US08683284B2
A receiving apparatus includes a combining and quantizing unit that combines channel vectors corresponding to a combination of a plurality of antennas in order to generate a combination channel vector and selects a predetermined quantization vector according to the generated combination channel vector, an error detecting unit that detects whether there is an error in received signals, and an antenna switchover unit that switches over the combination of the antennas according to a result of the error detection, in which the combining and quantizing unit feeds an index of the selected predetermined quantization vector back to a transmitting apparatus. In this way, diversity effect can be obtained by means of repeat control while reducing the amount of feedback information.
US08683272B2
Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device including a background memory validation system. The background memory validation system includes a background kernel thread that validates read-only pages on the gaming device. Additionally, the background kernel thread also minimizes potential timing problems because this process only validates page content in memory that is fully-loaded and functional.
US08683271B2
A computer system includes a plurality of computer processor dependent nodes and a plurality of computer processor antecedent nodes. Each node includes a severity value relating to an operational state of the node. A dependent node and an antecedent node pair include a significance value relating to a criticality that the antecedent node has to its paired dependent node. The antecedent node comprises a relevance value, wherein the relevance value is a function of the severity value of the antecedent node and the significance value for the antecedent node and the dependent node. The relevance value is used to determine an impact that the antecedent node has on the paired dependent node.
US08683270B2
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device and a method of operating same.
US08683269B2
A particular system includes a processor and a network interface configured to send and receive messages via a network using an asynchronous computer communication protocol. The system may include two or more buffers, such as an ingress buffer and an egress buffer. The system may include a memory accessible to the processor. The memory may include first node instructions that are executable by the processor to implement one or more functions of a first node. The memory may also include one or more script callbacks. The script callbacks may be executable by the processor to at least one of provide: the first content to a test script to be modified before the first content is provided to the first node instructions from the ingress buffer, and provide the second content to the test script to be modified before the outgoing message is provided to the egress buffer.
US08683267B2
An approach to providing multiple concurrently executing debugging sessions for a currently executing operating system. The approach involves providing one first debugging session for debugging the currently executing operating system. The first debugging session has read access and write access to the data of the currently executing operating system. The approach also involves providing one or more second debugging sessions for the currently executing operating system. Each of the second debugging sessions has read-only access to the data of the currently executing operating system. The second debugging sessions run simultaneously with the first debugging session if the second debugging sessions are started while the first debugging session is active. As a result, multiple users can simultaneously debug the currently executing operating system. A lock may be used to ensure that only the first debugging session has write access to the data. The lock may be shared between the various debugging sessions for the operating system.
US08683265B2
An embodiment of an electronic system includes a first electronic module, a second electronic module, a first debug circuit integrated with the first electronic module, a second debug circuit integrated with the second electronic module, and a communications interface between the first debug circuit and the second debug circuit. The first debug circuit is configured to determine that a triggering event has occurred, and to produce a first cross trigger signal on the communications interface in response to determining that the triggering event has occurred. The second debug circuit is configured to detect the first cross trigger signal on the communications interface, and to perform an action in response to detecting the first cross trigger signal.
US08683264B2
A computerized method, computer system, and a computer program product for processing an execution request within different computing environments. Execution requests and generated reference information are forwarded to the different computing environments, where the requests are processed using the reference information. Results of the processed execution requests are collected from the different computing environments. The results are compared to find any discrepancy, possibly giving indication of a software or hardware error.
US08683263B2
Various embodiments enable automatic cooperative logging of information associated with a connection between at least two computing devices. In some cases, a first computing device can automatically trigger logging on a second computing device upon detection of at least one scenario. Alternately or additionally, the second computing device can respond to the first computing device with additional and/or supplemental logging requests.
US08683260B1
A method is used in managing ownership of logical volumes. A path to a logical volume is determined, where upper-layer software selects the path to the logical volume. Based on the selection of the path, ownership of the logical volume is assigned. Lower-layer software assigns ownership of the logical volume based on information received from the upper-layer software.
US08683255B2
A circuit for delaying an input signal includes first and second delay units. The input signal is switched to the first delay unit which is configured to delay the input signal by k cycles of a first clock signal so as to generate a value xt—k and transfer the input signal to the second delay unit. The second delay unit includes a converter and a second shift register. The converter is connected to the second shift register by n leads. The value xt—k and a value xt—k−1 are present at the converter, where xt—k−1 is the input signal delayed by k−1 cycles of the first clock signal, The converter is configured such that the value xt—k−1 is present on leads 1 to m and the value xt—k is present on leads m+1 to n. The second shift register is configured to successively output values present on leads 1 to n.
US08683244B2
A vehicle equipped with a power source system including a master power source and a slave power source connected in parallel to a motor for running is provided. In a case where distribution of discharge power of the master power source and discharge power of the slave power source cannot be controlled, when a voltage difference between the respective power sources is greater than or equal to a certain value, an ECU sets a limit value on electric power supplied from the power source system to the motor at allowable discharge power of one of the power sources having a higher voltage, and limits a motor torque such that electric power discharged from the power source system to the motor does not exceed the set limit value.
US08683230B2
In accordance with certain aspects, data is received from a calling program. Ciphertext that includes the data is generated, using public key encryption, in a manner that allows the data to be obtained from the ciphertext only if one or more conditions are satisfied. In accordance with another aspect, a bit string is received from a calling program. Data in the bit string is decrypted using public key decryption and returned to the calling program only if one or more conditions included in the bit string are satisfied.
US08683226B2
Systems and methods for automatically provisioning devices that do not include or cannot provide a unique hardware identifier over a machine-to-machine network. A device or application may provide a server with a non-unique provisioning identifier during restricted communication between the server and the device. In response to receiving a provisioning identifier from a device, a server may generate a globally unique device identifier associated with the provisioning identifier for the individual device, and transmit the unique identifier to the device. The device may retain the unique identifier for future transactions. A request may be provided to a user, at the device, the server or any other interface, requesting that a newly identified device be authenticated. Upon authentication the device may communicate with the server with additional interactions that were not provided after provisioning and before authentication.
US08683224B2
The present invention provides a solution to the problem of guaranteeing the integrity of software programs by encrypting all or part of each instruction of a program using a key based on all or part of one or a plurality of previous instructions, thus resulting in a different encryption key per instruction. The invention is applicable to software programs whose structures are not necessarily tree-like in nature and is also applicable when the program includes loops, jumps, calls or breaks etc. The invention allows for an exception to be flagged when an encrypted instruction is wrongly decrypted. There is no need for the first instruction to be in clear, since the instruction key may be appropriately initialized as required. The invention can be realized in software or entirely in hardware thereby eliminating the possibility of a third party intercepting a decrypted instruction or a decryption key.
US08683223B2
A method and system for selective encryption within a document. A portion of the document selected and marked for encryption is detected, the selected portion of the document including plaintext. The detected portion of the document selected for encryption is encrypted as ciphertext. The encrypted portion of the document is decrypted with a proper decryption key, wherein the decrypting includes decrypting the encrypted portion of the document in response to presentation of required data by the accessor. The required data includes the proper decryption key, a name of the accessor, and an employee number of the accessor. The portion of the document is displayed as decrypted.
US08683214B2
The present invention aims to perform tamper detection on a protection control module without having detection modules come to know the key data and functions thereof. The detection modules of the present invention perform tamper detection by verifying whether or not the correspondence between the input and output data of the application decryption process performed by the protection control module is correct. Furthermore, the present invention offers improved security against leaks of the application output data by the detection modules by having a plurality of detection modules verify different data blocks.
US08683210B2
An integrated circuit includes a sequence generator configured to generate a series of challenges; a hidden output generator configured to generate a series of hidden outputs, each hidden output a function of a corresponding challenge in the series of challenges; and bit reduction circuitry configured to generate a response sequence including a plurality of response parts, each response part a function of a corresponding plurality of hidden outputs.
US08683203B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for enhancing anti-terrorism public safety measures, by more securely determining whether explosives or other contraband have been inserted into notebook computer batteries or other large, replaceable subsystems of electronic devices. Because notebook computers typically require large, heavy batteries, they present attractive containers for smugglers and terrorists attempting to bring explosives onto an airplane. The disclosed security testing system provides more reliable results than many current tests, and does not require that the device under test be powered on. The systems and methods disclosed use out-of-band authentication for added security.
US08683200B2
A content server is provided for storing and distributing digital content to a client. The content server includes a content database configured to electronically store the digital content and a DRM packager for adding a universal DRM layer to the digital content stored at the content database. The universal DRM layer is able to access digital content in conformance with a plurality of different DRM implementations, the digital content being in conformance with one of the plurality of different DRM implementations. The universal DRM layer can access the content by a variety of means, such as with a universal key, for example, that can decrypt content from many different DRM technologies. In this way the client only needs to have a DRM controller that is compatible with this higher-level, universal DRM implementation rather than with the individual, underlying DRM implementations.
US08683197B2
Video data files are provided to a user for playback. Once playback begins, the methods and apparatus of the present invention enable a user to interrupt the video playback function and quickly resume playback prior to reloading the selected video file. The techniques of the present invention can store video data in a cache memory and, upon interruption, capture a frame of video data at approximately the time of the interruption. The captured frame and cache data can be used to provide the user with a unique menu option for resumption of the video playback at the moment of interruption.
US08683196B2
A method and system for renewing certificates stored on tokens is described.
US08683195B2
Pirated certificates may be published or become available in an environment which includes computer networks and websites. An information appliance connected to the environment searches for certificates in the environment. When a certificate is found in the environment, the appliance determines whether to alert an entity having an interest in the certificate.
US08683194B2
A secure communications method is provided for use in a telecommunications network, wherein a transaction between an entity A and an entity B of the network comprises: entity A sending an authorization request to an Authorization Server S, in which request the entity A identifies itself and authenticates itself; the entity A declares to the Authorization Server its intention to communicate with a certain entity B; the Authorization Server determines a secret key that it shares with the entity B; the Authorization Server generates a session key and sends it to the entity A; the session key being a one-way function of the secret key and also being a function of an integer (transaction number) allocated to the transaction; the Authorization Server also generates a transaction identifier that is a function depending at least on the transaction number in non-invertible manner.
US08683193B1
Strict transport security controls are arranged to detect a first navigation command of a network-enabled application to navigate from a secure connection established with a first network address and to navigate to a second network address using an unsecure reference. A filter is used to filter, in response to the detection of the first navigation command, referring information in a second navigation command used to establish a second address secure connection with a device having the second network address. The strict transport security controls service is optionally arranged to provide a warning signal upon detecting formation of the second navigation command.
US08683191B2
Apparatuses, methods, and systems for reconfiguring a secure system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a configuration storage location, a lock, and lock override logic. The configuration storage location is to store information to configure the apparatus. The lock is to prevent writes to the configuration storage location. The lock override logic is to allow instructions executed from sub-operating mode code to override the lock.
US08683184B1
A method for implementing multi context execution on a video processor having a scalar execution unit and a vector execution unit. The method includes allocating a first task to a vector execution unit and allocating a second task to the vector execution unit. The first task is from a first context in the second task is from a second context. The method further includes interleaving a plurality of work packages comprising the first task and the second task to generate a combined work package stream. The combined work package stream is subsequently executed on the vector execution unit.
US08683183B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having multiple execution units, at least one of which includes a circuit having a multiply-accumulate (MAC) unit including multiple multipliers and adders, and to execute a user-level multiply-multiply-accumulate instruction to populate a destination storage with a plurality of elements each corresponding to an absolute value for a pixel of a pixel block. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08683177B2
A content addressable memory (CAM) (100) can include a CAM memory array (102) having both a data field (102-0) and a mask field (102-1). A multiplexer (MUX) (108) can selectively load data from either a register (104) or an external data input (106) to one or both fields (102-0 and 102-1) of CAM memory array (102).
US08683170B1
Consistent distributed storage communication protocol semantics, such as SCSI target semantics, in a SAN-attached clustered storage system are disclosed. The system includes a mechanism for presenting a single distributed logical unit, comprising one or more logical sub-units, as a single logical unit of storage to a host system by associating each of the logical sub-units that make up the single distributed logical unit with a single host visible identifier that corresponds to the single distributed logical unit. The system further includes a mechanism to maintain consistent context information for each of the logical sub-units such that the logical sub-units are not visible to a host system as separate entities from the single distributed logical unit.
US08683169B2
An auxiliary storage medium is selected for writing data of a set of one or more pages being paged-out from real memory. The auxiliary storage medium is selected from among a plurality of auxiliary storage media, including differing types of storage media, based on characteristics of the plurality of storage media and/or the attributes of the data being written to the auxiliary storage media.
US08683158B2
Apparatuses and methods for steering SMM code region accesses are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a status indicator, a base storage location, and an abort storage location. The status indicator is to indicate whether the apparatus is operating in SMM. The base storage location is to store a base address and the abort storage location is to store an abort address. The base address is to specify a first memory address region at which SMM code is to be accessed. The abort address is to specify a second memory address region to which accesses to the first memory address region are to be steered if the apparatus is not operating in SMM.
US08683152B2
A method includes reading a superblock of a read-only replica of a source virtual volume in a source virtual storage partition associated with a source aggregate of a source storage system at the destination storage system, modifying the superblock of the read-only replica in a memory of the destination storage system, and associating the modified superblock with one or more virtual volume block number(s) configured to be previously associated with the superblock of the read-only replica of the source virtual volume without initiating a destination consistency point (DCP) at the destination storage system to render the destination virtual volume writable. The method also includes modifying a disk group label to reflect an association of the destination storage disk with the writable destination virtual volume, and initiating the DCP to ensure that the modified superblock and the modified disk group label are flushed to the destination storage disk.
US08683150B2
A storage system includes a plurality of data vats, and a processor including an optimizing unit that optimizes a value of data stored in the storage system. The optimizing unit optimizes the value by computing and implementing an optimal decision for allocating new data to a first data vat of the plurality of data vats, moving existing data from at least a second data vat of the plurality of data vats to the first data vat, and deleting existing data from the first data vat, based on an amount of data in each of the plurality of data vats.
US08683143B2
Methods and apparatus to provide unbounded transactional memory systems are described. In one embodiment, an operation corresponding to a software transactional memory (STM) access may be executed if a preceding hardware transactional memory (HTM) access operation fails.
US08683137B2
This invention is a data processing system with a data cache. The cache controller responds to a cache miss requiring allocation by pre-allocating a way in the set to an allocation request according to said least recently used indication of said ways and then update the least recently used indication of remaining ways of the set. This permits read allocate requests to the same set to proceed without introducing processing stalls due to way contention. This also allows multiple outstanding allocate requests to the same set and way combination. The cache also compares the address of a newly received allocation request to stall this allocation request if the address matches an address of any pending allocation request.
US08683128B2
A data processing system includes a multi-level cache hierarchy including a lowest level cache, a processor core coupled to the multi-level cache hierarchy, and a memory controller coupled to the lowest level cache and to a memory bus of a system memory. The memory controller includes a physical read queue that buffers data read from the system memory via the memory bus and a physical write queue that buffers data to be written to the system memory via the memory bus. The memory controller grants priority to write operations over read operations on the memory bus based upon a number of dirty cachelines in the lowest level cache memory.
US08683126B2
Optimal use of buffer space by a storage controller which writes retrieved data directly to a memory
A storage controller which uses the same buffer to store data elements retrieved from different secondary storage units. In an embodiment, the controller retrieves location descriptors ahead of when data is available for storing in a target memory. Each location descriptor indicates the memory locations at which data received from a secondary storage is to be stored. Only a subset of the location descriptors may be retrieved and stored ahead when processing each request. Due to such retrieval and storing of limited number of location descriptors, the size of a buffer used by the storage controller may be reduced. Due to retrieval of the location descriptors ahead, unneeded buffering of the data elements within the storage controller is avoided, reducing the latency in writing the data into the main memory, thus improving performance.
US08683122B2
A storage system includes: an identification information providing means that provides identification information distinguishing a group of data requested to be stored, to the group of data; a data set generating means that divides storage target data as part of the group of data into multiple pieces and makes the data redundant, thereby generating a data set composed of multiple fragment data; and a distribution storage controlling means that distributes the fragment data composing the data set and store the fragment data, respectively, in same positions within storage regions formed in the respective storing means, thereby storing the storage target data. The distribution storage controlling means stores the fragment data composing respective data sets corresponding to multiple storage target data included in the group of data provided with the same identification information, into the respective storage regions so that storing positions within the respective storage regions become successive.
US08683121B2
A storage system includes: a plurality of storing means and a data processing means that stores data into the plurality of storing means and retrieves the data stored in the storing means. The data processing means includes: a data set generating means that generates division data by dividing storage target data into a plurality of pieces and also generates redundant data for restoring the storage target data, thereby generating a data set composed of a plurality of fragment data that are the division data and the redundant data; and a distribution storage controlling means that distributes and stores the fragment data into the respective storing means. The distribution storage controlling means stores the fragment data composing the data set in same positions within storage regions formed in the respective storing means, respectively.
US08683116B2
A method of executing reading instruction to read host data from a flash memory device is provided. The method initiates with receiving from a host device a read instruction to read host data from an array of NAND flash memory cells grouped into separately-readable device pages, the host data being a portion of device data that is stored in a device page. The host data is parsed from device data, and the parsed host data is sent to the host device.
US08683109B2
To make it possible to take over an IO configuration that is assigned to logical partitions in reallocation of the logical partitions, and to make an IO access work normally. A computer system has a server having an IO bridge, a switch that has a first IO bridge for connecting with the IO bridge of the server through a bus and plural second IO bridges for connecting to plural IO devices through a bus, and bus number assignment management means for fixedly assigning mutually different PCI bus numbers to the plural second IO bridges.
US08683099B1
Methods and systems are directed to a hybrid multi-thread/multi-process model to service a large number of network requests in network storage applications and systems. The process utilizes defined parameters of target session number, maximum session number, and maximum process number to determine an optimum load balance for read/write operations of a disk access session on a single storage node. This helps to achieve higher performance when using the single node to read or write a large number of separate and parallel data streams, and represents a marked improvement over current methods that multiplex the multiple data streams or use multiple I/O processes to write each data stream.
US08683096B2
Disclosed embodiments may include a circuit having a plurality of data terminals, no more than two pairs of differential data strobe terminals associated with the plurality of data terminals, and digital logic circuitry. The digital logic circuitry may be coupled to the data terminals and configured to use the no more than two pairs of differential data strobe terminals concurrently with the plurality of data terminals to transfer data. Other embodiments may be disclosed.
US08683094B2
A method for enhancing data transmission efficiency in a data transmission system having a host, a subsystem and a transmission interface, utilized for the host to transmit and receive a data from a memory of the subsystem via the transmission interface includes steps of the host outputting a query command to the subsystem via the transmission interface for querying available memory utilization of the subsystem; the subsystem outputting a return message to the host via the transmission interface for indicating the available memory utilization according to the query command; and controlling data transmission from the host to the subsystem according to the return message.
US08683089B1
Method and apparatus for equalizing a bandwidth impedance mismatch between a client and an interface
One or more client engines issues write transactions to system memory or peer parallel processor (PP) memory across a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) interface. The client engines may issue write transactions faster than the PCIe interface can transport those transactions, causing write transactions to accumulate within the PCIe interface. To prevent the accumulation of write transactions within the PCIe interface, an arbiter throttles write transactions received from the client engines based on the number of write transactions currently being transported across the PCIe interface.
US08683085B1
Various embodiments provide a USB interface that can operate in either a Host or Device mode using standard Link and/or physical interface circuit (PHY) components which, in at least some embodiments, do not have additional circuitry that is utilized to implement the USB OTG standard.
US08683076B2
A method of generating a web page modifies uniform resource locators (URLs) of embedded resources in a web page. The modified URLs include data prepended to information from the original URLs. The prepended data may be a hostname or an network address that is resolvable to a shared network of servers.
US08683070B2
A system may route media stream samples in time-stamped packets to a media interface. The system may determine a hash value from a stream identifier that identifies a source media stream corresponding to the media stream samples. The hash value may be determined based on a combination of a first portion of the stream identifier and a second portion of the stream identifier. The system may determine whether the stream identifier identifies a subscribed media stream by looking up the hash value in a hash table. The system may route the media stream samples to a media interface if source media stream is a subscribed media stream.
US08683069B2
A method is provided for broadcasting a data stream in a network including at least two separate transmitters supplied by a head end. The stream is organized into data frames and includes at least one time marker. The method includes the following steps at the head end: obtaining a first time reference from an external source; obtaining a second time reference from the data stream received by the head end; comparing the first and second time references in order to determine a time shift between the first and second time references; and transmitting the time shift or at least one time marker modified on the basis of the time shift in order to compensate for a transport time variation between the head end and the transmitters.
US08683061B2
A system for identifying a subscriber includes an access server coupled to a number of subscribers using a first communication network and further coupled to a second communication network, a memory coupled to the access server, and a processor coupled to the memory. The access server receives a communication from a particular subscriber using a particular one of a number of virtual circuits associated with the first communication network. The memory stores path information that identifies a virtual circuit assigned to the particular subscriber. The processor identifies the particular subscriber for connection to the second communication network based upon the path information and the particular virtual circuit used to receive the communication from the particular subscriber.
US08683058B2
Provided is a method for a device to receive a signal for synchronization. The method may include receiving the signal for synchronization as defined by a sequence corresponding to an interleaved concatenation of a first sequence and a second sequence. Components of the first sequence may correspond to odd-th components of the sequence corresponding to the interleaved concatenation. Components of the second sequence may correspond to even-th components corresponding to the interleaved concatenation. The method may also include detecting group identification (ID) that is defined based on a combination of a first ID of the first sequence and a second ID of the second sequence.
US08683054B1
Computing devices can collaborate in order to take advantage of various components distributed across those devices. In various embodiments, image information captured by multiple devices can be used to identify and determine the relative locations of various persons and objects near those devices, even when not every device can view those persons or objects. In some embodiments, one or more audio or video capture elements can be selected based on their proximity and orientation to an object to be captured. In some embodiments, the information captured from the various audio and/or video elements can be combined to provide three-dimensional imaging, surround sound, and other such capture data.
US08683053B2
Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for establishing secure communications sessions between computing devices located behind network security devices. The method includes receiving, from a first client computing device, a request for a secure connection with a second client computing device, the request including a first transport protocol role and a first security protocol role associated with the first device. The method includes transmitting the request to the second device. The method includes receiving, from the second device, a response to the request including a second transport protocol role and a second security protocol role associated with the second device, transmitting the response to the first device, and establishing the secure connection between the first device and the second device, where the first and second security protocol roles are determined independently from the first and second transport protocol roles.
US08683052B1
Systems, methods, and apparatus to analyze potential risks of communicating online are described. In an embodiment, the communication may include communicating with a destination and/or communicating over a communication channel and/or communicating through a network entry and/or communicating using a client. Potential risks may be used to determine whether to proceed with online communications and/or whether the risks are prohibitive for online communications. Other embodiments are also claimed and disclosed.
US08683043B1
Some embodiments provide different frameworks that implement conflict avoidance systems and methods for ensuring uniqueness in identifying assets for different customers that are deployed to server capacity of one or more distributed platforms participating in a federation. Specifically, different frameworks are provided whereby the distributed platforms authorize use of a domain before configuring the domain to identify assets of a customer. A method performed in one such framework includes receiving a domain that is specified for identifying assets of a first customer belonging to a first distributed platform of the federation. The method determines whether the domain conflicts with a domain that is configured by a second distributed platform of the federation. The method then communicates with the first distributed platform (i) to configure the received domain when there is no conflict and (ii) to prevent the first distributed platform from configuring the received domain when there is a conflict.
US08683042B1
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for determining cumulative data usage information associated with a mobile device. In particular, a request to initiate a communication session is received from a mobile device. Accordingly, allocated data usage information associated with the mobile device is retrieved from a subscription profile server. Based on the allocated data usage information, a gateway facilitating a communication session with the mobile device is provided with a threshold amount of data usage information. After the communication session has ended, data usage information from the communication session is used to calculate updated data usage information associated with the mobile device. The updated data usage information is then stored at the subscription information server.
US08683038B2
A system and method for quarantining IP service devices (ISDs). When an ISD is placed into a quarantined environment, any request from the ISD will be re-directed to a quarantine alert server in a quarantine sub-system. In response to the request, the quarantine alert server may provide the user with information about the quarantine and may redirect, or instruct the user to redirect, the request to a quarantine response server. The quarantine response server may provide additional information that is not in the quarantine video message as to how the user may end the quarantine.
US08683037B2
Network activity of a client device that is coupled to a data network is monitored, to detect network activity idle time. Based upon detecting the idle time, an application running in the client device is automatically signaled that its background task be executed over the data network. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08683032B2
A generic discovery methodology collects data pertaining to components of a computer network using various discovery technologies. From the collected data, the methodology identifies, filters and analyzes information related to inter-component communications. Using the communication and application information, the methodology determines reliable relationships for those components having sufficient information available. To qualify more components, the methodology implements a decision service to generate hypothetical relationships between components that are known and components that are unqualified or unknown. The hypothetical relationships are presented to a user for selection, and each hypothetical relationship is preferably associated with an indication of its reliability.
US08683029B2
A schedule execution unit accesses a storage unit for storing a call list registered in a database and determines whether or not there is a Web service call to be executed. If the presence of a Web service call to be executed is confirmed, the schedule execution unit reads out the Web service address and process details and calls the Web service. By so doing, the apparatus that provides the function and the apparatus that carries out the call can be separated, thus enabling a particular program to be executed simply and flexibly according to a schedule.
US08683028B2
Network planning/provisioning systems and methods with a Generic Multi-Layer Provisioning (GMLP) service management layer that is configured to operate on any of deployed network elements and spoofed network elements to provide abstract service modeling thereon. The GMLP layer may include a spoofing engine configured to simulate network elements and provisioning functions associated therewith. The associated abstraction of the GMLP layer enables layer 0-4 topologies and services to be modeled, planned, and provisioned.
US08683026B2
Performance of polymorphic IT functions in a cloud computing environment can begin by providing an individualized selection mechanism for initiating polymorphic IT functions upon a node of a cloud computing environment. A polymorphic IT function can represent an IT function where the actions required to perform the IT function vary depending upon a combination of configuration parameters for the node. User-specification of the combination of configuration parameters can be rendered unnecessary by the individualized selection mechanism. A polymorphic IT function framework can receive a request identifying the node and a driver program via the individualized selection mechanism to perform a user-selected polymorphic IT function. The driver program can define actions for performing the polymorphic IT function upon the node for the combination of configuration parameters. The driver program can then be invoked. Upon completion of the driver program, notification can be sent to a designated entity.
US08683021B2
A computer system with read/write access to storage devices creates a snapshot of a data volume at a point in time while continuing to accept access requests to the mirrored data volume by copying before making changes to the base data volume. Multiple snapshots may be made of the same data volume at different points in time. Only data that is not stored in a previous snapshot volume or in the base data volume are stored in the most recent snapshot volume.
US08683007B2
The transfer of media transmitted from a media provider from a first rendering device to a second includes establishing a network connection between the media provider and the second rendering device based on a network location and session context information. A desired transmission duplication of the media is determined such that the duplication will prevent substantial interruption of the rendering of the media as experienced by a user listening to both of the rendering devices, and that desired transmission duplication is sent to both the first rendering device and the second rendering device. The transmission is continued from the media provider to the second rendering device.
US08683001B2
Conventionally, when a switch virtualizing a storage (storage virtualization switch) is installed in a computer system including an SAN, a host computer, and a storage device, since a port ID of a virtual storage and a port ID of a storage device assigned to the virtual storage are different, the computer system has to be suspended at the time of installation of the storage virtualization switch. The storage virtualization switch installed in the computer system assigns a port ID to a port of a virtual storage generated by the storage virtualization switch so as to be equivalent to a port ID of an existing storage device and, in the case in which the port ID is designated as an access destination by an access request from one computer to the storage device, sends the access request to the virtual storage.
US08682995B1
A method for a computer system includes receiving a first user communication, determining a first group of users, determining a target number of users, determining whether the first group of users includes the target number of users, and if not, providing the communication to the first group of users, determining a hierarchal mapping of groups of users in response to user memberships, determining a second group of users from the hierarchal mapping, determining a plurality of social network relationship factors for the second group of users with respect to the first user, and providing the communication to at least a subset of users in the second group of users in response to the first plurality of social network relationship factors.
US08682994B2
Included are systems and methods for directing data. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving a listing for a data provider, the listing including a plurality of criteria related to the data provider and receiving an indication to add at least a portion of the listing to a personal directory. Other embodiments include adding at least a portion of the listing to the personal directory and receiving an indication from the data provider to send data to the personal directory.
US08682990B2
Techniques involving identification of electronic messages that are the first contact between the sender identification and addressed recipients. One representative technique includes identifying electronic messages originating from a sender that are first contact electronic messages between the sender and targeted recipients. The sender of the electronic messages may be designated as a source of unsolicited messages if heuristics involving the first contact electronic messages indicate a distribution of unsolicited messages by the sender.
US08682986B2
A communication device allows a user to get access from the outside via an external public line to obtain e-mail data stored in a device connected to an internal system via a computer network such as a LAN without causing a reduction in security. More specifically, the communication device is connected to a LAN via a LAN I/F and also connected to the public line via a line I/F. If the communication device receives a remote operation command via the public line, a CPU of the communication device gets access to a post office of an e-mail server so as to get e-mail data in accordance with the remote operation command. The obtained e-mail data is converted to facsimile image data and transmitted by means of facsimile to a specified destination.
US08682978B2
A method of providing email messages for a printing device includes attaching a memory module storing the email messages to a printing device consumable.
US08682977B1
A method, computer-readable medium and system for enabling communication associated with a webpage are disclosed. One or more communication interfaces may be used to associate content with one or more regions of a webpage. The one or more communication interfaces may be associated with the one or more regions of the webpage. Each communication interface may enable users to submit content for access by at least one other user. In this manner, content may be associated with one or more regions of a webpage, thereby enabling users to more readily and efficiently communicate and/or provide context for content.
US08682974B2
Presented are systems and methods for presenting, creating, and pausing a meeting session. The systems and methods create meeting-session data based at least in part on one or more applications running on one or more devices connected to a meeting session. The systems and methods store meeting-session data in a database. The systems and methods pause a meeting session such that the one or more devices are disconnected from the meeting session. The systems and methods resume a meeting session by configuring devices to run at least one of the one or more applications using the meeting-session data and joining configured devices to the resumed meeting session.
US08682969B1
A framed event system and method are provided that may be used for online multimedia communications. The framed event system presents a multimedia application via the web without the use of any installed applications other than a web browser.
US08682966B2
A composite service providing system including a plurality of network electronic devices communicatively connected with each other. The plurality of network electronic devices includes electronic devices, each of which is capable of providing at least one service. A plurality of services provided by a plurality of electronic devices are combined to constitute a composite service. The composite service providing system further includes a composite service designating system that designates a composite service to be provided, an electronic device determining system that determines an electronic device that provides each of a plurality of services necessary for providing the composite service designated with the composite service designating system, and a controlling system that control the electronic devices determined by the electronic device determining system to provide the services so that the composite service designated by the designating system is provided.
US08682963B2
A system uses services offered by a plurality of servers different from one another via a common API. The system includes a plurality of service-offering servers, a client that uses services offered by the service-offering servers, and an interchange server that intermediates when the client uses a service. The client communicates with the interchange server using a common API when using a service. The interchange server uses a unique API, unique to the service-offering server offering the service, to execute a process that is unique to the service-offering server. The client may use any service with the use of a common API without any need to use a unique API.
US08682962B2
Systems and methods described herein provide for communication between a base component and a tablet component of a hybrid computing system. The hybrid computing system is in a connected state when the base component and tablet component are connected. Systems and methods provide for a switch for determining control of the hybrid computing system when in a connected state. Embodiments provide that the base component may control the tablet component when the hybrid computing system is in a connected state and the switch is set to base control. According to embodiments, the display component may control the hybrid computing system when the hybrid computing system is in a connected state and the switch is set to tablet control. In addition, embodiments provide that a server module running on the display component and a client module running on the base component facilitate communication between the hybrid computing system components. Furthermore, systems and methods described herein provide that the base component may control hardware devices, peripheral devices, or software applications of the display component through communications between the server module and client module.
US08682955B1
A distributed storage system includes an orchestration layer that provides policy driven orchestration for controlling access and/or load balancing in connection with servicing I/O requests from one or hosts at one or more compute sites in a cloud configuration. The I/O requests may be received over a communication link, and the orchestration layer maintain policies and/or other information that control the selection of an compute site for processing of the I/O according to one or more policies and based on tiering designations of the compute sites. For example, according to various embodiments, policy information of the orchestration layer may control the passing of I/O requests to the one or more compute sites with respect to such factors as requirements of particular service legal agreements, specific tolerances for handling the I/O requests and/or times and rates for processing I/O requests at particular compute sites.
US08682954B2
A method for server replication in a network environment is provided. The primary server provides a first service to a client. If the first service involves interaction with a non-deterministic data source, the primary server performs the interaction and provides information about the interaction to a secondary server that is a replica of the primary server. The secondary server uses the information about the interaction to synchronize the secondary server with the primary server.
US08682945B2
A computer system is used to create and distribute applications. An audience qualifier and a set of categories corresponding to the audience qualifier are selected. A master application template is selected. The master application template may be pre-certified. For each of the selected categories, an application instance is created from the master application template, where the modifications to the master application template for each category are determined at least in part by the characteristics of the category. Metadata describing the audience qualifier and category are associated with each application instance. The application instances may be certified. The application instances are distributed in accordance with the metadata.
US08682944B2
A new file system is mounted to a mount point of an existing file system implemented in a computational system. A sentinel indicator is stored in the mount point. Prior to initiating an input/output (I/O) operation by a program, a determination is made by the program as to whether the sentinel indicator exists. In response to determining by the program that the sentinel indicator exists, the I/O operation is performed by the program. In certain alternative embodiments, in response to determining by the program that the sentinel indicator exists, the I/O operation is not performed by the program.
US08682943B1
Various examples of systems and methods are described that may allow for a computer inventory solution. Such a solution may involve, for example, periodically determining which of a plurality of users is currently logged in to a computer. The solution may further involve, for each of those of the users determined to be logged in to the computer: querying a database, via a network external to the computer, to determine whether that user and the computer are associated together in the database, and responsive to determining that the user and the computer are associated together in the database, incrementing a counter.
US08682933B2
A directed graph comprises a plurality of nodes including a root node and a non-root node. Each of the plurality of nodes has a plurality of directed edges. The directed graph is traversed, with the plurality of nodes being visited according to an order of the directed edges of each of the plurality of nodes. The directed edge that leads to the non-root node is discarded when the non-root node is visited for the first time during the traversal of the directed graph.
US08682929B2
Included is a user device for communicating product information. The user device might include a data storage device and a product identifier input device configured to receive a product identifier. Also included in the user device is logic configured to retrieve at least one user preference, logic configured to retrieve information regarding a product related to the product identifier from a data network, and logic configured to compare the at least one user preference with at least a portion of the information related to the product.
US08682918B2
An entity is provided a recommendation based on content associated with the entity. The entity may be a user or a group. The recommendation may be one or more other users, groups, or other data objects having associated content that is similar to the content that is associated with the entity.
US08682912B2
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for providing secure access to data. Public UDTFs, private UDTFs and a metadata processor are utilized to facilitate secure access to data residing in a variety of data repositories. User security attributes and UDTF attributes are gathered. A table is queried based on the gathered attributes.
US08682903B2
According to embodiments of the invention, a system, method and computer program product for a computer program product for synchronizing content directories on cluster devices are provided. Embodiments generate a binary tree for each device in a cluster of devices, the binary tree representing the locations of all copies of content residing in the device. The binary tree for a plurality of other devices in the cluster may be stored in each device the binary tree. The binary trees for the plurality of other devices may be used to determine availability of content and the available content may be displayed to a user.
US08682902B2
According to one embodiment, a storage device includes an interface, a first and second memory blocks and a controller. The interface receives a content search request. The first memory block stores files and inverted files corresponding to contents included in the files. The second memory block stores a file search table. The controller creates the inverted file for each content included in the files and stores IDs of the files including the content in the inverted file. The controller obtains, by search of the content, a corresponding inverted file from the inverted files stored in the first memory block and stores, in the file search table, the IDs of the files included in the obtained inverted file. The controller outputs the IDs of the files stored in the file search table from the interface as a search result for the content search request.
US08682898B2
A clustering-based approach to data standardization is provided. Certain embodiments take as input a plurality of addresses, identify one or more features of the addresses, cluster the addresses based on the one or more features, utilize the cluster(s) to provide a data-based context useful in identifying one or more synonyms for elements contained in the address(es), and standardize the address(es) to an acceptable format, with one or more synonyms and/or other elements being added to or taken away from the input address(es) as part of the standardization process.
US08682896B2
Techniques for identifying attributes in a sentence and determining a number of attributes to be associated with the sentence is described. An attribute identification (AI) framework comprises an offline training portion, an online prediction portion, and an AI algorithm module. The offline training portion utilizes the relationships between attributes within sentences input to the offline training portion to improve attribute identification of the AI algorithm module. The online prediction portion predicts, for each sentence input, the attributes of the sentence and the number of attributes the sentence is associated with by employing the AI algorithm module.
US08682891B2
Links between facts associated with objects are automatically created and maintained in a fact repository. Names of objects are automatically identified in the facts, and collected into a list of names. The facts are then processed to identifying such names in the facts. Identified names are used as anchor text for search links. A search link includes a search query for a service engine which search the fact repository for facts associated with objects having the same name.
US08682888B2
A system for tasking, collecting, storing, and dispatching time-sensitive location-based information reports via an electronics communication network, comprising a central relational database management system, multiple computer-implemented services, and applications residing on computer-based mobile communication devices. The system provides: methods to convey the value of specific types of geospatial time-sensitive information from a world-wide population of information consumers to a world wide population of “eye witness” reporters (i.e. suppliers); methods to collect payment from the consumers and, in turn, pay the suppliers of valid information reports that satisfy a consumers' specific criteria; methods to distribute streams of geospatial-based information reports to geospatial viewing applications; methods to aggregate information demand from multiple information-tasking subscriptions; methods to subscribe and receive alerts with regards to tasking subscriptions; and methods to validate and score information reports.
US08682882B2
Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums are provided to automatically identifying a classified website. A website is determined to be a candidate site based on a set of heuristics. From among pages constituting the candidate site one or more pages are determined to be listing page candidates and one or more pages are determined to be detail page candidates. Then a listing page score is determined using a listing page classifier. Similarly, a detail page score is determined using a detail page classifier. The listing page and detail page scores each indicate the likelihood that the pages are part of a classified website. A candidate site score is determined based in part on a combination of the listing page score and the detail page scores. Then when the candidate site score is above a threshold the candidate site is determined to be a classified website.
US08682871B2
A system, method, and computer-readable medium having instructions thereon for executing a method for providing object-oriented content-based exception handling in business software applications are provided. An embodiment provides for handling an exception based on both the context of a process step in a process chain of a business software application, as well as the specific content of the process. An embodiment includes the use of a database to associate content information with desired responses, in order to further automate exception handling. For those exceptions which cannot be handled in an automatic fashion, then manual intervention is requested.
US08682870B1
Defragmentation during multiphase deduplication. In one example embodiment, a method of defragmentation during multiphase deduplication includes an analysis phase that includes analyzing each allocated block stored in a source storage at a point in time to determine if the block is duplicated in a vault storage, a defragmentation phase that includes reordering the duplicate blocks stored in the source storage to match the order of the duplicate blocks as stored in the vault storage, and a backup phase that is performed after completion of the defragmentation phase and that includes storing, in the vault storage, each unique nonduplicate block from the source storage.
US08682862B2
Disclosed is a method and system for selectively restoring file-level data from a disk image backup. In embodiments, a virtual machine backup may be performed by dividing a virtual machine virtual disk file into a plurality of discrete fixed-sized data blocks sharing a common index file that is stored on a backup medium, such as a hard drive, to form a backup set. The index file is referenced to determine which fixed-sized block contains volume information, such as a partition table, of the backed-up virtual machine file. The individual blocks are processed as a virtual filesystem which is mounted and presented to an access module, which traverses the filesystem and provide access to individual files in the image backup to a client process. The restore files may be delivered to the client in a container file, which may be compressed to increase transfer speed. The container file may include executable instructions for automatically restoring the files to a desired location.
US08682860B2
Embodiments are directed towards a system and method for a cloud-based front end that may abstract and enable access to the underlying cloud-hosted elements and objects that may be part of a multi-tenant application, such as a search application. Search objects may be employed to access indexed objects. An amount of indexed data accessible to a user may be based on an index storage limit selected by the user, such that data that exceeds the index storage limit may continue to be indexed. Also, one or more projects can be elastically scaled for a user to provide resources that may meet the specific needs of each project.
US08682850B2
A method and apparatus are provided for enhancing the impact of data de-duplication by preferential selection of the master copy to be retained based on current loads and performance metrics of the storage media devices. The computer system is configured to take as input the identified duplicate copies of data and evaluating their locations in storage devices to determine the cumulative affects of retaining one of the identified duplicate copies as a master copy and optionally allocating a new location if needed. Once a master copy has been designated, the remaining identified duplicate copies are removed from storage.
US08682844B2
Pursuant to some embodiments, a system, method, apparatus, means and computer program code for resolving conflicts in a database system are provided where the system includes a plurality of client databases and a master database, each client database having a subset of data from the master database. Pursuant to some embodiments, conflicts are resolved by receiving a data change request message from a requesting client database, the data change request message including change information identifying a proposed change, row identification information, and a before image, and comparing the row identification information and the before image to corresponding information in the master database to identify a potential conflict.
US08682843B2
A method and system for profile typing in batch loading document files into a service registry module in a computing environment, is provided. One implementation involves loading document files into a service registry by profile typing document files for loading into a service registry of a service oriented architecture (SOA) computing environment, including automatically identifying a profile of each document file; and batch loading the document files into the service registry based on their corresponding profile type.
US08682841B2
A system and method for collecting and processing data over a communications network. A data mining marshaller module associates each plugin to a particular data source and manages the plugin to periodically retrieve unstructured data from the data source based on a plurality of data items to be monitored on behalf of a plurality of users. The plugins convert unstructured data received from the data sources to structured data and the data marshaller module stores the structured data in a database. This enables the system and method to aggregate and display the structured data in multiple graphical representations according to the user's preference.
US08682830B2
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including an evaluation information extraction section configured to extract evaluation information including an object targeted to be evaluated and an evaluation of the object targeted to be evaluated from a linguistic expression given as information expressed linguistically by a user of interest; an identification section configured to identify whether the evaluation information is of a first type regarding content or of a second type regarding another user; and an evaluation prediction section configured to predict the evaluation by the user of interest regarding the content, based on the evaluation information of the first type given by the user of interest and on the evaluation information given by the other user in the evaluation information of the second type given by the user of interest.
US08682826B2
A method includes: obtaining first click distribution data for a first subset of a plurality of media items, each of which is associated with one or more item categories, determining from the first click distribution data likelihood of a generic user selecting media items associated with at least a subset of the item categories, obtaining second click distribution data from a particular user for a second subset of the plurality of media items, determining, based on differences between the first and second click distribution data, an adjusted likelihood of the particular user selecting media items associated with the at least a subset of the item categories, and transmitting, based on the adjusted likelihood, to a client device associated with the particular user recommendations related to a third subset of the plurality of media items and respective item categories thereof.
US08682823B2
Methods, systems and computer program products for resolving multiple magnitudes assigned to a target vector are disclosed. A target vector that includes one or more target vector dimensions is received. One of the target vector dimensions is processed to determine a total number of magnitudes assigned to the processed target vector dimension. Also, a source vector that includes one or more source vector dimensions is received. The received source vector is processed to determine a total number of features associated with the source vector. When it is detected that the total number of magnitudes assigned to the processed target vector dimension exceeds one, one of the assigned magnitudes is selected based on one of the determined features associated with the source vector.
US08682815B1
The location of the memory controllers within the on-chip fabric of multiprocessor architectures plays a central role in latency bandwidth characteristics of the processor-to-memory traffic. Intelligent placement substantially reduces the maximum channel load depending on the specific memory controller configuration selected. A variety of simulation techniques are used along and in combination to determine optimal memory controller arrangements. Diamond-type and diagonal X-type memory controller configurations that spread network traffic across all rows and columns in a multiprocessor array substantially improve over other arrangements. Such placements reduce interconnect latency by an average of 10% for real workloads, and the small number of memory controllers relative to the number of on-chip cores opens up a rich design space to optimize latency and bandwidth characteristics of the on-chip network.
US08682807B2
A method for admitting applicants into an academic institution can include the steps of: compiling a list of standardized test takers who have applied for admission to at least one academic institution, but have not received an offer of admission to any one of the at least one academic institutions; conditionally admitting selected ones of the test takers to an abbreviated academic program; subjecting the conditionally admitted test takers to at least one examination during the abbreviated academic program, each conditionally admitted test taker achieving a score on the at least one examination; and, admitting into the academic institution those conditionally admitted test takers who achieve a score on said at least one examination which satisfies an admissions criteria.
US08682801B2
In a method and an arrangement for provision of at least one secured service via a security module of a franking machine for at least one procedure for data processing that is executed in a data processing device that can be connected with the franking machine, the procedure requests a secured first service from the security module in a request step; and the security module provides the first service in a provision step subsequent to the request step. The security module verifies an authorization to request the first service via the procedure in a verification step preceding the provision step.
US08682796B2
Providing digital works to patrons. A method includes at a library check-out service for a library, providing a computer implemented user interface for library patron use. The method further includes at the user interface, receiving a check-out request for a digital work from a patron. Determinations are made that: the digital work is not available in the library's inventory of available digital works; funds are available to procure one or more copies of the digital work; the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items; and the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria. Based on these determinations, the method further includes automatically acquiring the one or more copies of the digital work. The digital work is then provided to the patron.
US08682775B2
System, method, and program products offer flexibility to the rather rigid way of trading in an electronic trading system. Orders for a tradeable object may typically get matched according to set terms and/or conditions at an electronic exchange. A trader may log onto the electronic exchange to trade the tradeable object, and may choose to display and trade the tradeable object according to a different set of terms and/or conditions. As such, the market data sent to the trader from the exchange is converted to a format according to the trader's selection, so that it may be presented to the trader in this format. Transaction messages sent to the exchange from the trader are converted to the format readable by the matching process, so that it can process the messages. Other features and advantages are described herein.
US08682768B1
A machine, article and method for an installment payment payout at contract value. A method can include: storing in memory terms of an agreement with a guarantor of a contract value for an investment, thus transforming a market value of the investment on a financial statement into a contract value, the terms including a payout of the contract value of the investment as installment payments over time, and that the installment payments will be determined in a manner to make their present value equal to the contract value, wherein the payments are discounted at market interest rates, and a specification that the payments are to be supported by a portfolio of securities to be held in a bankruptcy remote vehicle and by a payment guarantee of the guarantor and further including terms for determining a contract rate of return and a contract value.
US08682766B1
A method for providing a set of automated financial services to a set of clients. The set of automated financial services including payroll processing, trust fund management, investment of funds and ACH transactions processing. The system reduces financial risk for an administration by providing incoming transactions verification and risk management.
US08682759B2
A brokering system and method for providing an incentive to end users of petroleum fueled vehicles to make use of retrofit kits for existing IC engines which permit the use of hydrogen blended with fossil fuels without technically invading or modifying the engine or its intended purpose or application. End users of retrofitted vehicles are provided with discounted fuel costs at authorized refueling stations. The end user's savings include: a) a reduction in refueling charges since the vehicl's reliance on fossil fuel (which is displaced by hydrogen in the engine), and b) by the purchase of methanol which can be set at a lower cost per calorific equivalent than a barrel of oil while also earning emission offsets to be exchanged by the owner of the retrofitted engine for cash. These emission offsets can then be sold to end users/creators of carbon credits.
US08682754B1
Computer implemented methods of tracking customer spending and income are provided. The methods may comprise aggregating spending transactions by estimating income to a customer during a first time period. The methods may also comprise displaying a user interface to the customer. The user interface may comprise a first bar indicating customer income and a second bar indicating customer spending.
US08682746B2
Improved approaches to intelligently refer users of one online media store to another online store are disclosed. The inter-store referral can permit a user of an online media store, such as an online media store that offers digital media assets for purchase, to easily access related information, such as event information, from another online store. According to another aspect, improved approaches to access and present event information are disclosed.
US08682739B1
Systems and methods for identifying products in video are disclosed. A video containing at least one object is received, and video frames are extracted from the video for analysis. At least one object is extracted from one or more of the video frames to determine whether it corresponds to a product. Hyperlinks can be generated and embedded in a user interface to allow a user to purchase the product and/or retrieve additional information about the product.
US08682737B2
A computer network based universal transaction system (CNBUTS) architecture that enables transaction between one or more offer providers and one or more customers relating to offers of wares (e.g., goods/services) by the offer providers. In one embodiment, the architecture of the CNBUTS includes a universal agent system, one or more offering systems and one or more marketplace systems. The universal agent system receives one or more offers of wares available for transactions. Each offering system enables offer providers to define the offer(s) of wares available for transaction. Each marketplace system receives the offer(s) of wares from the universal agent system, presents the customers the offer(s) of wares, receives transaction requests from the customers, and communicates received transaction requests to the universal agent system. The universal agent system communicates the offer(s) of wares from the offering system(s) to the marketplace system(s) and processes transaction requests received from the marketplace system(s).
US08682736B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates communicating intent-related data to a user. A display engine can enable exploration of a portion of image data during a browsing session. An intent component can receive a portion of data related to the browsing session, wherein the portion of data is at least one of a collection of browsing history or a portion of data displayed during a browsing session. The intent component can further evaluate the portion of data to ascertain a combined intent of a user. A selective ad component can infer an incompleteness of the combined intent to trigger a pre-qualification for an offer related to at least one of an item or service that fulfills the incompleteness.
US08682732B2
Systems and methods to facilitate programmatic access to a network-based commerce facility via a network are described. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a request from a third party application via the network at the network based commerce facility. The request performs an action pertaining to electronic commerce and being one of a plurality of requests recognized by the network-based commerce facility. In responsive to the request, the method performs the action pertaining to the electronic commerce and communicates from a result of the action from the network-based commerce facility to the third party application in a programmatically accessible format.
US08682726B2
A mobile communications device comprising a location sensing system, producing a location output; a memory, storing a set of locations and associated events; a telecommunications device, communicating event and location information between a remote system and said memory; and a processor, processing said location output in conjunction with said stored locations and associated events in said memory, to determine a priority thereof.
US08682720B1
This specification describes technologies relating to displaying online content. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include receiving a collection of advertisement candidates for display in an online medium, the advertisement candidates each assigned a quality score calculated based at least in part on a measure indicative of relevance of the respective advertisement candidate to online content for concurrent display in the online medium, determining a score threshold based at least in part on relationships among multiple quality scores of the quality scores associated with the advertisement candidates in the collection of advertisement candidates, and based on the determined score threshold, identifying a subset of advertisement candidates of the collection for display. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.
US08682719B2
A method for managing rewards programs is disclosed. The method includes reviewing a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants on a host site via the Internet. The offers are associated with rewards to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices. An offer from the plurality of offers is selected and a customized offer element including the offer and an identifier of an issuer that selected the offer is generated.
US08682718B2
Systems and methods for detecting instances of click fraud are disclosed. Click fraud occurs when, for example, a user, malware, bot, or the like, clicks on a pay per click advertisement (e.g., hyperlink), a paid search listing, or the like without a good faith interest in the underlying subject of the hyperlink. Such fraudulent clicks can be expensive for an advertising sponsor. Statistical information, such as ratios of unpaid clicks to pay per clicks, are extracted from an event database. The statistical information of global data is used as a reference data set to compare to similar statistical information for a local data set under analysis. In one embodiment, when the statistical data sets match relatively well, no click fraud is determined to have occurred, and when the statistical data sets do not match relatively well, click fraud is determined to have occurred.
US08682710B2
A method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions. The programming instructions are operable to at least one of receive and assess current technology adoption trends. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to provide a technology adoption forecast.
US08682699B2
Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture that provide for outputting and utilization of risk zone information are provided. In some embodiments, risk zone information may be utilized to select, price, and/or manage an insurance policy.
US08682698B2
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for processing a first-time registration request for electronic access to a plurality of computerized insurance services. A network interface is configured to communicate with the plurality of computerized insurance services by interfacing with a plurality of disparate information platforms and communicating with a user computing device. A memory stores a portal module, a profile module, and a security module, each in the form of computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the system to receive a user identity, a first-time registration request of the user identity, and one or more secure information items associated with the user identity from the user computing device, determine a verification score for the user identity based on the one or more secure information items, and selectively register the user identity with a plurality of the computerized insurance services based on the verification score.
US08682695B2
A method is provided for determining whether a third party is authorized to access information representative of genetic data. This information representative of genetic data is associated with a physical sample and is provided in an accessible format. A set or access rights is received that define which third parties can access the information and how the information can be used. A third party requests to access the information for the purposes of performing a test. The request is compared to the access rights. If the third party is authorized, the test is performed on the information. If, however, the third party is not authorized, access is denied.
US08682694B2
A system and method for allowing a patient to access an automated process for managing a specified health problem called a disease. The system performs disease management in a fully automated manner, using periodic interactive dialogs with the patient to obtain health state measurements from the patient, to evaluate and assess the progress of the patient's disease, to review and adjust therapy to optimal levels, and to give the patient medical advice for administering treatment and handling symptom flare-ups and acute episodes of the disease. The medical records are updated, the progression of the disease is stored and tracked, and the patient's preferences for treatment are stored and then used to offer medical advice based on the current state of the disease. A prestored general disease trend curve is compared against a patient specific disease trend curve, and the system makes an automated response such as adjusting therapy.
US08682684B2
Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for monitoring compliance in reporting unclaimed property. The method is capable of identifying both potential non-reporters and potential under-reporters. In this regard, potential under-reporters may be identified as a result of a multilevel review that may take into account the recent reporting history, both in terms of frequency and the type and quantity of unclaimed property that has been reported. The potential non-reporters and potential under-reporters may then be further evaluated, such as by means of an audit or other follow up procedure, to insure compliance.
US08682683B2
An independent pre-screening system is provided. The independent pre-screening system may include a pre-screening workflow manager executed on one or more servers configured to receive a pre-screened candidate portfolio for an associated job posting. Each pre-screened candidate portfolio will receive a GPA based on predetermined set of fulfillment criteria. The system is configured to facilitate the execution of an automated pre-screening interview, and upon completion send the corresponding candidate portfolio to a candidate queue. The independent pre-screening system may further include a pre-screening candidate manager executed on the one or more servers configured to send a portion of the pre-screened candidate portfolio and a pre-screening rubric from the candidate queue to an online dashboard or remotely executed program, receive a portfolio evaluation from the pre-screening program, and rank the portfolio evaluation by GPA in a candidate status chart for the job posting.
US08682680B2
A decoding method for MP3 bit streams, which replaces a buffer required in the decoding process by manipulating the order of data decoding. The decoding method includes reading the head and side information of the current frame, and calculating a main data's start address of the current frame. While decoding the main data, the head and side information of subsequent frames are skipped if the reading of the main data is not yet completed. The start address of the next frame is calculated and directly accessed after finished reading the main data of the current frame. An optimum method for accessing frequency lines utilizes the characteristics of the MP3 frequency line, instead of inserting a plurality of zeros in the rzero zone containing successive zeros, the initial boundary address of the rzero zone is memorized.
US08682673B2
A computerized information and display apparatus useful for providing information to a user via a display. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor and network interface and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive a speech input from the user, and obtain information relating to the input. In one variant, at least a portion of the information is obtained via the network interface from a remote server, and the apparatus includes two components in wireless communication with one another.
US08682671B2
Techniques for generating synthetic speech with contrastive stress. In one aspect, a speech-enabled application generates a text input including a text transcription of a desired speech output, and inputs the text input to a speech synthesis system. The synthesis system generates an audio speech output corresponding to at least a portion of the text input, with at least one portion carrying contrastive stress, and provides the audio speech output for the speech-enabled application. In another aspect, a speech-enabled application inputs a plurality of text strings, each corresponding to a portion of a desired speech output, to a software module for rendering contrastive stress. The software module identifies a plurality of audio recordings that render at least one portion of at least one of the text strings as speech carrying contrastive stress. The speech-enabled application generates an audio speech output corresponding to the desired speech output using the audio recordings.
US08682670B2
A method, system and computer program product are provided for enhancement of speech synthesized by a statistical text-to-speech (TTS) system employing a parametric representation of speech in a space of acoustic feature vectors. The method includes: defining a parametric family of corrective transformations operating in the space of the acoustic feature vectors and dependent on a set of enhancing parameters; and defining a distortion indictor of a feature vector or a plurality of feature vectors. The method further includes: receiving a feature vector output by the system; and generating an instance of the corrective transformation by: calculating a reference value of the distortion indicator attributed to a statistical model of the phonetic unit emitting the feature vector; calculating an actual value of the distortion indicator attributed to feature vectors emitted by the statistical model of the phonetic unit emitting the feature vector; calculating the enhancing parameter values depending on the reference value of the distortion indicator, the actual value of the distortion indicator and the parametric corrective transformation; and deriving an instance of the corrective transformation corresponding to the enhancing parameter values from the parametric family of the corrective transformations. The instance of the corrective transformation may be applied to the feature vector to provide an enhanced feature vector.
US08682667B2
This is directed to processing voice inputs received by an electronic device. In particular, this is directed to receiving a voice input and identifying the user providing the voice input. The voice input can be processed using a subset of words from a library used to identify the words or phrases of the voice input. The particular subset can be selected such that voice inputs provided by the user are more likely to include words from the subset. The subset of the library can be selected using any suitable approach, including for example based on the user's interests and words that relate to those interests. For example, the subset can include one or more words related to media items selected by the user for storage on the electronic device, names of the user's contacts, applications or processes used by the user, or any other words relating to the user's interactions with the device.
US08682666B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system, apparatus and computer program product for determining current behavioral, psychological and speech styles characteristics of a speaker in a given situation and context, through analysis of current speech utterances of the speaker. The analysis calculates different prosodic parameters of the speech utterances, consisting of unique secondary derivatives of the primary pitch and amplitude speech parameters, and compares these parameters with pre-obtained reference speech data, indicative of various behavioral, psychological and speech styles characteristics. The method includes the formation of the classification speech parameters reference database, as well as the analysis of the speaker's speech utterances in order to determine the current behavioral, psychological and speech styles characteristics of the speaker in the given situation.
US08682665B2
A method and apparatus derive a dynamic grammar composed of a subset of a plurality of data elements that are each associated with one of a plurality of reference identifiers. The present invention generates a set of selection identifiers on the basis of a user-provided first input identifier and determines which of these selection identifiers are present in a set of pre-stored reference identifiers. The present invention creates a dynamic grammar that includes those data elements that are associated with those reference identifiers that are matched to any of the selection identifiers. Based on a user-provided second identifier and on the data elements of the dynamic grammar, the present invention selects one of the reference identifiers in the dynamic grammar.
US08682662B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for detecting voice activity in an audio signal. The apparatus comprises a first voice activity detector for making a first voice activity detection decision based at least in part on the voice activity of a first audio signal received from a first microphone. The apparatus also comprises a second voice activity detector for making a second voice activity detection decision based at least in part on an estimate of a direction of the first audio signal and an estimate of a direction of a second audio signal received from a second microphone. The apparatus further comprises a classifier for making a third voice activity detection decision based at least in part on the first and second voice activity detection decisions.
US08682660B1
A system and a method to correct semantic interpretation recognition errors presented in this invention applies to Automatic Speech Recognition systems returning recognition results with semantic interpretations. The method finds the most likely intended semantic interpretation given the recognized sequence of words and the recognized semantic interpretation. The key point is the computation of the conditional probability of the recognized sequence of words given the recognized semantic interpretation and a particular intended semantic interpretation. It is done with the use of Conditional Language Models which are Statistical Language Models trained on a corpus of utterances collected under the condition of a particular recognized semantic interpretation and a particular intended semantic interpretation. Based on these conditional probabilities and the joint probabilities of the recognized and intended semantic interpretations, new semantic interpretation confidences are computed. The semantic interpretation with the maximum new confidence is declared the corrected semantic interpretation.
US08682657B2
An apparatus and a method for improving communication sound quality in a mobile terminal in order to remove a neighboring noise that occurs together with a user's voice signal in a mobile terminal by discriminating signals occurring at different distances using two microphones and removing a noise. The mobile terminal preferably includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a voice processor. The first microphone receives a voice signal occurring at a closer distance from the mobile terminal and a voice signal occurring at a longer distance from the mobile terminal. The second microphone receives only a voice signal occurring at the long distance. The voice processor discriminates between the signal occurring at the long distance and the signal occurring at the close distance by receiving voice signals received via the first microphone and the second microphone at different phases.
US08682653B2
Techniques have been developed to facilitate the capture performances on handheld or other portable computing devices and, in some cases, the pitch-correction and mixing of such vocal performances with backing tracks for audible rendering on such devices. Captivating visual animations and/or facilities for listener comment and ranking are provided in association with an audible rendering of a performance, e.g., a vocal performance captured and pitch-corrected at another similarly configured mobile device and mixed with backing instrumentals and/or vocals. Geocoding of captured vocal performances and/or listener feedback may facilitate animations or display artifacts in ways that are suggestive of a performance or endorsement emanating from a particular geographic locale on a user manipulable globe. In this way, implementations of the described functionality can transform otherwise mundane mobile devices into social instruments that foster a unique sense of global connectivity and community.
US08682652B2
An audio encoder, an audio decoder or an audio processor includes a filter for generating a filtered audio signal, the filter having a variable warping characteristic, the characteristic being controllable in response to a time-varying control signal, the control signal indicating a small or no warping characteristic or a comparatively high warping characteristic. Furthermore, a controller is connected for providing the time-varying control signal, which depends on the audio signal. The filtered audio signal can be introduced to an encoding processor having different encoding algorithms, one of which is a coding algorithm adapted to a specific signal pattern. Alternatively, the filter is a post-filter receiving a decoded audio signal.
US08682648B2
A set of ordered characters is received in association with information specifying the locations of the characters within the image of the document. Language-conditional character probabilities for each character are determined based on a set of language models and the ordering of the characters. Neighbor characters associated with a target character are identified based on the locations of the characters. Language-conditional character probabilities associated with the neighbor characters and language-conditional character probabilities associated with the target character are combined to generate a local language-conditional likelihood associated with the target character, the local language-conditional likelihood representing a concordance of the target character to a language model.
US08682646B2
An automated arrangement for parsing location descriptions is provided in which semantic verification is integrated into a parsing process to reduce the generation of false results. The semantic verification involves checking up to three semantic relationships between keywords (i.e., syntactical components) parsed from the location description in a tokenization process to determine if a tokenization result is valid. The semantic relationships include: a) a spatial “part-of” relationship between location keywords; b) a spatial “near-by” relationship; and, c) a spatial “intersect” relationship. The semantic relationships between particular locations may be pre-calculated and stored as extended vocabulary to enable the semantic verification to occur early in the parsing process to thus increase overall parsing efficiency. The results of the parsing are sorted based on a rank score that is derived using the semantic relationships between the locations.
US08682639B2
This invention allows code emulation in a memory system by implementing a fixed location and size emulation segment that is only accessible to emulation requests, and may be mapped to any area of the physical memory space by the Extended Memory Controller. All areas of the memory space are visible to the emulation process, whether there is a functional segment mapped to that area or not.
US08682633B2
A mechanism is provided for enabling prediction of a cost between an origin and a destination even in the case of insufficient past route information. Data D, which includes an origin, a destination, and information on cost between these points, is prepared as well as a subroutine for calculating cost ce along an arbitrary link e on the basis of the set along with a variable denoted by fe. In the first step, the minimum cost route is found from the current {fe} with respect to all pairs of the origin and the destination included in the data D, thereby forming transformed data D′. {fe} is recalculated by using the above subroutine from D′ by computer processing and then compared with {fe} calculated last time. If a change is equal to or greater than a threshold, control returns to finding the minimum cost route. Otherwise, {fe} is fixed.
US08682623B1
A method for predicting electrical power distribution interruptions based on common, immediate weather conditions. Daily, hourly, and bi-hourly weather data are used to predict the number of interruptions. Common weather conditions include, but are not limited to, rain, wind, temperature, lightning, humidity, barometric pressure, snow, and ice. The method includes compiling common weather data including a plurality of weather variables and the number of historical interruptions for a historical period, establishing model equations for the average value of the weather variables, combining the model equations for each of the weather variables into a composite model, and performing a regression analysis using the composite model to establish interruption prediction values. A computer program product for enabling said method and a computer system adapted to carry out said method are also included.
US08682621B2
Methods implementable in a computer system for simulating the transmission of signals are disclosed. The disclosed techniques simulate the effect of the transmitter as well as the channel on a positive and negative pulse, which assures that asymmetry in the transmitter is captured. The resulting positive and negative pulse responses are then used to generate two separate PDFs: one indicative of received logic ‘1’s and another indicative of received logic ‘0’s at a point in time. Generating a plurality of such PDFs at different times allows the reliability of data reception to be assessed, and appropriate sensing margins to be set at a receiver, without the need to simulate the transmission of a very long random stream of data bits.
US08682619B2
Devices, methods, and systems are described for administration to at least one biological tissue of at least one device including at least one altered microorganism. In an embodiment, the altered microorganism includes at least one nucleic acid construct encoding at least one therapeutic agent.
US08682616B2
A method and a system for identifying failures in an aeroengine. The system includes: a mechanism defining a set of standardized indicators representative of operation of the aeroengine; a mechanism constructing an anomaly vector representative of a behavior of the engine as a function of the set of standardized indicators; a mechanism selecting in an event of an anomaly being revealed by the anomaly vector a subset of reference vectors having directions belonging to a determined neighborhood of a direction of the anomaly vector, the subset of reference vectors being selected from a set of reference vectors associated with failures of the aeroengine and determined using criteria established by experts; and a mechanism identifying failures associated with the subset of reference vectors.
US08682609B2
The present invention relates to a method for regulating an active vibration isolation system and to an active vibration isolation system, in particular for a vibration isolated positioning of lithography-devices, wafer-handling-systems and/or microscopes, as for instance scanning microscopes. The active vibration isolation system comprises the following components: a support body for bearing a load which is to be isolated; pneumatic vibration isolators with controllable valves for carrying the support body with respect to the ground; position sensors for providing vertical position signals of the support body; a first regulating system for vibration compensation in at least one degree of freedom in translation (Xt,Yt,Zt) and in at least one degree of freedom in rotation (Xr,Yr,Zr) and a second pneumatic regulating system for vibration compensation in at least one degree of freedom selected from three degrees of freedom (Zt,Xr,Yr) which are effective in vertical direction.
US08682597B2
A method for determining the composition of a material including the steps of fitting multivariate analytical data of the material to a combination of multivariate analytical data in a database to determine coefficients of the combination so as to determine a reference model of composition based on the coefficients and the compositions in the database, wherein the database includes multivariate analytical data of database materials whose compositions are known, and reconciling the reference model of composition to match properties of the material.
US08682591B2
The present invention relates to a method of qualifying ovarian cancer status in a subject comprising: (a) measuring at least one biomarker in a sample from the subject and (b) correlating the measurement with ovarian cancer status. The invention further relates to kits for qualifying ovarian cancer status in a subject.
US08682589B2
A system and method for supplying an additive into a well is disclosed that includes estimating injection rates for the additives and setting of one or more fluid flow control devices in the well based on a computer model. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08682583B2
A route search system includes: a reception unit that receives a search request for a plurality of first routes, that are routes between all the combinations of two of a plurality of points; a search unit that, when the search request is received by the reception unit, searches the plurality of first routes based upon a search condition included in the search request; and a supply unit that transmits route information for the plurality of first routes searched by the search unit. Both a number of times the search request is received by the reception unit, and a number of times route information is transmitted by the supply unit, are smaller than a number of points in the plurality of points.
US08682573B2
A method for initiating movement of a mobile machine is provided. In response to determining that the mobile machine needs to move to a new location based on environmental parameters corresponding to a current position of the mobile machine, a safe location for the mobile machine is determined based on the environmental parameters. An estimated time of travel is calculated from the current position of the mobile machine to the safe location based on a selected travel route for the mobile machine. Then, movement of the mobile machine is initiated prior to a first estimated time when the selected travel route will be impassable due to the environmental parameters based on the estimated time of travel using the selected travel route from the current position of the mobile machine to the safe location.
US08682572B2
A method is provided for evaluating fuel consumption efficiency of a vehicle driven by a driver. The method comprises the steps of: a) collecting data associated with said driver's driving performance from a plurality of sensors comprised in the vehicle; b) identifying a plurality of driving events based on the collected data; c) estimating the driver's performance in at least one driving event from among the identified plurality of driving events, wherein that at least one event if poorly performed is associated with increased fuel consumption; and d) based on the estimated driver's performance of the at least one driving event, evaluating a fuel consumption efficiency of the vehicle driven by that driver.
US08682563B2
A system for predicting turbine rub includes a monitoring system configured to form operational values for a turbine based on information received from the turbine and a correlation engine configured to form at least one correlated value from the operating values that correlates a first operating value to a second operating value. The system also includes a variable deriver configured to form at least one derived variable from a one of the operating values and a rub predictor that forms a rub prediction based on the at least one correlated value and the at least one derived value.
US08682562B2
This invention relates generally to gas turbine engine thrust scheduling, and more particularly to systems and methods for smoothing thrust inputs to gas turbine engines. In one embodiment, a method for operating a gas turbine engine comprises, upon disengagement of an auto-throttle system, determining a first trim setting corresponding to a TLA setting, determining a second trim setting where the second trim setting reduces to zero during successive manual throttle lever movements, determining a third trim setting comprising a combination of the first trim setting and the second trim setting, and applying the third trim setting to the TLA setting to smoothly transition from auto-throttle to manual operation of the engine while maintaining engine thrust.
US08682553B2
In a method for engaging a clutch having at least one previously known touch point position, the clutch is engaged according to a speed profile, the course of which depends on at least one of the previously known touch point positions.
US08682551B2
An example vehicle includes an engine and a motor-generator configured to generate a torque in a first direction. A torque limiter clutch is configured to dissipate a torque in a second direction that opposes the first torque. The torque in the second direction may be caused by a force event. A control processor is configured to detect a possible force event and control the torque limiter clutch in response to detecting the possible force event. A method of controlling the torque limiter clutch includes detecting a possible force event, reducing fluid pressure to the torque limiter clutch in response to detecting the possible force event, confirming the possible force event, maintaining the reduced fluid pressure to the torque limiter clutch if the force event is confirmed, and increasing the fluid pressure to the torque limiter clutch if the force event is not confirmed.
US08682548B2
A method of controlling a vehicle washing mode for a vehicle equipped with shift-by-wire shifting device, may include performing an N-range-off determining step that determines whether a shift lever is in an N-range when an engine stops, performing an ACC determining step that determines whether the vehicle is in an ACC state, and performing a shifting step that shifts a P-range state of a transmission to a N-range state thereof by operating an actuator, when the N-range-off determining step determines that the shift lever is in the N-range when the engine was stopped, and when the ACC determining step determines that the vehicle is in the ACC state.
US08682545B2
A method for controlling an upshift in a vehicle transmission includes transferring engine torque from an offgoing clutch to an oncoming clutch, using a torque capacity of the offgoing clutch to dampen oscillations when a difference between a speed of a transmission offgoing input and a calculated expected speed of said input is greater than a reference speed difference, and modulating engine torque during a ratio change phase of the shift.
US08682544B2
In the case that operation stop of the engine is requested while the clutch is engaged and the engine is driven at a higher rotation speed than the resonance rotation speed band, the clutch is disengaged and the engine is driven in the self-sustaining operation at the self-sustaining rotation speed higher than the resonance rotation speed band, the rotation speed Ne of the engine is lowered less than or equal to the second rotation speed Nref2 lower than the resonance rotation speed band with stop of fuel injection into the engine and the partially-engaged clutch after the rotation speed Nm of the motor MG becomes less than or equal to the first rotation speed Nref1 predetermined as a rotation speed lower than the resonance rotation speed after the clutch is disengaged. The rotation speed of the engine is therefore enabled to pass more rapidly through the resonance rotation speed band.
US08682541B2
A mobile construction device sensor unit system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a point-to-point radio ranging system coupled with a mobile construction device. A position determining component coupled with the point-to-point radio ranging system is configured for determining a position of the sensor unit in at least two dimensions based on communications between the point-to-point radio ranging system and a plurality of tags respectively located at a plurality of knowable locations within an operating environment of the mobile construction device. A communications link controller communicatively coupled with the position determining component is configured for wirelessly providing information, including the sensor unit position, to a receiving unit located apart from the sensor unit.
US08682533B2
A lane departure prevention device includes departure prevention control means that performs control to prevent deviation from a lane based on a result of detection means such as sensors and a camera, driver's intention determination means that determines driver's steering intention and actuator activation limiting means that limits activation of an actuator based on the driver's steering intention from the driver's intention determination means. The driver's intention determination means calculates a variation ΔTh in the steering torque detected and a variation ΔTs in the control command value to a steering actuator, and determines that, when |ΔTh|−|ΔTs| is a threshold or more, driver's operational intention is present and limits the activation of the departure prevention control. This can avoid the interruption of departure prevention control in response to activation of an actuator for lane departure avoidance that a driver does not intend because of erroneous detection that a driver intends as such.
US08682527B2
A method of operating an air conditioning system includes changing output of the compressor based on a temperature limit of the evaporator. The temperature limit is one of a predetermined fixed temperature limit and a variable temperature limit. The method also includes determining the variable temperature limit by determining a target air outlet temperature for conditioned air in a control space, detecting an actual evaporator temperature, calculating a difference between the target air outlet temperature and the actual evaporator temperature, finding a predetermined first temperature adjustment that correlates to the difference, finding a predetermined second temperature adjustment that correlates to another condition, and calculating the variable temperature limit by adjusting the fixed temperature limit by one of the first and second temperature adjustments.
US08682525B1
In telematics device mounted to a vehicle, an auxiliary processor detects an interrupt from an accelerometer and forwards the interrupt to a main processor—the interrupt wakes up the processor from a sleep mode. The main processor may then compare vehicle voltage and/or a value for a speed parameter to predetermined criteria to determine whether the interrupt was a false positive or if the accelerometer missed a detection of a user cranking up the vehicle. The main processor may also enter a conditional state if monitored information meets a minimum threshold. During the conditional state, the processor may operate according to rules for a current operational state and also according to rules for a changed state. The threshold for deeming a changed operational state is higher than for entering a conditional state to evaluate whether a change of operational state (i.e., on to off, or off to on) occurred.
US08682519B2
A method operates a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, which hybrid drive has an internal combustion engine and a first electric machine. The method generates, in response to a predefined setpoint torque value, a composite torque which drives the motor vehicle. In a transient operating mode which occurs during a change of the predefined setpoint torque value by a value, the composite torque is generated by summing a drive torque which is generated by the internal combustion engine and a drive torque which is generated by the first electric machine. At least one second electric machine is provided which is switched on during the transient operating mode in order to generate the composite torque of the internal combustion engine and of the first electric machine.
US08682507B2
Disclosed are a method and system for improving real-time determination of flight parameters of an aircraft during flight. A selection module selects and delivers measured values of input parameters to an estimation unit, and the estimation unit uses the input parameters to estimate at least two selected flight parameters. The input parameters are received by the estimation unit on the basis of identified flight mechanics equations associated with the selected flight parameters. The estimation unit includes an extended Kalman filter, which is configured to receive the values of the input parameters and to output joint estimations of the selected flight parameters based on the flight mechanics equations, during the flight of the aircraft.
US08682504B2
A system for creating a digital representation of a status of one or more air vehicles and of sensed external objects includes one or more air vehicles, one or more sensors coupled to each of the one or more air vehicles, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine navigation information associated with travel of each of the one or more air vehicles, and capture data associated with the sensed external objects sensed by the one or more sensors. The processor is further configured to identify and track the sensed external objects in the captured data, geo-locate the identified sensed external objects via dynamic landmarking, and dynamically update a landmark database. The processor is further configured to utilize the landmark database to control at least one or more functions in a respective air vehicle of the one or more air vehicles.
US08682502B2
A method for controlling one or more remote vehicles may comprise manipulating a remote dexterous control device, translating movement of the remote dexterous control device into movement of the one or more remote vehicles, and providing a sliding work window allowing control of the one or more remote vehicles' entire range of motion without sacrificing control resolution.
US08682500B2
A driving assistance apparatus is a lane keeping apparatus that performs a vehicle driving assistance so that a vehicle runs along a set target course, and includes a vehicle control ECU; a camera; an image ECU; a steering torque sensor; and a steering torque applying unit. The vehicle control ECU includes a parallel running vehicle trajectory estimating unit which estimates the trajectory of the parallel running vehicle running on the adjacent lane and a target course correcting unit which corrects the target course of the own vehicle on the basis of the estimation trajectory of the parallel running vehicle. Since the target course of the own vehicle is corrected on the basis of the estimated trajectory of the parallel running vehicle, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the driver's anxiety with respect to the parallel running vehicle.
US08682498B2
Load shedding by an electric utility, including querying power distribution systems that include a DRG system for present power consumption of the local load of the power distribution system; selecting, in dependence upon the present power consumption of the local load of the power distribution systems and predefined power consumption criteria for each substation, a substation to receive a reduction in power; and reducing power provided to the selected substation.
US08682497B2
The present disclosure discloses a method (310, 330, 350, 370) of demand side electrical load management and an associated apparatus (104) and system (100). The method (310, 330, 350, 370) includes providing (336, 318) a consumer of electricity with an indication of instantaneous electricity consumption. The method (310, 330, 350, 370) further includes determining (382) an electricity consumption threshold for the consumer, in response to a determination that load limiting is required and providing (384, 356, 338, 320, 322) the consumer with an indication of the electricity consumption threshold and an indication of a time period within which the consumer must limit his/her electricity consumption to comply with the electricity consumption threshold. The method (310, 330, 350, 370) also includes interrupting (360, 340, 342, 324) supply of electricity to the consumer in response to the electricity consumption of the consumer violating the electricity consumption threshold after the time period has elapsed.
US08682493B1
An adaptive irrigation interrupter is disclosed herein. The adaptive irrigation interrupter preferably comprises a housing and a processor. The processor is preferably configured to create a plurality of profiles of moisture levels and behaviors. Each profile has a minimum moisture level, a maximum moisture level, and a mechanism for mid-flow cutoff for a watering cycle of a predetermined length to control the irrigation.
US08682490B2
A storage medium stores a program which, when executed by a controller, causes the controller to control a boiler group including boilers each of which has a plurality of stepwise combustion positions. The program includes the steps of calculating a number of a presently combustion shiftable boilers, a number of their combustion positions, or a gross evaporation quantity, calculating a deviation quantity between a set physical quantity and a present time physical quantity, calculating a ratio between the deviation quantity and a control width that corresponding to the set physical quantity, and calculating the combustion subject boilers and their combustion positions based on the number of the combustion shiftable boilers, the number of their combustion positions, or the gross evaporation quantity and the ratio.
US08682479B1
A system and method of operation for proactively grouping disparate mail items that are queued to be produced in a processing facility, wherein the system and method utilize a manufacturing completion schedule for virtually grouping the mail items before physical production occurs and the system and method maximizes profitability by discounting the mail items by applying appropriate discount mailing regulations for virtually grouping the mail items before physical production occurs.
US08682478B2
A method and an apparatus handle a plurality of articles in an order, particularly flat mail items. This involves the use of an apparatus having a sorting installation, a temporary store and a handling position. Each temporary store has a feeder station and an outward transfer station. Each article passes through the sorting installation. The sorting installation measures what value a prescribed sorting feature assumes for the article. The article is fed into the temporary store. The article is either transported past the outward transfer station and remains on a conveyor track or it is transferred out of the temporary store and is transported to a handling position. The sorting installation sorts the articles and produces an order among the articles. The articles are transported to the feeder station which feeds the articles into the temporary store such that at any time all the articles are arranged in the order.
US08682464B2
A method for generating three-dimensional image data including accessing, using one or more processors, a first set of data from a database, the first set of data relating to an electronic bill of materials of a product, generating, using one or more processors, a second set of data based on the first set of data that relates to a three-dimensional image of the product, enriching, using one or more processors, the second set of data with a third set of data, the third set of data relating to image information added to the three-dimensional image of the product, and storing, using one or more processors, the enriched second set of data in the database.
US08682457B2
Aspects of this invention relate to an adjustable bed that may include one or more articulating portions, and may include one or more components, including an air inflatable mattress associated with the adjustable bed frame, a programmable logic controller, a remote memory storage facility, a remote storage location of user preferences, a cell phone remote control, a modular control device, an air purification facility, a power outlet controller, a Bluetooth remote control, an ultra wide band remote control, a wireless USB remote control, and the like.
US08682452B2
The invention relates to facial stimulation apparatus configured to be worn in a generally horizontal orientation on a user's head, and which uses the ear (14) as an anatomical reference to ensure correct and repeatable placement of skin electrodes (16a,16b) overlying the human facial nerves (1-5) to facilitate Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS). The apparatus is provided with a headband (22) having a bend or inclination (24) proximate a distal portion (20) thereof on which the electrodes (16a,16b) are attached. The apparatus is provided with an unambiguous location feature such that a vector component between said location feature and the electrode pair (16a, 16b) is fixed and non-adjustable thus ensuring repeatable and accurate positioning of each electrode (16a, 16b). The apparatus overcomes problems inherent in known devices and, in particular, requires no anatomical knowledge on the part of the end user for its safe and most effective placement.
US08682450B2
Techniques are provided for use with an implantable cardiac rhythm management (CRMD) system equipped to deliver neurostimulation to acupuncture sites within anterior regions of the neck, thorax or abdomen of the patient. Parameters associated with the health of the patient are detected, such as parameters indicative of arrhythmia, heart failure and hypertension.
US08682448B2
A system for pattern recognition of cell and tissue malfunction and for treatment of such malfunction is presented. When a malfunction is recognized by a search signal or field, it is expressed as a waveform and an audio transform thereof. A malfunction pattern generally appears as a weak or static signal and, in audio terms, as a screeching sound. A complex EM wave and energy pattern is then re-iteratively applied to the location of the malfunction pattern until the pattern is normalized. A normalized pattern appears as a stronger more uniform waveform and a lower pitched audio of uniform amplitude. The mechanism of action of the process entails the correction of voltaic gradient errors across ionic channels of cells of tissues that are afflicted. Different conditions implicate different channels and cells. The system corrects undesirable voltage gradients across the cell membranes to restore normal flow of one or more categories of anions in or out of channels of cell membranes.
US08682446B2
An antenna assembly is configured for use with an external device that is configured to wirelessly communicate with an implantable medical device (IMD). The antenna assembly may include an antenna member pivotally secured to a structure through a feed post, and a fixed tail fixed to the structure. The antenna member may be pivotal between a first orientation in which the antenna member electrically connects to the fixed tail, and a second orientation in which the antenna member is disconnected from the fixed tail. The antenna member and the fixed tail cooperatively operate in a first antenna mode when the antenna member is in the first orientation. The antenna member is configured to operate in a second antenna mode when the antenna member is in the second orientation.
US08682443B2
The present invention is a non-destructive method of inspecting a bond, particularly a braze bond, in a hermetic package. The invention involves a unique hermetic package design adapted for ultrasonic inspection and a method of inspecting the package. This package and non-destructive inspection process are particularly useful in implantable neural stimulators such as visual prostheses.
US08682440B2
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and methods for stimulating L cells in the intestinal tract to produce incretins for the treatment of conditions including diabetes and obesity. Many embodiments provide a method and apparatus for the treatment of diabetes by electrically stimulating L-cells to secrete incretins to stimulate or otherwise modulate the production of insulin. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable capsule for stimulating L-cells in the intestinal tract as the capsule moves through the tract. The capsule can include two or more electrodes for providing electrical stimulation to L-cells, a power source for powering one or more components of the capsule, a sensor for sensing the location of the capsule in the intestinal tract; a controller and a waveform generator for generating the electrical signals emitted by the electrodes to stimulate the L-cells to secrete incretins such as GLP-1 to stimulate insulin production for glucose regulation of diabetic conditions.
US08682439B2
A connector for an implantable medical device includes a lumen extending from a port defined along a length of a connector housing. Axially-spaced-apart connector couplers are disposed along the lumen and are configured to couple to a proximal end of an inserted lead or lead extension. Each of the connector couplers includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced-apart coupling members and at least one elastic member. The plurality of circumferentially-spaced-apart coupling members each have inner surfaces and outer surfaces. The inner surfaces of the coupling members are configured and arranged to couple to the proximal end of the lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is inserted into the lumen. The at least one elastic member couples the coupling members to one another such that a distance between the coupling members is expandable.
US08682429B2
A nerve stimulation apparatus performs nerve stimulation of a required level while reducing the adverse effect on the heart and on the detection of a cardiac event. Provided is a nerve stimulation apparatus that includes a stimulation signal output unit that outputs a nerve stimulation signal; a cardiac event detector that detects a cardiac event; and a controller that controls the stimulation signal output unit so as to output a nerve stimulation signal having a smaller intensity in a non-refractory period than that in a cardiac refractory period that is obtained on the basis of the cardiac event detected by the cardiac event detector.
US08682424B2
A method and system for measuring the electrical impedance of sections of a living body. The measurement is carried out utilizing a plurality of electrodes each of which is disposed on a section of the living body, where the electrodes are capable of applying an electrical current through at least one probed section, and measure the electrical voltage over the probed section. The voltages over the probed sections are measured and the impedances (Z(t)) and their changes (ΔZ(t)), and the resistances R(t) and their changes (ΔR(t)), are calculated, by considering the electrical current distortion components resulting from the electrical currents flowing in the other sections which are not probed, utilizing an electrical model based on the distribution of the electrical currents through the body sections. The measuring is preferably performed by applying an electrical current through the probed section of the living body via a pair of electrodes, and measuring the electrical voltage over the probed section and over the other sections, applying an electrical current through one or more of the other sections and at each instance measuring the electrical voltage over the other sections; and calculating the impedance and resistance and the changes utilizing the measurements and the applied currents, according to the electrical model.
US08682417B2
Methods for detection of heat-related symptoms can include use of a thermal sensor to obtain thermal data. Subsets of the thermal data can correspond with multiple subjects. The subsets can be compared to determine whether any of the subjects is a thermal outlier relative to the remaining subjects.
US08682405B2
A mobile terminal includes a first body including a front case and a display disposed in the front case, a second body slidably mounted on the first body and a slide module including a slider mounted on the second body. The mobile terminal also includes a guide portion provided to the front case of the first body to guide a slide motion of the slider.
US08682401B2
The subject matter of the invention is a process and a system for wireless transmission of infotainment components between an in-vehicle network in a vehicle and a network external to the vehicle, the in-vehicle network having a reception readiness state and an idle state and by way of a remote control of the vehicle can be shifted from the idle state to the reception readiness state. Furthermore the invention relates to a remote control for transmission of a prompt signal, the in-vehicle network by actuating an actuating element of the remote control shifting the in-vehicle network into the reception readiness state, by which infotainment components can be received from a network external to the vehicle.
US08682398B2
The present invention provides a remote notification to a user of a cellular, or mobile, phone as the result of a particular activity or any activity at all (e.g., an incoming call from a particular person, group, or just an incoming call). In one embodiment, a sensing device is provided on the cellular phone that communicates/routes an alert to a remote notification device. In one economical embodiment, the notification device may have a short wire-based communication channel (e.g., roughly 1 foot to 5 feet) and only have a single output device (e.g., a light-emitting device). Thus, a woman may be able to quietly receive notifications of a cell phone event when her cell phone is stored in her purse.
US08682386B2
A base station of a first mobile communication mode communicates with a terminal in the first mobile communication mode and transmits a radio signal in a second mobile communication mode, and a base station of the second mobile communication mode communicates with the terminal in the second mobile communication mode and transmits a radio signal in the first mobile communication mode. A first unit of a dual-mode portable terminal communicates with the base station of the first mobile communication mode in the first mobile communication mode, receives the radio signal of the first mobile communication mode transmitted from the base station of the second mobile communication mode and determines based upon this radio signal whether the base station of the second mobile communication mode exists. Similarly, a second unit of the dual-mode portable terminal determines whether the base station of the first mobile communication mode exists.
US08682380B2
Characterization and enhancement of a mobile local scattering environment. The system includes a channel component and a link control component, wherein the channel component facilitates communication of a ping signal, which is used to estimate the delay spread characteristics and/or angle of arrival in order to characterize the mobile local scattering environment. This information is sent to the link control component, which enhances radio link performance based on the received information. The system can be used to assist in E-911 location applications, such as determining the location of an indoor user.
US08682379B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and system of dynamic wireless transmitting power control for a vehicle. The system of wireless transmitting power control comprises: a receiving unit, a state unit, a storing unit, a caution unit, a transmitting power decision unit and a transmitting unit. Accordingly, the system of dynamic wireless transmitting power control periodically adjusts a transmitting power level according to the number of driving vehicles so as to adjust transmission radius, decrease transmission interferences and accidents among cars and increase efficiency of wireless frequency usage.
US08682377B1
Systems and methods for adjusting the power control settings in a wireless communication network are provided. In one embodiment, a base station determines a target access terminal's use of service so far in a billing period, wherein the target access terminal is located in a sector of the wireless communication network. The base station then determines whether the target access terminal's use of service is above a threshold value. Responsive to the base station determining that the target access terminal's use of service is above the threshold value, the base station adjusts a power control setting of one or more other access terminals located in the sector of the wireless communication network.
US08682376B2
Method and system for transmitting content to a plurality of users of a mobile communication network
A method of distributing information content to at least two user equipments includes: setting up a common downlink channel common to the at least two user equipments; setting up at least two uplink channels, each uplink channel being dedicated to a respective one of the at least two user equipments; delivering the information content to the at least two user equipments over the common downlink channel; and controlling transmission powers related to the common downlink channel and the at least two uplink channels in a closed-loop fashion. The closed-loop fashion power control includes: receiving from the at least two user equipments common downlink channel quality indications over the respective dedicated uplink channels; adjusting a transmission power in respect to the common downlink channel based on the common downlink channel quality indications received from the user equipments; evaluating a channel quality with respect to each of the at least two dedicated uplink channels; and based on the evaluation, sending to the at least two user equipments a transmission power control command over the common downlink channel.
US08682374B2
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed. According to the present invention, when audio information including recorded voice of a correspondent party is displayed on a screen of a mobile terminal, contact information matching the audio information of the correspondent party stored in the mobile terminal is searched and displayed on the screen. Therefore, a user is able to directly contact the correspondent party having recorded the audio information within the screen.
US08682371B2
The present invention relates to method and arrangements for using an identifier of a predefined type, e.g. an RNTI identifying one configuration on an out-band control channel for activating the configuration identifiable by that identifier. The identifier is sent from the network to the UE, when a configuration corresponding to that identifier is to be activated. This implies that both the UE and the radio base station comprise a mapping between each configuration and the corresponding identity of each configuration.
US08682367B2
A base station, a user equipment, and a method for operating a cooperative multipoint (CoMP) transmitter and receiver (Tx/Rx) are disclosed. The operating method includes receiving, from a peripheral cell, precoding matrix index (PMI) information to be used by a user equipment of the peripheral cell, and transmitting the received PMI information to target user equipments allocated with an entire frequency range, among a plurality of user equipments present in a current cell.
US08682362B2
A phone number only messaging experience is provided in an Inter-Carrier Messaging System service. Subscriber to subscriber digital messages containing user data are routed between carrier's networks using an Inter-Carrier messaging module with appropriate MIN/carrier/carrier routing look-up capabilities. Digital messages containing user data (e.g., short messages, email, digital messages in general, etc.) may be sent to a subscriber in another carrier's network addressed only with a phone number. If the recipient is outside of the sender's carrier network, the Inter-Carrier messaging module of the Inter-Carrier service provider (ICSP) determines the appropriate carrier for the recipient, appends the appropriate syntax to the digital message containing user data to allow internet protocol (IP) or other standardized communication techniques between message service centers of the two carriers, and routes the digital message containing user data to the destination carrier. The recipient in the other carrier's network may reply back to the ICSP's sender using only the subscriber's directory number.
US08682358B1
A first serving system that serves a first serving area receives a request to connect a call to a mobile station having a last reported location corresponding to a border area. The border area is proximal to a second service area that is served by a second serving system. The first serving system pages the mobile station in a first paging zone in the first service area. If the probability of successfully paging the mobile station in a second paging zone in the second service area is sufficiently high, the first serving system may also have the mobile station paged in the second paging zone by transmitting an inter-system page request to the second serving system. To determine the probability, the first serving system may look up a historical success rate for successfully paging in the second paging zone mobile stations having last reported locations corresponding to the border area.
US08682356B2
GPS data can be transmitted from a portable electronic device to a central database using either a cellular network or a satellite RF network. Multiple embodiments are capable of executing tools and techniques that automatically determine the network appropriate for given conditions, maximize GPS data transmission coverage, and minimize cost. Using the described technology, it is possible to detect, differentiate between, and utilize networks according to circumstance.
US08682346B2
Methods including computer program products for receiving a request from a first device, the request incorporating a message. One or more users from a first set of one or more users are selected where each of the selected one or more users is associated with a second device that is in a proximity to a current location of the first device. The message and the current location of the first device are sent to each of the second devices associated with the selected one or more users.
US08682344B2
A wireless communication system is disclosed. The wireless communication system transmits a location measure signal for determining a location of a user equipment to the user equipment by allocating the location measure signal to at least one of symbols to which a synchronization signal is transmitted conventionally. In this case, a location related parameter of the user equipment can be measured with higher accuracy.
US08682335B2
A conventional wireless device constantly measures the signal strength of its server base station and the strength of signals from surrounding base stations for handoff purposes. The wireless device transmits this information to its serving base station, which discards the information a short time afterward, following handoff. The present system and method store the formerly discarded information in one of several existing network elements or in a separate computer system. This information is used to generate a carrier to interference ratio, which indicates the level of interference between station pairs, and to also generate a carrier to interference matrix, including identifying potential interference for each station pair. The frequency of occurrences during predetermined desired periods of time and the volume of traffic affected by each level of interference may also be calculated. This provides comprehensive, continuous, real-time information for wireless frequency planning.
US08682321B2
A mobile IP location server that retrieves the location of a mobile device based on the public IP address that a mobile device is using. A mobile IP location server comprises a mobile location protocol interface, an identifier resolver, and a location manager. The mobile location protocol interface interacts with location applications and receives and responds to location requests. The identifier resolver converts a device's public IP address to a real mobile identifier (e.g. MSISDN) and performs address conversion by either interacting with an HTTP proxy server or querying a network address translation (NAT) table. The location manager retrieves the location of a mobile device given the device's real mobile identifier (e.g. MSISDN). A web application requests mobile IP location services by transmitting an IP request to the mobile IP location server. An IP location request contains a mobile device's public IP address, port number, and any application specific information.
US08682319B2
A terminal for entering a coverage of a small base station, a network apparatus, and a method for operating the same are provided. The network apparatus controls small base stations, on which the terminal is camped, to operate in an active mode in which the small base station emits radio frequency (RF) signals, and controls small base stations, accessible by the terminal but not camped on by the terminal, to operate in an inactive mode in which the small base station does not emit RF signals.
US08682318B2
A random access procedure in a radio communication system is provided. The method of performing random access in a radio communication system includes transmitting a random access preamble using a predetermined parameter value, delaying retransmission of the random access preamble if the random access fails, initializing the predetermined parameter value if a delay time is more than a specific threshold value, and retransmitting the random access preamble using the initialized parameter value.
US08682313B2
An inter-cell interference coordination method coordinates interference between cells neighboring each other and belonging to different base stations by broadcasting interference coordination information between the neighboring cells through a broadcast channel. The terminal relays the interference coordination information between the neighboring cells over the air, so that the interference between the neighboring cells belonging to the different base stations is coordinated.
US08682305B1
Methods and systems are described for routing call in a wireless network environment. In one embodiment, a phone address is assigned to a subscriber and/or a subscriber's mobile telecommunications device. A call directed to the phone address is routed to a call processing system. An outbound call from the call processing system is placed to a wireless communication service provider so as to cause, at least in part, the wireless communication service provider to route the outbound call to the subscriber's mobile telecommunications device, wherein the call processing system configures call signaling parameters associated with the outbound call so that the outbound call appears to be to a phone number ported to the wireless communication service provider, and wherein the phone number has not been ported to the wireless communication service provider. The outbound call is bridged with the inbound call.
US08682298B2
A method for intercepting messages includes determining that a mobile device user has initiated a message for transmission across a wireless network to an electronic address that corresponds to a predetermined address (such as a customer support address). The message may be a text message, an email message, an instant message, an SMS message, and/or an MMS message. The method also includes preventing transmission of the initiated message and performing at least one action at the mobile device. Examples of the at least one action include invoking a bot to interact with the mobile device user and displaying a list of potential solutions to the subscriber's problem. Systems, computer-readable media, and various other features and embodiments are disclosed.
US08682293B1
Generating fraud indications related to communications devices. A fraud metric is calculated for known nonfraudulent users. A fraud metric is calculated for known fraudulent users. An initial value is selected for the threshold. The fraud metric is calculated for a third set of users. The users of the third set are classified as being fraudulent or nonfraudulent according to the threshold. A false positive rate is determined and compared to a maximum false positive rate. When the rate exceeds the maximum, then the threshold is raised and the process is repeated until the false positive rate does not exceed the maximum false positive rate. A false negative rate is determined and compared to a maximum false negative rate. When the false negative rate exceeds the maximum false negative rate, then the threshold is lowered and the process is repeated until the false negative rate does not exceed the maximum.
US08682291B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products use combinations of international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and account information to determine if a customer is eligible for service credit in near real-time. The customer needs an active account prior to inserting a subscriber identity module (SIM) into a device and powering on the device for the system to determine credit eligibility. No further customer action is required. The credit application process determines credit eligibility based upon device credit eligibility, account tenure, and/or credit rules, and applies the credit to the customer's account. The customer may be proactively notified when the credit is applied. The credit and tenure rules may be changed as the industry and business needs change to remain competitive in the industry. The SIM used is configured with software to lock the SIM to the device upon first power-on.
US08682287B2
When a device, such as a cellular phone, enters into a region, usage information pertaining to usage of devices in the region is provided to the device. For example, restrictions pertaining to usage of cellular phones while driving can be provided. Usage information also can be provided upon request or in accordance with various factors, such as subscriber preferences, elapsed time since the last time usage information was sent to the device, elapsed time since usage regulations have been enacted or updated, and/or the frequency of which the device is in the region. A region can include a geographic region, a political boundary, a country, a state, a municipality, a county, a parish, a township, a building (e.g., school, library, movie theatre, court house, local, state, or federal government building), a public place (e.g., restaurant, bus, train, taxi), a zip code, a telephone area code, or the like.
US08682285B2
An emergency call unit for a vehicle includes not only a detection unit, a position-finding unit and a control unit, but also a transmission unit for the repeated transmission of a locating signal to a rescue worker. In this context, the locating signal may correspond to the position of the vehicle, and the transmission of the locating signal is initiated by a trigger event. By way of example, the trigger event is a request from a rescue worker or is the detection of an accident.
US08682284B2
A personal emergency response system oriented to mobile individuals uses cell phones or other wireless devices as sources of an emergency indicating signal. A personal profile associated with that signal can be evaluated, along with location information to determine which emergency device(s) should be activated and which local messages should be produced to alert other individuals in the area as to the existence of an emergency.
US08682279B2
Several methods are provided for communicating emergency call capability information between a station and an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network. The methods include advertising by the AP of its emergency call capabilities and announcing by the station of its emergency call capabilities. The AP can advertise its emergency call capabilities in a beacon frame, a probe response frame, a reassociation response frame, or a reauthentication response frame. The station can announce its emergency call capabilities in an association request frame, a reassociation request frame, an authentication request frame, or a reauthentication request frame.
US08682278B2
Methods and apparatus implementing a telephony terminal for connecting a telephone to a data network. In one implementation, a telephony system includes: a phone connection for connecting to a telephone; a network connection for connecting to a network; and a controller connected to said phone connection and to said network connection; wherein said controller provides a phone service for processing information for said phone connection, said controller provides a network service for processing information for said network connection, and said controller provides a network voice service for converting information to and from a network voice format.
US08682275B2
A converter in a radio-frequency (RF) apparatus includes a feedback circuitry. The feedback circuitry has a shielded input and a shielded output. The shielded input and the shielded output of the feedback circuitry tend to reduce interference in the converter.
US08682274B2
An information handling system includes a processing system with a radio output, another processing system with a radio output, and a radio selector operable to couple an antenna to a selected one of the radios. A radio selector board includes a radio, a selector switch with an input terminal coupled to the radio, another input terminal coupleable to another radio, a control input coupleable to a control module, and an output coupleable to an antenna. In response to a control signal from the control module, the selector switch connects the first radio to the antenna, and in response to another control signal, the selector switch connects the other radio to the antenna.
US08682273B2
Digital spur reduction in which spurs are kept outside selected channels of interest, with illustrative embodiments relating to an integrated radiofrequency transceiver circuit having digital and analogue components, the circuit having a radiofrequency signal receiver with a local oscillator signal generator configured to provide a local oscillator signal at a frequency fLO and a mixer configured to combine an input radiofrequency signal with the local oscillator signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal; and a clock signal generator configured to generate a digital clock signal at a frequency fDIG for operation of the digital components, where the local oscillator signal and/or a reference signal from which the local oscillator signal is derived are generated such that digital spurs lie outside a band selected by the receiver.
US08682263B2
A programmable-current transmit continuous-time filter (TX-CTF) system can be included in a radio frequency (RF) transmitter. The input of the TX-CTF can receive a baseband transmission signal, and the output of the TX-CTF can be provided to an upconversion mixer for conversion to RF for transmission. The TX-CTF includes amplifier circuitry and passive circuitry that together define the filter parameters. The TX-CTF further includes programmable current circuitry that provides a programmable bias current to the amplifier circuitry. The TX-CTF system also includes control logic that receives one or more transmitter control signals and, in response, generates signals that control the bias current provided to the TX-CTF.
US08682252B2
A transmitter apparatus is provided that includes an actuator and a transmitter with a housing and wireless transmission circuitry. The actuator is mounted to a structural element of a building and is at least partially exposed and accessible to a user. The housing is arranged and configured to extend at least partially into an opening in the structural element of the building. The transmission circuitry is arranged and configured to receive the actuations from the actuator and responsively transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to a remotely situated appliance via the antenna.
US08682246B2
Methods and systems for collaborative coexistence of Bluetooth and WiMax are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a packet traffic arbiter (PTA) in a mobile terminal that arbitrates among requests to transmit from one or more communication devices collocated in the mobile terminal. The communication devices may comprise, for example, a WLAN communication device, a WiMax communication device, and/or a Bluetooth communication device. The arbitration may be based on, for example, whether a packet will be received by one of the plurality of collocated communication devices at a time of transmission of the present data packet and/or a priority for data to be transmitted. An exemplary scenario may be where a Bluetooth headset may be used for communication over a WiMax voice connection. One arbitration method may comprise allowing the WiMax packet to be transmitted, and replacing the received Bluetooth packet with data indicating silence. Another method may comprise not allowing transmission of the present WiMax packet. Rather, the present WiMax packet and a subsequent WiMax packet may e transmitted at the next transmission period.
US08682243B2
A network selection device is described comprising a determining circuit configured to determine an expected suitability level of a communication connection for a communication terminal provided by means of a cellular radio communication network and by means of a relaying subscriber terminal of the cellular radio communication network and a decider configured to decide, based on the determined expected suitability level, whether the communication terminal should use a communication connection provided by means of the cellular radio communication network and by means of the relaying subscriber terminal of the cellular radio communication network.
US08682228B2
A developer includes a developer carrying body that carries a two-component developer having a magnetic toner and a carrier. A toner carrying body opposes the developer carrying body and receives toner from the developer carrying body. An image carrying body develops an electrostatic latent image by toner carried on the toner carrying body. A first magnetic member is inside the developer carrying body and opposes a surface of the toner carrying body. A second magnetic member is inside the toner carrying body and opposes the surface of the developer carrying body. The second magnetic member is magnetized to an opposite polarity to the first magnetic member and generates a magnetic force at least on the surface of the toner carrying body in a range of 25 mT to 40 mT in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the toner carrying body.
US08682225B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a toner cartridge; and a developing unit that forms a toner image by visualizing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. The developing unit includes a feed opening through which toner is supplied from the toner cartridge, and a paddle that agitates toner supplied through the feed opening and feeds the toner in a direction of the photosensitive drum. The feed opening has an opening length shorter than a length in a direction of a rotary axis of the paddle, and the paddle includes a toner guide that diffuses the toner in the direction of the rotary axis of the paddle.
US08682215B1
A process cartridge includes a casing, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, the photosensitive drum being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2, with the coupling member including (i) a first end portion connected to the photosensitive drum, (ii) a second end portion, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion. The second end portion includes at least one pair of projections, with each of the projections including a facing portion that faces the axis L2, each facing portion being open to the axis L2. A diameter of an imaginary circle that is tangent to the facing portions of the projections is greater than a maximum dimension of the connecting portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis L2.
US08682208B2
A cleaning device including: multiple cleaning members arranged consecutively in a direction of movement of a cleaning target to remove adhered substances from the cleaning target; multiple casings to individually hold and at least partially enclose the multiple cleaning members, respectively, the casings and the cleaning members together constituting multiple sub-units; and a sub-unit holder to hold the multiple sub-units, from which the sub-units are individually removable.
US08682201B2
An image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus body, a cassette attaching section having a media supplying roller, a media cassette with a loading plate and a supporting section, a first ground conducting route and a second ground conducting route. The first ground conducting route conducts static electricity charged on the media when the media stacked in the media cassette is spaced away from the media supplying roller. A conducting portion of the first ground conducting route maintains the media cassette in an electrically disconnected state when the media passes through an opening in the cassette attaching section and reconfigures the media cassette from the electrically disconnected state to an electrically connected state before the media cassette reaches a first position. The second ground conducting route conducts static electricity charged on the media when the media cassette is in the first position.
US08682199B2
A mechanism for electrifying a rotator that is used in an image forming apparatus includes a cloth-like or sheet-like conductive member, wherein part of the conductive member comes into contact with an object to be electrified and the other part of the conductive member comes into surface contact with any one contact member of the rotator, a rotating shaft that rotates together with the rotator, and a shaft where the rotator is rotatably supported, so that the object to be electrified and the contact member are electrically connected to each other through the conductive member.
US08682196B2
An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of drive units, a control unit, and an operation information input unit. The plurality of drive units drive based on electric power supplied. The control unit shifts the plurality of drive units to a power saving state or a normal state. The operation information input unit is sequentially input first operation information indicating a start of a process and second operation information indicating a process content. The control unit shifts the plurality of drive units to the normal state when the first operation information is input to the operation information input unit with the plurality of drive units being in the power saving state. The control unit shifts a particular drive unit to the power saving state based on the second operation information when the second operation information is input.
US08682195B2
A disclosed image forming apparatus accepts a selecting operation of selecting a button displayed on a touch panel and performs a process corresponding to the selected button. The image forming apparatus includes a moving region display unit displaying a region mark to be selected on the touch panel and moving the region mark as time passes and a button specifying unit specifying one or more buttons based on positional information indicating a position of the region mark and positional information indicating a pressed position of the touch panel.
US08682191B2
There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a forming section that, based on image forming data including image data of an image to be formed on paper and paper data relating to the paper, forms a toner image according to the image data on paper; a fixing section that fixes the toner image formed on the paper; a switching section that on operation switches a fixing pressure of the fixing section; a control section that, when the fixing pressure is switched by the switching section from a first fixing pressure to a second fixing pressure prior to a predetermined condition being satisfied after the fixing pressure has been switched to the first fixing pressure by the switching section, controls to prohibit image forming on paper corresponding to the second fixing pressure different from the first fixing pressure.
US08682188B2
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a source, voltage generator to generate a source voltage to provide developing units with a power-supply voltage, a second voltage generator to generate a developing bias voltage applied to a developing roller and a supply bias voltage applied to a supply roller upon receiving the source voltage generated by the source voltage generator, and a switching unit to selectively provide the developing units with different voltage levels generated by the second voltage generator. The apparatus includes a Zener diode installed at a common end, so that a deviation of the developing voltage applied to the developing device affected by a deviation of Zener diode components can be reduced, resulting in an increased color image quality and a reduction in production costs.
US08682186B2
An image forming device has: an image forming body on which an image is formed in a state in which the image forming body is charged; a charging device having plural discharge portions, and charging the image forming body by discharging of plural discharge portions; and a control section that, when forming the image on the image forming body, operates the plural discharge portions, and when not forming the image on the image forming body, switches between a state of operating some of the plural discharge portions and decreasing output of or stopping the discharge portions other than the some discharge portions, and a state of operating some other of the plural discharge portions and decreasing output of or stopping the discharge portions other than the some other discharge portions.
US08682182B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a blind carrier recovery system for blind detection and/or correction of carrier frequency offset between the signal laser source and local oscillator (i.e., carrier frequency recovery) for optical systems employing quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). Exemplary embodiments can be implemented using an improved fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based approach. Some embodiments can include a frequency sign detection technique that uses parallel, concurrently implemented FFTs having a modified FFT architecture. Some embodiments can include a frequency sign detection technique that uses time-domain slope detection based on constellation classification.
US08682168B2
A portable electronic device with an IrDA transmitter LED is used to transmit both IrDA signals and remote control infrared signals. The device transmits remote control infrared signals with reduced power consumption. During a relatively longer remote control signal pulse, an inductor saturates and stores energy when a drive current flows from a power supply, through the inductor and then through the LED. An energy-transferring circuit transfers a portion of the energy stored in the inductor to the power supply. Energy is transferred when the drive current is cut and the voltage across the inductor surges, which causes an overflow current to flow through a diode in the energy-transferring circuit and to the power supply. The inductor is a planar coil of traces on a printed circuit board and therefore costs less to manufacture than does a toroidal coil of wires.
US08682156B2
A method for focusing a miniature camera includes providing a current through a coil, moving a lens of a camera based on the current to adjust a focus of the camera, and limiting movement of the lens along an optical path of the camera.
US08682146B2
AVClip recorded in BD-ROM is obtained by multiplexing a graphics stream and a video stream. The graphics stream is a PES packet sequence that includes 1) PES packets storing graphics data (ODS) and 2) PES packets storing control information (PCS). In each ODS, values of DTS and PTS indicate a timing of decoding start for corresponding graphics data, and a timing of decoding end for corresponding graphics data, respectively. In each PCS, a value of PTS indicates a display timing of corresponding decoded graphics data combined with the video stream.
US08682138B2
An electronic apparatus is disclosed. A reproduction section allows first video content containing a plurality of types of data and first identification information to be reproduced. A transmission section transmits the first identification information to a server apparatus. A reception section receives a first application and first access control information from the server apparatus, the first application being associated with the first video content and being retrieved by the server apparatus based on the transmitted first identification information, the first access control information being generated by the server apparatus based on the first identification information and representing a condition in which the first application accesses the individual types of the data contained in the first video content. A control section executes the received first application based on the received first access control information when the first video content is reproduced.
US08682132B2
[Problem] The present invention provides a method of detecting a music scene with a high accuracy from a television broadcast.[Means for solution] The music-segment detection method provided with a data input step of inputting data including an audio signal and a video signal; a plurality of candidate-music-segment detection steps of detecting, from the audio signal, respective candidate music-segments in the input data, based on criteria different from each other; a change-point detection step of detecting a change point in the input data, based on a distinctive change in the audio signal and/or on a distinctive change in a video signal; and a music-segment detection step of detecting a music segment, based on the plurality of detected candidate-music-segments and on the detected change point.
US08682124B2
A fiber optic cable includes a jacket, strength members, armor, and a tear feature. The jacket is formed from a first polymeric material and defines an exterior of the cable. The jacket further forms an interior cavity configured to support an optical fiber. The strength members are each surrounded by the jacket, with the cavity separating the strength members from one another. The armor extends above the cavity and at least partially above the strength members, and has greater tensile strength than the first polymeric material. The tear feature is located beneath the armor and is formed from a second polymeric material co-extrudable with the first polymeric material. The tear feature forms a discontinuity of material within the jacket. At least one of the second polymeric material and the interface between the first and second polymeric materials yields at a lesser tearing force than the first polymeric material.
US08682121B2
An optical wavelength filter has optical waveguides each of which includes a cladding layer and a core having a refractive index that is as high as that of the cladding layer by a factor of 1.4 or more. Each optical waveguide is partitioned into a reference section providing a reference and an adjustment section for adjusting phase differences. The reference section of each optical waveguide is so set that the optical waveguide in this section has a first equivalent refractive index and a first length. The adjustment section is so set that the waveguide in this adjustment section has a second equivalent refractive index and a second length. Two waves of light outputted from the output ends of adjacent two of the optical waveguides interfere with each other with a predetermined phase difference, thereby accomplishing independency of temperature and dimensional error.
US08682113B2
An electro-optic waveguide polarization modulator includes cladding layers, and a waveguide core sandwiched between the cladding layers, wherein the waveguide core has a higher refractive index than the cladding layers. The modulator further includes primary electrodes arranged on the opposite side of one cladding layer to the core and a secondary electrode arranged on the opposite side of another cladding layer to the core. The electrodes are arranged to provide an electric field having field components in perpendicular directions within the waveguide core so as to modulate the refractive index such that electromagnetic radiation propagating through the core is converted from a first polarization state to a second polarization state. The modulator further includes a grading layer sandwiched between the cladding layers and the core, the grading layer having an effective refractive index intermediate between that of the waveguide core and the cladding layer.
US08682108B2
A system and a method are disclosed that determine placement of a background image on a canvas and area for placement of foreground images. A system and method include receiving data indicative of an informative zone of a background image and computing an estimated foreground area on a canvas for each candidate placement of the background image on the canvas. The estimated foreground area is computed based on the data indicative of the informative zone and the number of images to be used as foreground images and does not include the informative zone. One of the candidate placements is determined as a selected background placement based on the computed values of estimated foreground area. A composite image can be generated from the background image positioned on the canvas according to the selected background placement and foreground images positioned outside of the informative zone.
US08682107B2
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for creating 3D content for an Oriental painting. The apparatus includes a 2D image analysis unit, a 3D information extraction unit, a content creation unit, and a 3D content conversion unit. The 2D image analysis unit receives previous knowledge information, and analyzes 2D information about at least one of an empty space, light and shading, and a composition of an image of the Oriental painting based on the previous knowledge information. The 3D information extraction unit extracts 3D information about at least one of a distance, a depth, a viewpoint, and a focus of the Oriental painting image. The content creation unit creates content for the Oriental painting image based on the analysis information and the 3D information. The 3D content conversion unit converts the content for the Oriental painting image into 3D content based on the 3D information.
US08682105B2
An image processing method of the present invention includes a detection step detecting a characteristic area from each of three or more shot images having a common graphic pattern in part thereof, the characteristic area having an image significantly different from the other shot images, and a combining step extracting a partial image located in the characteristic area from each of the three or more shot images and combining these partial images into one image.
US08682096B2
A fluoroscopy apparatus including: an illumination unit having a light source radiating illumination light and excitation light onto an observation target, a fluorescence-imaging unit acquiring a fluorescence image by imaging fluorescence generated at the observation target by the excitation light, a white-light-imaging unit acquiring a reference image by imaging light returning from the observation target by the illumination light, and an image-correction unit obtaining a correction fluorescence image by raising the luminance value of the fluorescence image to the power of a reciprocal of a first and second exponent obtained by a power approximation of a distance characteristic of luminance versus observation distance, for the fluorescence image, and that obtains a corrected fluorescence image by dividing the correction fluorescence image by the correction reference image.
US08682095B2
A method for recognizing markers printed on a learning material, includes sampling an image of the learning material; grouping the sampled image of pixels into a first image group and a second image group based on a threshold; and calculating medians of the first image group and the second image group to update the threshold with a first average value of the calculated medians. Further, the method for recognizing markers printed on the learning material includes repeating the above until a difference between a previous threshold and an updated threshold is equal to or smaller than a reference value; binarizing an image captured by a camera based on the updated threshold; and detecting the markers based on the binary image.
US08682089B2
An image processing apparatus includes a filter unit which filters image signals; a sampling unit which generates first digital image signals having a first resolution by sampling the filtered image signals at a predetermined sampling frequency; and a super-resolution unit which reconstructs a second digital image signal having a second resolution which is higher than the first resolution by performing super-resolution on the first digital image signals generated by the sampling unit, wherein the filter unit passes frequency components corresponding to or lower than the Nyquist frequency which is half the sampling frequency, and passes a part of frequency components within a range from the Nyquist frequency to the highest frequency which can be represented by the second resolution.
US08682087B2
A method is provided in one example embodiment that includes receiving a plurality of depth values corresponding to pixels of an image; and filtering the image as a function of a plurality of variations in the depth values between adjacent pixels of a window associated with the image. In more detailed embodiments, the method may include encoding the image into a bit stream for transmission over a network. The filtering can account for a bit rate associated with the encoding of the image.
US08682085B2
A person cluster selection part selects one or more person clusters as representative person clusters in order of largest number of facial images included therein. A unit selection part selects, from each representative person cluster, (i) a unit having the highest likelihood as a first representative unit, and (ii) units in order of lowest likelihood as a second representative unit onward. A representative facial image selection part selects, from each representative unit, (i) a facial image having the highest likelihood as a first representative facial image, and (ii) facial images in order of lowest likelihood as a second representative facial image onward.
US08682084B2
An information processing device includes: an extracting unit configured to extract a face from an image; a grouping unit configured to classify the image extracted by the extracting unit into a group; an adding unit configured to add to a group generated by the grouping unit a tag indicating relationship between persons within the group; a closeness calculating unit configured to calculate the closeness of the person of the face from distance between groups generated by the grouping unit; and a person correlation data generating unit configured to generate person correlation data including at least the tag and the closeness.
US08682081B2
Disclosed is a pattern noise removal device for removing background pattern noise having periodicity from a digital image, which includes a candidate pixel extracting module for extracting candidate pixels that constitute the background pattern noise from the pixels in the image on the bases of the concentration of each of the pixels, a dot pattern feature extracting module for extracting the feature of a dot pattern formed by each of the candidate pixels and the peripheral neighborhood pixels among the extracted candidate pixels, a dot pattern area extracting module for extracting a dot pattern area including the candidate pixels of the periodicity and the neighborhood pixels, which have the feature of the dot pattern, and a periodic pattern noise removal module for removing the candidate pixels of the periodicity and the neighborhood pixels, which are included in the dot pattern area, as the background pattern noise.
US08682071B1
Systems and methods are provided for creating contour images that represent the contour of objects reflected in images, calculating contour histogram descriptors of the contour images, and classifying images based in part on the histogram descriptors of the contour images. For example, a contour image of an image is created. A radial-polar grid having a plurality of radial-polar bins is then positioned on the contour image. A contour histogram descriptor is created to include a number of bins that correspond to the radial-polar bins of the radial-polar grid, where the contents of the bins of the contour histogram descriptor represent the number of pixels of the contour image that are located in the corresponding radial-polar bins of the radial-polar grid. Images are classified at least based in part on comparisons between contour histogram descriptors of the images and contour histogram descriptors of training images.
US08682069B2
An image signal processing apparatus includes: a color-data generator that generates color data of a correction coordinate point by interpolating color data of pixels in the same color line above and below the correction coordinate point; a first luminance generator that generates first luminance data of the correction coordinate point by interpolating the luminance data of the pixels in the same color line above and below the correction coordinate point; a second luminance generator that generates second luminance data of the correction coordinate point by interpolating the luminance data of the pixels above and below the correction coordinate point; and a complementary-color-data generator that generates the complementary-color data of the correction coordinate point based on the generated color data, the first luminance data, and the second luminance data.
US08682061B2
A stereoscopic image editing apparatus and method, in which a stereoscopic image having a stereoscopic effect desired by the user can be obtained, are provided. The stereoscopic image editing apparatus includes a storage section for storing the stereoscopic image, a compression/decompression section for converting the stereoscopic image to a format displayable on a display, an operation section for allowing the user to specify a crop-edit region and set the fiducial disparity, which is the disparity of the frame of the crop-edit region, with respect to a left-eye and a right-eye images of the stereoscopic image, and a cropping and editing section for cropping and editing the left-eye and the right-eye images of the stereoscopic image, based on the crop-edit region, and a crop-edit region correcting section for correcting the crop-edit region, based on the fiducial disparity with respect to the cropped and edited left-eye and right-eye images.
US08682057B2
Method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for identifying a graphic symbol within an image obtained by optical scanning. An image intensity is measured for each of a plurality of columns of the image, wherein each column has a length that extends across the graphic symbol in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of columns collectively extend across the graphic symbol in a second direction. The graphic symbol is then identified by matching a profile of the image intensity to a predetermined image intensity profile associated with a given graphic symbol. Optionally, the image is a digital image and the image intensity for each column is the sum of the image intensity for each pixel in that individual column. An image intensity differential between adjacent columns may be calculated for matching with a predetermined differential profile or comparison with an electronic profile generated by a magnetic scan.
US08682053B2
A method for sampling volume data of an object in an imaging device is disclosed. The method includes creating a voxel dataset of a first volume associated with the object using a scanning device and saving the voxel dataset; defining a grid of sampling positions by casting rays through the first volume and choosing a number of points along a respective ray; choosing a sampling access pattern that defines a sequence of the sampling positions; selecting an interpolation scheme mapping the sampling access pattern to a voxel access pattern defining a sequence of the voxels of the voxel dataset; successively loading memory lines of a main memory comprising the data associated with the respective voxel into a cache memory if the memory line is not already present in the cache memory; and processing the data associated with the respective voxel, the cache memory access being optimized for rendering time performance.
US08682052B2
Methods and devices for correcting wear pattern defects in joints. The methods and devices described herein allow for the restoration of correcting abnormal biomechanical loading conditions in a joint brought on by wear pattern defects, and also can, in embodiments, permit correction of proper kinematic movement.
US08682050B2
The present invention relates to a method and a system for obtaining and analysing image pairs, obtained as sections of specimen. The invention facilitates registration of two corresponding images, one from each section of the specimen. The invention includes performing a registration process of the two images thereby obtaining a mathematical transformation rule and afterwards using said transformation rule for each image field identified in one image allowing that the corresponding image field in the other image may be identified as well. After the corresponding image pairs have been obtained using the method of the present invention, the sections can be assessed, such as by identifying the counting events for at least one type of object on the image fields within at least one corresponding image pair, optionally using automatic means.
US08682048B2
In an image processing device that discriminates between a mucosal region and a non-mucosal region that are contained in an intraluminal image, the image processing device includes a residue candidate region detecting unit that detects a residue candidate region to be discriminated whether the candidate region is a mucosal region or not, on the basis of a feature data of each pixel that constitutes the intraluminal image, a structure edge region detecting unit that detects a structure edge contained in the intraluminal image, and an approximate structure edge line calculating unit and an overlap deciding unit that discriminate whether the residue candidate region is a mucosal region or not, based on a relative positional relationship between the structure edge and the residue candidate region.
US08682040B2
Face regions are detected from a captured image, and a weight of each detected face region is computed based on a size and/or a position of the detected face region. Then a previous priority ranking weight is computed based on a priority ranking determined in previous processing. A priority of the face region is computed from the weight and the previous priority ranking weight. For example, if the continuous processing number exceeds the threshold the priority ranking weight is reduced. After the processing is completed for all face regions, a priority ranking of each face region is determined based on the priority computed for each face region.
US08682027B2
A system for determining the product density value of a zone of preferable small fungible products within an acceptable size range and potentially in an acceptable color range. The system differentiates among products even if in close contact to determine acceptable product. The system may store data for later review or for dispensing of product in real time. The system includes a scale to determine a sample's weight, a camera to image the sample, an imaging table to permit viewing of the sample, a processor to determine the number of products in the sample, and a processor to determine the density of desired product.
US08682023B2
An interactive display recognition tool uses imaging devices to determine the location of a display and position an icon on the display via a computer. The tool comprises various input devices, which can be used to control the icon and interact with a computer driven multimedia platform.
US08681996B2
A method of asymmetric key wrapping in a system is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) transferring a shared key from a key storage to a cipher operation, wherein the cipher operation comprises a symmetric-key cipher utilizing a cipher key, (B) generating an encrypted key by encrypting a decrypted key with the cipher operation using the shared key as the cipher key in a wrap-encrypt mode and (C) presenting the encrypted key external to the system in the wrap-encrypt mode.
US08681989B2
A WCDMA 3G voice communication protection method and a terminal using the method are provided. The method is performed by a terminal operating in conjunction with an S-USIM for voice communication protection. When a calling terminal connects a voice communication channel to a called terminal, secure voice communication is prepared for by collecting information about relevant voice communication. At the calling terminal, synchronous data is set by exchanging the voice communication information with the called terminal, and a secure synchronization procedure is performed based on the set synchronous data. At each of S-USIMs that operate in conjunction with the calling and called terminals, a session key for secure voice communication is generated based on the synchronous data. Secure communication is performed by encrypting and transmitting voice-coded data to be transmitted based on the session key, and decrypting and reproducing received voice-coded data based on the session key.
US08681979B2
In a conditional access system, a headend transmits content to one or more receivers in encrypted transport streams. The system provides a multi-layer security architecture, rendering the system resistant to key replay attacks; if one layer is circumvented, subsequent layers remain intact. A first layer prevents unencrypted keys from being recorded by shielding the unencrypted keys from users and encrypting the path from the receiver's conditional access module to the transport decryption module; a second layer prevents a key recorded on one receiver from being played back to the transport decryption module on a second receiver; a third layer prevents a user from decrypting transport streams without the encryption module by encrypting the stream a second time prior to being passed through any user-accessible memory or processor. Event tables are transmitted with the transport stream, either unencrypted for immediate use or encrypted, to prevent unauthorized use.
US08681972B2
A cryptographic calculation is executed in an electronic component, according to a cryptographic algorithm including at least one application of a one-way function which is disabled upon an intrusion into the electronic component. The one-way function is based on a first affine operation corresponding to a first secret key. The one-way function is applied, by obtaining (11) first and second random values (r, r′), then, by obtaining a first result (13) by applying a second affine operation (σK1), which corresponds to a second secret key, to a first combination (12) of the first and second random values, and, by obtaining (14) thereafter a second result by applying a third affine operation (σK2) which corresponds to a third secret key to said first result. The combination of the third and second affine operations (σK1 o σK2) corresponds to the first affine operation; and a cryptographic operation is moreover applied (15) to one at least among said second result and a second combination of the first and second random values.
US08681958B2
A method and system for presenting additional information about a user are provided. The user may be a calling party or a called party. A request for information in addition to the information normally contained in the caller ID may be constructed and sent to a repository of additional information that returns the additional information. If the user is a calling party, the additional information may be presented on the called party's communication device. If the user is a called party, the additional information may be presented on the calling party's communication device. A system including the repository may receive the request. An authoring and editing component of the system may allow the user or others to edit the additional information about the user. The system may select and send the additional information based on a set of parameters in the request and the access type of the requestor.
US08681955B1
In one embodiment, systems and methods are disclosed for processing telemarketing calls to determine an abandonment rate (“AR”). An abandoned call exists if a telemarketing call is answered by a live person and an agent is not connected to the called party within two seconds of the called party completing their greeting. In order to comply with various federal regulations, a feedback mechanism allows feedback of the measured AR to be used by the predictive dialer to manage the AR for future calls to maximize efficiency and avoid exceeding an AR limit. In one embodiment, a speech analytics system processes audio recordings of previously made telemarketing calls and provides feedback to the predictive dialer so as to adjust a target AR rate for future calls.
US08681947B2
An emergency system includes a gateway and a database in communication with the gateway. The database comprises first routing information for establishing a first communication link between a communication device and a controller, second routing information for establishing a second communication link between the gateway and the controller, wherein the second routing information is correlated to the first routing information; and location data associated with the communication device. Upon receiving identification information related to the communication device, the gateway retrieves the first routing information from the database and provides the first routing information to a switch. The gateway retrieves the second routing information from the database and uses the second routing information to establish a second communication link with the controller, and the gateway retrieves the location data from the database.
US08681946B2
Automatic Location Indication (ALI) data is digitally transferred from a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to a first responder via a web site accessed by the first responder. The web site lists each live E911 call within their jurisdiction, and appends the caller's ALI and/or other location data relative to each call. Preferably the first responders (e.g., police car, paramedic, ambulance, fire truck, etc.) can view not only the emergency caller's information for those E911 calls that they are responding to, but also information about other emergency callers that other first responders are responding to. This facilitates the actual response to individual emergency calls as well as the overall management of multiple responders to multiple emergency calls.
US08681945B2
Method, arrangement and devices for calibration of a line driving device, such as a DSLAM, having a line port. The method comprises deriving of a first parameter vector, PVinf, for example Hinf. The parameter vector PVinf is derived by performing, at a first site, an echo measurement on the line driving device while the line port on said line driving device is open. The method further comprises calibrating the line driving device based on the first parameter vector PVinf and a second parameter vector PVref, which second parameter vector is based on information on echo measurements performed on at least one reference line driving device.
US08681943B2
A self-cleaning X-ray window arrangement is provided that includes a primary X-ray-transparent window element, separating an ambient pressure region from an intermediate region, and a secondary X-ray-transparent window element, separating the intermediate region from a reduced pressure region. A contaminant is expected to deposit on a side of the secondary element facing the reduced pressure region. A heat source is adapted to heat a portion of the secondary window element thereby evaporating contaminant. The secondary element shields the primary element from the reduced pressure region, in which contaminant is present, whereas the pressure-tight primary window element carries most of the differential pressure between the ambient pressure region and the reduced pressure region. Several features help to decrease the rate at which contaminant enters the intermediate region. By maintaining the pressure in the intermediate region close to the reduced pressure, the mechanical stress on the secondary window element can be limited as well as the exposure to harmful gases.
US08681936B2
A radiotherapeutic apparatus comprises a source of therapeutic radiation, a source of visible light arranged to cast a light field corresponding to the beam of radiation, and a multileaf collimator for shaping the beams, wherein a filter is disposed in the path of the visible light beam having a plurality of linear dark sections corresponding to leaves of the collimator. This prevents the incident light from falling on the leaves and removes the ghost images at source. By placing the filter in the head, the line can be very narrow and will be blurred into penumbra at the isocentre. This is therefore a very inexpensive yet effective method of reducing ghosting. A mirror can deflect the path of the visible light to correspond to that of the radiation beam, and the filter can be disposed anywhere in the beam path, such as prior to the mirror, subsequent to the mirror and prior to the collimator, or subsequent to the collimator. The filter thus creates dark sections in the light field corresponding to leaves (preferably all the leaves) of the collimator.
US08681931B2
The invention relates to a medical computed tomography apparatus which includes a support construction (1) supporting a substantially ring-shaped O-arm (2), which in turn supports imaging means (21, 22). The cross-section of the outer cover (3) of the O-arm in a direction perpendicular with respect to the central axis of said ring-shaped structure (2) is for its prevailing portion arranged substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle but to comprise a cut, and within the sector covered by the cut the distance from the center of said arch of a circle to the edge of the outer cover (3) is shorter than within said portion of the outer cover (3) substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle. As to the examination opening (4), it is arranged for its prevailing portion substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle but to comprise an extension, and within the sector covered by the extension the distance from the center of said arch of a circle to the edge of the examination opening (4) is longer than within said prevailing portion of the examination opening (4) substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle. The imaging means (21, 22) are arranged to be moved within the O-arm at different distances from their center of rotation.
US08681917B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method, distributed antenna system, and components that generate a jitter reduced clock signal from a serial encoded binary data stream transmitted over a communication medium. The method comprises receiving a modulated signal that includes the encoded binary data stream and extracting the encoded binary data stream. The method further comprises generating a recovered clock signal that is phase locked to the encoded binary data stream, generating an error signal based on a difference between a phase of the encoded binary data stream and the recovered clock signal, and integrating the error signal to generate a signal to control a voltage controlled oscillator. The method further comprises generating a stable recovered clock signal and producing at least one output clock by scaling the stable recovered clock signal frequency.
US08681913B2
A reception circuit is provided which can detect the beginning of data regardless of a preamble or a unique word contained or not in a received signal and regardless of coding systems for received signals. The reception circuit includes a correlation operation portion that performs a correlation operation to generate a correlation signal while sliding one symbol of reference signal in relation to a received signal. The reference signal goes to a high level during a first half symbol period and goes to a low level during a second half symbol period. The reception circuit further includes: a delay portion that outputs a delay signal by delaying the received signal for a half symbol period in relation to the received signal; and a data beginning timing detection portion that detects a beginning peak timing for the correlation signal as a beginning timing of data contained in the delay signal.
US08681908B2
A multi-chip antenna diversity architecture includes a first receiver chip including a first tuner, and a first demodulator directly connected to the tuner. The first demodulator demodulates the first input signal received from the first tuner. A first power sequencer that controls the first receiver chip, and a first chip ID including a voltage source VSS that indicates the first receiver chip as a slave chip. A second receiver chip includes a second tuner, and a second demodulator directly connected to the second tuner. The second demodulator demodulates the second input signal received from the second tuner. A second diversity combiner directly connected to the second demodulator. A second chip ID includes a voltage source VDD that indicates the second receiver chip as a master chip. A Diversity State Machine (DSM) controls an operating state of the first receiver chip and the second receiver chip that are structurally identical.
US08681904B2
Disclosed herein is a receiver including a determination block adapted to determine, as a gain used to adjust the power of a received signal received with a fixed bandwidth, a gain different from that used when other band is not contained in a band of the received signal if the band of the received signal contains a desired signal band and the other band.
US08681902B2
Embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for low complexity robust reconstruction of noisy signals. The method includes receiving, by a receiving unit, a set of noisy measurements. The method further includes obtaining, by a reconstruction unit, an estimate of the signal based on the set of noisy measurements and a plurality of parameters. The plurality of parameters includes a projection matrix that transforms the signal from a sparse domain to a compressed domain and postulated parameters.
US08681899B2
Method and apparatus for processing signals received from a channel having a variable channel length
A method comprises receiving a wireless signal at a channel estimator, and receiving the wireless signal at a channel length determination unit. Each of the channel estimator and the channel length determination unit independently receive the wireless signal.
US08681895B2
A method for transmitting a random access preamble to a base station includes generating the random access preamble from a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence having a length N, wherein the random access preamble is generated by considering a cyclic shift of the ZC sequence; and transmitting the random access preamble to the base station, wherein the cyclic shift is given by using a variable M corresponding to a Doppler shift of one subcarrier spacing, and wherein parameters associated with defining the cyclic shift are differently defined based on whether the variable M is less than ⅓ of the length N.
US08681884B2
In a method for generating a physical layer (PHY) data unit for transmission via a communication channel, a first set of modulation coding schemes (MCSs) and a second set of MCSs that correspond to a number of spatial streams and a number of encoders are provided. The first set of MCSs correspond to a first channel bandwidth and the second set of MCSs correspond to a second channel bandwidth, and the first set of MCSs is different than the second set of MCSs. An MCS is selected from the first set of MCSs when the PHY data unit is to be transmitted using a channel having the first channel bandwidth, and the MCS is selected from the second set of MCSs when the PHY data unit is to be transmitted using a channel having the second channel bandwidth. Information bits are encoded using the number of encoders and according to the selected MCS, and the encoded information bits are parsed into the number of spatial streams. The encoded information bits are modulated according to the MCS, and a plurality of OFDM symbols are formed based on the modulated encoded information bits.
US08681881B2
The communication signal generating device is for use in a communication system where communication signals each of which is set at a first level or a second level are exchanged among a plurality of communication apparatuses through a communication line. The communication signal generating device includes a switching element provided in a communication line to connect the communication line to a ground or a constant voltage source, and a driving means to generate a first communication signal at the first level by turning on the switching element to thereby pass a certain current to the communication line, and generate a second communication signal at the second level by turning off the switching element to thereby pass no current to the communication line. The driving means is configured to gradually increase an output impedance of the switching element during one bit time of the first communication signal.
US08681868B2
A transcoder for executing a re-coding process on an encoded stream generated based on an MPEG standard to generate a re-coded stream having a different GOP (Group of Pictures) structure or bit rate. A decoding device of a transcoder decodes a source encoded stream to generate decoded video data and extracts past coding parameters superposed in the encoded stream as history_stream( ). An encoding device receives the decoded video data and the past coding parameters and uses the past coding parameters to carry out an encoding process in a manner such that this process will not degrade image quality, thereby generating a re-coded stream. The encoding device superposes, as re_coding_stream_info( ), information indicating the selected past coding parameters.
US08681867B2
This disclosure describes selective deblock filtering techniques that are particularly useful with coding standards that do not specify in-loop deblock filtering for standard compliance. In accordance with this disclosure, deblock filtering may be selectively performed with respect to block boundaries of a given video block being coded, a motion compensation process can be performed using a filtered version of the prediction video frame used to code the given video block, or both. This disclosure also provides selection rules that can be applied to determine what type of deblocking techniques to apply in various scenarios. The selection rules may improve the video coding and may also ensure that mismatch between video blocks at an encoder and a decoder is not introduced by the deblock filtering.
US08681864B2
In a video coding apparatus, a plurality of coding units perform compression coding of a single source stream of video data. A control unit controls those coding units in such a way that all the coding units produce respective interframe coded pictures with identical playback times as a first-coded picture in a picture group (e.g., GOP) and produce identical local decoded pictures based on the respective intraframe coded pictures. A selection decision unit makes a selection, for each picture group, of one of the coded video data from the coding units on the basis of their coding results. According to this selection, a selection unit selectively outputs one of the coded video data. This output switching operation is performed at a point immediately before a forward interframe predictive coded picture that appears first of those in a picture group included in each of the coded video data outputs being switched.
US08681857B2
A macro-block (MB) quantization reactivity compensation method for a video encoder is provided. The method calculates a reference picture quantization value based on a calculated picture complexity. This predicted reference quantization is combined with the bits-used reactive MB reference quantization value to determine the final MB reference quantization value. This MB reference quantization value is also made adaptive to the VBV buffer fullness, as well as to the predicted change of the current picture complexity. A video encoder and an article of manufacture that comprises computer readable program code for execution of the method are also provided.
US08681841B2
A method of communication comprises partitioning a single-carrier data stream into equal-size blocks, and partitioning each block into a plurality of equal-size sub-blocks. A first set of cyclic prefixes and/or postfixes is inserted into the blocks to allow a linear convolution of a frequency-selective multipath channel having a long delay spread to be modeled as a circular convolution at a receiver. A second set of cyclic prefixes and/or postfixes is inserted into the sub-blocks to allow a linear convolution of a frequency-selective multipath channel having a short delay spread to be modeled as a circular convolution at the receiver. Upon receiving a transmitted data frame from the multipath channel, the receiver measures a link quality index (LQI) of a short channel impulse response; and selects block-by-block equalization or sub-block by sub-block equalization based on the LQI.
US08681840B2
A transceiver includes a transmitter circuit, a receiver circuit, and the loopback switch. The transmitter circuit performs a digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) operation on a calibration code without a transmission digital signal in a calibration mode to generate a calibration signal. The transmitter circuit up-converts the calibration signal and generates a transmission signal. The receiver circuit down-converts the transmission signal in the calibration mode and generates a receiving digital signal. The loopback switch electrically connects an output terminal of the transmitter circuit and an input terminal of the receiver circuit in the calibration mode. Thus, the transceiver may stably reduce a carrier leakage irrespective of processes, voltages, and temperatures.
US08681839B2
A parallel data link includes a redundant line. A bank of switches permits any arbitrary line of the link to be enabled or disabled for carrying functional data, each line being dynamically calibrated in turn by disabling the line and allowing other lines to carry the functional data. The switches are located downstream of alignment mechanisms so that data input to the switches is compensated for data skew. Preferably, receiver synchronization circuitry in each line operates in a respective independent clock domain, while the switches and calibration mechanism operate in a common clock domain. Preferably, the receiver synchronization circuits provide an adjustable delay corresponding to a variable number of clock cycles to align the outputs of the receiver synchronization circuits with respect to one another, which can accommodate high data skew.
US08681838B2
An electronic device includes a transmitter with a baseband input for a baseband signal, a mixer downstream from the baseband input, and a phase-locked loop (PLL) having a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a phase detector coupled thereto, the VCO coupled to the mixer. A power amplifier is downstream from the mixer, and generates at least one aggressing signal that would otherwise generate an output pull of the VCO, causing transmit distortion on a transmit signal. A receiver is coupled to the power amplifier and has a sense input configured to receive the transmit signal. A VCO pulling compensation circuit is coupled to the baseband input and is configured to compensate the at least one baseband signal for the transmit distortion based upon the sensed transmit signal.
US08681834B2
A wireless communication system. The system comprises transmitter circuitry (BST1), the transmitter circuitry comprising encoder circuitry (50) for transmitting a plurality of frames (FR). Each of the plurality of frames comprises a primary synchronization code (PCS) and a second synchronization code (SSC). The encoder circuitry comprises of circuitry (501) for providing the primary synchronization code in response to a first sequence (32). The encoder circuitry further comprises circuitry (502) for providing the secondary synchronization code in response to a second sequence (54) and a third sequence (56). The second sequence is selected from a plurality of sequences. Each of the plurality of sequences is orthogonal with respect to all other sequences. The third sequence is a subset of bits from the first sequence.
US08681831B2
A light outputting device includes, a substrate, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) provided on a surface of the substrate, including a light emitting surface which emits a light, and a monitoring detector provided on the light emitting surface of the VCSEL to receive a part of the light emitted from the VCSEL so as to monitor the amount of the light emitted from the VCSEL.
US08681830B2
An interband cascade laser amplifier medium having an amplifier region (V) comprising a hole quantum film (1) comprising a first semiconductor material and an electron quantum film (2) comprising a second semiconductor material, an electron collector region (K) comprising at least one collector quantum film (4) comprising a third semiconductor material and separated by a first barrier layer (3), and an electron injector region (I) following the latter and comprising at least one injector quantum film (5) comprising a fourth semiconductor material and separated by a second barrier layer (3). The first semiconductor material of the hole quantum film (1) is a III-V compound semiconductor comprising at least four elements, at least two of the elements selected from Ga, In and Al, and at least two of the elements selected from As, Sb, P and N. The amplifier medium exhibits an efficient laser emission at wavelengths above 2.5 μm.
US08681828B2
A laser light projector includes a laser beam generated by a laser light source, a scanner associated with the laser light source and having one or more moving mirrors capable of scanning the laser beam along X-Y coordinates, a scan-fail monitor and a safety-lens. The safety-lens includes a plurality of powers arranged for increasing the safety of the projected light within audience areas by increasing beam divergence in the audience, while keeping beam divergence low above the heads of the audience, thus allowing mirror targeting to occur.
US08681820B2
A computer-implemented method for inserting an out-of-band signaling packet into a real-time protocol (RTP) stream is provided. The method includes receiving the out-of-band signaling packet intended for transmission to a user device and forming a synthesized packet based on payload information from the out-of-band signaling packet and header information stored in a data structure describing the RTP stream. The method also includes inserting the synthesized packet into the RTP stream. The method further includes receiving an RTP packet intended for transmission to the user device via the RTP stream, analyzing an insertion sequence number and an insertion flag maintained in the data structure, and discarding or forwarding the RTP packet via the RTP stream based on the analyzing.
US08681818B2
A frame generating apparatus includes an optical-transport-network frame generator configured to generate an optical transport network frame from a client signal; and a frame decomposer configured to perform serial-parallel conversion on the optical transport network frame to generate a plurality of virtual lanes, where the optical-transport-network frame generator arranges frame synchronization bytes and virtual lane identifiers in an overhead area and/or a fixed stuff part so that a frame synchronization byte and a virtual lane identifier are arranged in each virtual lane.
US08681816B2
A method and apparatus for indicating a temporary block flow (TBF) to which a piggybacked acknowledgement/non-acknowledgement (PAN) field is addressed. A PAN check sequence (PCS) is created, for example using a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) encoding. The PCS is masked with a temporary flow identity (TFI) assigned to a TBF or a mask generated based on the TFI. A data block including the PAN field and the masked PCS is then processed for transmission. The mask may be generated by converting the TFI using an (M, N) code, M being not greater than the number of bits of the PCS and N being the number of bits of the TFI. With this scheme, a TFI may be transmitted in a PAN field without using explicit bits to identify the TBF.
US08681810B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate communication in a wireless network environment. In particular, access points can dynamically adjust transmit power and/or carrier-sensing thresholds to allow multiple access points to communicate concurrently. In aspects, access points exchange node information, including RSSI and node addresses, of nearby nodes. The node information can be utilized to detect hidden nodes and estimate interference levels. Transmit power and/or carrier-sensing thresholds can be modified as a function of distance between source and destination access points, interference from hidden nodes, transmission rates, and/or path loss.
US08681807B1
A packet switching device can allocate memory resources dynamically in order to utilize the memory resources efficiently. The packet switching device can include at least one ingress port that receives incoming packets from a network, a plurality of egress ports that transmit outgoing packets to the network, a storage unit configured to temporarily store the outgoing packets before transmission by the plurality of egress ports, the storage unit being coupled to the plurality of egress ports, so that a portion of the storage unit is dynamically allocated to an egress port, and a controller configured to dynamically allocate the portion of the storage unit to the egress port based on a network status.
US08681806B2
The present invention relates to a method for communicating in a network comprising a primary station and at least one secondary station, said secondary station comprising a buffer containing data packets to be transmitted to the primary station, the method comprising the step of the secondary station transmitting an indication of the buffer status to the primary station, said indication comprising information about history of said buffer.
US08681804B2
A system for providing situational awareness outside a temporary incident area network includes a prioritized connection module for connecting a mesh network at the incident area to one of a plurality of available communications channels, with the selection based not only on the availability of a communications channel but also on the associated expense, speed, reliability or bandwidth, so that high bandwidth traffic such as video and pictures can be reliably sent from the incident area to a location outside of the incident area. In one embodiment switching to a satellite phone network bypasses problems with terrestrial networks such as cell phone networks and landlines which may be down.
US08681798B2
In a frame control method in a communications system providing a multipath function for controlling a frame having a header area and a data area, attaching, in a transmission apparatus, order information indicating a transmission order to the data area of the frame; outputting, from the transmission apparatus to a network, the frame with the attached order information, through a path selected from a plurality of paths; reading out, in a receiving apparatus, the order information from the data area of the frame received through the network; and determining, in the receiving apparatus, whether or not to transfer the received frame to a processing unit in an upper layer to process control information stored in the header area of the frame, in accordance with the read-out order information.
US08681789B2
Method of routing data over a network in which contact is made with a home network to determine the reported geo-position, using this geo-position to transmit data to the device over a path through a node in which the node reads the geo-position, accesses a list of possible recipients and their geo-positions, compares its location to the positions, selects a recipient based at least in part on the proximity of the recipient to the device, and transmits the data over the best path. Eventually, the device becomes the recipient. A geo-position may be transmitted as part of an IP address, or as geo-position data or XML tagged geo-position information contained in a data packet or IP addressed message or IP addressed voice calls (VoIP). The geo-position information can be generated from a GPS receiver. This method and/or IP address may be used in a method of doing business in which the geo-position is used to identify the source and location for delivery. This information may be incorporated into a purchase order or confirmation receipt.
US08681786B2
The invention relates to an internet application flow rate identification method based on message sampling and application signing, comprising the following steps: firstly, message sampling capture: in accordance with sampling strategy and sampling rate the message is captured and decoded; secondly, decoding: the flow information and application data of the message is analyzed by decoding the message; thirdly, flow classification: according to the flow information of the message, a flow state table is found and maintained; fourthly, flow state distinguishing: the signature is matched if the application type of the flow state found through the flow classification is unknown; finally, signature matching: according to the application signature bank, the application data of the message is matched, if matched successfully, the application type of the flow state is updated, and the flow information and application type of that data stream is output. The method is of high accuracy in identification, high efficiency in processing, good expandability, high possibility in realization, and is applicable not only for message processing, but also for flow data analysis. The invention can be achieved in not only the network equipment, but also the network analysis system.
US08681776B2
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for storing communication session information at a network interface module. One method described herein includes receiving a plurality of RTCP packets associated with a communication session at a network interface module. RTCP information is extracted from at least one of the packets. The extracted RTCP information is stored in memory local to the network interface module.
US08681775B2
A system and method for switching between voice signals. The system includes a network interface device and a digital logic device. The network interface device may include a splitter and a switch. The splitter includes a network input configured to receive a combined voice and digital signal. The splitter generates a separate first voice output and a digital signal. The first voice signal is provided from the splitter to the switch, while the digital signal is provided to the digital logic device. The digital logic device is configured to generate a second voice signal that is also provided to the switch. Further, the digital logic device provides a control signal to the switch. The control signal manipulates the switch to selectively provide either the first or second voice signal to a voice output.
US08681772B2
Precision Timing Protocol (PTP) related functions for use in packet communications carried in part by a microwave communications link include setting of time of day values across the microwave link and providing transparent clock functions. The PTP functions may be used for synchronizing radio base stations in a cellular network. The transparent clock can bridge Ethernet switches associated with microwave stations providing the microwave communications link.
US08681764B2
Techniques for transmitting data using single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) multiplexing schemes are described. In one aspect, data is sent on sets of adjacent subbands that are offset from one another to achieve frequency diversity. A terminal may be assigned a set of N adjacent subbands that is offset by less than N (e.g., N/2) subbands from another set of N adjacent subbands assigned to another terminal and would then observe interference on only subbands that overlap. In another aspect, a multi-carrier transmission symbol is generated with multi-carrier SC-FDMA. Multiple waveforms carrying modulation symbols in the time domain on multiple sets of subbands are generated. The multiple waveforms are pre-processed (e.g., cyclically delayed by different amounts) to obtain pre-processed waveforms, which are combined (e.g., added) to obtain a composite waveform. A cyclic prefix is appended to the composite waveform to generate the multi-carrier transmission symbol.
US08681758B2
Video caching in a wireless communication network includes determining 300 starting and ending points of a route of a mobile device and a minimum length route therebetween 302. Intermediate access points are identified 304 along the route, and these points are polled 306 for their available bandwidth and memory. A streaming capacity is defined 308 of each access point. Access points are selected 310 having an additive streaming capacity greater or equal to a size of a video file for the mobile device, and a defined number of sequential blocks of the video file are sent 312 to each access point. Each access points then downloads 314 its blocks as the mobile device traverses a service area of that access point.
US08681757B2
A method of transmitting a Physical Layer Convergence Procedure (PLCP) frame in a Very High Throughput (VHT) Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system includes generating a MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) to be transmitted to a destination station (STA), generating a PLCP Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) by adding a PLCP header, including an L-SIG field containing control information for a legacy STA and a VHT-SIG field containing control information for a VHT STA, to the MPDU, and transmitting the PPDU to the destination STA. A constellation applied to some of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) symbols of the VHT-SIG field is obtained by rotating a constellation applied to an OFDM symbol of the L-SIG field.
US08681756B2
An anchor gateway, a communication method and a tangible machine-readable medium are provided. The anchor gateway is for use in a WiMAX network comprising an authentication gateway and a serving base station (BS). After a mobile station (MS) enters the WiMAX network, the anchor gateway will request the authentication gateway and the serving BS according to an identification of the MS to respectively provide authentication key context and medium access control context. Thereby, the network latency, which is made by the MS in handover, will be reduced effectively.
US08681751B2
An approach is provided for determining presence of a terminal within a communication network. An event affecting availability of a terminal over a communication network is determined. A message including information on the event is generated, wherein the message is used to provide presence information regarding the terminal.
US08681750B2
In one, non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a method includes: obtaining a timing uncertainty window parameter; and selecting, using the obtained timing uncertainty window parameter, a preamble sequence including a cyclic shift of a Zadoff-Chu root sequence, wherein the cyclic shift is an allowed cyclic shift from a group of allowed cyclic shifts, wherein the allowed cyclic shifts have timing uncertainty windows with timing uncertainty window elements, wherein the timing uncertainty windows of the allowed cyclic shifts do not overlap with one other or with frequency cyclic shifts of +1 or −1 of the timing uncertainty window elements, and wherein the frequency cyclic shift of −1 of the timing uncertainty window elements of the allowed cyclic shifts does not overlap with the frequency cyclic shift of +1 of the timing uncertainty window elements of other allowed cyclic shifts.
US08681739B1
A method and apparatus for routing packets from a home agent to a user equipment through a first access network and a second access network. The method includes sending a first binding update message from the user equipment over the first access network to create a first binding cache entry at the home agent. The user equipment uses a home address assigned to the user equipment as a source IP address of the first binding update message. The method further includes sending a second binding update message from the user equipment over the second access network to create a second binding cache entry at the home agent. The user equipment receives packets from the home agent through the first access network and the second access network based on the first binding cache entry and the second binding cache entry.
US08681736B2
Time-to-trigger (TtT) time periods are usually fixed. A better TtT parameter is adapted based on the signal quality that a receiver perceives from its surrounding area. For example, the lower the value of a first signal quality at the same time that the value of a second signal quality is greater than a trigger threshold, the shorter the TtT parameter becomes.
US08681735B2
A controller manages a connection of a wireless terminal to a wireless base station, and provides a source base station with information for connecting the wireless terminal by way of an anchor when the wireless terminal moves between wireless base stations. When devices on both sides of an anchor connected communication are wireless terminals connected to wireless base stations in said same wireless communications system, a wireless base station device switches a path such that data is transmitted/received between the wireless base stations to which the wireless terminals are connected on both sides of the anchor connected communication without intervention of the anchor.
US08681727B2
A method includes determining a base sequence, cyclic shift, and UE-specific portion of a frequency comb, applying the cyclic shift to the base sequence to create a shifted sequence, and selecting a portion of the shifted sequence as a user equipment-specific SRS. The selected portion of the shifted sequence corresponds to the portion of the frequency comb. A second method includes assigning a cyclic shift and a UE-specific portion of a frequency comb to a UE, where the cyclic shift is for use by the UE to apply the cyclic shift to the determined base sequence to create a shifted sequence. The portion of the frequency comb is for the UE to select a portion of the shifted sequence for SRS. The method includes transmitting indications of the base sequence, the cyclic shift, and the portion of the frequency comb. Auxiliary DMRS may be provided using SRS resources.
US08681724B2
A communication system is presented, which is capable of sending a transmission over an interface having at least two aggregated component carriers including a primary component carrier and at least one secondary component carrier, wherein the primary component carrier has a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) associated therewith and wherein the PDCCH is capable of signaling allocations for the primary component carrier and the at least one secondary component carrier. A method of operating a network element including sending to a user equipment a transmission indication indicative of the transmission in the PDCCH of the primary component carrier. A method of operating a user equipment includes monitoring downlink control signaling for a transmission indication indicative of a transmission to the user equipment only on the PDCCH of the primary component carrier.
US08681705B2
A system and method for transmitting high speed data on fixed rate and for variable rate channels. The system and method provides the flexibility of adjusting the data rate, the coding rate, and the nature of individual retransmissions. Further, the system and method supports partial soft combining of retransmitted data with previously transmitted data, supports parity bit selection for successive retransmissions, and supports various combinations of data rate variations, coding rate variations, and partial data transmissions.
US08681703B2
A communication device that includes an authentication unit that authenticates a wireless communication device depending on whether a predetermined authentication condition is satisfied, and a relay unit that relays communication performed by the wireless communication device when the authentication unit successfully authenticates the wireless communication device, comprising: an information transmission and reception unit receiving connected-terminal information, which includes identification information identifying the wireless communication device whose communication is being relayed, held by other communication devices; a recording unit recording the received connected-terminal information; a judging unit judging, when a connection request is received from the wireless communication device, whether the identification information identifying the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information; and a permitting unit permitting relaying of communication performed by the wireless communication device when the identification information of the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information.
US08681697B2
A method for uplink transmitting control information from a user equipment in a wireless communication system comprises selecting a specific point among a plurality of points distributed into a symbol space, corresponding to control information, the symbol space including a modulation dimension and a sequence dimension; mapping a signal corresponding to the specific point with a control channel including single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols; and transmitting the control channel. Preferably, the specific point belongs to the sequence dimension.
US08681696B2
Various example embodiments are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, an apparatus may include a controller, a memory coupled to the controller and a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller. The apparatus may be configured to receive, at a mobile station operating in Ad-Hoc mode in a wireless network, a message indicating that an access point (AP) has pending data in infrastructure network for the mobile station, and receive, at the mobile station the pending data from the AP.
US08681693B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for the operation of a network of cognitive radios in a dynamic network topology. The systems and methods make use cross-layer communications to input parameters required by network services into a reasoning engine, which in turns processes the parameter the parameter information and reports linguistic results to the network services. The cross-layer communications are leveraged to shift network service functionality to the MAC or PHY Layers. Route discovery functionality is shifted from routing services down to the MAC or PHY Layers. The route discovery functionality is implemented by a process to elect a relay node based on the number of available channels that each of the source node neighbors has available to communicate with other neighbors.
US08681691B2
The normal roles of wireless stations and wireless access points in initiating the establishment of wireless connections may be reversed without the need for changes in the network interfaces for either the station or access point device. This capability may be used to allow wireless devices acting as access points, but on which service clients operate, to initiate the establishment of a connection with a station, on which a wireless service provider operates. Discovery of services between wireless devices can be provided prior to establishing a connection between the devices. A service client device providing access point functionality may broadcast an invitation for service advertisements and then receive service advertisements from relevant service providers acting as wireless stations. An information element may be included as part of periodically broadcast administrative messages to wirelessly convey an invitation for service advertisements. In response to a service advertisement, the access point may send to the wireless station an invitation to connect, prompting the wireless station to begin to establish a connection according to a wireless communication protocol.
US08681680B2
A multicast content delivery system can use both multicast and unicast streams to efficiently use available bandwidth to deliver content. Available multicast content can be identified to gateways serving consumption devices, and the gateways can receive requests for unicast content deliver, but honor the requests with multicast group sessions.
US08681678B2
A resource allocation method for a Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) and a method for transmitting MBS data in a wireless access system are disclosed. The MBS transmission method for a multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) zone includes, constructing a resource zone by sequentially allocating predetermined symbol areas preferentially on a frequency axis, mapping predetermined MBSs provided from the MBSFN zone to the predetermined symbol areas, and transmitting a first MBS among the predetermined MBSs to mobile stations located at an edge of the MBSFN zone. The first MBS is equal to a second MBS among MBSs provided from a neighbor MBSFN zone. The first MBS and the second MBS are transmitted to the same time zone according to a time division multiplexing (TDM) method.
US08681667B2
The present disclosure provides a method for allocating physical hybrid ARQ indicator channels, which is used for sending indication information corresponding to multiple uplink sub-frames in the same downlink sub-frame in a TDD system. The method includes: in the TDD system, through an index of a physical resource block where uplink data resides as well as an index of an uplink sub-frame where the uplink data resides, determining an index of a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel group where a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel in an downlink sub-frame resides and an intra-group index of the physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel in the physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel group according to an indexing rule, and further determining an index of the physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel by using the index of the physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel group and the intra-group index. According to implicit mapping, the method of the present disclosure implements the allocation of the physical hybrid ARQ indicator channels over which the downlink indication messages corresponding to each uplink sub-frame are transmitted, thereby being capable of overcoming the problem potentially present in existing technologies that multiple indication messages reside on the same physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel.
US08681657B2
Provided is a network management system for managing a plurality of packet relay devices, the network management system comprising: the plurality of packet relay devices constituting networks; and a display device for displaying configurations of the networks, in a case where it is determined that a virtual packet relay device identifier of the virtual packet relay device that is assigned a second-network identifier associated with the extracted second-network identifier is registered in a first-network configuration table, a first-work identifying module is configured to associate a first-network identifier that is associated with the virtual packet relay device identifier with the obtained configuration information, and register the association between the first-network identifier and the obtained configuration information in the first-network configuration table.
US08681656B2
A general wireless mesh network of communication devices with packet message transmission, especially for telemetry and automation, includes at least a single control communication device and a set of slave communication devices. The control communication device searches in the network and assigns a virtual routing number to each slave communication device. The virtual routing number reflects a distance of the slave communication device from the control communication device, expressed by the number of routings, and is stored in the slave communication device. The slave communication device, for further routing of packets in the mesh network, uses time slots assigned according to the difference between said virtual routing number and the virtual routing number of the sender of a received packet. Packet routing is based on successive flooding of the virtual routing structure and time division multiplexing.
US08681648B2
A packet data network gateway device may receive packet network data at a packet data network gateway device; filter the received packet network data to extract information associated with one or more messages in the packet network data; analyze the extracted information; and dynamically determine one or more of policy updates, rules, or thresholds based on the analyzing of the information and information associated with one or more of subscribers, location, existing policies, network operating condition and load.
US08681641B1
A technique is provided for mitigating loops in Ethernet networks. A first port in an Ethernet device receives an Ethernet frame. The frame includes a source identifier, a destination identifier, and a Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN ID). According to various embodiments, the VLAN ID (VID) has the encoding of both a community group as well as a source bridge ID. A VID database is accessed using the destination identifier and the VID to determine whether the first port has ingress enabled. A filtering database is accessed to determine an egress port for forwarding the Ethernet frame.
US08681635B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for determining shortest route(s) or path(s) to one or more destination nodes from one or more origin nodes. In accordance with one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided that includes identifying a plurality of origin nodes associated with a route based on a threshold distance from at least one destination node, the origin nodes being options for a departure from the route to the at least one destination node. Further, the method may include calculating, using a processor, a cost associated with travelling from each of the origin nodes to at least one common intermediate node between the route and the at least one destination node, and determining a path to the at least one destination node based on the origin node having the lowest calculated cost.
US08681632B2
Exemplary carrier Ethernet service bandwidth allocation systems and methods are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes a carrier Ethernet service system 1) receiving an Ethernet layer operation, administration, and management (“OAM”) protocol based message provided by a customer premises device to a network interface device over a user network interface (“UNI”), the Ethernet layer OAM protocol based message including a request to adjust an amount of bandwidth allocated to a carrier Ethernet service provided by the Ethernet service system to the customer premises device, and 2) adjusting, in response to the request, the amount of bandwidth allocated to the carrier Ethernet service. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08681628B2
Disclosed are a method and a system for determining top spreaders in high speed network. The method may comprise: sampling a plurality of packets from the plurality of hosts during an interval of time; determining a difference between a count and a count error for each host based on the sampled packets; ranking the hosts based on the determined difference to identify a first set of hosts that are top in the ranked hosts; and selecting a second set of hosts from the first set of hosts as the top spreaders.
US08681625B2
A method for controlling a rate of a voice service in a mobile communication system supporting the voice service via a packet network. The method includes the steps of receiving a control message at a terminal from a radio network controller (RNC); if the control message indicates control of a downlink rate, determining a downlink rate according to the control message; setting a Change Mode Request (CMR) field of an uplink Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) packet according to the downlink rate, and transmitting the uplink VoIP packet from the terminal to the RNC; if the received control message indicates control of an uplink rate, determining an uplink rate according to the control message; and generating an uplink VoIP packet including uplink voice data generated according to the determined uplink rate and frame type (FT) information indicating the determined uplink rate, and transmitting the uplink VoIP packet from the terminal to the RNC.
US08681623B2
Wireless networks are becoming increasingly heterogeneous in terms of the processing capabilities of network users' receiving equipment. According to embodiments of the innovation, in a communications network comprising a plurality of receivers with different data reception rate capabilities, data frames targeted to respective receivers may be transmitted to the receivers in accordance with the respective data reception rate capabilities of the receivers.
US08681619B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for transmitting data. In one aspect, a method obtains a baseline data rate for transmissions from a node that are received over a channel of a power line communications system and a set of available modulation techniques for the node. The set of available modulation techniques can include at least two modulation techniques with which the node is configured to encode data that are transmitted over the channel. Using the set of available modulation techniques, a modulation technique that is capable of providing at least the baseline data rate with at least a threshold confidence for the node is selected. In turn, data is provided to the node specifying the selected modulation technique.
US08681616B2
Apparatus and techniques for scheduling packets to reduce congestion in a packet data network are described. In one embodiment of the invention, packets are received through each of a plurality of channels and are stored in a respective queue for each channel. The status of each queue is monitored as empty or not empty. When an empty queue becomes not empty, then bandwidth allocation value is added for the respective channel to a port load value. When a not empty queue becomes empty, then the bandwidth allocation for the respective channel is subtracted from the port load value. The traffic rate through the port is then scaled based upon the port load value.
US08681612B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for implementing a reduced contention period to facilitate channel access for access terminals. An access point may send a frame to a plurality of access terminals specifying a time period during which at least some of the access terminals are to stop transmitting on a shared transmission channel. The access terminals may receive the transmission and may stop transmitting on the shared transmission channel for the specified time period.
US08681610B1
A system, apparatus, and method are directed towards managing traffic over a network by imposing temporal delays in acknowledgments (ACKs). A Traffic Management Device (TMD), interposed between two network session end-points monitors a buffer of relayed packets. If the contents of the buffer exceed a threshold value, delays are imposed on sending of acknowledgements. If the buffer contents exceed the threshold, and the buffer's contents are increasing, the delays may be increased. If the buffer's contents are about at steady state, the acknowledgement delays may be decreased, or maintained at a current delay status. In one embodiment, if the sender is sending packets at a rate above a receiver's ability to receive the packets, and the sender appears not to be decreasing its rate of transmission, an explicit congestion notification echo (ECE) may be sent to the sender.
US08681609B2
A method to schedule multiple traffic flows through a multiplexer server to provide fairness while minimizing the sizes of the associated queues, is proposed. The multiplexer server minimizes a quantity called the maximum Normalized Service Lag for each traffic flow. In each time-slot, the normalized service lag of every traffic flow may be updated by adding the normalized lag increment value, whether or not there is a packet in the queue associated with the flow. In each time-slot, a multiplexer server selects a traffic flow to service with an available packet and with the maximum normalized service lag. When the traffic rate requested by each traffic flow is stable, the multiplexer server schedule may repeat periodically. Efficient methods to compute periodic schedules are proposed. The methods can be applied to packet-switched Internet routers to achieve reduced queue sizes and delay.
US08681608B2
Disclosed is a method for enhancing of controlling radio resource and transmitting a Status Report in a mobile telecommunications system, and a receiver of mobile telecommunications system. When any PDUs that have not been received (‘missing PDUs’) occur, a receiving RLC entity does not immediately request re-transmission about the ‘missing PDUs’. Rather, only when missing PDUs more than a predetermined number occur, the receiving RLC entity requests the re-transmission. Accordingly, an amount of radio resources required to transmit a Status Report can be reduced.
US08681606B2
Systems and physical computer-readable storage medium are provided to improve efficiency of systems operating on internet protocol (IP) over Infiniband (IB) networks. In an embodiment, by way of example only, a method is provided for implementing redundancy for IB networks. The method includes detecting a failure at a first source port of a source node having a plurality of source ports, selecting a new source port, sending an address resolution protocol (ARP) message to one or more other nodes in communication with the source node including an IP address of the source node and IB address of the new source port of the source node, and re-balancing host traffic.
US08681589B2
A method and system are disclosed for performing seismic surveys using a seismic vibrator, which generates a sweep signal with enhanced low frequency content by generating a combination of a linear and nonlinear sweep and wherein the nonlinear sweep snonl(t) as a function of time (t) is calculated by a predetermined algorithm.
US08681580B2
Methods for efficiently acquiring full-azimuth towed streamer survey data are described. The methods use multiple vessels to perform coil shooting.
US08681577B2
Provided is a semiconductor integrated device including a semiconductor memory circuit and a peripheral circuit of the semiconductor memory circuit. The peripheral circuit includes a first transistor having a first voltage as a breakdown voltage of a gate oxide film. The semiconductor memory circuit includes a pair of bit lines, one of the pair of bit lines being connected to a gate transistor of a memory cell, and a precharge circuit that includes a transistor having a breakdown voltage substantially equal to that of the first transistor, and precharges the pair of bit lines to a predetermined voltage in response to an activation signal. The activation signal of the precharge circuit is a second voltage higher than the first voltage.
US08681576B2
A circuit comprises a set of pre-charge and equalization devices, a control signal line, and a word line. The set of pre-charge and equalization devices is configured to pre-charge and equalize a pair of data lines. The control signal line is configured to control the pre-charge and equalization devices. The word line is configured to electrically couple a memory cell to a data line of the pair of data lines. A first voltage value provided to the control signal line is from a first voltage source different from a second voltage source that generates a second voltage value for the word line.
US08681573B2
Techniques and circuitry are disclosed for implementing non-volatile storage that exploit bias temperature instability (BTI) effects of high-k/metal-gate n-type or p-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS or PMOS) transistors. A programmed bitcell of, for example, a memory or programmable logic circuit exhibits a threshold voltage shift resulting from an applied programming bias used to program bitcells. In some cases, applying a first programming bias causes the device to have a first state, and applying a second programming bias causes the device to have a second state that is different than the first state. Programmed bitcells can be erased by applying an opposite polarity stress, and re-programmed through multiple cycles. The bitcell configuration can be used in conjunction with column/row select circuitry and/or readout circuitry, in accordance with some embodiments.
US08681570B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for storing data in a non-volatile memory device. A method includes comparing bits of a write instruction with bits in a memory block to determine bits to be switched in the memory block; determining a switch type for each bit to be switched in the memory block; and evaluating the switch type for each bit to be switched in the memory block. The method further comprises when at least one switch type is a first switch type, performing a first operation on the memory block, and when all of the switch types are not the first switch type, performing a second operation on each bit to be switched in the memory block.
US08681568B2
A method is for operating a memory having a group of non-volatile memory cells. A first programming pulse is applied to a subset of the group of non-volatile memory cells. The subset needs additional programming. A portion of the subset still needing additional programming is identified. A ratio of the number of memory cells in the subset and the number of memory cells in the portion is determined. A size of a second programming pulse based on the ratio is selected. The second programming pulse is applied to the portion.
US08681567B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes an amplifier, a first transistor coupled between the first power supply line and the internal node and including a gate terminal supplied with a bias voltage, a second transistor coupled between the internal node and the second power supply line and including a gate terminal coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier, a third transistor coupled between the first power supply line and the output node and including a gate terminal coupled to the internal node, a divider configured to produce a first discharge path from the output node to the second power supply line to establish the feedback voltage to the amplifier, and a first switch circuit supplied with a first signal and coupled between the output node and the internal node.
US08681558B2
Providing for a new combination of non-volatile memory architecture and memory processing technology is described herein. By way of example, disclosed is a parallel bitline semiconductor architecture coupled with a channel-based processing technology. The channel based processing technology provides fast program/erase times, relatively high density and good scalability. Furthermore, the parallel bitline architecture enables very fast read times comparable with drain-based tunneling processes, achieving a combination of fast program, erase and read times far better than conventional non-volatile memories.
US08681555B2
Strings of memory cells having a string select gate configured to selectively couple ends of a string to a data line and a source line concurrently, memory devices incorporating such strings and methods for accessing and forming such strings are provided. For example, non-volatile memory devices are disclosed that utilize vertical structure NAND strings of serially-connected non-volatile memory cells. One such string including two or more serially-connected non-volatile memory cells where each end of the string shares a string select gate with the other end of the string is disclosed.
US08681550B2
A set of data associated with a page in flash storage is received. Error correction decoding is performed on the set of data; if event error correction decoding fails, it is determined whether the page is a most significant bit (MSB) page or a least significant bit (LSB) page. If it is determined the page is a MSB page, one or more MSB read thresholds are adjusted and the is re-read page using the adjusted MSB read threshold(s). If it is determined the page is a LSB page, one or more LSB read thresholds are adjusted and the page is re-read using the adjusted LSB read threshold(s).
US08681544B2
A method of operating a semiconductor memory device includes applying a program pass voltage to unselected word lines, applying a program voltage of a third level to a selected word line in order to raise threshold voltages of third memory cells, decreasing a level of the program voltage from the third level to a second level and discharging channel regions of second cell strings including second memory cells in order to raise threshold voltages of second memory cells, and decreasing a level of the program voltage from the second level to a first level and discharging channel regions of first cell strings including first memory cells in order to raise threshold voltages of first memory cells. The cell strings are disconnected from a bit line while a voltage level of the unselected word lines rises to a level of the program pass voltage.
US08681541B2
Magnetic memory having separate read and write paths is disclosed. The magnetic memory unit includes a ferromagnetic strip having a first end portion with a first magnetization orientation, an opposing second end portion with a second magnetization orientation, and a middle portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the middle portion having a free magnetization orientation. The first magnetization orientation opposes the second magnetization orientation. A tunneling barrier separates a magnetic reference layer from the middle portion forming a magnetic tunnel junction. A bit line is electrically coupled to the second end portion. A source line is electrically coupled to the first end portion and a read line is electrically coupled to the magnetic tunnel junction.
US08681539B2
Spin-transfer torque memory includes a composite free magnetic element, a reference magnetic element having a magnetization orientation that is pinned in a reference direction, and an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the composite free magnetic element from the magnetic reference element. The free magnetic element includes a hard magnetic layer exchanged coupled to a soft magnetic layer. The composite free magnetic element has a magnetization orientation that can change direction due to spin-torque transfer when a write current passes through the spin-transfer torque memory unit.
US08681538B2
A semiconductor storage device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of memory cells each including a storage element and a switching element which are connected in series between adjacently paired ones of the bit lines. Gates of the switching elements of the memory cells connected between one of the adjacently paired ones of the bit lines are respectively connected to different ones of the word lines. A plurality of the storage elements and a plurality of the switching elements of the adjacent memory cells are alternately connected in series.
US08681527B2
To provide a semiconductor device capable of reducing the line width of a fuse.In the semiconductor device, a dummy fuse is provided adjacent to a fuse, each wiring width of the fuse and the dummy fuse is set to the minimum line width, and the interval between the fuse and the dummy fuse is set to the minimum interval. Consequently, the exposure condition of the fuse and the dummy fuse is optimized by OPC, and therefore, it is possible to form the fuse with the minimum line width.
US08681526B2
A size and retry programmable multi-synchronous FIFO. In one embodiment, a multi-synchronous FIFO memory generally comprises a selectable number of addressable memory locations for storing information; read control means synchronized by a read clock for controlling pop transactions configured to read from one or more of the selected number of addressable memory locations; write control means synchronized by a write clock asynchronous to the read clock for controlling push transactions to write to one or more of the selected number of addressable memory locations; and selectable transaction retry control means configured to cause read control means to repeat selected pop transactions and/or cause write control means to repeat selected push transactions. In another embodiment a method of retrying a transaction in a multi-synchronous FIFO having a selectable number of addressable memory locations generally comprises the steps of receiving a transaction request; storing the starting address of the transaction register in a start register; executing the transaction; incrementing the starting address in the transaction register after comparing the incremented address to the selected number of addressable memory locations; receiving a retry request; and retrying the transaction.
US08681524B1
Disclosed are various embodiments related to stacked memory devices, such as DRAMs, SRAMs, EEPROMs, ReRAMs, and CAMs. For example, stack position identifiers (SPIDs) are assigned or otherwise determined, and are used by each memory device to make a number of adjustments. In one embodiment, a self-refresh rate of a DRAM is adjusted based on the SPID of that device. In another embodiment, a latency of a DRAM or SRAM is adjusted based on the SPID. In another embodiment, internal regulation signals are shared with other devices via TSVs. In another embodiment, adjustments to internally regulated signals are made based on the SPID of a particular device. In another embodiment, serially connected signals can be controlled based on a chip SPID (e.g., an even or odd stack position), and whether the signal is an upstream or a downstream type of signal.
US08681523B2
Memory devices and methods are described, such as those that include a stack of memory dies and an attached logic die. Method and devices described provide for configuring bandwidth for selected portions of a stack of memory dies. Additional devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08681517B2
An AC converter includes: a switching section, which converts the input AC voltage in response to a control signal and which outputs the converted voltage to a phase that has been selected in accordance with the control signal; a filter section, which filters out high frequency components from the converted voltage, thereby converting the converted voltage into the output AC voltage; and a switching control section, which performs a pulse density modulation on a phase-by-phase basis and in response to a reference signal with the frequency f1, which is associated with the output AC voltage of each phase, synchronously with a zero cross of the input AC voltage, thereby generating the control signal according a pulse generation status by the pulse density modulation and the polarity of the input AC voltage and sending out the control signal to the switching section.
US08681515B2
An energy generation system includes an inverter for converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage, a three-phase/two-phase transformer for transforming an output of the inverter into a three-phase/two-phase stationary coordinate system, a phase locked loop for calculating the phase and frequency of an output voltage of the inverter, a phase shifter for generating a current phase reference value, a current reference coordinate transformer for transforming the current phase reference value and the current amplitude reference value into a two-phase stationary coordinate system, a current phase calculator for outputting a current phase calculation value, a current phase calculator for outputting a current amplitude calculation value, a current adjuster for generating a current adjustment signal, an output three-phase transformer for transforming the current adjustment signal into a current adjustment signal in a three-phase stationary coordinate system, and a PWM controller for outputting a PWM control signal.
US08681514B2
A controller, power converter, and a related method for secondary side control of a switch are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the present invention includes a controller. The controller comprises a drain to source voltage (VDS voltage) input configured to receive the VDS voltage of a transistor, a gate drive output configured to output a gate drive voltage to a gate of the transistor, and control logic configured to initiate a minimum on time signal independent of triggering the gate drive voltage to activate the transistor. A related method comprises comparing a VDS voltage of a transistor to a plurality of voltage threshold levels, driving a gate of the transistor when the VDS voltage crosses a predetermined voltage threshold, and asserting a minimum on time signal when the VDS voltage crosses another predetermined voltage threshold independent of driving the gate of the transistor.
US08681508B2
An electronic apparatus includes a housing having a first connector; a Plug In Unit (PIU) having a second connecter, coupled to the first connector, and inserted into the housing; a first guide mechanism (1st GM) provided on the housing and/or the PIU; a second guide mechanism (2nd GM) provided on another housing and/or the PIU and guides insertion of the PIU in cooperation with the 1st GM so that the first connector is coupled to the second connector. The 1st GM, for example, includes a guide cylinder, and the 2nd GM, for example, includes a pin inserted into the guide cylinder; a fixed cylinder surrounding the pin; and a movable member, which has a hole that passes through the fixed cylinder, and the movable member is held by the fixed cylinder to be movable in the axial direction. The guide cylinder pushes the movable member when the pin is inserted.
US08681500B2
Carbon nanotube material is used in an integrated circuit substrate. According to an example embodiment, an integrated circuit arrangement (100) includes a substrate (110) with a carbon nanotube structure (120) therein. The carbon nanotube structure is arranged in one or more of a variety of manners to provide structural support and/or thermal conductivity. In some instances, the carbon nanotube structure is arranged to provide substantially all structural support for an integrated circuit arrangement. In other instances, the carbon nanotube structure is arranged to dissipate heat throughout the substrate. In still other instances, the carbon nanotube structure is arranged to remove heat from selected portions of the carbon nanotube substrate.
US08681497B2
A board coolant jacket jig system includes a main frame that includes a board installation stand on which a board is installed, and a coolant jacket separation unit that is coupled to the main frame and selectively coupled to the coolant jacket coupled to the board, to separate the coolant jacket.
US08681496B2
Cooling apparatuses, electronic device assemblies, and cooling assemblies having a magnetic shape memory member are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cooling apparatus includes a first compliant member, a magnetic shape memory member, a magnetic field generating device, a second compliant member and a fan member. A first end of the magnetic shape memory member is coupled to the first compliant member. The magnetic field generating device is positioned proximate the magnetic shape memory member, and generates a magnetic field toward the magnetic shape memory member to cause the magnetic shape memory member to expand along a linear translation axis. Expansion of the magnetic shape memory member causes an actuated portion of the second compliant member to translate about an axis. The fan member is coupled to the actuated portion of the compliant member such that translation of the actuated portion translates the fan member.
US08681487B2
The invention relates to an apparatus (20) comprising a flexible display (23) with a front surface and a back surface, wherein the back surface is provided with an adhered layer of an elastic material (24) for dissipating external pressure applied to the front surface. The thickness of the elastic material is optimized to provide sufficient resistance to external pressure on one hand, and to ensure that the plane of a weakest layer of the display device substantially coincides with the neutral line. Connecting the display and the layer of elastic material (24) using an adhesive prevents small particles to enter an area between the layer (24) and the back surface of the display.
US08681484B2
A connector structure includes a base body, a slider, a connector holder, a holder, a slider restriction portion and a connector holder restriction portion. In a state where the slider is not held to the base body by the holder, the slider restriction portion restricts a movement of the slider in one direction of one axis. In a state where the movement of the slider is restricted, the connector holder is separable from the slider in the one direction. The connector holder restriction portion restricts a position and an attitude taken by the connector holder separated from the slider within a predetermined range.
US08681480B2
An internal circuit structural element including a bus bar circuit structural element formed by a bus bar having a selectively cuttable portion that is formed into different types of routing configurations as a bus bar circuit by selectively cutting the portion, and a printed wire circuit structural element formed by a printed-circuit board having a selective energization portion obtained by dividing a printed wire that is formed into different types of routing configurations as a printed wire circuit by selectively attaching a jumper member that bridges across a divided portion of the printed wire to the selective energization portion.
US08681477B2
An anode includes a first region adjacent to a root of an anode lead, a second region at a corner of one end surface of the anode, a third region between the first region and the second region, and a fourth region in the interior of the anode into which the anode lead is embedded. The thicknesses of a dielectric layer in the first region and the second region are greater than the thicknesses of the dielectric layer in the third region and the fourth region.
US08681476B2
A solid electrolytic capacitor comprises an insulating substrate in which an anode terminal and a cathode terminal are formed. The anode terminal comprises a first anode section formed on a first surface of the insulating substrate, and a second anode section formed on a second surface of the insulating substrate, which are electrically connected to each other. The cathode terminal comprises a first cathode section formed on the first surface and a second cathode section formed on the second surface, which are electrically connected to each other. A distance between the first anode section and the first cathode section is smaller than a distance between the second anode section and the second cathode section. And an anode section and a cathode section of a capacitor element are electrically connected to the first anode section and the first cathode section respectively.
US08681471B2
An ion generator 10a has an ejection head 18 as an opposite electrode and a discharge electrode 16, and generates air ions by corona discharge. A nozzle 14 supporting the discharge electrode 16 is attached to a base member 12 formed with an air supply path 11, and the nozzle 14 is formed with an exposure surface 24 for exposing the tip end portion 16b of the discharge electrode 16 and a tapered surface 25. The nozzle 14 is formed with air guide holes 26 which communicate with the air supply path 11, and ejection ports of the air guide holes 26 are open on the tapered surface 25. Compressed air ejected from the ejection port is flowed along the tapered surface 25 so that outside air surrounding the nozzle 14 is involved in the compressed air, and sprayed in a front direction of the discharge electrode 16.
US08681466B2
A system comprising a magnetic actuator, a current transformer and operational electronics in a dual-coil circuit breaker. The system includes an inline, but non concentric, implementation of the primary and secondary coils to maintain a narrow width suitable for retrofitting in standard industrial rack mounted enclosures. The system further comprises an I-shaped lamination stack that is designed to abut on the ends of an upper and lower plate of the current transformer. The I-shaped lamination stack significantly increases the overlap between the lamination and the upper and lower plates, which results in lower magnetic reluctance and improves magnetic coupling.
US08681463B2
In at least some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of circuit breakers and trip control logic external to and coupled to the circuit breakers. The trip control logic enables a plurality of different tripping options to be selected for each of the circuit breakers.
US08681462B2
A circuit testing closer is capable of closing a power distribution circuit and interrupting the resulting current at the next current zero. Upon detecting a fault, the circuit testing closer is operable to open contacts to isolate the fault. Next, the circuit testing closer tests the faulted line to determine whether the fault has cleared. The circuit testing closer may generate a first test signal having a first polarity and a second test signal having a second polarity opposite the first polarity. Generation of the second test signal may be limited to occur when the first test signal indicates a fault.
US08681458B2
In one embodiment, and electro-static discharge detector is formed with a plurality of channels and is configured to detect a positive electro-static discharge and a negative electro-static discharge.
US08681450B1
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to self-servo-writing. In some implementations, a method includes determining a spiral velocity associated with writing a plurality of reference spiral sets; identifying a plurality of launching tracks based on a predetermined ratio and the spiral velocity, where each of the plurality of launching tracks is associated with one of the plurality of reference spiral sets; writing each of the plurality of reference spiral sets starting at its associated launching track; and writing one or more sets of servo wedges using the plurality of reference spiral sets, where the reference spiral sets and the one or more sets of servo wedges are written at the predetermined ratio.
US08681449B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, are described for calibrating servos, and in some implementations for calibrating spiral servos for use in self servo write processes. In one aspect, a method is provided that includes measuring a slope of a spiral written to a machine readable medium, and adjusting a parameter in accordance with the measured slope to calibrate spacing of servo tracks, with respect to variation between a target slope and the measured slope for the spiral, for writing the servo tracks to the machine readable medium using the spiral as a reference and the adjusted parameter to generate a same radial spacing between servo tracks from spirals with different slopes.
US08681446B2
In certain embodiments, a head includes a writer portion having coils positioned near a writer, a reader portion separate from the writer portion and a single-layer heating circuit positioned near the writer portion. The heating circuit includes at least two resistive elements.In certain embodiments, a slider includes a single layer heating circuit including at least two heating element resistors.
US08681444B2
The present inventions are related to systems and methods for transferring information to and from a storage medium, and more particularly to systems and methods for positioning a sensor in relation to a storage medium. For example, an apparatus for determining a sensor position is disclosed that includes a data stream processor operable to generate a number of data streams at different frequencies based on an input data stream, a number of servo preamble detectors each operable to process a different one of the data streams to detect a servo preamble, a selector operable to output one of the data streams in which the servo preamble was detected as a winning data stream, and a pattern detector operable to detect a pattern in the winning data stream.
US08681443B2
SMR disk drives with hybrid E-regions that include a nonvolatile solid state memory E-region in addition to the magnetic media E-regions on disk are described. The memory E-region can be used in operations that will be referred as destaging and/or restaging to sequentialize sets of exception records to reduce the time and energy spent in executing seeks in the disk E-region. The ratio of the size of the solid state memory E-region to the total E-region capacity on the disks can be optimized for selected applications according to the invention using tradeoffs between performance and cost. For example, an embodiment with a memory E-region size that is 10% of the total disk E-region capacity achieves substantial performance enhancement over a disk-only E-region implementation and also results in smaller costs than would be required in a NAND-only memory E-region.
US08681437B2
A magnification system for magnifying a surface of a device is provided. The magnification system includes a magnifying lens having a ridge portion extending along one of the edges and securing means for securing the magnifying lens on or above the surface of the device. An example of such a device is a mobile phone. The securing means further includes a base adapted to mount to a surface of the device, an arm pivotally connected to the base with a first connector, a clamp including a channel therein for receiving and slidably holding the ridge portion of the magnifying lens and a second connector for pivotally connecting the arm to the clamp. The second connector further includes a slider member having a, groove and means for attaching the lens to the slider member. The slider member further includes a first pivotally connected part and a second pivotally connected part. The slider member moves along the, groove and further is being attached to the first pivotally connected part. The second pivotally connected part is adapted to slide along a length of the arm and thereby allowing for adjustments to vertical position of the magnifying lens in relation to the surface being magnified.
US08681432B2
A zoom lens includes, a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, a third lens unit having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having positive refractive power. All of the lens units are moved during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. An aperture stop is arranged on the image side of the third lens unit. A distance T23 from a lens surface closest to the image side in the second lens unit to a lens surface closest to the object side in the third lens unit when the zoom lens is at the telephoto end, a focal length fT of the entire zoom lens at the telephoto end, and focal lengths f1, f2, and f3 of the first, second, and third lens units, respectively, are set based on predetermined mathematical conditions.
US08681421B1
An IR laser source providing light in the IR spectrum, the laser source comprising a pump laser operating at a frequency equivalent to wavelength shorter than 2 μm and at a predetermined power, and an optic fiber coupled to the pump laser. The optic fiber has at least a section of a hollow core photonic crystal fiber, the at least a section of hollow core photonic crystal fiber being designed to have at least a passband in the IR spectrum and being filled with a molecular gas for triggering at least one Stoke's shift in the light entering the at least a section of hollow core photonic crystal fiber for the particular power of the pump laser, the at least one Stoke's shift be selected to cause the light entering the at least a section of hollow core photonic crystal fiber to shift in frequency into the passband in the IR spectrum of the hollow core photonic crystal fiber.
US08681413B2
An optical system may include an objective, a source of illumination, an illumination system having illumination optics configured to direct the illumination onto the objective, and at least two dynamic optical array devices located at a pupil conjugate plane and a field conjugate plane, respectively in the illumination optics. The dynamic optical array devices are configured to control one or more properties of illumination coupled from the illumination system to the objective.
US08681395B2
According to one embodiment, an image reading apparatus includes a reading unit and an output unit. The reading unit is configured to selectively execute first reading processing for reading an image of a sheet conveyed at first conveying speed at first reading speed corresponding to the first conveying speed and second reading processing for reading the image of the sheet set on an image reading table at second reading speed different from the first reading speed. The output unit is configured to output read image data read by the first reading processing and the second reading processing.
US08681389B2
An image processing apparatus includes a first acquiring unit and a selecting unit. The first acquiring unit acquires information on respective communication capacities of a plurality of transmitters with a facsimile communication function and communication capacity of a partner device to be in facsimile communication with the transmitter. The selecting unit selects a transmitter having communication capacity that is the same as or closest to the communication capacity of the partner device from the plurality of transmitters.
US08681388B2
Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including: a memory; a read unit; a scanner processor configured to transfer image data at a first transfer speed; an image processing unit; a print unit; a printer processor to transfer print image data at a second transfer rate; a main processor to cause the printer processor to switch the second transfer speed to another, and cause the scanner processor to switch the first transfer speed to another; and a switching controller to control operation of the print unit in a plurality of operation modes corresponding to the plurality of print speeds, cause the main processor to switch the operation clock, cause the scanner processor and the printer processor respectively to switch each transfer speed to another.
US08681383B2
As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate employing a single stochastic screen defined up to a specified transition level. The dots at the specified level are connected to form a triangle tessellation with an associated spot function. For up to three colorants, a vector screening technique is employed, which involves a first colorant dot being grown from the vertices, second colorant dot grown from the triangle center, and a third colorant dot grown from the side midpoints. Growth in this manner ensures separation of colorants up to a certain density level. In cases where fourth colorant is to be used at a given pixel, the fourth colorant can be added using methods typically used for clustered screens, such as stochastic screening of the lightest colorant, in order to mitigate color shift sensitivity issues.
US08681380B2
A computer calculates an edginess, which is an image variation from a differential value of data for adjacent picture elements, and determines object picture elements by selecting only images with a large variation. As optimum parameters for contrast correction and lightness compensation are calculated from image data for object picture elements, image processing indicators based on object picture elements are determined, and optimum imago processing can be performed automatically. After summing a luminance Distribution for each area of the image, which is a feature amount, while uniformly selecting picture elements, a reevaluation is performed by a weighting determined for each area, and a luminance distribution, strongly influenced by the luminance distribution of the photographed object is thus obtained with uniform sampling. After determining the intensity of this luminance distribution, the image data is converted, and image processing can therefore be performed with optimum intensity while reducing the processing amount.
US08681378B2
An image is divided into first a second regions on the basis of inputted image data, and a comparison is made between the gradation values of pixels in the first region and threshold values corresponding to the pixels of the first region of a dither mask. The results of the comparison are referenced to determine whether or not dots are formed in the pixels of the first region. Errors are calculated based on the results of determining the first boundary pixels, which are in the first region near the boundary between the first region second regions. Some of the errors are distributed as diffusion errors to pixels in the second region near the boundary. The diffusion errors distributed from the first boundary pixels are added, and it is determined whether or not dots are formed by the error diffusion method in the pixels of the second region.
US08681374B2
An image forming apparatus and an auto color registration method thereof. The automatic color registration method of the image forming apparatus, the method includes transferring a plurality of first patterns synchronized with a phase of an image receptor, detecting the transferred first patterns, and performing an automatic color registration (ACR) by controlling a driving speed of the image receptor based on the detected first pattern. With this, the apparatus and method controls a driving speed of an image receptor by using a pattern synchronized with a phase of the image receptor and improves accuracy of the ACR.
US08681366B2
An image scanning system comprising an image scanner and a terminal, wherein the image scanner comprises an image storing unit to store the image data; a terminal designation unit to designate the terminal as a transmission target; a terminal storing unit to record correspondence data to associate the image data with the terminal; an information notification unit to transmit a notification of information concerning image data to the designated terminal; a request receiving unit to receive a request for image data; and an image transmission unit to transmit the image data associated with the designated terminal for which the request has been received, and the terminal comprises: an indication unit to make an indication in response to receipt of the notification; and a request transmission unit to transmit the request to the image scanner when a user operation for requesting image data is received.
US08681363B2
In one embodiment, data indicative of a measurement of resource utilization at a computer during a rasterization event is received. The data is compared to a database associating resource utilizations with commands to increment or decrement raster application instances executing in the event. Responsive to determining the data is associated with a command to increment or decrement an instance in the event, a first instance is incremented or decremented according to the command.
US08681356B2
Disclosed is the information processing apparatus, which makes it possible to easily conduct a setting change operation for a plurality of setting items after the concerned setting operation has been completed. The information processing apparatus includes: an operating section to establish a set of setting values corresponding to a plurality of setting items, therefrom; a storage section to store the set of setting values established from the operating section, therein; a display section; and a controlling section to control the display section. When receiving a request for changing the set of setting values established in advance through the operating section, the controlling section controls the display section so as to display at least one candidate of change contents onto the display section, based on differential components between the set of setting values established in advance and another set of setting values stored in the storage section.
US08681353B2
A wireless printing system and method based on IEEE 802.11 are provided. A method of requesting a print job, includes: scanning a printer that functions as an AP in a wireless LAN; obtaining an address of the printer from the scanned result; and requesting a predetermined print job by having the obtained address as a destination. The method enables to locate a printer that functions as an Access Point (AP) while stations associate with a Basic Service Set (BSS) in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) based on IEEE 802.11.
US08681346B2
A method and structure of automatically selecting replacement components for a printing machine automatically maintains media type statistics on media types used for printing in the printing machine for a period of time, and automatically recommends a replacement for a worn component with one of a plurality of interchangeable different-type replacement components based on the media type statistics. The interchangeable different-type replacement components have different performance characteristics for each of the media types, and the interchangeable different-type replacement components perform the same function as said worn component within the printing machine.
US08681344B2
In an embodiment a method for position determination of an object in a spatial area is provided in which the object is illuminated with at least one light beam. The light beam does not cover the complete spatial area and is guided into a part of the spatial area in which the object is present depending on the position of the object. In another aspect a method for measuring a surface is provided.
US08681337B2
A GFCR system includes gas cells disposed to receive light energy associated with a field-of-view of an atmospheric region. Each gas cell has contents selected from the group consisting of a vacuum and a gas of unique composition. For each of the gas cells, the light energy passed therethrough is spectrally affected by the contents thereof and then output therefrom as a spectrally-affected beam of light energy associated with the field-of-view. An optical system disposed between the gas cells and an optical detector images each spectrally-affected beam on a unique region of the optical detector. One or more processors generate matched portions of each spectrally-affected beam so-imaged on the optical detector where each such matched portion corresponds to an identical portion of the field-of-view. GFCR computations can then be performed using the matched portions.
US08681329B2
An Echelle spectrometer arrangement (10) with internal order separation contains an Echelle grating (34) and a dispersing element (38) for order separation so that a two-dimensional spectrum having a plurality of separate orders (56) can be generated, an imagine optical system (18, 22, 28, 46), a flat-panel detector (16), and predispersion means (20) for predispersing the radiation into the direction of traverse dispersion of the dispersion element (38). The arrangement is characterized in that the predispersion means (20) comprise a predispersion element which is arranged along the optical path behind the inlet spacing (12) inside the spectrometer arrangement. The imaging optical system is designed in such a manner that the predispersed radiation can be imaged onto an additional image plane (24) which does not have any boundaries in the predispersion direction and which is arranged along the optical path between the predispersion element (20) and the echelle grating (34). Optical means (20, 68) in the area of the predispersed spectrum are arranged to influence the spatial and/or the spectral beam density distribution on the detector (16).
US08681328B2
By including an illumination system and a detection system, an information collecting function of monitoring an environment, such as temperature and atmospheric pressure, and an apparatus state managing function having a feedback function of comparing the monitoring result and a design value, a theoretical calculation value or an ideal value derived from simulation results and calibrating an apparatus so that the monitoring result is brought close to the ideal value, a unit for keeping the apparatus state and apparatus sensitivity constant is provided. A control unit 800 is configured to include a recording unit 801, a comparing unit 802, a sensitivity predicting unit 803, and a feedback control unit 804. In the comparing unit 802, the monitoring result transmitted from the recording unit 801 and an ideal value stored in a database 805 are compared with each other. When a difference between the ideal value and the monitoring result exceeds a predetermined threshold, the feedback control unit 804 corrects the illumination system and the detection system.
US08681311B2
An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed in which a gas knife is shaped and a liquid removal device is positioned to improve removal of liquid from the surface of the substrate.
US08681309B2
In a lithographic method, a characteristic of a projection system is measured before and after periods of heating (exposures) and cooling to provide data to calibrate a model of lens heating. The model has a part modeling the effect of cooling and a part modeling the effect of heating on the characteristic.
US08681304B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device comprising a lower substrate, an upper substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates and aligned in a predetermined rubbing direction, in which pixel regions are respectively defined by gate lines and data lines formed to intersect each other on the lower substrate, and a switching device is arranged in an intersecting portion of the gate line and the data line, the liquid crystal display device comprising: a lateral pattern portion formed on at least one side of the data line and formed zigzagging along an extending direction of the data line. With this, it is possible to effectively improve and prevent the rubbing defect that occurs in the stepped region of the data line during the rubbing process for alignment of liquid crystal.
US08681302B2
An array substrate and method for an in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device are provided. The array substrate according to an embodiment includes a pixel electrode in a pixel region; a common electrode in the pixel region, the common electrode being parallel to the pixel electrode; a first electrode in the pixel region and crossing the pixel and common electrodes; and a second electrode in the pixel region, the second electrode being parallel to the first electrode.
US08681296B2
The invention discloses a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel manufacturing method as well as an LCD panel and an LCD. The manufacturing method comprises the following steps: A: Treating a surface of an electrode of an LCD panel, the surface at least comprising a contact surface with an Au ball, to diminish the adhesion of an alignment liquid to the contact surface and prevent the alignment liquid from not coating the contact surface; and B: Coating or printing the alignment liquid. Because the electrode surface to which an Au ball particle will be applied (namely the transfer pad) is treated before the application to diminish the adhesion of the alignment liquid to this surface, and no alignment layer will be formed on the surface of the transfer pad. Therefore, the alignment layer can be very wide, the uniformity of the alignment layer at the edge is good, the accuracy is high, the display effect on the edge of the LCD panel is improved, and the frame of the LCD panel is narrowed.
US08681288B2
Provided is a backlight unit that is capable of suppressing an uneven brightness. The backlight unit (2) includes a lower lens sheet (91) and an upper lens sheet (92) that are disposed in an inside area of a frame portion of a frame (4) and that are laminated in this order, and a rim tape (10) attached to the frame portion of the frame (4). The upper lens sheet (92) is fixed in position by a wide portion (10a) of the rim tape (10) being affixed to the upper surface of an end (92b) of the upper lens sheet (92), while the lower lens sheet (91) is held without being affixed to the wide portion (10a) of the rim tape (10).
US08681274B2
A system is presented that applies M×N×K computational units to calculating image parameters on N picture images captured simultaneously by N digital camera devices, where there are N groups of frame grabber units, each containing M frame grabbers in which there are K computational units. The data operated on by a computational unit is separate and independent from the image data operated on by the other computational units. This results in a performance speedup of M×N×K compared to one computational unit making the same computations. A master frame grabber unit controls the illumination of the N digital camera devices, and synchronizes the illumination with the clocks of the N digital camera devices.
US08681272B2
A digital broadcast receiver includes: a plurality of broadcast receiving units that receive program images and broadcast information; an image selecting/combining unit that selectively combines program images as a main-screen and a sub-screen; a plurality of monitors that display program images; a control unit that includes an idle-state detecting unit for detecting the broadcast receiving unit of idle-state, an idle-state establishing unit for controlling the broadcast receiving unit to halt receiving broadcast waves and controlling the image selecting/combining unit to output the program image received by other broadcast receiving unit to a monitor as a main-screen when an instruction of receiving broadcast information is accepted and when there is no broadcast receiving unit of idle-state, and a broadcast information acquisition instructing unit that control the broadcast receiving unit of idle-state to acquire the broadcast information when the instruction of receiving broadcast information is accepted.
US08681271B2
A receiver receives a stream of program data that includes: an image signal including a plurality of frames; a sound signal; and a playback timing signal used for synchronized playback of the image signal and the sound signal. A clock signal generation unit generates a clock signal that is independent of the playback timing signal. A reception timing signal acquisition unit acquires a reception timing signal indicating a receiving time of the program data. An analysis unit analyzes a trend of time-dependent variation in a detected difference between the reception timing signal and the playback timing signal. An adjustment amount generation unit generates an adjustment amount of the clock signal, which causes the difference between the reception timing signal and the playback timing to be constant, by referring to a trend of time-dependent variation analyzed by the analysis unit.
US08681264B2
An imaging system includes: a body unit; at least one type of interchangeable lens unit; and at least one type of external unit, wherein in the case where the body unit and one of the at least one type of interchangeable lens unit are connected integrally, the imaging system becomes an imaging device capable of shooting a photographic subject, and in the case where the body unit and one of the at least one type of external unit are connected integrally, the imaging system becomes a device having a specific function of the external unit connected to the body unit, and wherein when the interchangeable lens unit or the external unit is connected to the body unit, the body unit obtains information on the type of unit connected to the body unit, and is capable of changing control of an entire device including the body unit and the unit connected to the body unit based on the type of unit connected to the body unit.
US08681262B2
An image pickup apparatus having auto focusing function using fractal dimension and an auto focusing method of an image pickup apparatus are disclosed, the apparatus characterized by comprising: a pickup unit; a fractal controller generating a fractal dimension value indicating chrominance information change per pixel of a pickup image of the pickup unit to determine whether the auto focusing has been adjusted; and an auto focusing adjustor adjusting a focus of the pickup unit in response to an auto focus adjustment signal from the fractal controller.
US08681259B2
A solid state image sensor has a plurality of ranging pixels on the imaging area thereof and each of the ranging pixels has a photoelectric conversion section and an optical waveguide arranged at the light-receiving side of the photoelectric conversion section. The optical waveguide has at least two optical waveguides including a first optical waveguide arranged at the light-receiving side and a second optical waveguide arranged at the side of the photoelectric conversion section in the direction of propagation of light. The core region of the first optical waveguide shows a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the core region of the second optical waveguide and is designed so as to show a high light-receiving sensitivity relative to light entering at a specific angle.
US08681235B2
An apparatus for processing a digital image signal and a method of controlling the same includes: a storage unit that stores a video file including a first video with a first resolution; a resizing unit that generates a second video with a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; a determining unit that determines whether any of one or more frames of the second video satisfies a preset condition; and a still image generating unit that generates a still image by capturing a frame of the first video corresponding to a frame of the second video satisfying the condition. Accordingly, a user may more precisely obtain a high-quality still image with respect to a point in time desired by the user.
US08681229B2
An image pickup device includes: an image pickup optical system configured to form a subject image; an image pickup element configured to generate a picked-up image from the subject image formed by the image pickup optical system; an image blur detecting section configured to output an image blur signal using a motion detecting sensor; an arithmetic section configured to calculate an amount of image blur correction including an amount of optical correction and an amount of electronic correction on a basis of the image blur signal; an optical image blur correcting section configured to move at least one of an optical element forming a part of the image pickup optical system and the image pickup element in accordance with the amount of optical correction; and an electronic image blur correcting section configured to correct electronically an image blur of the picked-up image by image processing based on the amount of electronic correction.
US08681227B2
The present invention is for sensing camera shake and moving a lens toward a direction to correct the camera shake when photographing an object so that the object may be clearly photographed. A coil and a magnet are included in the invention, and the coil moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical-axis of the lens as a result of magnetic fields generated by the magnet and the coil when electric power is applied to the coil.
US08681224B2
The present application relates to a high precision method for calibrating and removing distortion from a lens, and more particularly, a method for calibrating and removing distortion by arranging sensor readings to compensate for its presence and simultaneously optimize the resulting image magnification for best image quality.
US08681221B2
A vehicular image processing device is provided with a kernel setting unit which sets a plurality of smoothing kernels which have a width supposed to be between the width of the lane mark and that of the road to the image acquired from a photographing unit, a smoothing unit which smoothes the acquired image by filtering using the set smoothing kernels, a variation degree calculating unit which calculates the variation degree of the pixel value of each pixel in the acquired image with respect to the smoothed image, and a pixel value replacing unit which replaces the pixel value of a pixel which is of the acquired image and has the variation degree not greater than a predefined value with a specific value.
US08681220B2
A camera unit includes an image sensor, a circuit board in which a signal processor circuit to process an output signal of the image sensor is formed, a cable including a signal conductor element and a ground conductor element and connected at one end to the circuit board, and a shielding component formed to enclose the circuit board therewith. The ground conductor element is connected to both a ground terminal of the circuit board and the shielding component in a vicinity of the end of the cable.
US08681211B2
An optical inspection system for inspecting a substrate is provided. The system includes an array of cameras configured to acquire a plurality of sets of images as the substrate and the array undergo relative motion with respect to each other. At least one focus actuator is operably coupled to each camera of the array of cameras to cause displacement of at least a portion of each camera that affects focus. A substrate range calculator is configured to receive at least portions of images from the array and to calculate range between the array of cameras and the substrate. A controller is coupled to the array of cameras and to the range calculator. The controller is configured to provide a control signal to each of the at least one focus actuator to adaptively focus each camera of the array during the relative motion.
US08681209B2
The present invention provides a system and method for obtaining in vivo images. The system contains an imaging system and a transmitter for transmitting signals from a camera to a receiving system located outside a patient.
US08681200B2
Provided is a video telephony apparatus and method for mobile terminals. The video telephony apparatus includes a controller, a display unit, a codec, and a content controller. The controller exchanges protocol signals for a video call with the other party terminal, and demultiplexes a moving image and a voice that are received from the other party terminal. The display unit displays the received moving image, and the codec plays the received voice. The content controller manages Right Objects (ROs) of multimedia contents received from the other party terminal, and captures the displayed moving image and the played voice according to the ROs. Accordingly, it is possible to protect portrait rights during the video call.
US08681187B2
An image processing apparatus includes a calculation to calculate a compression gain that is applied to a low-frequency component of an input image and an amplification gain that is applied to a high-frequency component of the input image, a generation to generate a display image in which a pixel value of a pixel of the input image is corrected based on the compression gain and the amplification gain calculated by the calculation unit, and a display to display the display image.
US08681184B2
A display unit for binocular representation of a multicolor image including a control unit triggering an imaging element such that the imaging element generates in a temporal successive manner the image to be displayed for a first beam path and a second beam path as a first image and second image, respectively. The images are generated in a pre-distorted manner, opposite of the chromatic aberration of the respective beam path, such that the chromatic aberration generated in the respective beam path is compensated when the first and second image is displayed. The display unit includes a switching module which operates in temporal synchrony with the first and second image being generated, such that a user can see the first image only via the first beam path and the second image only via the second beam path.
US08681179B2
A method and system for coordinating placement of an augmented reality/virtual world object(s) into a scene relative to position and orientation. The object(s) can be connected to an anchor point having an absolute location relative to the marker via a connector (e.g., spring-like connector) in such a way that the behavior of the object responds to a physical force and a collision which exists in the augmented reality scene. The connection between the virtual object and location of the marker permits the object to exactly track the marker when there are no real world collisions between the markers. The virtual objects can be displaced so the objects do not pass through one another when the real world markers come into a close spatial proximity and the corresponding virtual objects begin to collide.
US08681169B2
Systems and methods for texture processing are presented. In one embodiment a texture method includes creating a sparse texture residency translation map; performing a probe process utilizing the sparse texture residency translation map information to return a finest LOD that contains the texels for a texture lookup operation; and performing the texture lookup operation utilizing the finest LOD. In one exemplary implementation, the finest LOD is utilized as a minimum LOD clamp during the texture lookup operation. A finest LOD number indicates a minimum resident LOD and a sparse texture residency translation map includes one finest LOD number per tile of a sparse texture. The sparse texture residency translation can indicate a minimum resident LOD.
US08681168B2
In a tile-based graphics processor, primitive lists (bins) are prepared for 2×2 blocks of tiles 40. The processor also determines and stores for each primitive in a bin, distribution information indicating the distribution of the primitive within the set of tiles that the bin corresponds to. Thus a primitive 42 that is found by its bounding box 43 to reside in two of the four tiles that make up the set of 2×2 tiles 40 is also associated with a tile coverage bitmap of the form “0101” to indicate that it lies in tiles “1” and “3” of the 2×2 group of tiles 40. The graphics processor uses the coverage bitmap (information) to determine whether a primitive should be processed for the tile currently being processed.
US08681154B1
Rendering of objects techniques can include a method, a system, and a graphics device. The method can include receiving data for one or more objects. The data for each object can include a fidelity code, wherein the fidelity code indicates object fidelity level. The method further can include computing pixels touched by each received object based on a pixel grid associated with the fidelity code of the object. The method further can include providing pixel data for objects having fidelity code indicating a lower fidelity object.
US08681151B2
The capability to render and navigate three-dimensional panoramic images in a virtual three-dimensional environment so as to create an immersive three-dimensional experience is provided. Such a capability can present a three-dimensional photographic experience of the real world that is seamlessly integrated with the virtual three-dimensional environment. Depth values associated with the panoramic images may be used to create three-dimensional geometry, which can be rendered as part of the virtual three-dimensional environment. Further, such a capability can enable a user to roam freely through the environment while providing a more natural free-form exploration of the environment than existing systems.
US08681145B2
A method for automatically transferring attributes between computer-generated models. The method includes storing in memory first and second models represented by polygonal meshes and storing a set of attributes for the first model. A processor operates or runs a compressed graph generator to process the first and second models to generate first and second compressed graphs that are compressed versions of the models. The method includes comparing topological connectivity of the first and second compressed graphs. When the connectivity is similar, the method includes transferring at least a portion of the attributes from the first model to the second model. The compressed graphs may be motorcycle graphs, skeleton graphs, or other forms of compressed graphs. The method includes determining a pair of vertices in the first compressed graph that match vertices in the second compressed graph for use as starting locations in comparing topological connectivity of the compressed graphs.
US08681137B2
Various embodiments of an ambient light sensor configured to determine the direction of a beam of light incident thereon are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ambient light sensor is provided that comprises a plurality of light detectors arranged in a spatial array upon a light sensing surface. Each of the light detectors in the array is configured to generate an analog output voltage in response to the beam of ambient light falling thereon. The amount of light incident on the individual light detectors in the spatial array varies according to the position of each such sensor with respect to direction of the beam of ambient light. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is operably coupled to the plurality of light detectors and is configured to receive the analog output signals generated thereby as inputs thereto, and to provide digital output values representative of the analog signals. Control logic circuitry is operably coupled to the ADC and configured to receive the digital output values therefrom, and is further configured to process such digital output values to determine the direction of the beam of light incident upon the spatial array.
US08681134B2
A TFT element for ambient light detection and a TFT element for temperature detection are connected in series. In a first period, a first switch element is off, and a second switch element is at a hi side, so that a threshold voltage of the TFT element for temperature detection is detected. In a second period, a first switch element is on, and a second switch element is at a low side, so that temperature is detected. In a third period, a first switch element is on, and a second switch element is at a hi side, so that ambient light is detected. An input voltage and a control voltage to each of the TFT elements are set by a voltage controller provided in a drive circuit based on the threshold voltage.
US08681131B2
An apparatus comprises an assembly adapted to rotatably couple a first housing and a second housing, the assembly adapted to rotate the first housing and the second housing with respect to each other between a closed configuration and at least one open configuration, the assembly comprising an inner ring coupled with the first housing and an outer ring coupled with the second housing, the inner ring slidably coupled with the outer ring in a circumferential direction, the outer ring movable through a first opening in the first housing, the inner ring movable through a second opening in the second housing when the first housing and the second housing rotate with respect to each other.
US08681130B2
A system, method, and computer program product for automatically providing a haptic stylus based interface for enhanced user interaction with touch screen devices are disclosed. The stylus communicates with the touch screen device to report stylus operating information from onboard sensors, and to receive application program instructions defining feedback and friction forces to be applied by onboard actuators. The applied feedback and friction forces may be independently controlled. Friction forces are provided via a rolling contact ball gripping mechanism that mimics varying physical engagement between the contact ball and a touch screen display surface by controlling the relative rotational freedom of the contact ball. Embodiments of the invention enable a haptic stylus to mimic three-dimensional interactions for gaming, object manipulation and sculpting, and non-contact proximity-based stylus operation scenarios.
US08681121B2
An electrostatic capacitive coupling type touch panel in which a period before wiring formed outside an input region is chipped or wire-broken due to deterioration of a mask pattern can be prolonged. The touch panel has an input region and plural wirings formed around the input region. The input region has plural X electrodes and plural Y electrodes crossing the X electrodes. The plural wirings are connected to corresponding electrodes of the plural X electrodes and Y electrodes. The plural wirings respectively have a conductive layer and a metal layer formed on the conductive layer. The conductive layer is formed to be wider than the metal layer. The plural wirings have a corner. Among the plural wirings, in the wiring provided in the farthest position from the input region, the corner of the metal layer is chamfered.
US08681120B2
An input apparatus includes an operation surface, a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a detection unit. The operation surface is operated with an operation object. The first electrodes include first electrode units and second electrode units. The first electrode units and the second electrode units are alternately connected in a first direction parallel to the operation surface. The second electrodes include third electrode units and fourth electrode units. The third and fourth electrode units are alternately connected in a second direction parallel to the operation surface. The second direction crosses the first direction. The fourth electrode units are respectively opposed to the second electrode units. The detection unit detects, based on a change in capacitance between the second electrode units and the fourth electrode units, a position where the operation object performs one of approach and touch with respect to the operation surface.
US08681118B2
The present disclosure is directed to a touch panel and a method of locating a touch point. An insulating layer is disposed between a first insulating substrate and a second insulating substrate. A first conductive film with anisotropic impedance is disposed between the first insulating substrate and the insulating layer, and a second conductive film with anisotropic impedance is disposed between the insulating layer and the second insulating substrate. Multiple first pads are disposed on a peripheral region of the first conductive film along a first direction, and multiple second pads are disposed on a peripheral region of the second conductive film along a second direction. The first conductive film has least impedance along the second direction, and the second conductive film has least impedance along the first direction.
US08681115B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a touch screen display, a vibrator, an area display module, a touch position detector, and a vibration controller. The vibrator is configured to vibrate the touch screen display. The area display module is configured to display a first area on the touch screen display. The touch position detector is configured to detect a touch position on the touch screen display. The vibration controller is configured to control the vibrator in order to vibrate with a first pattern, if the touch position moves from an inside of the first area to an outside of the first area.
US08681113B1
An all-in-one computer system comprising: a base panel having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a screen panel coupled to and extending from the base panel, the screen panel comprising a screen. In some embodiments, a speaker system is coupled to the bottom surface of the base panel to provide a stand on which the base panel can be supported at an angle with respect to a resting surface, wherein the speaker system is configured to be adjusted along the bottom surface of the base panel to adjust the angle at which the base panel is supported. In some embodiments, a processing unit is communicatively coupled to the tilt sensor and to the screen, wherein the processing unit is configured to switch the screen between a touch mode and a non-touch mode based on the angle sensed by the tilt sensor.
US08681102B2
An ergonomic, elevated keyboard includes: (a) a typing keyboard including upper level keys; (b) at least one substantially vertical support leg, a top edge of the support leg being attached to a lower surface of the keyboard, the support leg either elevating a front side of the keyboard substantially above a level of an opposite, rear side of the keyboard, forming a negative keyboard slope, or holding the keyboard in a raised, substantially horizontal position, the support leg forming a lower level under the keyboard, with a central, lower level space open to the front of the keyboard; and (c) at least one thumb key on the support leg on the lower level, the thumb key being absent from among the upper level keyboard keys. This simplified abstract is not intended to limit, and should not be interpreted as limiting, the scope of the claims.
US08681097B2
A reproducing device that can reproduce data and operates on a battery includes displaying means, attitude detecting means for detecting an attitude of the reproducing device, determining means for determining whether the reproducing device satisfies a predetermined condition, and controlling means for changing a setting of the reproducing device on a basis of a result of detection of the attitude detecting means when the determining means determines that the reproducing device satisfies the predetermined condition.
US08681093B2
A method for compensating for motion on screens is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes varying the display of a screen on a device using motion data. In this embodiment, a display adjustment amount also may be determined using screen properties and motion limits. In another embodiment, the method includes varying the location of an input region on a touch screen using touch data. In yet another embodiment, the method includes scaling selectable images and apportioning the display using motion data. Various additional methods, machine-readable media, and systems for motion compensation of a screen are also provided.
US08681089B2
A touch display comprising a first substrate formed with a common electrode; a second substrate formed with a gate line and a data line, wherein a first thin film transistor and a pixel electrode is provided in a pixel region defined by the gate line and the data line and the pixel region and the common electrode form a liquid crystal capacitor; a touch element provided in the pixel region in the second substrate and used to sense a touch voltage reflecting the change of the liquid crystal capacitance at a touch point; and a touch processing device connected with the touch element and used to obtaining a position coordinates of the touch point according to the touch voltage.
US08681088B2
A light source module having a plurality of light source blocks corresponding to a plurality of display regions, a method for driving the light source module, and a display device having the light source module. The output brightness of each of the light source blocks is individually dimmed according to a dimming control signal. A dimming control unit determines the average gray level and inherent brightness of each of the respective display regions, calculates a threshold gray level of each display region by using its inherent brightness, outputs a fixed brightness as a dimming control signal when the average gray level of the display region is greater than the threshold gray level, and outputs a variable brightness based upon the inherent brightness value, as the dimming control signal when the average gray level of the display region is less than the threshold gray level.
US08681086B2
A data driver includes two data processing circuits for respectively providing positive and negative pixel voltages according to first and second pixel data, and a multiplexer circuit including multiplexer units. Each multiplexer unit has first and second input terminals respectively receiving the positive and negative pixel voltages, and an output terminal coupled to a data line. A first switching device has first and second switches serially coupled between the first input and output terminals. A node between the first and second switches is selectively grounded via a third switch. A second switching device has fourth and fifth switches serially coupled between the second input and output terminals. A node between the fourth and fifth switches is selectively grounded via a sixth switch. When the first and second switches turn on, the sixth switch turns on. When the fourth and fifth switches turn on, the third switch turns on.
US08681082B2
A display device includes: pixels each including a light-emitting element; scan lines and signal lines; a scan line drive circuit applying a selection pulse to each of the scan lines in succession; and a signal line drive circuit writing video signals to respective selected pixels through switching a gray-scale interpolation voltage, a basic voltage, and a video signal voltage to apply each voltage selected by switching to each of the signal lines. The signal line drive circuit performs gray-scale interpolation on a light emission luminance level for each of the light emitting elements through setting the video signal voltage to a fundamental gray-scale voltage, and through varying the gray-scale interpolation voltage. The scan line drive circuit starts and completes an application of the selection pulse during each of a period of a gray-scale interpolation voltage, a period of a basic voltage and a period of a video signal voltage.
US08681071B2
A lighted multiple panel display unit capable of providing a variety of visual effects has layered panels made of light transmitting materials. At least two of the layered panels are spaced apart such that there is a gap between them. Each of the panels comprising a relief. Multiple light sources illuminate at least a portion of the relief of each panel, the light sources being actuated in a predetermined sequence such that the reliefs produce a visual effect. Visual effects which may be produced include a color blending effect, a three-dimensional appearance effect, a morphing effect and a color fading effect.
US08681070B2
Antennas that include an inner set of four helical antenna elements and a co-axially arranged outer set of four helical antenna elements. The helical winding directions of the two sets of elements may have the same handedness or opposite handedness. Certain embodiments provide for switch handedness of circularly polarized radiation of the antennas and certain embodiments provide for shifting the directivity of the antenna pattern in polar angle. Systems in which the antennas are used and methods of use are also taught.
US08681060B2
Disclosed is a multiband antenna, comprising: an antenna element section which is fed from a feeding point; and a ground element section which is connected to a ground of the feeding point; wherein the antenna element section includes: a pole element which includes the feeding point, and has a length at which the pole element resonates at a first frequency; an L-shaped folded-back element which is connected to an end of the pole element, and resonates at a second frequency together with the pole element; and an L-shaped added element which is connected to the pole element; wherein a length from the feeding point to an end of the added element is a length at which the added element resonates at the first frequency.
US08681052B2
The specification discloses a low-profile, ultra wideband, inverted f antenna having increased bandwidth. The antenna includes a ground plane, a planar antenna element spaced from the ground plane, a first tubular element electrically connected to and extending from the ground plane toward the antenna element, and a second tubular element electrically connected to and extending from the antenna element toward the ground plane. The tubular elements physically interfit but are electrically separated. The antenna is compatible with LTE, GPS and satellite radio communications to provide a compact antenna suitable for use in automotive and other applications.
US08681035B2
A microwave imaging system uses microwave radiation provided by a microwave source to image targets. The system includes an array of antenna elements that are capable of being programmed with a respective direction coefficient to direct the microwave illumination from the microwave source toward a position on the target. The antenna elements are further capable of being programmed to receive reflected microwave illumination reflected from the position on the target. A processor is operable to measure an intensity of the reflected microwave illumination to determine a value of a pixel within an image of the target. Multiple beams can be directed towards the target to obtain corresponding pixel values for use by the processor in constructing the image.
US08681031B2
A resistor string type D/A converter includes a higher-order decoder to which a digital signal is input, a higher-order resistor string in which a plurality of resistors and a plurality of voltage drawing points are alternately connected between a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, the higher-order resistor string being configured to output a plurality of first voltages, each from a respective one of the plurality of voltage drawing points, a plurality of first higher-order switches connected to the plurality of voltage drawing points in a one-to-one configuration, conductive states of the first higher-order switches being controlled based on the digital signal, and a conversion unit that outputs a second voltage based on the plurality of the first voltages supplied through the plurality of first higher-order switches. The higher-order decoder brings two first higher-order switches into conduction based on the digital signal.
US08681028B2
An analog to digital converter includes: a first pulse delay circuit forming a multi-stage delay unit of which each delay unit have a pulse signal delayed with a delay time responding to an input voltage; a first encoding circuit that detects the number of delay units in the first pulse delay circuit through which the pulse signal passes during a predetermined measurement period, and outputs the AD conversion data based on the number of delay units; and a timing generation circuit which, in response to receiving the start signal, generates an end signal when the input voltage of the first pulse delay circuit is a specified voltage within an allowable input voltage range, in order to determine the measurement period which is a time required for the pulse signal to pass through a predetermined number of the delay units which is specified in advance.
US08681018B2
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for identifying a driver within a vehicle using short range wireless communication in order to ticket or alert the driver in response to a traffic infraction by the driver. In exemplary embodiments, a short range wireless communication device registers drivers of vehicles at a certain location. The registration captures a unique identifier for each driver at the location from the driver's wireless communication device. When a vehicle commits a traffic infraction, the unique identifier is used to reference a database to determine the identity and address of the driver. The driver may then be sent a notification of the infraction as well as payment options directly to the wireless communication device of the driver. In some embodiments, a smart vehicle acts as a proxy to capture the unique identifier from the driver's wireless communication device and communicates with the short range wireless communication device.
US08681007B2
A method, system or computer usable program product for managing a potential choking condition with a monitoring system including monitoring by the monitoring system by detecting relative positions of a set of emitters disposed along an object, wherein a choking condition is indicated by the set of emitters being on close proximity to a neck portion of a body and arranged in a potentially choking configuration, and responsive to the determination of the choking condition, the monitoring system performing an action.
US08681005B2
A technique for operating a Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, reader with motion detection includes detecting a motion in proximity to the RFID reader, and triggering the RFID reader to read any tags in proximity to the RFID reader in response to detecting a motion in proximity to the RFID reader. Detecting a motion can also generate a change in digital signage, or communicate information about read tags to a local area network. Operating this system only when motion is detected saves battery life.
US08681004B2
A method to deactivate a security measure includes applying a first covert optically active security marker to a product or document; completing a transaction for the product or document; and applying a second optically active security marker to the product or document which indicates completion of the transaction.
US08681001B2
Polling operations performed by a reader may be adjusted by a server. The server determines at least one of volatility measurements or polling operation parameters based on information obtained from components within an automated inventory tracking system. The automated inventory tracking system is part of an inventory management system. The server also obtains volatility measurements from another system within the inventory management system. The server incorporates the volatility measurements obtained from the other system, at least one of the volatility measurements or the polling operation parameters determined by the server, and power usage information associated with the reader into a periodic calculation to determine optimal polling parameters. The server periodically sends the optimal polling parameters to the reader for adjustment to a polling operation performed by the reader within a coverage area.
US08680996B2
A lock has a body holding a locking member that can be locked to or released from the body by, for example, operation of a key. The lock includes an alarm that is triggered by the locking of the locking member. If, however, the lock is unlocked and relocked within a predetermined time interval, the alarm is disarmed. In this way, the lock can remain locked but with the alarm disarmed. The signals that cause the alarm to arm and disarm can be produced in any convenient way.
US08680983B2
A method of self servicing an appliance includes connecting a service accessory to an appliance, recording diagnostics data associated with the appliance onto the service accessory, removing the service accessory from the appliance, coupling the service accessory to a personal computer, and uploading the diagnostics data to an automated service system. Another embodiment includes coupling a service accessory to a computer having a test script, transferring a test script from the computer to the service accessory, connecting the service accessory to the communication network of the appliance, establishing communications between the service accessory and the appliance using the communication network; and executing the test script over the communication network.
US08680981B2
The present invention is related to a tire pressure display device and its detection method. The tire pressure display device includes a main module, multiple tire pressure detection modules and a vehicle audio module, wherein the main module includes a CPU and a receiver. By the composition of the above elements and the detection method, the tire pressure display device may actively report the location and tire pressure of tires during pumping up, synchronously execute broadcasting with image and voice, and directly correct errors and detect if the tire pressure detection module is break down for warning.
US08680974B2
An electronic device may communicate wirelessly with another electronic device. The electronic device may include a first processor configured to control only wireless communications with the another device but not operations associated only with the electronic device, a second processor configured to control the operations associated only with the electronic device but not the wireless communications with the another device, and a memory device connected between the first and second processors. The first and second processors may each be configured to exchange information with the memory device separately and independently of the exchange of information by the other of the first and second processors with the memory device.
US08680972B2
A stage-lighting apparatus is provided with: a light source adapted to generate a light beam; means for orienting the light beam; a remote driving station, which is located at a distance from the means for orienting the light beam and from the light source and has a driving handlebar, which is able to turn about a first axis and a second axis that are orthogonal to one another; a control unit, which is connected to the means for orienting the beam and to the remote driving station and is configured for controlling the means for orienting the light beam in such a way as to determine a movement of the light beam on the basis of a movement imparted to the driving handlebar.
US08680971B2
In a wireless IC device, an insulating material, which has an electrical characteristic that is varied with a change in an environmental state, is provided between a feed circuit board and an antenna to detect the environmental state from a state of a communication characteristic between the wireless IC device and an external reader apparatus.
US08680968B2
An access control system (10) comprises a server (12) suitable for controlling access; a biometric signal sensor (11); and an interface device (13) suitable for hooking up with the server and with the sensor, access being authorized to a person associated with a reference signal. The server and the interface device manage a common parameter that takes different values over time, and, respectively a first and a second non-invertible transformation function, these functions being parameterized as a function of the common parameter. The sensor senses a biometric signal and provides it to the interface device. At the interface device level, a transformed biometric signal is obtained by applying the first function to an element from the group comprising a characteristic emanating from the sensed signal and the sensed signal, then transmitted (14) to the server. At the server level, a comparison of the transformed biometric signal with a comparison signal is performed, said comparison signal resulting from the application of the second function to an initial signal arising from the reference signal. Finally, a decision is made on the basis of the comparison as to whether access is authorized.
US08680965B2
Locked electronic device, e.g., a device which produces a video output, such as a game console or TV. The device is shipped in a locked state, and cannot be used as a game console or a TV until it is unlocked. The unlocking is carried out by a code. The code is provided separately from the device, and only once authorized sale is detected.
US08680948B2
In a band elimination filter, a plurality of capacitors are connected in parallel between first and second terminals of an electromagnetic noise source which generates voltage fluctuations in a connecting lead connected to the first terminal, with the capacitors being connected to the connecting lead at respectively corresponding branch points. For each capacitor, the total series inductance of a first circuit path is made less than that of a second circuit path, where the first circuit path extends from the corresponding branch point to the second terminal via the capacitor, and the second circuit path extends from that branch point to the first terminal of the electromagnetic noise source. A resistor is connected in series with at least one of the capacitors, for damping parallel resonance caused by inductance components of an adjacent pair of capacitors.
US08680947B1
The present disclosure relates to a passive multi-band duplexer having a first bandpass filter and a second bandpass filter. The first bandpass filter includes a first group of sub-band bandpass filters, a first switching circuit, and a first tunable LC bandpass filter. Similarly, the second bandpass filter includes a second group of sub-band bandpass filters, a second switching circuit, and a second tunable LC bandpass filter. A first band of the passive multi-band duplexer, such as a transmit band, is chosen by selecting one of the first group of sub-band bandpass filters and tuning the first tunable LC bandpass filter to the first band. Similarly, a second band of the passive multi-band duplexer, such as a receive band, is chosen by selecting one of the second group of sub-band bandpass filters and tuning the second tunable LC bandpass filter to the second band.
US08680946B1
A programmable transversal structure that may serve as a filter, or more generally, a transversal network. A pair of time delay elements are implemented using one or more grating control propagation path structures, multilayer waveguides with configurable gaps, or variable impedance meander lines. Electro active actuators responsive to bandwidth, center frequency, and stop band attenuation control inputs control the delay of such elements. Impedance elements are distributed between the time delay elements to provide the desired transversal response.
US08680943B2
The invention discloses a DCS/WCDMA dual frequency multiplexer. On one hand, the multiplexer utilizes distributed parameter type capacitors in place of conventionally used capacitors. On the other hand, within the multiplexer, a direct circuit and a RF circuit are isolated from each other physically. All components including capacitors co-exist together physically. Similarly, the invention further discloses a dual frequency multiplexer with large application range. It also utilizes the distributed parameter type capacitors like the DCS/WCDMA dual frequency multiplexer. Because the invention has redesigned the entire construction of the multiplexer, it results good effects such as small size, less differential loss, large power capacity, as well as high isolation degree between circuits.
US08680931B1
A periodic signal generator is configured to generate high frequency signals characterized by relatively low temperature coefficients of frequency (TCF). This generator may include an oscillator containing a pair of equivalent MEMs resonators therein, which are configured to support bulk acoustic wave and surface wave modes of operation at different resonance frequencies. Each resonator includes a stack of layers including a semiconductor resonator body (e.g., Si-body), a piezoelectric layer (e.g., AIN layer) on the resonator body and interdigitated drive and sense electrodes on the piezoelectric layer. The oscillator is configured to support the generation of first and second periodic signals having unequal first and second frequencies (f1, f2) from first and second resonators within the pair. These first and second periodic signals are characterized by respective first and second temperature coefficients of frequency (TCf1, TCf2), which may differ by at least about 10 ppm/° C.
US08680922B2
A power-efficient, rail-to-rail input circuit includes two differential pairs, one having devices of a first threshold voltage and one having devices of a second, different threshold voltage. In various embodiments, the two differential pairs receive a differential input in parallel and are supplied a tail current, which a control circuit steers between the pairs in accordance with a common-mode level of the input.
US08680921B2
A power amplifying apparatus has a GaN device for RF amplification, a GaN device for monitoring, an Idq detecting circuit, and a gate bias control (GBC) circuit. The GaN device for RF amplification amplifies an input signal to output the resultant. The GaN device for monitoring is an amplification device for monitoring an input/output signal of the GaN device for RF amplification. The Idq detecting circuit detects an output signal output by the GaN device for monitoring, corresponding to an input signal, which is diverged from the input signal to be input to the GaN device for RF amplification, and is input to the GaN device for monitoring. The gate bias control circuit controls a gate voltage to be applied to the GaN device for RF amplification in accordance with the output signal detected by the Idq detecting circuit.
US08680920B2
A reconfigurable network arrangement of resistors and switches is constructed so that it can be coupled to one or more operational amplifiers and selectively programmed so as to set the gain of the resulting amplifier. The configuration of the network arrangement of resistors and switches to include resistors that can be connected in the feedback path in series and in parallel with each other is such as to provide a wider selection of gain settings, without the need to increase the physical area of the switches on a integrated circuit arrangement.
US08680912B2
Level shifting circuitry is provided for generating an output signal in response to an input signal. The level shifting circuitry includes a pulldown path for pulling the output signal to a lower output voltage level in response to a first transition of the input signal and a pullup path for pulling the output signal to a higher output voltage level in response to a second transition of the input signal. Pullup control circuitry places the pullup path in a non-conductive state in response to the output signal being pulled to the higher output voltage level. A keeper path keeps the output signal at the higher output voltage level while the pullup path is non-conductive until the pulldown path pulls the output signal low. A maximum drive current of the pulldown path is greater than a maximum drive current of the keeper path.
US08680908B2
Process, voltage and temperature corners of an on-chip device under calibration are obtained by comparing the outputs of different on-chip components such as active on-chip components and passive-on chip components in response to an input. A first on-chip delay line including a number of active devices, which generate an array of outputs D[ ]) at different stages of the delay. A second on-chip delay line generates a single output (CLK). A DFF array samples the array of outputs (D[ ]) with the single output clock CLK. The different delay variations in different process and temperature corners cause different outputs from the DFF array. The different outputs from the DFF array provide information about the process and temperature corner that can be for rapid calibration of the on-chip device under calibration within one cycle of the CLK.
US08680905B1
A circuit includes a delay locked loop (DLL), a calibration circuit and an output delay chain controlled by the calibration circuit. The DLL comprises a plurality of series-coupled first delay elements each of which has substantially the same first delay. The calibration circuit comprises a plurality of series-coupled second delay elements, each of which has substantially the same second delay that is less than the first delay, a first delay element, and a circuit for determining the minimum number of second delay elements that are needed to produce the first delay. The output delay chain comprises a plurality of series-coupled second delay elements, an input for receiving the input signal, and a circuit for selectively tapping the output delay chain at a plurality of taps in the output delay chain so as to produce in the input signal different delays of integral multiples of the second delay.
US08680897B2
A switching element control apparatus capable of controlling a switching element that is driven by controlling a voltage on its control terminal properly in response to characteristic information of the switching element. The apparatus includes a constant current circuit that applies a constant current to the control terminal, a voltage-limiting circuit that limits the voltage on the control terminal so as not to exceed a limiting voltage, and a control circuit that controls the constant current circuit to apply the constant current to the control terminal when having received a drive signal for turning on the switching element, and controls the voltage-limiting circuit to limit the voltage on the control terminal for a voltage-limiting time period. The control circuit includes a memory storing the characteristic information and variably sets at least one of the limiting voltage, the voltage-limiting time period, and the constant current in response to the characteristic information.
US08680896B2
An apparatus is provided to drive a voltage controlled switching element having a conduction control terminal. In the apparatus, it is determined whether or not voltage at the conduction control terminal is at a first voltage which is lower than a second voltage and which is equal to or more than a threshold voltage. The second voltage is a voltage provided when the switching element is in a normal on-state thereof. The threshold voltage is voltage at which the switching element is switched on. When it is determined that the voltage at the conduction control terminal is at the first voltage, the switching element is forcibly switched off.
US08680895B2
A controller for controlling a power chain in an electronic device can be used in either of two different applications. The first application requires the controller to produce drive signals for driving discrete power MOSFETs within the power chain. The second application requires the controller to produce an output PWM signal to control an integrated circuit having power MOSFETs integrated with MOSFET drivers within the power chain. The controller generally includes a sensor that detects which of the two applications the controller is in. The controller also generally includes outputs that produce, when the controller is in the first application, the drive signals for driving the discrete power MOSFETs. But when the controller is in the second application, one of the outputs is used to produce the output PWM signal for controlling the integrated circuit.
US08680893B2
A connection device for connecting a load to a power supply, comprising at least first and second current control devices arranged in parallel between the power supply and the load, and a controller arranged to switch the current control devices on in sequence for temporally overlapping on periods.
US08680892B2
An integrated circuit (IC) provides a reset function. The IC receives a command that is defined by a first sequence of counts of signal transitions of a first signal during windows of a second signal and provides a reset function when it is determined that the command is received. A device including the IC and a system including the device are provided.
US08680890B2
A sense amplifier circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor of a first type, a first transistor and a second transistor of a second type, a first resistive device, and a second resistive device. A first end of the first resistive device is coupled to a first data line. A second end of the first resistive device is coupled to a drain of the first transistor of the second type and a gate of the second transistor of the first type. A first end of the second resistive device is coupled to a second data line. A second end of the second resistive device is coupled to a drain of the second transistor of the second type and a gate of the first transistor of the first type.
US08680889B2
An improved LED provides power efficient lighting while accepting a wide range of input voltages. The improved LED may comprise a controller that may measure a voltage, current, or other characteristics of input power and modify operation of the improved LED accordingly, such as to accept significantly more voltage or significantly less voltage while providing consistent light output. This allows light bulbs or other lighting to be easily manufactured with the improved LED. The improved LED may comprise the controller and one or more LED dies enclosed by a substrate and lens structure. Depending on the configuration of the controller, the improved LED may also provide time, temperature, and other measurement/response functions to help ensure consistent light output.
US08680884B2
A circuit for detecting fault conditions in a supply circuit includes a monitoring circuit and a comparator circuit. The monitoring circuit is operable to output a detection signal related to a control signal for the switched mode power supply. The control signal may be configured to operate at least one switch of the supply circuit between alternating activated and deactivated states to supply power to a load. The comparator circuit is operable to compare the detection signal to a range defined by first and second thresholds and output a fault signal according to a relationship of the detection signal to the range over a time period. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
US08680881B2
An interposer to be mounted with an integrated circuit to be a test object is provided with a switch and a probe to detect an electric current corresponding to individual terminals of the integrated circuit. A test pattern signal is then inputted to the integrated circuit through a test substrate as a switch that is connected to a power supply terminal of the integrated circuit and that is turned off. If the integrated circuit normally operates and the current values of all the terminals of the integrated circuit are within a tolerance, the power supply terminal connected to the turned-off switch is identified as a terminal that may be removed.
US08680871B2
A system and method is provided for correcting alignment of a product on a tool and, more particularly, to a system and method for correcting alignment of a wafer on a chuck of a tool. The system is a tool including at least one contact near a circumference of the tool and a grounded contact proximate to the at least one contact.
US08680870B2
An apparatus and method for burning-in an electronic ballast for a lamp. The apparatus comprises a first stage for emulating an input impedance characteristic of a lamp for the electronic ballast and a second stage connected to the first stage for providing energy feedback to a power supply. An input of the first stage connects in use to the electronic ballast to be burnt-in. An output of the second stage connects in use to the power supply to provide energy feedback to said power supply from the electronic ballast being burnt-in. The energy-recyclable burn-in apparatus can emulate the lamp characteristics from start up to the steady state, process high-frequency ballast output power and recycle the power back into the power grid. The burn-in method includes operating the apparatus for a predetermined period of time such that a voltage applied to the electronic ballast simulates a steady-state operation of a lamp for the electronic ballast.
US08680860B2
A system and method is disclosed for eliminating localized fluctuation artifacts caused by fat signal contamination in MR images, the system includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images, and a computer programmed to apply a spectral-spatial fat saturation pulse, apply a slice selection gradient pulse, acquire imaging data of an imaging slice of interest, and generate an image.
US08680858B2
NMR logging in a wellbore is used to monitor an oil reservoir during oil recovery by miscible displacement. Diffusivity distributions found by NMR logging indicate whether one or two phases are present and composition of residual oil. Operation of the oil recovery procedure may be maintained or modified in response to monitoring of the reservoir.
