the plurality of colors are formed on an image carrier and in an image non-formation area outside the image formation area on the image carrier, a detection portion that detects a shift of each of the test patterns of the plurality of colors formed in the image formation area and a shift of each of the test patterns of the plurality of colors formed in the image non-formation area, a computing portion that obtains, for each color, an offset value indicating an offset between the shift of the test pattern in the image non-formation area and the shift of the test pattern in the image formation area, and a storage portion that stores the offset value for each color.
US08548343B2
An image forming apparatus including an image carrying member, a detecting section, and a linear-speed deriving section. The image carrying member carries a toner image. The detecting section detects passages of a mark, provided on the image carrying member, at a plurality of predetermined detection positions. The linear-speed deriving section determines a linear speed of the image carrying member from times at which the detecting section detects the passage of the mark.
US08548340B2
In an image-forming device, each of the N chargers charges the opposed photoconductor with a discharge. The voltage applying unit applies voltages to the N chargers, individually. The abnormal discharge detecting unit detects an occurrence of an abnormal discharge at least one of the N chargers. The voltage detecting unit detects first voltages applied to the N chargers before the occurrence of the abnormal discharge is detected, and second voltages applied to the N chargers after the occurrence of the abnormal discharge is detected. The calculating unit calculates a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage for each of the N chargers. The identifying unit identifies one charger as a charger at which the abnormal discharge is occurring. The difference between the first voltage and the second voltage applied to the one charger is the greatest among the differences.
US08548336B2
Systems and methods are provided for an optical modulation feedback circuit. The feedback circuit includes a low frequency comparison circuit configured to receive a monitoring signal generated by an optical detector, the monitoring signal being proportional to an amount of light generated by an optical transmission device that transmits based on a data signal that is received by an optical driver. The comparison circuit is further configured to generate a modulation control feedback signal that is transmitted to the optical driver based on a comparison of a low frequency component of the monitoring signal and a low frequency component of the data signal.
US08548330B2
Embodiments disclosed provide sectorization in distributed antenna systems, and related components and methods. The antenna units in the distributed antenna systems can be sectorized. In this regard, one or more radio bands distributed by the distributed antenna systems can be allocated to one or more sectors. The antenna units in the distributed antenna systems are also allocated to one or more sectors. In this manner, only radio frequency (RF) communications signals in the radio band(s) allocated to given sector(s) are distributed the antenna unit allocated to the same sector(s). The bandwidth capacity of the antenna unit is split among the radio band(s) allocated to sector(s) allocated to the antenna unit. The sectorization of the radio band(s) and the antenna units can be configured and/or altered based on capacity needs for given radio bands in antenna coverage areas provide by the antenna units.
US08548329B2
A relaying method of an optical signal of a hybrid relaying apparatus in a gigabit passive optical element includes: selecting and receiving any one of a first serial electrical signal corresponding to a downlink wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical line terminal (WDM-PON OLT) optical signal and a second serial electrical signal corresponding to a downlink gigabit passive optical network optical line terminal (GPON OLT) optical signal; modulating the downlink serial electrical signal to a downlink GPON transmission convergence (GTC) frame; extracting control information for uplink transmission from the downlink GTC frame; converting the downlink GTC frame into the downlink serial electrical signal; and converting the converted serial electrical signal into an optical signal and transmitting the converted optical signal in a GPON OLT optical transceiver.
US08548313B2
An aerial digital camera comprises a housing 15, a lens, a frame 45, an image sensor 35 mounted on the frame, at least three flexure bearings 51 connecting the frame and the housing, the flexure bearings allowing a displacement of the frame relative to the housing in a displacement direction 67 parallel to a light receiving surface of the image sensor, a spring 69 providing a biasing force between the housing and the frame oriented in the displacement direction; and an actuator 71 for displacing the frame relative to the housing against the biasing force of the spring.
US08548309B2
According to one embodiment, a capturing apparatus includes a capturing unit configured to capture a moving image video, a storage unit configured to store the moving image video captured by the capturing unit, an operation unit configured to include a plurality of keys used to instruct playback of the moving image video stored in the storage unit, a skip playback unit configured to play back the moving image video while skipping the moving image video at predetermined time intervals every time a predetermined operation is made on the operation unit, and a playback control unit configured to switch the time intervals skipped by the skip playback unit based on the total playback time period of the moving image video.
US08548308B2
A read unit 201 reads a digital stream that includes a left-view video stream and a right-view video stream from a recording medium. A mode storage unit 203 stores either a 3D mode to show a user video frames in stereoscopic view or a 2D mode to show a user video frames in monoscopic view as a playback mode of the apparatus. A dimension determining unit 202 determines whether the digital stream read from the recording medium supports 3D mode. When (i) the digital stream supports 3D mode and (ii) the current playback mode is 3D mode, a demultiplexer 204 separates the left-view video stream and the right-view video stream from the digital stream, and when condition (i) or (ii) is not met, the demultiplexer 204 separates either the left-view video stream or the right-view video stream from the digital stream.
US08548297B2
The subject matter discloses a method, comprising obtaining a current retention time of storage associated with a digital recorder; obtaining current bitrates of channels used to transmit video captured by edge devices communicating with the digital recorder. The method then determines change in compression rates to be allocated to at least a portion of the channels according to the current retention time and the current bitrates and transmits the change in compression rates to be allocated to the channels to edge devices communicating with the digital recorder. The method can be implemented in a system in which several digital recorders use the same storage.
US08548293B2
A fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, a strength layer surrounding the optical fiber, and an outer jacket surrounding the strength layer. The strength layer includes a matrix material in which is integrated a plurality of reinforcing fibers. A fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, a strength layer, a first electrical conductor affixed to an outer surface of the strength layer, a second electrical conductor affixed to the outer surface of the strength layer, and an outer jacket. The strength layer includes a polymeric material in which is embedded a plurality of reinforcing fibers. A method of manufacturing a fiber optic cable includes mixing a base material in an extruder. A strength layer is formed about an optical fiber. The strength layer includes a polymeric film with embedded reinforcing fibers disposed in the film. The base material is extruded through an extrusion die to form an outer jacket.
US08548292B2
The present invention provides an assembly (1) of integrated optical components and methods of producing thereof wherein the assembly (1) of optically linked optical components comprises a motherboard (2) having one or more primary lateral reference features (28) and a sub-assembly (20) comprising an optical component (22) mounted on a daughterboard (24), said sub-assembly (20) having one or more secondary lateral reference features (30). The primary lateral reference features may be optical alignment features. The daughterboard (24) may be mounted on the motherboard (2) such that the optical component (22) may extend into a motherboard recess (18). The lateral alignment of the component (22) with the motherboard (2) is provided by aligning the primary (28) and secondary lateral reference features (30). The daughterboard (24) may further comprise tertiary lateral reference features (42) which in combination with the secondary lateral reference features 30 form a self correcting alignment system.
US08548280B2
Systems and methods for replacing non-image text are provided. One method for replacing non-image text includes padding a first data representing an image of text to create an image segment. The method includes replacing a second data representing non-image text with the image segment.
US08548276B2
An image search apparatus capable of communicating with an image scanning apparatus includes: a common area extraction portion to compare a plurality of registration images stored in the storage portion and to extract a common area including an identical or similar image among a plurality of registration images; a search area determination portion to determine a non-common area excluding the common area, as a search area; a transmission request portion to request transmission of a document image if, as a result of comparison by the comparison portion, a registration image in which the reference image is identical or similar to the partial image does not exist in the plurality of registration images; and a registration portion to, in response to a request by the transmission request portion, store a document image received from the image scanning apparatus as a registration image into the storage portion.
US08548268B2
A device to analyze and determine the movement characteristics of products moving in a determinate direction of feed (F) and emitting radiations, in particular products exiting from a casting line, comprises a camera to continuously acquire images of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) in at least two successive instants of time, and an electronic processing unit by means of which the comparison between at least two successive images acquired is carried out, using mathematical algorithms based on the image correlation principle, in order to determine the spatial displacement of the images and then the movement characteristics of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) are analyzed and determined.
US08548267B1
Systems and methods for removing artifacts from a page of digital image are presented. More particularly, a digital image is obtained, the digital image having at least one page of content to be processed. A content bounding box is determined for the content of the page. Additionally, a set of segments is generating, the set corresponding to particular areas of the content within the content bounding box, each area associated with a type of content. For each segment of the set of segments, the following are performed. Despeckling criteria are selected for identifying artifacts according to the type associated with the segment. Artifacts are identified in the segment according to the despeckling criteria. The identified artifacts are then removed from the page. Thereafter, the updated digital image is stored in a content store.
US08548266B2
The present invention relates to an image compression and decompression method, in particular in the areas of computer image processing and data compression. The currently, the process speed for which JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group, a compression standard) is applied, it's not all too satisfactory. One aspect of the present invention is simplify compression process based on particular features of an image, thus achieve the aim of accelerate the processing speed. Apply the process described in the present invention, the processing speed for JPEG compression/decompression would rise, without suffers quality reduction compare to current JPEG compression/decompression method.
US08548260B2
Feature values calculated from a peripheral image area of feature points extracted in a detection target object in a training image each are labeled with a label indicating a class of the detection target object, feature values calculated from a peripheral image area of feature points of a non detection target object in the training image each are labeled with a label indicating the non detection target object, voting positions in a parameter space are calculated by relative positions of the feature points of the detection target object from the detection target object on the training image, and a first classifier is learned using the labeled feature values extracted in the training image so that a class distribution is concentrated and the voting positions in the parameter space are concentrated.
US08548259B2
Techniques and methods are disclosed herein for combining and weighting of values from and associated with classifiers. Classifiers are used to recognize characters as part of an optical character recognition (OCR) system. Various methods of normalization facilitate combining of results of classifiers. For example, weight values may be entered into a weight table having two columns, one that includes weights from comparing patterns with images of correct characters, the other column includes weights from comparing patterns with images of incorrect characters.
US08548252B2
One or more techniques and/or systems for detecting edges in images of objects subjected to imaging using imaging apparatus are disclosed, such that the effect of image noise on the edge detection can be mitigated. Ratios of intensity values (e.g., signal values) for a subject region (e.g., a pixel) and respective adjacent regions are determined. An adaptive threshold value is determined for respective adjacent region pairs. The ratio value is compared to the adaptive threshold value for respective adjacent region pairs, to determine whether an edge is present between the respective adjacent region pairs.
US08548251B2
Some embodiments provide a method for selecting a portion of an image. The method identifies edges in the image. The method defines a border about the portion of the image by using the identified edges. The method represents the border as a deformable curve. In some embodiments, defining the border includes detecting a cursor moving over the image and defining the border along identified edges in the vicinity of the cursor. In some embodiments, the method searches for edges in the vicinity of the cursor and snaps the border to the edges. Identifying the edges of the image includes performing an edge detection algorithm in some embodiments. Identifying the edges further includes performing a de-noise algorithm in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the parametrizable curve is a bezier spline.
US08548250B2
An information processing apparatus is disclosed, including: a reading part reading vector information included in an electronic file; a first line segment extraction part extracting line segment parameter information of a line object from the vector information; a second line segment extraction part extracting polygon parameter information of a polygon object from the vector information and extracting the line segment parameter information of line segments forming the polygon object from the extracted polygon parameter information; a rectangle extraction part extracting rectangle parameter information based on the line segment parameter; a minimum rectangle determination part determining whether or not a rectangle formed based on the rectangle parameter information is a minimum rectangle which does not connote other rectangles; and a minimum rectangle output part outputting the minimum rectangle.
US08548247B2
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a program that make it possible to more accurately specify a photographic subject in an image.A photographic subject map generating unit 21 generates, based on an input image, a photographic subject map indicating the likeliness of each region of the input image being a region of a photographic subject. A gradient map generating unit 22 generates a gradient map indicating the degree of change of the likeliness of the photographic subject map being a photographic subject. A threshold processing unit 23 and a threshold processing unit 24 binarize the gradient map using a high threshold THh and a low threshold TH1, and obtain threshold maps. A composite map generating unit 25 generates a composite map indicating the likeliness of each region of the input image being a photographic subject by regarding that, among regions specified as being likely to be a photographic subject based on the threshold map of the low threshold TH1, a region including a region specified as being likely to be a photographic subject based on the threshold map of the high threshold THh is a region of a photographic subject. The present invention is applicable to an image processing apparatus.
US08548246B2
A method and system for preprocessing an image, wherein the image includes a plurality of columns, or regions, of text is disclosed. A plurality of components associated with the text is determined. On determining the plurality of components, a line height and a column spacing is determined for the components. The components are then associated with a column based on the line height and the column spacing. A set of characteristic parameters are calculated for each column and the plurality of components of each column are merged based on the characteristic parameters to form sub-words and words. A first plurality of words and/or subwords is merged and processed as a first region and a second plurality of words and/or subwords is merged and processed as a second region wherein at least a portion of the second region vertically overlaps at least a portion of the first region.
US08548242B1
The invention is a method for omnidirectional recognition of recognizable characters in a captured two-dimensional image. An optical reader configured in accordance with the invention searches for pixel groupings in a starburst pattern, and subjects located pixel groupings to a preliminary edge crawling process which records the pixel position of the grouping's edge and records the count of edge pixels. If two similar-sized pixel groupings are located that are of sizes sufficient to potentially represent recognizable characters, then the reader launches “alignment rails” at pixel positions substantially parallel to a centerline connecting the center points of the two similarly sized groupings. A reader according to the invention searches for additional recognizable characters within the rail area, and subjects each located pixel grouping within the rail area to a shape-characterizing edge crawling process for developing data that characterizes the shape of a pixel grouping's edge. After adjusting the orientation representation of the shape-characterizing data the reader compares the developed shape-characterizing data to previously stored shape-characterizing data to determine the character represented by the grouping on the basis of the best fit data.
US08548223B2
Optical image data of a mask is acquired. Reference image data associated with the optical images is created from design pattern data. Regional image data that includes pixel values denoted by multi-valued resolution based on importance level information of the patterns is created from region data including at least one portion of the patterns defined in the design pattern data. Defect determination is conducted on a pixel-by-pixel basis by comparing the optical image data with the reference image data, by means of either a plurality of threshold values determined by each pixel value within the regional image data or a plurality of defect determination methods. Image data of a section whose Mask Error Enhancement Factor (MEEF) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is created from the region data including at least one portion of the patterns defined in the design pattern data.
US08548221B2
A microbead automatic recognition method includes the steps of: acquiring an image of a circular surface of a cylindrical microbead having a recognition pattern created on the circular surface and a plurality of reference points also created on the circular surface; and acquiring information on the rear/front and/or orientation of the cylindrical microbead from the acquired image on the basis of the positions of the reference points.
US08548211B2
Indicating an object is disclosed. Indicating an object includes receiving an indication associated with selecting an image and providing a second indication that a set of one or more objects correspond to the image, wherein the objects have been detected from the image. Indicating an image is disclosed. Indicating an image includes receiving an indication associated with selecting an object, wherein the object has been detected from an image and displaying the image such that a correspondence between the selected object and the image is conveyed.
US08548207B2
A method of host-directed illumination for verifying the validity of biometric data of a user is provided that includes capturing biometric data from a user with an authentication device during authentication and directing illumination of the biometric data from a host authentication system during the capturing operation. Moreover, the method includes comparing illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data against illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation, and determining that the user is a live user when the illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data match the illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation.
US08548203B2
Human behavior is determined by sequential event detection by constructing a temporal-event graph with vertices representing adjacent first and second primitive images of a plurality of individual primitive images parsed from a video stream, and also of first and second idle states associated with the respective first and second primitive images. Constructing the graph is a function of an edge set between the adjacent first and second primitive images, and an edge weight set as a function of a discrepancy between computed visual features within regions of interest common to the adjacent first and second primitive images. A human activity event is determined as a function of a shortest distance path of the temporal-event graph vertices.
US08548199B2
There is provided an image processing device including: a data storage unit that stores object identification data for identifying an object operable by a user and feature data indicating a feature of appearance of each object; an environment map storage unit that stores an environment map representing a position of one or more objects existing in a real space and generated based on an input image obtained by imaging the real space using an imaging device and the feature data stored in the data storage unit; and a selecting unit that selects at least one object recognized as being operable based on the object identification data, out of the objects included in the environment map stored in the environment map storage unit, as a candidate object being a possible operation target by a user.
US08548195B2
The present invention relates to a tracking method and a tracking device adopting multiple observation models with different life spans. The tracking method is suitable for tracking an object in a low frame rate video or with abrupt motion, and uses three observation models with different life spans to track and detect a specific subject in frame images of a video sequence. An observation model I performs online learning with one frame image prior to the current image, an observation model II performs online learning with five frames prior to the current image, and an observation model III is offline trained. The three observation models are combined by a cascade particle filter so that the specific subject in the low frame rate video or the object with abrupt motion can be tracked quickly and accurately.
US08548192B2
A method for extracting a fingerprint data from video/audio signals, comprising the steps of sending a series of video frame images into a fingerprint extractor; extracting a fingerprint data through the fingerprint extractor; and storing the fingerprint data into a fingerprint database, characterized in that, in the fingerprint extractor, said method further comprises the sub-steps of storing the video frame images in a frame buffer which accepts a new video frame image and discards the oldest video frame image in a first in first out (FIFO) fashion; sampling the video images by a sub-sampler which operates on one video frame image at a time, so that the output of the sub-sampler contains data samples obtained from multiple video frame images while the video image content itself is discarded, and after each video frame image is sampled at the head of the frame buffer, it is discarded after the sampling; making the data samples to go through a divider which divides the data samples into groups of video frames so as to be organized as one fingerprint segment after another one; incorporating optional information by a formatter to the fingerprint segment so as to form the fingerprint data, at the output of the formatter, the video image content is discarded, only the fingerprint data and the associated optional information remain; and transferring the fingerprint data and the associated optional information by a transfer buffer to the fingerprint database. According to the present invention, the method for extracting a fingerprint data from video/audio signals facilitates the automatic identification, archiving and search of video content without the need for human visual inspections.
US08548186B2
An earphone assembly for an in-ear listening device is disclosed. The earphone assembly has an inner housing comprising a nozzle, configured to receive a sleeve for placement into a user's ear, and a balanced armature motor assembly. The balanced armature motor assembly is mounted in the inner housing so as to form an acoustical seal between the inner housing and the balanced armature motor assembly. The earphone assembly also includes an outer housing configured to receive the inner housing. The inner housing can comprise a recess for receiving a paddle of the balanced armature motor assembly. Alternatively, the outer housing can be formed with a nozzle for receiving a sleeve for placement into a user's ear canal, and the inner housing can comprise a spout, which is received in a recess in the outer housing.
US08548176B2
An apparatus includes first and second microphone arrangements, arranged to output first and second signals respectively and is operable in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, an output signal is generated based on the second signal and a third signal, where the second signal and, optionally, the first signal, can be used to compensate for ambient noise, for example, for noise cancellation when a telephone call is relayed through a speaker. In the second mode, an output signal is generated based on the first and second signals. In this manner, the combination of the first and second microphone arrangements provides a directional sensitivity that can pick up sound from a remote source, for example, in an audio or video recording session. The apparatus may include a sensor to allow automatic switching between one or more of modes, directional sensitivity patterns and types of recording session.
US08548174B2
A modular electronic biosensor includes a housing configured for hand-held manipulation and a base module comprising a module interface configured to receive one of a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, such as a transducer module and an output module. A transducer of the transducer module is configured to sense a property of the human body and the output module is configured to output a signal comprising transducer signal information. The module interface includes a module connector for receiving a connector of the detachable module to facilitate signal transmission therebetween, a mechanical retention mechanism configured to retentively engage the detachable module, and a sealing arrangement disposed to provide sealing between the base module and the detachable module when attached to the base module. A processor is coupled to the module connector and configured to communicatively couple with each of the detachable and interchangeable modules when attached to the base module.
US08548171B2
In an embodiment, a method for generating and distributing keys retains the scalability of a group VPN, but also provides true pair-wise keying such that an attacker who compromises one of the devices in a VPN cannot use the keys gained by that compromise to decrypt the packets from the other gateways in the VPN, or spoof one of the communicating gateways. The method is resistant to collusion when co-operating attackers overtake several VPN gateways and observe the keys stored in those gateways. In an embodiment, a VPN gateway comprises a cryptographic data processor configured to encrypt and to decrypt data packets; group key management logic; and Key Generation System logic. In one approach a gateway performs, in relation to adding a group member, receiving in a security association (SA) message secret data for use in the KGS; and derives keys for secure communication with one or more peer VPN gateways using the secret data.
US08548165B2
A computer implemented method of compressing a digitally represented cryptographic value. The method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a secret value; (b) performing a cryptographic operation on the secret value to generate the cryptographic value; (c) determining whether the cryptographic value satisfies the pre-determined criteria; and (d) repeating the sequence of steps starting at step (a) until the cryptographic value satisfies the pre-determined criteria.
US08548159B2
With a waterproof structure for the space between a first case and a diaphragm doubling as a display panel provided facing the first case, a first resilient member is integrally formed at a surface of the diaphragm facing the first case, and the first resilient member is press-fitted into a groove formed in a surface of the first case facing the diaphragm side.
US08548150B2
A method for location relevant directory assistance through a PSTN is provided. The method can include connecting a calling party with a called party through a switch in a PSTN, receiving a directory assistance request from the calling party over the PSTN, and querying a database disposed within the PSTN to retrieve caller identification for the calling party. The method can further include retrieving from over a data communications network separate from the PSTN a call address in response to the querying of the database for the calling party from the database disposed within the PSTN. Location relevant directory information can be identified from a database that is external to the PSTN based upon the retrieved call address. Subsequently, the directory assistance request can be responded to using the identified location relevant directory information.
US08548140B2
The present disclosure describes a system, method, and computer-readable medium for providing audio announcement of communications to a called party in a communication network. The method includes receiving communication from a calling party and performing a lookup of information relating to the calling party in a database via an Internet Protocol connection based on an identifier of at least one of the calling party and the called party. The information comprises one or more audio files. The method then provides the audio announcement to a called party based on the audio files.
US08548139B2
A system and method allowing users of video call endpoints to register their video call addresses in a local, regional and/or global directory, where the directory is configured to validate whether the video call address is a valid accessible address and that the user registering the video call number actually has physical access to the a video call device using the video call address.
US08548135B1
Embodiments of the invention provide a communication device. The communication device comprises a database comprising one or more visual IVR menus associated with a plurality of calling devices. Further, the communication device comprises means for receiving a call from a phone number of a calling device, and means for displaying a visual IVR menu associated with the phone number of the calling device.
US08548132B1
The invention is directed to techniques for initiating lawful intercept of packets associated with subscriber sessions on a network device of a service provider network based on identification triggers. A law enforcement agency may send an intercept request for a subscriber to an administration device of the service provider network. The administration device may then configure one or more identification triggers for the subscriber based on the intercept request. The techniques described herein initiate lawful intercept when one or more subscriber sessions on a network device match the one or more identification triggers. The techniques described herein include configuring trigger rules that include identification triggers for subscribers on a network device via a command line interface (CLI) of the network device. In addition, the techniques described herein include configuring identification triggers in a subscriber profile on an authentication device connected to a network device.
US08548128B2
A telephone apparatus includes a storage unit, a display unit, a retrieving unit and a display control unit. The storage unit is configured to store a plurality of images therein. The display unit is configured to display at least one of the plurality of images. The retrieving unit is configured to retrieve a relating image from the images stored in the storage unit when an outgoing call is made to or an incoming call is received from other telephone apparatus through a telephone line. The relating image relates to a corresponding image associated with the other party of the outgoing or incoming call. The display control unit configured to perform control to display at least one of the corresponding image and the retrieved relating image on the display unit.
US08548123B2
Method and apparatus for using an area X-ray detector as a point detector in an X-ray diffractometer
An area detector used in a two-dimensional system is used as a point detector in Bragg-Brentano and other geometries by providing the area detector with a mask the limits the area through which X-rays can enter the detector. Secondary X-ray optics and a monochromator that are part of the diffractometer geometry are attached to the area detector mask to allow a fast and easy switch between the two-dimensional detector mode and the point detector mode. A concave detector mask is used with a spherical detector in order to reduce the secondary beam path and increase detector efficiency and the opening in the detector mask can be offset from the mask center to achieve high 2θ angle measurements. Single channel bypath electronics are used to disregard the dimensional position of each X-ray count to increase the efficiency and speed of the system.
US08548120B2
A method and a system for generating an image by obtaining x-ray image data, segmenting the x-ray image data into a first portion above a vertical threshold and a second portion below the vertical threshold. Further, the method and the system include generating an arch for the second plurality of slices, and generating an image based on the arch.
US08548117B2
A computed tomography acquisition method, an imaging system, a computer readable medium provides laterally displacing a radiation detector (204) from a position with centered detector geometry with a centered transverse field of view to a first offset position (212); emitting first radiation by the radiation source (202), detecting the first radiation by the radiation detector (204) and acquiring projection data indicative of the first radiation; rotating the support around the rotational axis (214) by 180°; emitting second radiation by the radiation source (202), detecting the second radiation by the radiation detector (204) and acquiring projection data indicative of the second radiation; displacing the radiation detector (204) from the first offset position to a second offset position (226), with opposite direction and double length of the first displacement (a); emitting third radiation by the radiation source (202), detecting the third radiation by the radiation detector (204) and acquiring projection data indicative of the third radiation; rotating the support around the rotational axis (214) by 180°; and emitting fourth radiation by the radiation source (202), detecting the fourth radiation by the radiation detector (204) and acquiring projection data indicative of the fourth radiation.
US08548093B2
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals is individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US08548084B2
A method for transmitting data in a wireless communication system comprises: receiving synchronization signals and midambles transmitted through a plurality of antennas; and estimating each channel of the plurality of antennas by using the synchronization signals and the midambles, wherein the synchronization signals and the midambles are transmitted such that the channels of the plurality of antennas are combined. Respective channel states of a plurality of antennas can be estimated by using the synchronization signals and the midambles, and data can be effectively transmitted.
US08548079B2
Multi-level modulation is performed with a signal point constellation in which any three adjacent signal points on a phase plane form an equilateral triangle and at least a distance between a signal point closest to the origin of the phase plane and the origin is increased within a range that the transmission mean power remains unchanged.
US08548073B2
The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system for increasing data rates and improving robustness in a wireless communication system. The method comprises identifying a set of guard tones for wireless Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signals, encoding data for OFDM transmission, identifying a preferred puncture pattern to puncture the encoded data, puncturing the encoded data with the preferred puncture pattern, and transmitting the punctured encoded data, wherein a portion of the punctured encoded data is transmitted on a portion of the set of guard tones.
US08548072B1
Methods and systems are provided for timing synchronization for reception of highly-spectrally efficient communications. An example method may include, mapping, in a transmitter, a plurality of transmit bits to a plurality of symbols at a symbol rate that is based on an oscillator signal. The plurality of symbols may be processed via a filter. The processing may result in an inter-symbol correlated (ISC) signal. The oscillator signal may be frequency divided to generate one or more pilot signals having a frequency that is a sub-harmonic of a frequency of the oscillator signal. The pilot signal may be injected into the ISC signal. The injecting may result in an ISC signal with timing carrier. The ISC signal with timing carrier may be transmitted. Gain of the one or more pilot signals may be adjusted based on a spectral mask value associated with the transmitting.
US08548067B2
Single sensor radio scene analysis for packet based radio signals using 2nd and 4th order statistics
We consider a problem of radio frequency (RF) signal analysis where one sensing node observes a frequency band possibly used by multiple packet based radio transmitters. Analysis of the received signal includes two steps. In the first step we use a spectrogram to perform temporal segmentation of the received nonstationary signal. This task may be formulated as a clustering problem. In the second step we compute a certain 2-D slice of the fourth order spectrum for each of the segments found in the first step. These fourth order spectrum slices are arraigned in a three-way array. One aspect of the second step is to use uniqueness properties of the low rank decomposition of the three-way array to recover spectra and associated activity sequences of individual components in the received signal. We derive a numerical algorithm for the low rank decomposition, which computes estimates of the spectra and activity sequences by optimizing certain weighted least squares criterion under application specific constraints. Certain embodiments are illustrated with simulation examples involving signals used in 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth networks. The disclosed methods and related systems can be used as spectrum analysis tools, providing crucial information needed for achieving efficient utilization of radio spectrum and elimination of mutual interference between the coexisting systems.
US08548066B2
A multi-directional comb filtering in a digital video decoder is provided. Some embodiments of the present invention provide for a method of filtering, using a multi-directional comb filter, pixel data from a sequence of fields of pixel data, wherein the fields of pixel data comprise a previous field, a current field and a next field, and wherein each of said fields includes a previous line, a current line, a next line.
US08548061B2
An image decoding apparatus, which receives a compressed image stream as an input signal and decodes the input signal, includes decoders for decoding the input signal by decoding predetermined data units. A task controller divides a decoding process for the input signal into process steps and allocates a data unit to be processed by each decoder and for each process step. Each process step has a dependency on an order of processing. The task controller detects a processing status of the decoder, and allocates a data unit and a process step to be processed to the decoder, depending on the detected processing status, a dependency between the process steps, and a dependency between frames included in the image stream.
US08548060B2
The present invention discloses an encoding apparatus using a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) scanning, which includes: a mode selection means for selecting an optimal mode for intra prediction; an intra prediction means for performing intra prediction onto video inputted based on the mode selected in the mode selection means; a DCT and quantization means for performing DCT and quantization onto residual coefficients of a block outputted from the intra prediction means; and an entropy encoding means for performing entropy encoding onto DCT coefficients acquired from the DCT and quantization by using a scanning mode decided based on pixel similarity of the residual coefficients.
US08548059B2
An image processing method includes decoding encoded image data to generate a decoded image signal including a luma signal and a chroma signal. The method further includes detecting a condition that a reference field has a different parity from a current field and that the number of chroma pixels is vertically different from the number of luma pixels. The method further includes shifting a phase of the chroma signal in the reference field in a vertical plus direction according a value of a motion vector in a vertical direction under the detected condition so that the reference field will coincide in phase of the chroma signal with a current field. The method also includes performing a motion compensation of the decoded image signal using the reference field.
US08548056B2
This disclosure describes techniques for coding information in a scalable video coding (SVC) scheme that supports spatial scalability. In one example, a method of coding information in a SVC scheme comprises coding first video blocks defined in a base layer of the SVC scheme, and coding second video blocks defined in an enhancement layer of the SVC scheme, wherein the second video blocks provide spatial scalability enhancement relative to the first video blocks. The coding of the second video blocks includes performing inter-layer prediction for the enhancement layer relative to the base layer for a first subset of the second video blocks that fully overlap the first video blocks, and performing inter-layer prediction for the enhancement layer relative to the base layer for a second subset of the second video blocks that partially overlap the first video blocks.
US08548055B2
Methods and apparatus for coding multimedia data such as video data are disclosed. In some embodiments, such methods and apparatus determine an appropriate quantization parameter to be used for effectively coding such multimedia data.
US08548051B2
An improved loss recovery method for coding streaming media classifies each data unit in the media stream as an independent data unit (I unit), a remotely predicted unit (R unit) or a predicted data unit (P unit). Each of these units is organized into independent segments having an I unit, multiple P units and R units interspersed among the P units. The beginning of each segment is the start of a random access point, while each R unit provides a loss recovery point that can be placed independently of the I unit. This approach separates the random access point from the loss recovery points provided by the R units, and makes the stream more impervious to data losses without substantially impacting coding efficiency. The most important data units are transmitted with the most reliability to ensure that the majority of the data received by the client is usable. The I units are the least sensitive to transmission losses because they are coded using only their own data. While they provide the best coding efficiency, the P units are the most sensitive to data loss because the loss of one P unit renders useless all of the P units that depend on it. The remotely predicted units are dependent on the I unit, or in an alternative implementation, on another R unit.
US08548050B2
A video coding method applied to an input signal consisting of a sequence of frames represented by one luminance matrix and two chrominance matrices generates a coded bitstream in which each data item is described by a bitstream syntax allowing any decoder to recognize and decode all the segments of the content of the bitstream. The syntax includes a flag provided for indicating at a high level description the presence, or absence, of chrominance components in the coded bitstream, and therefore allowing to deliver, at the decoding side, the information according to which chrominance descriptive elements have to be decoded, or not.
US08548046B2
A category setting part sets a type of a decoded image based on characteristics of the decoded image which are fineness of the decoded image and an intensity of movement of the decoded image. A code amount setting part sets a target code amount of an output image based on the type of the decoded image. A quantization step value setting part sets a quantization step value of the output image based on the target code amount of the output image. A transcoder can set the target code amount of the output image depending on fineness of the decoded image. The transcoder can distribute the target code amount of the output image to a reference image and a predicted image depending on the intensity of movement of the decoded image.
US08548041B2
A video encoder that utilizes adaptive loop filtering for coding video data includes: a prediction unit, for performing prediction techniques according to original video data and reconstructed video data to generate predicted samples; a reconstruction unit, for reconstructing the predicted samples to form the reconstructed video data; a reference picture buffer, for storing the reconstructed video data; a filter parameter estimator, for estimating filter parameters according to the original video data and the reconstructed video data; and an adaptive filter, for utilizing the stored filter parameters to perform filtering on the reconstructed video data.
US08548036B2
For voltage values (observed noise sequence) in an electronic power line (communication medium) which are obtained at a predetermined interval, initial values of noise characteristics based on a statistic of the observed noise sequence itself are decided by a moment method (S301 to S307), the noise characteristics (state transition probabilities and state noise power) for maximization of the likelihood of the observed noise sequence are obtained from the initial values by MAP (Maximum A Posteriori) estimation using a Baum-Welch algorithm (S309 to S312), a state sequence is estimated from the obtained noise characteristics, and an impulsive noise at each time point is detected.
US08548034B2
Methods and apparatus for power control in a communications device are described. Bonding of channels in a modem may be dynamically adjusted responsive to user activity or demand for bandwidth. Bonded channel configurations may be adjusted to single channel configurations for low power operation. Modem configuration may be dynamically adjusted so as to maintain only required synchronization and system information to facilitate rapid data transfer resumption upon demand.
US08548031B2
A tuner circuit includes circuitry to produce a first DSP frame based on a first RF signal and includes an inter-chip receiver circuit coupled to an inter-chip link and configured to receive an inter-chip frame. The inter-chip receiver circuit is configured to detect a start of frame symbol of the inter-chip frame and to extract a DSP offset and data related to a second DSP frame from the inter-chip frame. The tuner circuit further includes a digital signal processor coupled to the circuitry and to the inter-chip receiver circuit. The digital signal processor synchronizes the first DSP frame with the second DSP frame based on the start of frame symbol and the digital signal processor offset. The digital signal processor performs a selected antenna diversity operation on the first and second DSP frames to produce an output signal.
US08548030B2
A relay apparatus, comprises a reception section that receives real-time data, a monitoring section that periodically detects quality of a transmission path to be used for transmitting the real-time data toward a destination thereof, a determination section that determines a length of an interleaving cycle according to the quality of the transmission path, an interleaving section that interleaves the real-time data in the interleaving cycle having the determined length, and a transmission section that transmits the interleaved real-time data to the transmission path.
US08548029B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring an antenna system comprising at least two antenna branches providing antenna diversity. At least a first signal branch measure and a second signal branch measure are repeatedly generated in response to a first signal branch and a second signal branch received by a respective one of the at least two antenna branches, thus generating a first plurality of second signal branch measure values in a manner so that the first and second pluralities reflect the quality of the first and second signal branches, respectively, at different points in time. The first and second pluralities are analysed in order to distinguish any differences in the performance of the first and second antenna branches.
US08548026B2
An enhanced spread-spectrum uplink technique provides more efficient packet transfer in a wireless network. A mobile station requests to utilize an uplink channel, typically, a physical dedicated channel. If the network will grant access, a base station sends back a channel-request-granted message, which specifies a transmission start time and length. The base station starts related downlink transmissions at the start time, and at a time thereafter, the mobile station starts sending packet data over the uplink physical dedicated channel. After a transmission of no more that the specified length, the mobile station ceases its uplink transmission on the dedicated channel, and the base station and/or the mobile station can immediately release one or more channel resources. The grant message and/or the subsequent signaling communications from the base station may also specify a modulation scheme and a channelization code for the uplink channel.
US08548019B2
In a GaN-based laser device having a GaN-based semiconductor stacked-layered structure including a light emitting layer, the semiconductor stacked-layered structure includes a ridge stripe structure causing a stripe-shaped waveguide, and has side surfaces opposite to each other to sandwich the stripe-shaped waveguide in its width direction therebetween. At least part of at least one of the side surfaces is processed to prevent the stripe-shaped waveguide from functioning as a Fabry-Perot resonator in the width direction.
US08548018B2
A command apparatus (10) for a plurality of laser power supplies (11, 12) comprises: a command generating section (5) generating commands for the laser power supplies; and a separating section (36) separating the generated commands into a bias command, an output command, an offset command and a gain command, wherein the bias command and the output command are common to the laser power supplies, the offset command and the gain command are defined at least in accordance with the discharge tubes corresponding to the laser power supplies respectively, wherein the command apparatus further comprises a transmitting section (37) transmitting, to the laser power supplies, the bias and the output command which are common to the laser power supplies and, transmitting the offset and the gain command defined at least in accordance with the discharge tubes corresponding to the laser power supplies respectively, corresponding to the laser power supplies.
US08548017B1
A method for implementing a coherent laser beam combining system in which a master laser oscillator output is split into N signals, fed through N phase adjusters and N amplifiers and combined in a coherent power combiner. The output of the combiner is sampled and sent to a processor. The processor selects one of the N phase adjusters, sweeps the phase in small steps over a 2π range, and locks the phase of that adjuster to the phase that corresponds to the maximum value of the combiner sample for that sweep cycle. The process is repeated for all the remaining phase adjusters resulting in maximizing the combiner output. The sweep cycles are repeated continuously to correct any phase errors that may occur over time. A similar method can be used in which both the polarizations and the phases of the N signals are maximized to thereby maximize the output of the coherent power combiner.
US08548016B2
A tunable laser system having fine and coarse wavelength discrimination is provided. The tunable laser system includes a first filter having a first free spectral range (FSR) and a second filter having a second FSR different from the first FSR. The first filter provides a first series of pulses from a first portion of a laser output, and a second filter provides a second series of pulses from a second portion of the laser output. A processing system compares the first series of pulses and the second series of pulses to identify a series of markers, in which the markers are separated by a beat period of the first series of pulses and the second series of pulses. Advantageously, the series of markers may be used for mode-hop detection and/or for wavelength referencing.
US08548011B2
In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for improving synchronization of communications between a first port and a second port is provided, the method performed at the first port and comprising: inserting skip symbols into a transmission stream for transmissions from the first port to the second port, wherein the skip symbols are inserted at a first average frequency level; detecting a lack of synchronization between the first port and the second port; and inserting skip symbols into the transmission stream at a second average frequency level greater than the first average frequency level in response to the detecting.
US08548008B2
A memory 21 of a pilot processing circuit 2 holds in advance a pilot sequence converted into a frequency region signal obtained by subjecting a pilot signal symbol transmitted in one block to Ntx_p-point DFT. The pilot sequence held in the memory 21 is subjected to a series of processes including a roll-off filtering by a roll-off filter circuit 22, subcarrier mapping process by subcarrier mapping circuit 23, an Ndft_p-point IDFT operation by an IDFT circuit 24, and a cyclic prefix adding process by a cyclic prefix adding circuit 25.
US08548007B2
A method is provided for determining a transmission rate of a control response frame for acknowledging data receipt in a wireless local area network. The method includes obtaining transmission parameters of a transmitting station from a data transmission frame received from the transmitting station, searching a receiving station for transmission parameters which correspond to the transmission parameters of the transmitting station, determining the transmission rate of the control response frame according to transmission parameters of the receiving station if the transmission parameters corresponding to the transmission parameters of the transmitting station are found in the receiving station, and determining a maximum rate among a set of basic transmission rates to be the transmission rate of the control response frame if the transmission parameters corresponding to the transmission parameters of the transmitting station are not found in the receiving station.
US08548002B2
A method of processing a codec sample is provided. The method includes: removing from a first portion of the codec sample, a first number of first information bits. The first information bits are indicative of frame information associated with the codec sample. The method also includes inserting at the first portion of the codec sample from a second portion of the codec sample, a second number of data bits. The first number of the first information bits is greater than or equal to the second number of the data bits. The method also includes removing the second portion of the codec sample. The method may also include encrypting and decrypting the codec sample. In some embodiments, the codec sample is an adaptive multi-rate codec sample. In some embodiments, the adaptive multi-rate codec sample is a 5.15 mode adaptive multi-rate codec sample.
US08547998B2
The present invention relates to tunneling an IPv6 packet through an IPIv4 network. In using a tunneling method upon transmitting an IPv6 packet in an IP network, when destination nodes desired to be communicated are located within the same IPv6 prefix network, IPv6 prefix information is added for the management of a tunnel entry. Hence, tunneling information on terminals located within the same IPv6 prefix network can be managed as one tunnel entry. Accordingly, the time consumed when retrieving a tunnel entry can be reduced.
US08547995B2
Both the transmitter unit VTB and the receiver unit VRB feature a modular structure consisting of a base module or baseboard common to both units and one or more exchangeable adapter cards attached to or inserted into the baseboards to perform selected functions. The basebord is unitary; its components are activated depending upon the baseboard being in a VTB or a VRB. Each card is unique and earmarked and serves a specific purpose, e.g. for video coding and decoding, SMPTE processing, clocking/re-clocking, audio embedding/extraction. Upon inserting a card into a baseboard, the earmark is identified and the baseboard configured as transmitter or receiver baseboard. Functions in the baseboard can be implemented in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and the network management, configuration, and/or control of the transmitting and/or receiving processes be performed by a softcore processors.
US08547979B2
For improved IP fragmentation and transmission, user payload is transmitted through a transmission path enabled by at least a first established tunnel (17,18) and a second (17,18) established tunnel. The tunnels connect a first node (11, 13) and a second (11,13) node in a Packet Core Network (PCN). A method comprises the first node fragmenting (19) at least one received payload packet (15) into fragments (16) on the basis of a minimum Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) for an upper IP layer of the transmission path; encapsulating (20) the fragments at the entry of the first tunnel, and, determining (21) the MTU for the upper IP layer of the transmission path on the basis of an MTU of a lower IP layer of the transmission path and on the basis of the size of at least one additional tunnel header for the encapsulated fragments (16).
US08547974B1
A packet capture is received from actual network traffic, the traffic including a multiple protocol message exchange. A scenario may be generated based on an analysis of the received packet capture, the scenario modeling the multiple protocol message exchange. The scenario is used to generate tests, for example protocol mutation tests.
US08547973B2
A communication device includes a request receiving module and a response output module. The request receiving module receives a communication start request which is output from a given communication device and passes through a relay device. The response output module outputs a response to the communication start request to the given communication device through the relay device. The relay device outputs the response to the given communication device in preference to a notification indicating a connection rejection in arbitration processing, executed by the relay device, between information to be output from the relay device in case where the request receiving module receives the communication start request while communicating with a communication device other than the given communication device.
US08547968B2
A packet switched telephone system includes a packet switched routing apparatus. The packet switched routing apparatus selectively associates a local telephone number with a phone call based on a called telephone number, and routes the phone call based on the called telephone number. The local telephone number may be substituted for a calling telephone number when the called telephone number corresponds to a predefined number, such as an emergency number. When the called telephone number corresponds to an emergency number, the phone call may be routed with the substituted local telephone number to a Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) that services the local area of the subscriber.
US08547954B2
Systems and methodologies of intelligently selecting and advertising antenna ports to UEs (e.g., advertising a number of antenna ports to legacy UEs, and another number of antenna ports to new UEs). Such adaptive feature in adjusting the number of antenna ports, enables the base station(s) to intelligently balance requirements of legacy UEs and new UEs (e.g. LTE-A) for an overall efficient operation of the wireless system take as a whole—(e.g., performance gain for new users is deemed an offset for performance degradation for legacy users.) Accordingly, resources that are typically reserved for a Reference Signal (RS) associated with an antenna port, can be freed when such antenna ports are not advertised to the UEs as part of wireless system operation.
US08547951B2
A channel structure has at least two channel sets. Each channel set contains multiple channels and is associated with a specific mapping of the channels to the system resources available for data transmission. Each channel set may be defined based on a channel tree having a hierarchical structure. To achieve intra-cell interference diversity, the channel-to-resource mapping for each channel set is pseudo-random with respect to the mapping for each remaining channel set. In each scheduling interval, terminals are scheduled for transmission on the forward and/or reverse link. The scheduled terminals are assigned channels from the channel sets. Multiple terminals may use the same system resources and their overlapping transmissions may be separated in the spatial domain. For example, beamforming may be performed to send multiple overlapping transmissions on the forward link, and receiver spatial processing may be performed to separate out multiple overlapping transmissions received on the reverse link.
US08547939B1
A method of operating a wireless system comprises transmitting wireless signals from a first base station over a first and a second frequency band, transmitting wireless signals from a second base station over the first frequency band, processing loading of the first frequency band of the first base station to determine a user priority between the first and the second frequency band of the first base station, transmitting an indication of the user priority to a plurality of wireless devices, wherein the plurality of wireless devices select between the first and the second frequency band based on the user priority, determining a distance between the first base station and a wireless device utilizing the second frequency band, determining a velocity of the wireless device, and transmitting a message for delivery to the wireless device if the distance exceeds a first threshold or the velocity exceeds a second threshold.
US08547937B1
A method for selectively establishing a voice call continuity link between a mobile device and a voice call continuity application server includes the steps of receiving a request to establish a voice over IP call connection at the voice call continuity application server from the mobile device, the request including mobile device location information for the mobile device. The method determines at the voice call continuity application server whether the voice call continuity link is needed between the voice call continuity server and the mobile device responsive to the mobile device location information within the request and network location information stored within a database associated with the voice call continuity application server. The method establishes the voice call continuity link between the mobile device and the voice call continuity application responsive to a determination that the voice call continuity link is needed.
US08547932B2
An apparatus to support handover for non-integrated radio devices is presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a peer interface and radio resource control logic. The radio resource control logic includes a proxy commutatively coupled to a second proxy via the peer interface. The second proxy is a part of other radio resource control logic. The proxies are operable to support handover between different radio access technologies.
US08547931B2
Conserving call logic during handoff may be provided. First, a call may be received at a first server. Next, the first server may determine that it cannot handle the call. Then the call may be transferred by the first server to a second server with enough information so that the second server can take up the call where the first server left off. Transferring the call to the second server with enough information so that the second server can take the call up where the first server left off may comprise placing the information in a REFERRED-BY header and sending the REFERRED-BY header to the second server.
US08547914B2
Various methods and apparatuses for transmitting packet downlink ACK/NACK information in a wireless communication are disclosed. A method of transmitting ACK/NACK information in Fast ACK/NACK reporting (FANR) mode in a wireless communication system is presented. The method comprises receiving a command from the network to operate in FANR mode, determining the ACK/NACK state for a number of uplink data blocks, transmitting an ACK/NACK signal for a downlink data block in an uplink control message, if it was determined that the ACK/NACK state is not an ACK state for at least a predetermined number of uplink data blocks.
US08547904B2
A method and apparatus for support communication devices with different communication technologies within the same communication channel includes establishing a common frame structure for the communication channel, the frame having a fixed length and having downlink and uplink portions split between different first and second communication technologies. A next step includes providing different control messages for the respective different technologies in the frame. A next step includes decoding downlink data in a downlink subframe of the frame using the different technologies utilizing information in the control messages. A next step includes supplying uplink data in an uplink subframe of the frame using the different technologies utilizing information in the control messages.
US08547899B2
A channel aware scheduler (CAS) is disclosed that takes advantage of changing wireless channel conditions in order to maximize aggregated system throughput. The CAS is aware of the different channel conditions for one or more stations and adjusts its scheduling of packet transmissions in light of the same. A related CAS algorithm may take advantage of that knowledge in order to increase aggregated system throughput while concurrently addressing other potential fairness constraints.
US08547896B2
Disclosed is a method in which a relay node transmits/receives signals via a specific downlink subframe and a specific uplink subframe. The relay node may consider the propagation delay in accordance with the distance between a base station and the relay node to set a subframe timing for transmitting/receiving signals to/from the base station. The relay node may further consider the delay time of 0.5 symbol, 1 symbol or the like in addition to said propagation delay in the event of setting a downlink receiving timing. Setting an uplink subframe timing of the relay node can be divided into the event the timing is set on the basis of a backhaul link and the event the timing is set on the basis of an access link. In the event the timing is set on the basis of the access link, the propagation delay can be double that of the event the timing is set on the basis of the backhaul link, which should be considered in setting the timing.
US08547892B2
The present invention relates to multimedia broadcast and multicast services, MBMS, in a cell wherein variable transmission bandwidth is employed. In particular the invention relates to transmission of MBMS control information relating to broadcast and multicast services. According to the method and arrangement of the invention the manner in which the transmission of MBMS control information is performed and/or the content of the MBMS control information is determined based on the amount and the portion of the cell bandwidth that is used for MBMS transmission.
US08547883B2
A system and method for transmitting resource allocation information by a base station in a communication system is provided. The method includes generating first MAP messages for user terminals, each of which includes an identifier of a corresponding user terminal and corresponds to resource allocation information on a first band, in an order of user terminals, generating a second MAP message, which corresponds to resource allocation information for a user terminal allocated resources of only a second band, and generating third MAP messages, which correspond to resource allocation information on the second band, for user terminals allocated resources of both the first band and the second band, among the user terminals, in the order of user terminals allocated resources of both the first band and the second band, transmitting the first MAP message through the first band, and transmitting the second and third MAP messages through the second band.
US08547881B2
It is provided a method, device and system for transmitting an ACK response in bidirectional data transmission. When receiving windows on both sides of a transmission are simultaneously full, no new information frames can be transmitted to the other side before the ACK timer times out. This situation is called an ACK interlock delay. In the present disclosure, a communication device actively transmits a control frame carrying an ACK response to an opposite communication terminal when it detects that the local receiving window and the receiving window of the opposite communication terminal are both full, thus avoiding ACK interlock delays, avoiding wasting time, and improving the rate of transmission and link establishment.
US08547880B2
A method for replaying a portion of a multi-party audio interaction to a participant of the audio interaction. A participant of a multi-party audio interaction, such as a conference call or a gaming session, can request a replay of a portion of the audio interaction. A conference processor can provide an outgoing audio stream to the participant that includes a replay audio stream that includes the requested replayed portion of the multi-party audio interaction and a real-time audio stream that includes the ongoing multi-party audio interaction. The replay audio stream can be aurally positioned at an aural position that is different from the real-time audio stream to enhance the participant's ability to distinguish between the two audio streams.
US08547875B2
The approach for managing the topology in a MANET includes, at the network layer of a wireless mobile node, operating a link state or other routing protocol to discover routes from the at least one wireless node to other wireless nodes within the MANET. The routing protocol includes the use of a global topology database storing global network topology information. The method also includes, at the network layer, providing the global network topology information from the global topology database of the routing protocol to the MAC sublayer. Also, at the data link layer, the MAC sublayer is controlled to perform neighbor connection management based upon the global network topology information from the global topology database. The approach may provide enhanced QoS, latency and resistance to link and node failures within MANETs.
US08547871B2
A method and a device for generating and reporting an Overload Indicator (OI) report. A controller jointly carries out conversion of a number system on a binary number used by an OI value in each Physical Resource Block (PRB) group indicated by a set grouping tag value. The controller converts a value generated by the conversion of the number system into a new binary number, and joints the new binary number in each PRB to generate the OI report. The controller carries out the above operations according to all the set grouping tag values, and compares the number of bits occupied by the OI report corresponding to each grouping tag value to select a PRB grouping mode corresponding to the OI report occupying the least number of bits as the OI format of the controller.
US08547866B2
A route calculation system includes a collection unit that collects a current link traffic volume and a link power consumption for each link included in a network; a link cost calculation unit that estimates, for each link, an increase in the link power consumption due to the request flow based on the current link traffic volume, the link power consumption, the request flow, and the characteristic, and calculates a link cost value based on the increase in the link power consumption; and a route determination unit that determines, as a route for the request flow, a route that has the smallest sum of the link cost values of each route connecting between any nodes, thereby reducing the power consumption in the entire network for a request flow.
US08547863B2
A method for determining attenuation settings across carriers in a return link bandwidth of a user terminal comprises determining a first attenuation setting for a user terminal at a first transmission frequency, where the first attenuation setting is based on a first signal quality metric value of a first message sent from the user terminal at the first transmission frequency. The method also comprises determining a second attenuation setting for the user terminal at a second transmission frequency, where the second attenuation setting is based on a second signal quality metric value of a second message sent from the user terminal at the second transmission frequency. The method also comprises determining the attenuation settings across the carriers in the return link bandwidth of the user terminal based on the first attenuation setting and the second attenuation setting.
US08547858B2
A communication-quality measuring method disclosed in the present invention acquires packets to be transferred in a packet switching network and accumulates the acquired packets in an internal buffer. An acquisition amount indicating an amount of packets acquired per given unit time, a loss amount indicating an amount of packets lost during transfer in the packet switching network, and an acquisition leak amount indicating an amount of packets that cannot be accumulated in the internal buffer out of the acquired packets are measured. Based on the measured acquisition amount, loss amount, and acquisition leak amount, a packet loss rate transferred in the packet switching network and an error for the loss rate are calculated and the calculated loss rate and the loss rate error are output.
US08547854B2
The variable step-size least mean square method for estimation in adaptive networks uses a variable step-size to provide estimation for each node in the adaptive network, where the step-size at each node is determined by the error calculated for each node, as opposed to conventional least mean square algorithms used in adaptive filters and the like, where the choice of step-size reflects a tradeoff between misadjustment and the speed of adaptation.
US08547851B1
A system and method identifies the costs to be assigned to each link in a network that can more evenly balance the utilization of links in the network.
US08547845B2
Detecting and recovering from soft errors in a network comprising a first device. A first device receives a first data packet. Responsive to receiving a second data packet, the first device determines whether the two data packets are identical. Responsive to the determination that the two data packets are not identical, the first device discards the two data packets, and requests retransmission of the two data packets.
US08547843B2
A system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, a plurality of flows associated with packets destined for an output port is identified. A utilization associated with the output port is further measured. Thus, rates of a plurality of the flows destined for the output port may be individually controlled at an input port thereof, based on the utilization to ensure that the utilization remains less than 99.9% and avoid buffering more than 400 packets with a correspondingly low delay.
US08547835B2
A network element can include a proxy element that is configured to receive a request from a source node to establish a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection from a first network address of the source node through a Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN GW) to a destination node for an IP flow. The proxy element applies an IP flow offloading policy function to determine that the requested TCP connection for the IP flow should bypass the PDN GW. The proxy element responds to the determination by communicating to the destination node a request for TCP connection with a second network address substituted for the first network address of the source node to establish the TCP connection for the IP flow from the source node to the destination node through a broadband network without passing through the PDN GW.
US08547833B2
A method can include calculating an indication of signal quality for a communications channel based on a message from a node over a communications channel of a network. The calculated indication of signal quality can be adjusted based on a prior indication of signal quality to provide an adjusted indication of signal quality. Bitloading for the communications channel can be determined based on the adjusted indication of signal quality.
US08547829B1
A device receives topology and capability information associated with an access point, access devices, and aggregation devices of a wireless local area network (WLAN), and determines, based on the topology and capability information, a nearest capable access device or aggregation device to the access point. The device also provides an instruction that instructs the access point or the nearest capable access device or aggregation device to create a tunnel between the access point and the nearest capable access device or aggregation device. The access point or the nearest capable access device or aggregation device creates the tunnel between the access point and the nearest capable access device or aggregation device based on the instruction.
US08547820B2
A transmitting entity transmits a “base” pilot in each protocol data unit (PDU). A receiving entity is able to derive a sufficiently accurate channel response estimate of a MIMO channel with the base pilot under nominal (or most) channel conditions. The transmitting entity selectively transmits an additional pilot if and as needed, e.g., based on channel conditions and/or other factors. The additional pilot may be adaptively inserted in almost any symbol period in the PDU. The receiving entity is able to derive an improved channel response estimate with the additional pilot. The transmitting entity sends signaling to indicate that additional pilot is being sent. This signaling may be embedded within pilot symbols sent on a set of pilot subbands used for a carrier pilot that is transmitted across most of the PDU. The signaling indicates whether additional pilot is being sent and possibly other pertinent information.
US08547817B2
An optical storage disc label recorder includes a first memory portion adapted for storing a first set of track-marking data, the first set of track-marking data defining one or more pre-defined images, each pre-defined image having one or more pre-defined fields for dynamic text content, a second memory portion for storing a second set of track-marking data including the dynamic text content, and a digital processor adapted for combining the first and second sets of track-marking data.
US08547806B2
A recorded area is reproduced during a suspension of a recording operation; when degradation of the recorded signal is detected (S4, S5) by the signal quality detection means (16), a tilt adjustment is performed in the recorded area, the signal quality of the recorded signal is detected after the tilt adjustment (S6), and if it is still degraded, a recording parameter is altered (step S7). The need to obtain tilt adjustment values for tilt corrections at a plurality of radial positions in advance is eliminated, resulting in reduced apparatus overhead and better recording quality.
US08547791B2
Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof
In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first broad-band acoustic pulse at a first broad-band frequency range having a first central frequency and a first bandwidth spread; generating a second broad-band acoustic pulse at a second broad-band frequency range different than the first frequency range having a second central frequency and a second bandwidth spread, wherein the first acoustic pulse and second acoustic pulse are generated by at least one transducer arranged on a tool located within the borehole; and transmitting the first and the second broad-band acoustic pulses into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated pulse by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic pulses, wherein the collimated pulse has a frequency equal to the difference in frequencies between the first central frequency and the second central frequency and a bandwidth spread equal to the sum of the first bandwidth spread and the second bandwidth spread.
US08547784B2
A method of acquiring marine seismic data using an acoustic source to generate an acoustic signal, a portion of which is reflected at one or more subsurface formation interfaces as a seismic signal is described. The method includes sailing a surface vessel along a sail line which lies over a survey area while towing a seismic streamer, the sail line having a sinusoidal configuration defined by an amplitude and a wavelength. The streamer includes a plurality of hydrophones for receiving the reflected portion of the acoustic signal. The method is characterised in that the streamer follows the sinusoidal configuration of the sail line while seismic data is acquired, the streamer having a length at least equal to the distance travelled by the surface vessel as it sails along one full wavelength of the configuration as measured along the sinusoidal sail line.
US08547783B2
A method and apparatus for evaluating submarine formations, such as geological formations located generally under a body of water. Multiple hydrofoils (130), responding to moving water, hydrodynamic, or Bernoulli forces, provide controllable orientation and separation for multiple receivers (135) as they are towed (125) through water (110) in the course of a geophysical survey such as a controlled source electromagnetic survey. The inventive method can be used to provide mutual orthogonality for three antennas in a multiple component electromagnetic receiver.
US08547764B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of data transmission lines, a plurality of parallel-to-serial conversion sections configured to receive, serially align, and output data from at least two of the plurality of data transmission lines, a plurality of data compression circuits configured to receive, compress, and output outputs of at least two of the plurality of parallel-to-serial conversion sections, and a plurality of data output circuits configured to output respective compression results of the plurality of data compression circuits to an outside of a chip.
US08547761B2
A memory module comprises a plurality of semiconductor memory devices each having a termination circuit for a command/address bus. The semiconductor memory devices are formed in a substrate of the memory module, and they operate in response to a command/address signal, a data signal, and a termination resistance control signal.
US08547748B2
Memory devices adapted to receive and transmit analog data signals representative of bit patterns of two or more bits facilitate increases in data transfer rates relative to devices communicating data signals indicative of individual bits. Programming of such memory devices includes determining a rate of programming (i.e., rate of movement of the respective threshold voltage) of the memory cells and biasing the corresponding bit line with a programming rate control voltage that is greater than the bit line enable voltage and less than the inhibit voltage. This voltage can be adjusted to change the speed of programming. A capacitor coupled to the bit line stores the programming rate control voltage in order to maintain the proper bit line bias for the duration of the programming operation or until it is desired to change the programming rate.
US08547735B2
A memory element capable of simultaneously satisfying the number of repeating operation times and a low-voltage operation characteristic which are in a tradeoff relation is provided. The memory element has a high-resistivity layer and an ion source layer between a bottom electrode and a top electrode. The high-resistivity layer is made of an oxide containing Te. Any of elements other than Te such as Al, Zr, Ta, Hf, Si, Ge, Ni, Co, Cu, and Au may be added. In the case of adding Al to Te and also adding Cu and Zr, the composition ratio of the high-resistivity layer is preferably adjusted in the ranges of 30≦Te≦100 atomic %, 0≦Al≦70 atomic %, and 0≦Cu+Zr≦36 atomic % except for oxygen. The ion source layer is made of at least one kind of metal elements and at least one kind of chalcogen elements of Te, S, and Se.
US08547731B2
Disclosed herein is a memory device, including: a memory element including a memory layer for holding therein information in accordance with a magnetization state of a magnetic material, a fixed magnetization layer which is provided on the memory layer through a non-magnetic layer and whose direction of a magnetization is fixed to a direction parallel with a film surface, and a magnetic layer which is provided on a side opposite to the fixed magnetization layer relative to the memory layer through a non-magnetic layer and whose direction of a magnetization is a direction vertical to the film surface; and a wiring through which a current is caused to flow through the memory element in a direction of lamination of the layers of the memory element.
US08547729B2
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) includes a substrate, a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of recess channels, a plurality of conductive plugs and a plurality of trench capacitors. In the DRAM, the bit lines are disposed on the substrate in a first direction, and the word lines are disposed on the bit lines in a second direction. Each recess channel is in the substrate between two bit lines below the word line, and each conductive plug connects each recess channel and the word lines. Each trench capacitor is disposed in the substrate between two bit lines where the recess channels are not formed. Because the word lines can be electrically connected with the recess channels directly without using an additional chip area, the WL access time can be accelerated without an increase of the chip size.
US08547721B2
Disclosed is a resistive memory device. In the resistive memory device, at least one variable resistance region and at least one switching device may be horizontally apart from each other, rather than being disposed on the same vertical axis. At least one intermediate electrode, which electrically connects the at least one variable resistance region and the at least one switching device, may be between the at least one variable resistance region and the at least one switching device.
US08547709B2
A composite substrate made of a circuit board mounted on a lead frame is used for an electronic system package. High heat generated electronic components are adapted to mount on the lead frame and relatively low heat generated electronic components are adapted to mount on the circuit board. Metal lines are used for electrical coupling between the circuitry of the IC chip and the circuit board. An electronic system with the composite substrate gains both advantages—good circuitry arrangement capability from the circuit board and good heat distribution from the lead frame.
US08547708B2
An electronic apparatus includes a card board on which a card slot at least a part of which is formed of metal and into which a recording medium can be inserted is mounted, and a memory board on which memories are mounted. The card board is disposed facing to a surface of the memory board on which the memories are mounted, and the card slot and at least a part of the memories are disposed so as to be overlapped when viewing from a direction orthogonal to the board surface of the card board.
US08547706B2
An electronic component includes: an electronic component body; and a lead secured to the electric component and including a projection portion defined by first and second inclined portions facing each other. The solder wettability of the first inclined portion is smaller than the solder wettability of the second inclined portion.
US08547703B2
Disclosed herein is a card-type peripheral apparatus including: a case body configured to accommodate an electronic package including a circuit board between a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other; a first electronic package including a memory mounted on the circuit board; a second electronic package including an electronic part for controlling the memory mounted on the circuit board; a first thermal conductive material arranged inside the case body, the first thermal conductive material in contact with a surface of at least one of the first electronic package and the second electronic package; and a second thermal conductive material formed with the first surface and the second surface of the case body, wherein the first thermal conductive material and the second thermal conductive material are in contact with each other inside the case body.
US08547699B1
An enclosure for outside plant equipment includes a base unit and first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) carried by the base unit and having a circuit side and opposing component side on which electronic components are mounted. A heat sink is connected to the first PCB at the circuit side and configured to dissipate heat from any electronic components mounted on the first PCB at the component side. A cover is attached to the base unit and has an inside surface covering the enclosure. A second PCB has a circuit side and opposing component side on which electronic components are mounted. The second PCB is supported by the inside surface of the cover. A heat sink is connected to the second circuit board at the circuit side and configured to dissipate heat from any electronic components mounted on the second PCB. A PCB finger connector interconnects the first and second PCB's at the component side.
US08547694B2
A rack-mount server system includes a cabinet, a number of server units mounted in the cabinet, and a number of fan modules. Each fan module cools one or a group of server units. Each fan module includes a mounting bracket fixed to the cabinet, a number of fans attached to the mounting bracket, an air flap, and a control box to control the power supply to the fans. The mounting bracket defines an air passage dedicated to each fan, through which air from the fan is guided to the one or a group of server units. Each mounting bracket defines a cutout, through which the air passages of two neighboring fans communicate with each other. The air flap may be slid closed or slid open to redirect or gather a cooling airflow as required, depending on the distribution of server units within the cabinet.
US08547693B2
A mounting apparatus includes a first bracket and a second bracket. Two guides are located on the first bracket. A locking block is located on the first bracket between the two guides. The second bracket receives a first fan. Two sliding portions are located on the second bracket and engaged with the two guides. A latch is resiliently deformable and located on the second bracket between the two sliding portions. A plurality of receiving holes is defined in the latch. The second bracket is slidable between the two guides relative to the first bracket. The locking block is can engage in the plurality of receiving holes to secure the first bracket to the second bracket in a plurality of positions.
US08547678B2
A surge arrester includes a short-circuit device. The short-circuit device includes at least one first base element. The first base element is rigidly connected in an electrically conducting and mechanical manner to a first electrode of the surge arrester. The short-circuit device also includes at least one spring arm arranged on the base element. The free end of the spring arm has a distance to the base element, and the spring arm extends over at least two adjoining electrodes of the surge arrester.
US08547665B2
In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a substrate having a media support surface; a gap coupled to the substrate, the gap having at least one of a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor and a writer; a closure coupled to the gap on a side thereof opposite the substrate, said closure forming a portion of the media support surface; and a material formed in one or more recesses extending into the media support surface of at least one of the substrate and the closure.
US08547663B2
A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board; an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting board having an opening penetrating in the thickness direction formed therein; and a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer including an external-side terminal electrically connected to an external board. The external-side terminal is filled in the opening of the insulating layer. In the metal supporting board, a support terminal electrically insulated from the surrounding metal supporting board and electrically connected to the external-side terminal is provided. The suspension board with circuit includes a metal plating layer formed below the support terminal and an electrically-conductive layer interposed between the support terminal and the metal plating layer having a thickness of 10 nm or more to 200 nm or less.
US08547661B2
The invention discloses a MAMR head that has the STO stack placed at the trailing side of the write element, with both STO and write element completely self-aligned in the cross track direction. A method for defining both the MP and the STO stack geometries in a single step is also described.
US08547655B2
A magnetic recording method for a recording layer of a magnetic recording medium uses a thin film magnetic head with a sub-coil or a microwave radiator. In the method, a microwave spread spectrum (SS) signal is applied to the sub-coil or the microwave radiator, the microwave SS signal including a ferromagnetic resonant (FMR) frequency of the recording layer as a carrier wave within a band so as to generate an in-plane high-frequency magnetic field so that a magnetization reversal magnetic field Hsw of the recording layer is lowered. The magnetic recording is performed while the magnetization reversal magnetic field Hsw of the recording layer is lowered.
US08547651B2
An image forming lens consists of from an object side to an image side in the following order: a first group with a positive refractive power; an aperture stop; and a second group with a positive refractive power, wherein the second group includes, from the object side to the image side in the following order, a biconvex lens, a biconcave lens, a negative meniscus lens a convex surface of which faces the image side, a biconvex lens, and a positive meniscus lens a convex surface of which faces the image side.
US08547642B2
An optics system is provided that is made up of a single diffractive optical element that performs beam collimating, beam splitting, and light blocking functions. The diffractive optical element is made up of a substrate having a first surface comprising an entrance facet and a second surface comprising an exit facet. The first surface comprising the entrance facet performs at least the functions of collimating the beam of light produced by the light source and of tilting the collimated beam in a particular direction. The second surface comprising the exit facet performs at least the functions of splitting the tilted collimated beam into at least two collimated light beams and of blocking unintended light (i.e., one or more mode order groups that are not intended to be used for imaging purposes). By performing all of these functions on different surfaces of a single substrate, an extremely compact optics system having very high optical efficiency and a very high signal-to-noise ratio is realized.
US08547640B2
A transparent substrate including at its surface a grating of parallel lines of patterns separated by zones with a refractive index different from that of the patterns, the grating diffusing light and including at least 4 sub-gratings, each sub-grating including plural blocks of identical patterns with a width, each block including 2 to 10 of the patterns. Centers of gravity of neighboring patterns inside a block are separated by a constant period, the distance between neighboring blocks vary in a non-monotonic manner when passing from one edge of the sub-grating to the other edge of the sub-grating.
US08547636B1
An axially symmetric permanent magnet structure with tunable longitudinal fields is described wherein selected radial magnet sectors in a truncated Halbach array configuration are tiltable. The tunable magnet structure is particularly useful in Faraday devices, such as Faraday rotators, Faraday mirrors, optical circulators and optical isolators.
US08547627B2
An electronic device may have a MEMS device formed of a first conductive material. A trench may be formed in the MEMS device. A layer of non-conductive material may be formed in the trench. A second conductive material may be formed upon the non-conductive material.
US08547623B2
An electrowetting display device that features dual-mode operation. The display device can operate in either a low-power consumption bistable mode, or a higher-power consumption fast switching (video-rate) mode.
US08547620B2
A light modulation device includes: an input terminal into which a modulation signal is input; a light modulation element including an anode connected to the input terminal and a cathode that is grounded; a matching resistor connected in parallel with the light modulation element; a matching capacitor connected to the light modulation element and connected in series to the matching resistor; and a protective resistor connected in parallel with the light modulation element, the matching resistor, and the matching capacitor.
US08547605B2
In a control method for a processing apparatus connected to an image reading apparatus, in a case where the processing apparatus receives a cancellation instruction while the image reading apparatus performs a reading step, the processing apparatus causes the image reading apparatus to terminate the reading step and deletes image data of a page being read, and in a case where the processing apparatus receives a cancellation instruction after the image reading apparatus has performed the reading step, the processing apparatus performs controlling processing for deleting image data that has been acquired in the last reading step and has yet to be stored.
US08547601B2
A fax to E-mail system and related method are shown, whereby a hardcopy document is sent via a fax device to its recipient via electronic mail through a data network (such as the Internet), and is delivered in such a manner that it can be retrieved by the recipient at an E-mail device, in the ordinary course of retrieving the E-mail, and displayed on the screen of the E-mail device. The invention provides for and accomplishes the delivery of a document, which begins as a hardcopy, as an electronic file retrieved through E-mail recipient's terminal and displayed on the computer screen of the E-mail recipient's terminal. The system and method also provides for an interface device which connects to a conventional fax device for communicating E-mail addresses and routing hardcopy documents to the E-mail network. The invention provides a means for embedding the functions of the interface device into conventional fax devices. The system can also be used in cooperation with Internet Web service for reporting, accounting, information services, and user interaction.
US08547599B2
According to the present invention, there is provided a color image forming apparatus which includes image forming units forming images, each for each color component, and superimposes the images of the color components on one another to form a color image. The image forming apparatus includes a scan line changing unit shifting the position of each pixel in a sub scanning direction for each color component of halftone image data to be processed so as to cancel a shift amount of a scan line on an image carrier in each of the image forming units in the sub scanning direction; an interpolation inhibited area determining unit determining an interpolation inhibited area in the image data; and an interpolation unit applying an interpolation process for smoothing a pixel-level shift caused by shifting of image data by the scan line changing unit to the image data excluding the interpolation inhibited area.
US08547598B2
As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning using boundaries and centers of a polygonal tiling with a parameterized spot function that operates within the tiles. Defining the halftone structure includes defining the polygonal tiling with a specification of the polygon boundaries and center, and setting and applying parameters of the spot function, which utilizes center-to-boundary distances. The tiling can be defined explicitly, by defining a tile structure, or providing centers, one per polygon, and vertices for the polygons. The vertices and centers are used to generate the polygon boundaries. The polygonal tiling can be regular (e.g., repetitive) or irregular, and can also be varied in a manner adapted to the image content or to data that is being embedded.
US08547594B2
The present invention provides a profile calibrating device, method and program capable of performing color matching with no significant loss in precision relative to absolute color matching while preventing strange sensation in the rendered black and white colors. The profile correcting device includes a first profile acquiring unit, a second profile acquiring unit, a first connecting unit, and a second correcting unit. The first profile acquiring unit acquires a first profile representing correspondence relationship between input color values and first colorimetric values. The second profile acquiring unit acquires a second profile representing correspondence relationship between the input color values and second colon metric values. The first correcting unit corrects the second colorimetric value for the white value, and the second colon metric value for the black value. The second correcting unit corrects the second colonimetric value for the near-white color value, and the second calorimetric value for the near-black color value.
US08547592B2
The invention relates to a device for exposing light-sensitive materials, with an electronic picture memory (2) for storing a master image, with an exposure unit which comprises a light source (22), an electronically activatable light modulator (21) for representing a part picture (24) of the master image (2), and imaging optics (23) for the projection of the part picture (24) onto the light sensitive material (10), with a drive device consisting of motors (9) and of a motor control (12), for moving the exposure unit (8) parallel to the surface of the light-sensitive material (10), with a scroll means (7) for scrolling a picture strip (25, 26) of the master image through the light modulator (21), and with a control device (1) for synchronizing the drive device (9, 12) with the scroll means (7). For reducing the processing time for the exposure of the complete printing plate (10), according to the invention, it is envisaged for a rapid intermediate memory (16) for storing a strip-like region to be provided, from which the picture data for the part picture (24) to be exposed, in each case, may be transmitted onto the light modulator (21) synchronously with the movement of the exposure unit (8).
US08547588B2
The present invention is drawn to an article of manufacture and an associated method for providing layout flexibility. The article of manufacture includes a computer readable storage medium with a computer readable program code capable of accepting an optimal layout and a first modified layout, each within a visual frame of a graphic art program. Each of the optimal layout and the first modified layout include a plurality of visual elements and a variable data element. The computer readable program code is further capable of determining dimensional and layout parameters associated with each of the optimal layout and the first modified layout. Further, the computer readable program code is capable of interpolating variations between the optimal layout and the first modified layout for modifications of the variable data element ranging from the optimal layout to the first modified layout.
US08547584B2
An information processing apparatus searches for an apparatus that has a transmission destination that can be accessed from an image forming apparatus on a network when a transmission destination of file transmission processing cannot be accessed from the image forming apparatus, generates a process flow including processing in which the image forming apparatus transmits a file to the transmission destination in the apparatus found through the search and transmits the generated process flow to the image forming apparatus, and generates a process flow including processing for moving the file from the transmission destination in the apparatus found through the search to a designated transmission destination and stores the generated process flow in the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus executes the generated process flow when the end of the processing is notified from the image forming apparatus.
US08547580B2
Print performance is evaluated by printing a diagnostic image comprising color patches. Colorant usage in the printed image is measured by, for instance, scanning each patch. Measured color values are then compared to target color values. Based on the comparison, groups of patches whose color values vary significantly from expectations are identified. Variant groups are then analyzed to identify, in addition to color quality control problems, spatial problems that affect only a localized area of a printed page. Such spatial problems may include, for example, problems with contrast or streaks. A heat map illustrating the differences may be generated to help an operator visualize the spatial problem. A template for the diagnostic image may be selected from a plurality of randomly generated diagnostic targets based on total colorant usage for at least one colorant in each column of color patches. Certain patches may be predefined across for each candidate target.
US08547579B2
An image recording system includes a print data processing unit for performing a control for recording a predetermined recording failure check pattern after print data is recorded on a recording medium for each job, and a recording failure checking unit for determining whether or not there is a recording failure in a check image based on a recording failure check pattern obtained by capturing the check image with a check image obtaining unit.
US08547573B2
An image forming apparatus which is capable of efficiently registering apparatuses in a slave apparatus list. The image forming apparatus has a partner apparatus list as the slave apparatus list which stores information on the image forming apparatuses as candidate slave apparatuses so as to select a slave apparatus for use in executing cascade copy. When the image forming apparatus is selected as a master apparatus, a CPU thereof selects a slave apparatus from the image forming apparatuses registered in the partner apparatus list. When the image forming apparatus is selected as a slave apparatus, the CPU determine whether or not the information indicative of the copy mode has been received from a master apparatus. If the information indicative of cascade copy has been received, information on the master apparatus is stored in the partner apparatus list.
US08547572B2
An image processing apparatus realizes easy access with a Web browser of a terminal apparatus to a URL that has been accessed with a Web browser of the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus comprises a unit for managing URLs accessed by a user with a Web browser of a terminal apparatus in association with a user name of the user and a location of a terminal apparatus corresponding to the user name, and a unit for transmitting the URL to the location of the terminal apparatus.
US08547571B2
In response to a print instruction of a specified print object image, the print control apparatus of the invention corrects print object image data representing the specified print object image with a preset correction parameter set for improving picture quality of the specified print object image and prints the specified print object image according to corrected print object image data. A print object image specification module of the print control apparatus specifies the print object image as a printing object. A preprocessing execution module of the print control apparatus performs predetermined preprocessing of the print object image data representing the specified print object image to set the correction parameter used for correcting the specified print object image. In response to specification of the print object image by the print object image specification module, a preprocessing management module of the print control apparatus instructs the preprocessing execution module to implement advanced preprocessing of the print object image data representing the specified print object image, prior to the print instruction. This arrangement of the invention desirably shortens a time period elapsed before start of required image processing for printing the specified print object image.
US08547570B2
When an image processing apparatus is newly installed, an access control request is issued from the image processing apparatus to a control apparatus at step S302. Then at step S303, regarding the image processing apparatus that has issued the access control request, an access control table to control access to functions of the image processing apparatus is automatically generated and registered in the control apparatus. In the control apparatus, access control is managed for each function of the image processing apparatus based on the registered access control table.
US08547561B2
The present invention aims that in a printing environment holding only a print instruction and a print data, a printing system capable of updating, changing, correcting, etc. only an additional drawing object is provided by holding an instruction about printing of an additional drawing object (added information) based on the print instruction. In printing out print data on a target page with an additional drawing object added, a job ticket generation means generates a job ticket according to the information about an additional drawing object and instruction information about the printout. Printout means perform printout based on the job ticket generated by the job ticket generating means.
US08547557B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining a height map of a surface of an object. The apparatus can include positioning means for the object, a light source, an optical detector for converting the received light into electrical signals, first optics for directing light from the light source to the surface and for directing the light from the surface to the optical detector, a beam splitter located between the first optics and the surface, a reference mirror, second optics located between the beam splitter an the mirror for directing the light from the beam splitter to the mirror and from the mirror to the beam splitter, scanning means, processing means that converts the signal from the optical detector into a height map. The beam splitter can be a polarizing beam splitter. A controllable polarization controller can be located between the light source and the first optics.
US08547556B2
A method of analyzing a fluid sample from a reservoir comprises: collecting the sample in a sampling container, wherein the sample container includes a sample receptacle, and wherein the step of collecting comprises allowing or causing the sample to flow into the sample receptacle; and determining at least one property of the sample, wherein the step of determining comprises using a multivariate optical element (MOE) calculation device, and wherein the step of determining is performed during the step of collecting and wherein the MOE calculation device is located at one end of the sample receptacle, or the step of determining is performed after the step of collecting. The sample is analyzed as the sample flows into the sample container or as the sample is being transferred from the sample container into a container.
US08547553B2
A hydrogen purity sensing system includes a light source which provides an optical signal through a fiber optic cable. A hydrogen purity sensor is provided in the system which comprises a multilayered nanostructural film of high refractive index and low refractive index materials for receiving the optical signal. The system further includes a photodetector for receiving a reflected optical signal from the hydrogen purity sensor and a processing circuitry coupled to the photodetector for analyzing the reflected optical signal.
US08547549B2
A substrate for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). The substrate comprises at least one nanostructure protruding from a surface of the substrate and a SERS active metal over the at least one nanostructure, wherein the SERS active metal substantially covers the at least one nanostructure and the SERS active metal creates a textured layer on the at least one nanostructure.
US08547543B2
An angle-measuring device includes a first group of components and a second group of components that are rotatable relative to each other about an axis. The first group includes a carrier element for enclosing a shaft and on which a graduation disk is secured, a connecting element, and a device for affixing the connecting element relative to the carrier element. The second group includes a sensor element for scanning the graduation disk. The carrier element and the connecting element are arranged such that the connecting element is able to be brought into operative connection with the carrier element so that torque is transmittable with positive locking between the connecting element and the carrier element about the axis. The connecting element is able to be brought into a positive-locking position by axial displacement by the device for affixing the connecting element, and is able to be prestressed radially against the shaft.
US08547540B2
A system and method for locating and identifying unknown samples. A targeting mode may be utilized to scan regions of interest for potential unknown materials. This targeting mode may interrogate regions of interest using SWIR and/or fluorescence spectroscopic and imaging techniques. Unknown samples detected in regions of interest may be further interrogated using a combination of Raman and LIBS techniques to identify the unknown samples. Structured illumination may be used to interrogate an unknown sample. Data sets generated during interrogation may be compared to a reference database comprising a plurality of reference data sets, each associated with a known material. The system and method may be used to identify a variety of materials including: biological, chemical, explosive, hazardous, concealment, and non-hazardous materials.
US08547532B2
A system and method of imaging an object. An array of detectors is mounted in an image plane. Each detector in the array of detectors is connected to a timing circuit having an interpolator, wherein the interpolator includes a first circuit which charges a first capacitor at a different rate than it discharges. An optical pulse is transmitted toward an object so that a portion of the optical pulse is reflected from the object as a reflected pulse and a first value representative of when the optical pulse was transmitted toward the object is recorded. The reflected pulse is detected at one or more detectors and a pulse characteristic of the pulse and a second value representative of when the reflected pulse arrived at the detector are recorded. Range to the object is then calculated as a function of the first and second values and the reflected pulse characteristic.
US08547527B2
First positional information of a stage is measured using an interferometer system, for example, an X interferometer and a Y interferometer. At the same time, second positional information of the stage is measured using an encoder system, for example, one X head and one Y head. A coordinate offset is set by performing a moving average of the difference between the first positional information and the second positional information for over a predetermined measurement time, and the reliability of output signals of the encoder system is verified using the coordinate offset. In the case the output signals are determined to be normal, the stage is servocontrolled using the sum of the first positional information and the coordinate offset. Such servocontrol by a hybrid method makes it possible to perform drive control of the stage having stability of the interferometer and accuracy of the encoder together.
US08547526B2
Several embodiments of photolithography systems and associated methods of selective die exposure are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for exposing a microelectronic substrate in a photolithography system includes producing an illumination radiation from a radiation source and identifying a field on the microelectronic substrate to be exposed. The field is partitioned into a first region discrete from a second region. The method further includes inhibiting the illumination radiation to expose the first region while simultaneously exposing the second region to the illumination radiation.
US08547522B2
A system and method are used to detect parameters regarding an exposure portion or an exposure beam. The system comprising a substrate stage and a metrology stage. The substrate stage is configured to position a substrate to receive an exposure beam from an exposure portion of a lithography system. The metrology stage has a sensor system thereon that is configured to detected parameters of the exposure system or the exposure beam. In one example, the system is within a lithography system, which further comprises an illumination system, a patterning device, and a projection system. The patterning device patterns a beam of radiation from the illumination system. The projection system, which is located within the exposure portion, projects that pattered beam onto the substrate or the sensor system.
US08547518B2
A stage base includes a plate which supports a stage. The plate has a first structure and a second structure, and the first and second structures are coupled. The stage base further includes a component which is arranged on the plate and has a cooling unit, a coolant channel arranged to extend through the plate into the component, and a seal member arranged between the first structure and the second structure so as to surround the coolant channel, an interior and an exterior of the seal member being fastened with a fastener.
US08547515B2
A display substrate includes a transparent substrate, a gate line formed on the transparent substrate, a data line crossing the gate line, a thin film transistor electrically connected to the gate line and the data line, and a pixel electrode. The pixel electrode includes a body electrode section electrically connected to the thin film transistor and a plurality of protruding electrodes protruding from the body electrode section. Each of the protruding electrodes includes a trapezoidal electrode having two sides that are inclined with respect to a protrusion direction that is a lengthwise direction of the body electrode section.
US08547513B2
A liquid crystal display device adapted to reduce power consumption and to prevent deterioration of the picture quality is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes: a substrate; pixel regions defined by a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines arranged on the substrate which are arranged to intersect with each other on the substrate; thin film transistors each formed at intersections of the pluralities of gate and data lines; pixel electrodes formed in each of the pixel regions; a passivation layer formed on an entire surface of the substrate provided with the thin film transistors, the gate lines, the data lines and the pixel electrodes; and common electrode wirings and common electrode patterns formed on the passivation layer, wherein the passivation layer includes a first portions formed on an gate insulation layer opposite to the thin film transistors, gate lines and data lines, and second portions formed on the pixel regions corresponding to the pixel electrodes in a thinner thickness than that of the first portion.
US08547512B2
A multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and at least one projection. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first and second substrates. The projection is formed in the first substrate. In displaying a dark state, a lower surface of the projection is on the same plane as a lower surface of the first substrate; and in displaying a bright state, the projection bulges outward to have the lower surface of the projection projecting outward beyond the lower surface of the first substrate. When the multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display panel displays a dark state, the projection does not undergo deformation so that the projection does not affect the directions of the liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer thereby eliminating occurrence of light leakage.
US08547501B2
A backlight assembly includes a light source generating light and a first optical member diffusing the light. The first optical member includes a first diffusion member provided on an exit surface of the first optical member, from which the light exits, to diffuse the light. The first diffusion member includes a plurality of edges each having a curved shape and extending between the exit surface and a vertex of the first diffusion member. Accordingly, the light exiting through the exit surface is effectively diffused by the edges of the first diffusion member.
US08547500B2
A backlight unit that includes a plurality of light source packages configured to each include a metal printed-circuit-board (PCB) and light emitting diodes; a plurality of light guide plates disposed parallel to the light source packages, respectively; at least one fixation member formed on an incident surface of each light guide plate corresponding to one side surface of each light guide plate; and a bottom cover configured to include a plurality of fixation holes which are formed to receive and secure the respective fixation members.
US08547499B2
The present invention provides an art of properly fixing a light source board without using any screw. A backlight unit 12 according to the present invention includes an LED board 18 with an LED 17 as a light source, a chassis 14, an optical member 15, and a supporting member 20. The chassis 14 stores the LED board 18 therein and has an opening 14b through which light from the LED 17 exits. The optical member 15 is arranged so as to face the LED board 18 and to cover the opening 14b. The supporting member 20 supports the optical member 15 from the side of the LED board 18. The supporting member 20 is fixed to the chassis 14 such that the LED board 18 is sandwiched between the supporting member 20 and the chassis 14.
US08547488B2
A display device includes: a display unit, displaying an image; and an optical unit including a first substrate on the display unit, a first electrode on the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer on the first electrode and configured to be responsive to a vertical electric field or a horizontal electric field, a second electrode on the liquid crystal layer, an insulation layer on the second electrode, a third electrode on the insulation layer, and a second substrate on the third electrode.
US08547486B2
A liquid crystal shutter includes a first support substrate having a first electrode and a second support substrate having a second electrode opposite to the first electrode. A liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the first and second electrodes so as to have a switching region. The switching region becomes a bend alignment state from a splay alignment state when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer. A nucleus region formation portion is arranged on the first support substrate to form a nucleus region in the switching region corresponding to the nucleus region formation portion in the liquid crystal layer, in which the splay alignment is more stable than in the switching region.
