US08857490B2

A method of laminating a surface of a flexible material to a surface of a rigid, curved material. The method includes pressing an area of the surface of the flexible material into the surface of the rigid, curved material with a holder to create a contact area while the flexible material is conformed to the holder, which has a curvature greater than a curvature of the rigid, curved material surface; and changing the contact area between the surface of the flexible material and the surface of the rigid, curved material while maintaining pressure on the contact area until the surface of the flexible material and the surface of the rigid curved material are laminated.
US08857482B2

The present invention provides a rubber composition for a tread which enables improvement in fuel economy, breaking performance, and abrasion resistance in a balanced manner; a method for producing the rubber composition; and a heavy-load tire. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a tread of a heavy-load tire, including a modified natural rubber having a phosphorus content of 200 ppm or less, and carbon black.
US08857461B2

A process and device enabling accurate mass flow control is described. A mass flow controller can be re-specified corresponding to multiple types of actual process gases and multiple flow rate ranges, even after the mass flow controller has been shipped. Calibration gas data is derived using actual flow rate versus a flow rate setting signal to generate calibration gas data. Actual gas data is derived by measuring actual flow rate versus a flow rate setting signal for each actual gas and saving. Subsequently, prior to operating the mass flow rate control device, the characteristic data for an actual and the calibration gas characteristic data is recalled. The calibration gas characteristic data is then converted to controlled flow rate correction data based on the actual gas characteristic data that is saved to the control unit and the actual gas flow rate is corrected based on this controlled flow rate correction data.
US08857459B2

An earthquake triggered and electronically controlled shutoff valve for allowing or preventing a flow of a fluid. The shutoff valve incorporates a weight positioned on a pedestal and disengaged from a surrounding moveable tube. Upon sufficient vibrational force, the weight moves from its resting position on the pedestal and engages with the moveable tube to block the flow of the fluid through the shutoff valve. In addition to vibrational forces, the shutoff valve may be electronically triggered via a connector electrically connected to one or more solenoids positioned within the shutoff valve. The solenoids may engage with the weight upon electrical stimulation or may engage with a moveable member coupled to the moveable tube. An energy storage unit provides power for the solenoids such that the solenoids may function in the absence of external power to the shutoff valve.
US08857444B2

A bi-directional multiple-layer pull-in cigar holder comprises a receiving body mounted on extension tubes which are adapted for adjusting the length of the holder, such that the cigar holder has an extension structure without affecting its appearance, improving the appearance integrity. In addition, with the arrangement of the big-area elastic retaining rings, a right resistance can be offered, improving the assembly convenience while reducing the assembly cost.
US08857442B1

A high lip-line smile corrective surgical method. A first incision is made above a mucogingival junction to define a first edge. A second incision is made on attached gingiva above a gum line to define a second edge. Lift a section defined by the first and second incisions and remove the section with a micro scalp without affecting or contacting periosteum. Separate elevator muscles of the upper lip attached to the upper alveolar ridge with angulated gingevectomy scissors in reverse motion with release of tension so that the first and second edges meet. Seal the first and second edges with suture, individual stitches, or polypropylene; and cauterize the sealed the first and second edges.
US08857426B2

Insulated solar panels provide that provide a solar thermal collector with means for limiting stagnation temperatures and preventing damage include: temperature limiting is provided by the insulated solar panel, isolating internal components from the environment, using passive closed systems within the sealed solar thermal collector, while also allowing alternative implementations as active systems and/or portions of the temperature limiting system outside the sealed solar thermal collector. A heat pipe can be used as a passive thermal switch, where the temperature induced action at a predetermined temperature causes an abrupt transition from a state of thermal isolation to a state of strong thermal coupling. Additionally, a set of siphon circulation pipes provides a passive closed system for temperature limiting.
US08857417B2

A breather structure is for an engine of a vehicle provided with a V-belt type continuously variable transmission. The engine includes a crankcase having a crank chamber and a gear transmission chamber, and a V-belt transmission case housing the V-belt type continuously variable transmission, the V-belt transmission case being fastened to an attachment surface on one side of the crankcase in the crankshaft direction. A breather chamber is formed in a mating part between the attachment surface of the crankcase and an attached surface of the V-belt transmission case. This breather chamber separates the air containing oil mist in the crankcase into a gas component and an oil component, discharges the gas component to the exterior of the crankcase, and returns the oil component to the interior of the transmission chamber.
US08857416B2

In a charge air supply arrangement of an internal combustion engine with two stage charging in a combination with first and second charge air coolers, a double connection box is provided with a guide structure including a separation wall defining a lower guide area with a lower connection to the first charge air cooler disposed directly below the double connection box and an upper guide area with an upper connection to the second charge air cooler disposed directly on top of the double connection box. Also, in an internal combustion engine with such a charge air cooling arrangement, the charge air cooler arrangement is arranged on top of the engine.
US08857413B2

A multi-layer piezoelectric element includes a columnar stacked body including an active portion including piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers alternately laminated, and inactive portions including piezoelectric layers laminated, the inactive portions arranged at both ends in a stacked direction of the active portion; and a pair of external electrodes arranged on side faces of the columnar stacked body, the pair of external electrodes electrically connected to the internal electrode layers alternately. In at least one interlayer portion of the inactive portions, there are metal particles having a particle size smaller than that of piezoelectric ceramic particles forming the piezoelectric layers of the inactive portions, and the metal particles are scattered in a range including a region in which the internal electrode layers overlap each other when viewed in the stacked direction of the columnar stacked body.
US08857411B2

The present invention relates to a method for operating a piston engine, more preferably of a motor vehicle, with a fresh air system for feeding fresh air to cylinders of the piston engine and with an exhaust system for discharging exhaust gas from the cylinders, wherein during a gas exchange by a positive pressure wave on the fresh air side the charging of the respective cylinder with fresh air and/or by a negative pressure wave on the exhaust gas side the discharging of exhaust gas from the respective cylinder is supported.An increased variability is obtained if the respective pressure wave is generated by at least one electroacoustic converter.
US08857404B2

A piston-powered internal explosion engine for providing power output through a rotating crankshaft. The engine includes an engine block having power cylinders for receiving working pistons, bearing means for supporting the crankshaft, and a crankshaft supported within the bearing means having an output end extending outside of the engine block and a plurality of offset power cranks. The engine includes connecting rods operably coupled to the power cranks and configured to transfer power from the working pistons to rotate the crankshaft, and working pistons that are received into the power cylinders and operably coupled to the power cranks. Each working piston has a head end positioned adjacent to a cylinder head to form a compression chamber and is configured to receive power from an explosion of a compressed volume located within the compression chamber, and to transfer the received power to the connecting rods.
US08857403B2

Embodiments for a lubrication system for an internal combustion engine are provided. In one example, a lubrication system for an internal combustion engine comprises a lubricant circuit, a radiator for cooling the lubricant, a heat accumulator arranged upstream of the engine for warming up the lubricant, the heat accumulator connected in parallel to the radiator, and a valve for switching over the lubricant circuit between the radiator and the heat accumulator. In this way, the oil may be rapidly heated during cold engine start conditions.
US08857388B2

Provided is a valve open/close timing control system where a valve open/close timing control device includes a drive-side rotating member, a driven-side rotating member, a relative rotational phase control mechanism, and a first locking member, in which the internal combustion engine is configured to be started by a drive force generated by a traveling motor or by a drive force generated by a starter motor, and the valve open/close timing control system also includes a control unit which is configured, for starting the internal combustion engine while changing the relative rotational phase at the time of starting the internal combustion engine, to drive the starter motor or the traveling motor at the time of starting the internal combustion engine at the first locking phase, and to drive the traveling motor at the time of starting the internal combustion engine at the second locking phase.
US08857387B2

A cylinder head is provided with liquid cooling system and a method for cooling the cylinder head. The cylinder head includes, but is not limited to a liquid jacket in which a coolant flows along a main flow pathway from a coolant inlet to a coolant outlet. The liquid jacket is interrupted between the coolant inlet and coolant outlet by portals to cylinders of an internal combustion engine. A second portal is arranged in a flow shadow of a first portal. The cylinder head in the liquid jacket exhibits a flow guide wall with a constriction of the flow cross section, and a baffle plate, which is arranged in the direction of the main flow pathway, downstream from the flow guide wall. The baffle plate is designed to divert a coolant flow branch in a direction of flow transverse to the main flow pathway, toward the second portal.
US08857383B2

An apparatus including a reciprocating internal combustion engine with at least one piston and cylinder set and an intake stream; at least one liquid atomizer in fluid communication with the intake stream operable to provide a plurality of liquid droplets with a diameter less than 5 μm to the intake stream; and a controller where the controller is able to adjust an index of compression for the engine by: calculating a wet compression level in response to an engine operating limit and adjusting the at least one liquid atomizer in response to the wet compression level.
US08857382B2

In a hydraulic control apparatus for a continuously variable transmission that enables gear ratio variation by controlling supply of hydraulic oil to first and second hydraulic actuators, there are provided with first and second oil passages connecting the first and second actuators to a reservoir, a single electric hydraulic pump installed at a common portion thereof, first and second check valves installed in the first and second oil passages for blocking flow of hydraulic oil to the reservoir, first and second bypass passages formed in the first and second oil passages, a control valve installed therebetween, a fourth check valve installed in the first and second bypass passages for blocking flow of hydraulic oil to the hydraulic pump, and a controller for controlling these, thus readily enabling a configuration that reduces the number of electric hydraulic pumps to one and minimizes cost increase.
US08857376B2

A ventilation system is provided for a hog confinement building having a slatted floor, a manure reservoir beneath the floor, and a pump out pit in communication with the reservoir. The ventilation system includes a fan on top of the pump out pit, with an air conduit extending downwardly from the fan. A gate is slidably mounted on the conduit, with a float on the bottom end of the gate. The float sits on the surface of the manure, such that the gate rises and falls with changes in the manure level. A ventilation opening on the lower end of the gate allows air to be drawn from the manure reservoir adjacent the surface of the manure, upwardly through the conduit for expulsion by the fan. Air turbulence beneath the slatted floor is minimized to reduce or eliminate rising noxious gases through the slatted floor.
US08857365B2

A marine vessel comprising a command module, first and second buoyant tubular foils, and first and second struts for connecting the first and second buoyant tubular foils to the command module, respectively, wherein the first and second buoyant tubular foils provide substantially all buoyancy required for the marine vessel, and wherein the marine vessel further comprises first and second engines enclosed within the first and second buoyant tubular foils, respectively, and first and second propulsion units connected to the first and second engines, respectively, for moving the marine vessel through water, and means for reducing drag on the vessel as the vessel moves through water.
US08857362B2

A mobile marine service module and method allows for in-water service of marine vessels. The service module permits servicing and repair of a marine vessel without removal from the water. The service module can attach to a marine vessel, against the hull, below the water line. Once in place and sealed against the vessel's hull, water from inside the module can be removed to provide a platform to work on the vessel, such as to provide service to the vessel's outdrive, for example. With the mobile marine service module, the vessel remains afloat during service, with little or no stress on the hull.
US08857346B2

A party table with bays capable of accepting interchangeable inserts for serving and storing food items. The party table can be folded for storage or transport. One or more attachments can be used with the inserts to heat, cool, or regulate the temperature of the food items in the inserts.
US08857345B2

A system for distributing energy among a plurality of power consumers may include a plurality of reaction cells configured to receive electrolytes and provide electric power. The system may also include a first tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including positively charged electrolytes and a second tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including negatively charged electrolytes. The system may also include at least one pump configured to pump fluid among the plurality of reaction cells and the first and second tanks. The system may include a controller configured to control operation of the at least one pump based on a desired power supply to at least one of the plurality of power consumers.
US08857344B2

An automatic rail spike feeder system for use with a rail maintenance vehicle having a bulk storage bin for containing a supply of spikes, and at least one spike driving mechanism, includes a mechanism constructed and arranged for receiving a supply of spikes from the storage bin and for automatically delivering individual spikes to the at least one spike driving mechanism in a desired orientation without operator contact with the spikes.
US08857342B2

The current invention relates to the fields of ballistic and kinetic energy (KE) weapons. Specifically a novel apparatus and use of nanomaterials has been developed to make significant improvements over existing weapons. By incorporating nano-scale particles as a filler material for kinetic energy weapons several advancements are realized.
US08857337B2

A method for printing on a lower surface of a peak of a baseball cap comprising: a) printing an image on the lower surface of the peak when the peak is at an elevated printing temperature and when the peak is in a generally planar configuration; b) allowing the peak to cool to a temperature below an elevated formation temperature; and, c) heating the peak to the elevated formation temperature and applying a non-planar shape to the peak, wherein the peak comprises a deformable insert that is solid at the elevated printing temperature and deformable at the elevated formation temperature.
US08857334B2

A printing plate cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning chamber configured to receive a printing plate to be cleaned, a nozzle supporter in the cleaning chamber, and/or a unified nozzle unit that includes a cleaning nozzle unit and a rinsing nozzle unit unified as a body and attached to the nozzle supporter. The cleaning nozzle unit may include a cleaner nozzle configured to inject cleaner to the printing plate and/or a first suction nozzle suctioning waste. The rinsing nozzle unit may include a rinsing liquid nozzle configured to inject rinsing liquid to the printing plate and/or a second suction nozzle suctioning the waste. A printing plate cleaning apparatus may include the cleaning chamber, a cleaning nozzle unit in the cleaning chamber, and/or a rinsing nozzle unit in the cleaning chamber. The cleaning and rinsing nozzle units may be configured to move together with each other in the cleaning chamber.
US08857330B2

A holding mechanism 40 is made up of a shaft support 44 that is provided while joined to a joint and that has a vertically-oriented pivot 44a, a shaft member 45 that horizontally extends from the shaft support 44 and that is turnable around the pivot 44a, and a fitting section 36 that is formed in a squeegee unit 16 and to which the shaft member 45 is removably fitted. Thereby, the entirety of the squeegee unit 16 becomes removably attachable by only moving the squeegee unit 16 in a horizontal direction.
US08857328B1

Various embodiments of high pressure presses and related methods of manufacturing and operating such presses are described. In one embodiment, a cubic press is described having press bases with spacers disposed between adjacent press bases. Sets of two or more tie bars are also disposed between adjacent press bases. The tie bars are placed in a state of compression while the spacers are placed in a state of compression. During operation, the press bases may become displaced relative to one another such that additional tension is experience by the tie bars while the amount of compression experienced by the spacer is reduced. The tie bars exhibit a relatively small cross-sectional area as compared to the cross-sectional area of the spacer.
US08857323B1

A foil cooking enclosure for containing foodstuffs while grilling or cooking comprising a hinged access door for loading and unloading the enclosure. The enclosure is constructed using semi-rigid end portions comprising wire frames which are covered with a metallic foil sheet and filled to obtain structural integrity. Said end portions are interconnected by a collapsible pleated sheet for compact packaging and storage. A lower surface of the enclosure comprises a perforated base structure for draining fluid runoff in a manner which inhibits flare ups and return of noxious vapors into the foodstuffs upon contact with a grill flame or a cooking surface.
US08857319B2

A roller grill for heating a pre-cooked food product includes a housing structure adapted to support the roller grill; a plurality of tubes having outer surfaces adapted to transfer heat to a pre-cooked food product; a plurality of tube gears, at least one tube gear mounted on an end of a corresponding tube; and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor having a shaft adapted to rotate at a first rotational speed; and a plurality of idler gears mounted to a portion of the housing structure and contactingly engaged with the plurality of tube gears, the idler gears adapted to transfer a rotational power from the motor to the plurality of tube gears at a second rotational speed.
US08857285B2

A saddle type vehicle having mounted thereon a power unit is provided with a twin clutch type transmission including a pair of main shafts and a pair of clutches along different axes, to enable a compact layout of axes and a reduction in size of the unit and its surroundings. The axis center (first main axis) of a first main shaft is disposed rearwardly of the axis center (crank axis) of a crankshaft and forwardly of the axis center (counter axis) of a counter shaft, whereas the axis center (second main axis) of a second main shaft is disposed rearwardly of the axis center (counter axis) of the counter shaft and forwardly of the axis center (pivot axis) of a pivot shaft.
US08857280B2

An improved sediment trap is adapted for inline placement in a pipe. The sediment trap includes a housing body defining two chambers with an intermediate screen member disposed therebetween. The first chamber includes at least one sidewall coupled to a partial front wall wherein the partial front wall, which is disposed at an end opposite from the intermediate screen member. The second chamber includes at least one sidewall and a rear mesh screen. When placed in-line, the effluent stream deposits solids of a first size in the first chamber and deposits solids of a second size in the second chamber.
US08857252B2

A tire performance indicator for a tire includes at least one tread wear indicator region structured and arranged in a tread region of the tire and at least one performance symbol guide structured and arranged approximate a sidewall region of the tire.
US08857251B2

A brake test stand for testing vehicle brakes and for determining the brake forces acting on the respective vehicle wheel. The brake test stand comprises first and second pairs of rollers for positioning the two wheels mounted on a common axis of a vehicle thereon, wherein the rollers of each pair of rollers are arranged opposite to each other and the pairs of rollers are provided side by side. A control unit controls the test stand. First sensing devices are positioned respectively below and between the rollers of each pair of rollers for sensing the pattern of the running surface of each of the tires of the wheels mounted on the common axis. A processing and calculation unit processes the data obtained by the first sensing devices for calculating tire conditions based on a correlation of the data of the coaxially mounted tires.
US08857249B2

A pressure measuring device includes a housing and a rod which is movable in the axial direction in the housing under the effect of combustion chamber pressure where the rod protrudes from the housing. A sensor measure combustion chamber pressure acting on the rod, and a first diaphragm is attached to the housing through which the rod extends. A second diaphragm is attached to the housing through with the rod extends between the sensor and the first diaphragm. The second diaphragm generates a return force when the rod undergoes axial displacement caused by pressure on the rod.
US08857247B2

A probe assembly for an instrument and a method of manufacture includes a substrate and a cantilever having a length that is independent of typical alignment error during fabrication. In one embodiment, the probe assembly includes a buffer section interposed between the substrate and the cantilever. The cantilever extends from the buffer section and a portion of the buffer section extends beyond an edge of the substrate. The portion of the buffer section is more stiff than the cantilever. The corresponding method of producing the probe assembly facilitates batch fabrication without compromising probe performance.
US08857245B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for measuring and/or monitoring concentrations of a dispersed phase in a fluid. A wettable surface may be used that is configured to be selectively wettable by the dispersed phase in the fluid being tested/monitored and the amount of or the rate of change of the wetting/deposition of the dispersed phase on the wettable surface is sensed and used to monitor the concentration of the dispersed phase.
US08857243B2

Embodiments disclose methods of estimating porosity from a pore volume and bulk density. The porosity is obtained by multiplying the pore volume and bulk density. Methods disclosed in the subject disclosure are minimally affected by errors in the bulk density measurement.
US08857241B2

A protector (100) of a gas sensor (1) includes an inner protector (120) and an outer protector (110). The inner protector accommodates a gas sensor element (10) and has a tubular side wall (122) having inner gas introduction holes (130), and a bottom wall (124). The outer protector has a tubular side wall (112) having outer gas introduction holes (115), a frustum-like taper wall (117) tapering frontward and an outer gas discharge hole (170) formed inside a front end edge (117s) of the taper wall. When SL represents an area defined by the front end edge of the taper wall, the area S of the opening of the outer gas discharge hole satisfies the relational expression ½×SL≦S≦SL. A cover portion (127) and a bottom wall (124) are partially away from each other along the axial direction, thereby forming side openings (162).
US08857234B2

A process is disclosed for producing metal-based, high-aspect-ratio microscale structures (HARMs), for example microchannels in a heat exchanger. The preferred manufacturing method operates in a continuous mode, and employs low-temperature rolling of metals. A process is disclosed for bonding metal microchannel sheets or plates to flat metal sheets or plates to form single-, double-, and multiple-layered microchannel structures. The process can operate at much lower temperatures than prior methods of compression microscale molding of metals, at room temperature or even lower.
US08857231B2

The invention relates to a steering lock antitheft device for a motor vehicle comprising: an antitheft body (3) intended to house a lock (2) capable of turning between a neutral position (STOP) and a start position (DEM) via an intermediate position (MARCHE), a cam (4) intended to rotate as one with the lock (2) to actuate locking means of the antitheft device (1) according to the position of the lock (2), a nonreturn means to prevent the said cam (4) from turning in the opposite direction towards the start position (DEM) once it has reached the intermediate position (MARCHE) when moving from the start position (DEM) towards the neutral position (STOP) without first of all moving via the neutral position (STOP), characterized in that a cam profile (5) is formed in a radial wall of the said cam (4) and in that the said antitheft device (1) further comprises a control finger (6) and a means of elastically returning the said control finger (6) against the action of the said cam profile (5), the said cam profile (5) and the said control finger (6) working together firstly to form a nonreturn means and secondly to index the angular position of the cam (4).
US08857227B2

A sensor for determining the mode or cycle of a washing machine appliance is provided. The sensor detects the position of a clutch mechanism that is used to shift a wash basket between a spin mode and a wash or rinse mode. The sensor can provide a signal to a controller of the appliance to identify the position of the clutch.
US08857226B2

A laundry treatment apparatus is provided comprising a cabinet having a prescribed shape; a supporter provided in the cabinet; a drum configured to rotate and provided on the supporter, the supporter supporting a circumferential portion of the drum, a cross section of the drum being a simple closed curve where first distance between a rotational axis of the drum and a first location on an inner surface of the drum is different from second distance between the rotational axis of the drum and a second location on the inner surface of the drum; and a motor to rotate the drum.
US08857224B2

A washing machine is provided having at least one balancer and a method of manufacturing a balancer thereof is further provided, the method and machine capable of reducing a manufacturing cost and an assembly time, and allowing the balancer assembled to a spin tub to be easily replaced with a new balancer. The balancer applied to the washing machine and the method of manufacturing the balancer of the washing machine are adapted such that a pipe is formed in an annular shape and is assembled to a spin tub, so that a manufacturing cost and an assembly time can be reduced to improve mass productivity. Further, when the balancer is determined to fail after being assembled to the spin tub, the balancer can be rapidly and conveniently replaced with a new balancer, so that material costs can be reduced.
US08857223B2

A washing machine which has no need of adding detergent by the user and the washing method thereof the said washing method comprises balancing setting the PH surface tension electrical conductivity and hardness of the washing liquid in a certain range, washing in general automatic washing machine with the use of a high PH electrolyzed water combined with a regulator; in which the PH of the said washing liquid is in the range of 8.5-1 I, the electrical conductivity of it is in the range of 261 us/cm-875 us/cm the surface tension is in the range of 2540 mN/m, the hardness is in the range of 5-400 ppm, if necessary 0.20.3 g/time of the regulator could be added in the above condition according to, the method of the invention it is possible to, realize washing without detergent; because the washing liquid is subjected to the treatment, the cost of the detergent will be saved and the pollution caused by detergents will be avoided, at the same time, the fabric hardening due to, it will be overcome, and an optimum washing condition will be obtained.
US08857221B2

An optical fiber includes a bare optical fiber portion, to which elastic torsion is applied, and a coating layer, which coats the bare optical fiber portion, is formed of curable resin, and causes elastic repulsion against resilience occurring in the bare optical fiber portion so that the elastic torsion applied to the bare optical fiber portion is held.
US08857215B2

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for heat treating glass sheets, and in particular for heat treating very thing glass sheets arranged in closely spaced stacks. The glass sheets are positioned on a moving belt such that their major surfaces are substantially perpendicular to a direction of belt travel through the apparatus to aid in producing a uniform temperature profile within the glass sheets. The apparatus comprises air curtains positioned at the inlet and outlet of the apparatus to minimize the ingress of particulate into the apparatus. A reduced velocity of heated air flow within a lower portion of the apparatus relative to a velocity of the heated air in an upper portion of the apparatus causes particulate to drop out of the lower portion air flow. A rotating brush and vacuums positioned adjacent a lower portion of the belt assist in removing particulate from the moving belt.
US08857214B2

Methods for producing crucibles for holding molten material that contain a reduced amount of gas pockets are disclosed. The methods may involve use of molten silica that may be outgassed prior to or during formation of the crucible. Crucibles produced from such methods and ingots and wafers that are produced from crucibles with a reduced amount of gas pockets are also disclosed.
US08857210B1

A food chilling system for keeping food items and beverages cold features a flexible circular base for wrapping a serving container. The circular base features a plurality of chilling components containing a freezable liquid or gel in a sealed cavity. The circular base features a plurality of spacing components alternatingly located between the chilling components. The circular base features a plurality of flexible handles pivotally located on a base outside periphery. The circular base features a plurality of rings pivotally located on a base sidewall. An elastic cord having a first hook and a second hook is designed to alternately pass through or engage the plurality of rings. The system features a pliable outer shell, having a cinchable opening designed to encompass the base and the cord after the base has been secured to the container via the cord.
US08857207B2

A refrigerant dryer, in particular a compressed air refrigerant dryer, is provided for drying a gaseous fluid while cooling the gaseous fluid using a refrigerant. The dryer includes a pressure fluid-refrigerant agent-heat exchanger (30) in which a cooling of the gaseous fluid takes place directly or indirectly by a refrigerant conveyed in a primary loop (16), one or more refrigerant compressor/compressors (24) for operating the primary loop, and a cold accumulator (13) with an accumulator-side heat exchanger (20) which couples an accumulator discharge fluid to a cold accumulator medium (14). The pressure fluid-refrigerant agent-heat exchanger (30) and the cold accumulator (13) are fluidically connected or can be brought into fluidic connection via a discharge loop (15) for an accumulator discharge fluid. The cold accumulator (13) is arranged, relative to gravity, above the pressure fluid-refrigerant agent-heat exchanger (30), in such a manner that the heated accumulator discharge fluid is conveyed through the discharge loop (15) for cooling in the cold accumulator (13), is cooled there, and subsequently re-conveyed to the pressure fluid-refrigerant agent-heat exchanger (30).
US08857206B2

A refrigerator includes refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, an ice and water dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing ice and water through the door, the ice and water dispenser including a multifunction dispensing actuation pad having a plurality of actuation points and wherein ice or water is dispensed upon selectively applying a pressure to one of the plurality of actuation points on the dispensing actuation pad. A method of operating a refrigerator includes the steps of providing a refrigerator and selectively applying pressure to at least one of a plurality of actuation points on a dispensing actuation pad of the refrigerator to select an ice and water dispenser function.
US08857197B1

Systems and methods of producing a frozen food product include dosing ingredients with a liquefied gas while mixing the ingredients using self-cleaning interlocking beaters. The beaters are optionally also disposed to clean a container in which the ingredients are frozen. The rate and amount of cooling is controlled by measuring the quantity of liquid nitrogen, measuring viscosity of the frozen food product, measuring temperature, and/or the like.
US08857195B2

An absorbent adapted to be used in a spray can charged with a liquefied gas, which exhibits excellent absorbing performance and excellent liquid retention. The absorbent is composed of an assembly of pulverized cellulose fibers that includes at least 45 mass % of fine cellulose fibers having a fiber length of 0.35 mm or less. The absorbent is formed into a sheet-shaped or a columnar configuration, or a surface sheet is laminated on a surface of the absorbent. The absorbent composed of 70 through 90 mass % of cellulose fibers that include 45 mass % or more of fine cellulose fibers having a fiber length of 0.35 mm or less, and 5 through 30 mass % of a fusion-bondable resin exhibits good formability.
US08857184B2

A method for increasing the operational flexibility of a turbomachine during a startup phase is provided. The turbomachine may include a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within the first section and the second section. The method may determine an allowable range of a physical parameter associated with the first section and/or the second section. The method may modulate a first valve and/or a second valve to allow steam flow into the first section and the second section respectively, wherein the modulation is based on the allowable range of the physical parameter. In addition, the physical parameter allows the method to independently apportion steam flow between the first section and the second section of the turbomachine, during the startup phase.
US08857183B2

The steam turbine includes the high-and-intermediate pressure turbine of the single flow type, the intermediate-pressure turbine of the single flow type, and the steam passage that communicates a location on a part way of the steam flow inside the high-and-intermediate pressure turbine, to the steam inlet of the intermediate-pressure turbine. The high-and-intermediate pressure turbine includes the high-pressure part on the steam inlet side and the intermediate-pressure part on the steam outlet side. The steam passage feeds a part of the steam having passed through the high-pressure part, from the location between the high-pressure part and the intermediate-pressure part, to the intermediate-pressure turbine.
US08857181B2

A drive train, especially a vehicle drive train, includes: an engine for supplying drive power into the drive train; a cooling circuit in which a cooling medium is revolved in order to cool the engine or an electric generator or another unit; an expansion machine which is driven with fluid or steam as a working medium and by way of which additional drive power can be supplied to the drive train or which drives an electric generator or another unit, the cooling medium of the cooling circuit being simultaneously the working medium of the expansion machine; and a bypass to the expansion machine which is provided through which the working medium of the expansion machine is forced through a switching valve or can be guided past the expansion machine automatically by the prevailing pressure conditions.
US08857173B2

A two piston, free piston, alpha Stirling cycle machine has a compression piston with a cylindrical bore that is coaxial with the cylinders in which the pistons reciprocate. An expansion piston sealingly extends into both an expansion cylinder and into the cylindrical bore in the compression piston. The expansion piston has the same diameter within both the expansion cylinder and the cylindrical bore. A spring, preferably a gas spring, drivingly connects the pistons. The reciprocation of the expansion piston varies only the volume of the expansion space and the reciprocation of the compression piston varies only the volume of the compression space. The spring that drivingly connects the pistons allows the two pistons to be properly phased without a mechanical linkage so that they can operate in a thermodynamically effective phase over a range of strokes.
US08857170B2

A Gas Pressure Reduction Generator (GPRG) System and a method for implementing a GPRG System is provided, where the GPRG System includes a gas inlet configured to receive a pressurized gas flow from a gas supply, at least one expander in flow communication with the gas inlet to receive the pressurized gas flow, wherein the expander is operable to convert the pressurized gas flow into mechanical energy and a depressurized gas flow and a generator associated with the expander, wherein the generator is configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy.
US08857168B2

A hydraulic system includes an actuator, a pump, rod side and cap side fluid connections between the pump and the rod and cap side chambers, respectively, at least one selectively actuatable regeneration valve that selectively provides flow from the cap side fluid connection to the rod side fluid connection, and a controller. The controller controls the pump to selectively vary the flow rate of the pump in response to a commanded motion to control movement of the piston. The controller actuates the regeneration valve during a retraction of the piston into the cylinder when pump is acting as a motor.
US08857152B2

A method unloads hydrocarbon emissions deposited by an exhaust gas on an after-treatment device that is employed in an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine. The method includes determining whether the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The method also includes increasing the preset idle speed by a predetermined value if the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The increasing of the engine idle speed increases a flow rate of the exhaust gas to the after-treatment device and unloads the deposited hydrocarbon emissions. A system for unloading hydrocarbon emissions deposited on an after-treatment device and a vehicle employing such a system are also disclosed.
US08857149B1

A turbofan engine includes a fan rotatable about an axis, a compressor section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section, a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, and a fan drive gear system including a carrier for supporting a plurality of gears. A torque frame is attached to the carrier. A plurality of connectors extends between the carrier and torque frame for securing the torque frame to the carrier. A scupper captures lubricant during gear operation and directing lubricant into a space between at least one of the plurality of connectors and at least one of the torque frame and the carrier.
US08857145B2

A walk power mower has a mower deck that encloses a pair of rotary cutting blades with the grass clippings from the blades being discharged through a rearwardly extending grass discharge tunnel in a rear bagging mode of operation. The blades are powered by a timed drive system that is carried by a horizontal apron that is part of a cast aluminum engine mount. The engine mount and the apron are bolted to a stamped steel deck shell that forms the cutting chamber in which the blades rotate. The mower has a side discharge mode in which a side discharge chute is releasably mounted over a side discharge opening. The chute carries a flow cutoff baffle having an inwardly protruding inner end that sticks through the side discharge opening to intercept and direct the clippings out through the side discharge opening and through the chute in the side discharge mode.
US08857144B2

An improved blade guard for a land clearing device such as a lawn mower or brush cutter. The land clearing device generally comprises a blade assembly having a plurality of spinning cutters covered by a housing. A guard having a closed position and an open position is pivotally combined with the front of the housing. In its closed position, the guard covers a portion of the blade assembly. In its open position a portion of the blade assembly is exposed to allow the cutters to perform land clearing operations. The guard is pivoted from its closed position to its open position using a linkage assembly which moves the guard to its open position when the front of the guard is pushed against a solid object. The guard falls back to its closed position when force is no longer present between it and the solid object.
US08857134B2

A sealed multi-handled bag is provided that includes a first handle at a first end and a second handle at a second end. In one embodiment, the handles are on substantially opposite ends of the bag. The sealed bag may be made from plastic and may contain loose materials, such as a salt. In some embodiments, one or more of the handles are formed from heat-sealed layers of bag material having a grip cut therein. A method for filling and sealing the multi-handled sealed bag includes filling a bag having a first closed end through a second open end, and sealing the second open end to form a handle. In one embodiment, sealing the second open end includes heat-sealing opposing layers of bag material together and cutting a handle through the layers. In another embodiment, the method includes folding-over the layers of bag material.
US08857129B2

In one embodiment, a frame assembly includes at least two frame members, each frame member comprising two mitered ends and defining an interior space divided into at least three longitudinal cavities, wherein one of the at least three cavities is a corner key cavity. The frame assembly further includes at least one corner key, wherein each half of each corner key is configured to fit into one end of one of the corner key cavities to form a corner. When the at least two frame members are joined using the corner key, the corner key cavity is adjacent to the outer perimeter of the frame assembly system. The outer perimeter of the frame assembly includes a contact portion configured to contact another frame assembly or a structure, wherein the corner key cavity extends across at least 90% of the contact portion of the outer perimeter of the frame assembly.
US08857122B2

A port anchor system and method for anchoring and cementing adjacent and often separated leaves (layered structures) of masonry. The method and various embodiments have the capability of being used for anchoring, cleaning and flushing of old mortar, and injecting grout into internal masonry voids, thereby tying and re-cementing or cementing the masonry mass back together. Various embodiments of anchor systems are provided for performing the various methods, more particularly, some of the embodiments describe port anchors which are used to clean and flush the old mortar and then grout fill the void between adjacent masonry leaves while other embodiments are used to grout fill the void.
US08857121B2

The invention relates to a surface covering system, and, more specifically, to an improved linear surface covering system. The improvement includes each plank of the system having multi-directionally cut grooves. The improvement further includes clip projections which conform substantially to a notch formed by the multi-directional grooves. The system also includes an improved splice plate for stabilizing two adjacent planks positioned in end-to-end relation.
US08857116B2

A prefabricated insulation wall panel for construction of a wall includes two elongated studs, each having a planar web section and inner and outer flanges, one or more insulation boards vertically disposed between the two studs, and one or more reinforcing mesh fastened to the flanges of the elongated studs on inner, outer or both sides of the wall panel. The reinforcing mesh has a preformed overhang section extending laterally beyond the elongated stud. The web section includes multiple through-holes spaced apart vertically, closer to the inner flange than to the outer flange. The insulation board is thinner than the width of the wed section, disposed with its inner surface against inner flanges of the studs and two side edges covering the through-holes on the web section of the stud, thus establishing a distance between the outer surface of the insulation board and the outer flanges of the studs.
US08857115B2

A step for ingress and egress from a swimming pool and/or a spa includes a tread including opposing side edges, a riser coupled with and extending substantially perpendicular from one of the side edges of the tread and an upper flange substantially perpendicular to said tread and coupled with and extending upwardly or downwardly from one of the opposing side edges of the tread opposite the riser. The upper flange is configured to be coupled with the riser of another step or a wall of the swimming pool or spa to form a stairway.
US08857109B1

A tile-ready base includes a triangular top wall disposed in a horizontal plane when the base is secured to a corner. A first side wall depends from a first edge of the top wall and abuts a first vertical wall of a building. A second side wall depends from a second edge of the top wall and abuts a second vertical wall of the building. A front wall depends from a front edge of the triangular top wall and interconnects respective forward ends of the first and second side walls. Structural support ribs underlie the top wall and enhance the structural integrity of the base. Concavities are formed in the top wall in close proximity to the first and second side walls. Each concavity receives a screw and facilitates attachment of the base to the corner. The base is installed and tiled with no delay between installation and tiling.
US08857107B1

A door threshold shield apparatus includes a shield body shaped for covering a portion of a door threshold. The shield body can include a sheet metal or other suitable material. A hook is positioned on a first longitudinal edge of the shield body for retaining the shield body on a first edge of the threshold, and a cap flange is positioned on a second longitudinal edge of the shield body. The cap flange is shaped to be received between a removable cap flange on the threshold and a threshold base, thereby rigidly securing the shield apparatus to the threshold. Once construction is complete, the shield may be removed without removing the threshold base by detaching the threshold cap.
US08857101B1

A fishing line assembly includes an elastic rope fixedly attached to a non-elastic rope such that a free end of the non-elastic rope extends beyond a free end of the elastic rope. A fishing line is coupled to the non-elastic rope at an end opposite its free end, wherein the free ends of the elastic rope and the non-elastic rope are attached to a rigid portion of a watercraft so that the elastic rope can take up tension in the fishing line as it trails the watercraft. Preferably, the non-elastic rope has a thickness such that it can be handled under tension without cutting one's hands.
US08857092B2

A chamber safety device is configured to be inserted into one or more loading/ejection port(s) of a weapon. When the chamber safety device is inserted into the one or more opening(s), the weapon is not capable of firing due to the fact that no bullet or shell can be inserted into the firing chamber and/or the weapon firing mechanism cannot come in contact with a bullet or shell located in the firing chamber. The chamber safety device includes an upper portion having at least top region which is preferably colored in a high visibility color, such as hunter orange, and which provides a visual indicator to the user and other people around the user that the weapon is not capable of firing. A lower portion is configured to be inserted into the one or more opening(s) of the weapon.
US08857084B2

Mobile advertising displays configured to mount to a bicycle having a frame and a wheel, the mobile advertising displays including a mounting mechanism configured to mount to the frame of the bicycle proximate the wheel, a brace coupled to the mounting mechanism, and a display retained on the brace. In some examples, the mobile advertising display is bilaterally mounted to the frame of the bicycle and includes identifying information. In some further examples, the mobile advertising display includes a stabilizer.
US08857082B2

The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object.
US08857072B1

The mitten and boot dryer for use with a residential furnace includes a vent plate made of a ferrous material, which is mounted either one a forced air residential furnace or down line therefrom. The vent plate features a plurality of holes upon which a vent may be attached via an angled base support. The angled base support features a magnet embedded therein, which attaches itself onto the hole of the vent plate, and can rotate there about. Alternatively, the angled base support may feature a winged end that slides into a winged hole on the vent plate, and is rotated therein so as to lock into the vent plate. The vent has a cap on a farthest distal end and features a plurality of holes along the length. The angled base support includes a friction hinge to enable rotation of the vent with respect to the vent plate. The vents are ideally oriented at angles to enable a boot or mitten to rest thereon. The vent plate may include a plurality of holes not covered by a vent, which enables heated air to dry out the exterior of the boot, mitten, or object hung thereon. The vents may include telescoping bodies that can extend and retract in length.
US08857068B2

A rotary laser irradiating system, comprising a light emitting unit (41, 42) for emitting a laser beam, a rotator for forming a reference plane by projecting the laser beam by rotary irradiation, a tilt driving unit (21) for tilting the reference plane, a control unit (35) for controlling a light emission of the light emitting unit, and a tilted axis indicating means (35, 44) for turning off the laser beam so as to form a tilted reference axis indicating range in a tilt setting reference axis direction for setting a tilt.
US08857065B2

A training spoon for training an individual not to bite down on a spoon includes a longitudinally extending handle and a spoon shaped head portion integral with or attached to the handle. The head portion defines a relatively shallow concave bowl with a plurality of generally parallel alternating transverse ridges and adjacent grooves extending across a majority of the width of the head portion of the spoon.
US08857059B2

The present invention relates to a manufactured article comprising a support component (2) delimiting therein at least one receiving seat (3), at least one inserted component (4) designed to be seated in a respective receiving seat (3) in the support component (2), and binding means for binding the inserted component (4) to a respective receiving seat (3). The at least one inserted component (4) is mounted for rotation in the at least one receiving seat (3).
US08857054B2

A method of manufacturing an aerofoil for a gas turbine engine (10). The method comprises the steps of providing first and second panels (16, 18), providing a web (30) between the first and second panels, deforming the panels by applying internal pressure between the panels so as to form an internal cavity. The method further includes the step of providing a pattern of ribs (60) on the web so as to define a aerofoil having first and second panels with at least one rib (60) forming a protrusion extending from the first panel partially across the space between the first and second panels.
US08857021B2

An ink jet print head can be formed using a laser to melt a plating layer interposed between a piezoelectric actuator and a circuit layer bump. The plating layer can be formed on the circuit layer bump, the piezoelectric actuator, or both, and a laser beam output by the laser is used to melt the plating layer to provide a laser weld. In another embodiment, the circuit layer bump or the trace itself functions as the plating layer, which is melted using a laser to provide the laser weld.
US08857019B1

A belt buckle primarily for law enforcement or military personnel, for a relatively wide service belt, is of low profile, i.e. narrow from left to right so as to occupy minimal belt span to provide maximum space for equipment to be supported on the belt.
US08857017B2

Magnetic tape (1) device (4) for magnetic encoder and manufacturing and installation procedures for this device (4). The magnetic tape (1) has a magnetized surface and a non-magnetized surface in the device (4), which also comprises a clamp (2) with fastening means, such that when the device (4) is mounted on a rotating shaft (5) then the magnetic tape (1) is located between the outer surface of the shaft (5) and the inner surface (7) of the clamp (2) on which the magnetic tape (1) is adhered by its magnetized surface. A manufacturing procedure for this device (4) and an installation procedure for this device (4) on a rotating shaft (5) is also described.
US08857012B2

A robot cleaner including a suction hole to suction dust, a blower to generate a suction force to suction the dust, a dust collector to receive the dust suctioned by said suction force through the suction hole, and a rotating brush to sweep up and collect the dust into the dust collector through the suction hole by a drive force of the rotating brush. The dust collector includes a backflow preventing member movable between an open position and a closed position. The backflow preventing member is pivotably rotatable in an air suction direction by the suction force of the blower to the open position and is adapted to return to the closed position to prevent the dust in the dust collector from being discharged through the suction hole upon stoppage of the blower.
US08857009B2

A beam blade windshield wiper assembly including a wiping element and at least one elongated beam. A pair of end caps are operatively mounted to the longitudinal ends of the beam. The end caps include a body and inwardly extending legs that together with the body define a central channel that is adapted to receive the longitudinal ends of the wiping element and the beam. The legs include a retention tab that extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the beam and defines a terminal end. The beam includes a notch that corresponds with the retention tab such that the beam is received in the central channel. The retention tab is biased away from the channel until the terminal end of the tab comes into abutting engagement with the notch such that removal of the end cap is prevented.
US08857002B2

Cleaning sheets and cleaning tools that provide a wide cleaning area in a wetted state. A representative cleaning sheet includes a hydrophilic inner layer sheet and hydrophobic outer layer sheets. The inner layer sheet is disposed between the outer layer sheets and impregnated with cleaning solution. Fusion bonded layers are formed on inner sides (sides facing the inner layer sheet) of the outer layer sheets.
US08856998B2

A mobile floor cleaning machine is provided, having a chassis on which running wheels are rotatably mounted, and having at least one cleaning unit which has at least one cleaning tool and is coupled to the chassis via a guide member. To improve the floor cleaning machine in such a way that the risk of damage to the floor cleaning machine or to an obstacle in the event of a frontal collision with the obstacle may be minimized, it is proposed that the guide member is elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning machine.
US08856997B2

Embodiments are described wherein a system for brushing the teeth of a person comprises a master input device; a flexible teeth tray configured to at least partially encapsulate one or more of the teeth in a flexible substrate material, the flexible teeth tray comprising one or more vibratory transducers removably coupled to one or more brushing panels; and a controller operatively coupled to the master input device and the one or more vibratory transducers; wherein subject to an input from the master input device, the controller is configured to cause reciprocating brushing motion of the one or more brushing panels against a surface of the one or more encapsulated teeth, to clean the one or more teeth.
US08856993B2

A person-support surface comprises a non powered mattress and a coverlet positionable on the non powered mattress. The coverlet includes an entry positioned at a first end of the coverlet, an exit positioned at a second end of the coverlet opposite the entry, an upper air impermeable layer, and a lower air impermeable layer coupled to the upper air impermeable layer to form an air flow path along the coverlet between the entry and the exit. The upper air impermeable layer is a vapor permeable and the lower air impermeable layer is a vapor permeable.
US08856984B1

A fitted sheet and integrated holding apparatus includes a fabric sheet having a top panel, a pair of opposed side panels, and a pair of opposed end panels extending therebetween. The fabric may be fitted to the mattress and configured to fold flat when removed therefrom. Connection of respective side panels and respective end panels form four corner sections each having a corner edge. Each corner section includes a cord channel situated along a respective corner edge and defining opposed open ends and an interior space extending between the open ends. The holding apparatus includes an elastic cord having a flexible configuration and opposed cord ends, the cord extending through the interior space of the cord channel and respective cord ends extending outwardly through respective open ends. A pair of cord fasteners is attached to respective cord ends and, when coupled together, tightens a respective corner section to the mattress.
US08856982B1

A bed assembly (1) has a stationary frame (2), which sits on a floor and supports the entire bed assembly. A central frame (4) moves in a first horizontal direction relative to the stationary frame, and is moveably supported by the stationary frame. An outer frame (8) moves in a second horizontal direction relative to the second frame, and is moveably supported by the second frame.
US08856977B2

A mat or other object for attenuating reflective spray during use of a urinal comprises a urine impingement region that includes a plurality of upstanding, flexible bristles. In one embodiment, each of the bristles: has an appropriate thickness and flexibility configured to flex when struck by a typical stream of urine, wherein adjacent bristles are separated from one another by a distance such that the typical stream of urine contacting a bristle and causing it to flex will also contact at least two adjacent bristles and cause them to flex as well; has a thickness and a height, wherein the thickness of each is less than one fifth of its height, and further wherein each bristle has at least three adjacent bristles within a distance of two times its thickness from it; is elongated, and the bristles are configured densely enough that an imaginary circle having a radius equal to a stream of urine's mean radius, centered on a given bristle, and drawn on the upper surface will include at least three other bristles within its boundary; or any combination of these. In some embodiments, the plurality of bristles that compose a urine retention region has an ordered arrangement, while in others plurality of bristles has a disordered arrangement.
US08856974B2

A safety helmet comprising an outer shell, an internal headband composed of a neckband at the rear and a securing strap at the front, and an adjustment mechanism of the headband.The adjustment mechanism comprises a double cog-wheel having a first sprocket associated with a first drive rack of the neckband, and a second sprocket associated with a second drive rack of the strap. The two sprockets have different diameters to perform differential driving of the strap and of the neckband.
US08856963B2

A finger protector includes: a pad; a protective layer disposed along the outer surface of the pad; one or more suture-engaging mechanisms disposed on the outer surface of the protective layer; and one or more securing mechanisms adapted to releasably secure the pad, protective layer, and one or more suture-engaging mechanisms to a user's finger.
US08863293B2

Methods for determining cyber-attack targets include collecting and storing network event information from sensors to extract information regarding an attacker; forming an attack scenario tree that encodes network topology and vulnerability information including paths from known compromised nodes to a set of potential targets; calculating a likelihood for each of the paths using a processor; calculating a probability distribution for the set of potential targets to determine which potential targets are most likely pursued by the attacker; calculating a probability distribution over a set of nodes and node vulnerability types already accessed by the attacker; determining a network graph edge to remove which minimizes a defender's expected uncertainty over the potential targets; and removing the determined network graph edge.
US08863287B1

The disclosure relates to a method and system for processing objects stored as blocks on a storage system. The blocks are in deduplicated form. The blocks are scanned for a pattern, and if a pattern is found in a block, objects associated with the block are identified. The pattern may be a malware signature. The block is remediated, and the associated objects may be remediated as well, in the storage system and on host systems where copies of the objects reside. Partial matching may be used to identify the pattern. If a first block contains a partial match to the pattern, logically adjacent blocks are scanned to determine whether the partial match of the first block is completed in logically adjacent blocks. Logically adjacent blocks can be associated with different objects.
US08863281B2

A method for protecting a browser from malicious processes, comprises providing at least one process-proxy object and at least a browser-proxy object, interposed between the browser and a process, such that when the process invokes one of the DOM entry points, the process-proxy object isolates it from the real browser implementation and executes the process-proxy object's code instead.
US08863280B1

A method of testing a web application, wherein a web application is a program that operates on a server and interacts with clients that access the program over a network, wherein further the web application accepts parameters that define results generated from the web application, the method comprising determining which web application uniform resource identifiers (URIs) are used to access various web applications on a system, determining if more than a threshold of the URIs are for a common web application, selecting a subset of less than all of the URIs for the common web application when the threshold is exceeded for that common web application, wherein the subset is selected at least in part independently of the order generated and performing a security scan on the selected subset.
US08863277B2

A method for transmitting content data includes receiving content data, and passing at least a portion of the content data based on a size of the received content data. A method for transmitting content data includes receiving content data, and passing at least a portion of the content data based on a prescribed rate. A method for transmitting content data includes receiving content data, and passing at least a portion of the content data before performing policy enforcement on the content data.
US08863269B2

In a frontend system in which a plurality of relay devices is mixed, the performance of end to end can be improved and a network can be flexibly established every policy. Specifically, the L7 (layer 7) processing is unified by providing a Front-End Processor (FEP), which have both a firewall (FW) and a load balancer (LB) recognizing a protocol of the L7 (layer 7) level, near a switch of a gateway to an external network.
US08863268B2

A security module and method within an information handling system are disclosed. In a particular form, a processing module can include a local processor configurable to initiate access to resources of a host processing system. The processing module can also include a security module configured to enable use of the resources of the host processing system using a security metric. According to an aspect, the security module can be further configured to detect the security metric, and enable access to a resource of the host processing system in response to the security metric. The security module can further be configured to disable access to another resource of the host processing system in response to the security metric.
US08863259B2

A control method for controlling a biometric authentication system including a server that stores reference biometric data, and a client that acquires biometric authentication data of the user, has saving in the server a table in which identification information identifying the user and a previous authentication result of the user are associated with each other, transmitting the identification information to the server, referring to the identification information and acquiring a previous authentication result of the user corresponding to the identification information from the table, calculating, an authentication success rate of the user from the acquired previous authentication result, transmitting the reference biometric data to the client when the authentication success rate is less than or equal to a certain value, calculating, a degree of matching between the biometric authentication data and the reference biometric data, and determining, whether or not the authentication of the user has succeeded.
US08863254B2

An authentication information management program of an authentication information management apparatus allowing the authentication information management apparatus to execute: changing the first authentication information in correspondence information which is information including the first authentication information and second authentication information in association with each other and stored in a storage section of the authentication information management apparatus; transmitting the authentication apparatus of the changed first authentication information; determining, in response to a request from the apparatus to be authenticated, whether the second authentication information in the authentication request coincides with the second authentication information in the correspondence information; and returning, in the case where it is determined that the second authentication information in the authentication request coincides with the second authentication information in the correspondence information, the first authentication information associated with the second authentication information read from the storage section.
US08863253B2

In various embodiments, a method comprises scanning a directory structure to generate a scan result comprising a plurality of discovered systems, identifying one or more accounts associated with at least one of the plurality of discovered systems, configuring a security appliance to change one or more old passwords to one or more new passwords for the one or more accounts, and changing, with the configured security appliance, the one or more old passwords to the one or more new passwords.
US08863248B2

A technique for automated login to a browser application from a non-browser based client application begins upon the end user taking an action to access a target resource. A credential is associated with the client application as a result of a prior login operation. The technique is implemented in a server application associated with the client application. It enables automatic and secure passing of the client application credential to the counterpart browser application that is launched by the client application.
US08863246B2

Apparatus and methods are described for searching and replacing user credentials in a multiple disparate credential store environment. Upon authentication of a user to change credentials, credential information of multiple disparate credential stores is searched. Upon population of search results, users indicate which of the credentials they desire to change and results are committed upon affirmative execution in a user interface dialog. In this manner, users locate their credential information, from whatever store, and change it in quantity or singularly from a single point of control. They can also fully understand how many passwords, secrets, keys, etc., they have over the many disparate stores available to them and affirmatively control their relationship to other credential information. Reversion of credential information to an earlier time is still another feature as is retrofitting existing SSO services. Computer program products and computing network interaction are also disclosed.
US08863245B1

A method and system an online neighborhood social network designed to create private websites to facilitate communication among neighbors and build stronger neighborhoods. The private websites are embodied in a website having a domain name of nextdoor.com. In one embodiment, a method verifies that a user lives at a residence associated with a residential address claimed by the user of an online neighborhood social network. The method restricts access to a particular neighborhood to the user and to neighboring users living within the neighborhood boundary of the residence. A social network page of the user is created once verified and access privileges are determined. A message is distributed to neighboring users that are verified to live within a neighborhood boundary of the residence. The method may designate the user (e.g., as a lead user) with an additional privilege based on a participation level of the user in the online community.
US08863232B1

A system includes an application access manager driver and an operating system (OS) kernel module in a kernel-mode address space of an OS. The system also includes application modules, a public application whitelist, a public application whitelist manager, a user/group application whitelist, and a user/group application whitelist manager in a user-mode address space of the OS. A method includes receiving a request to launch an application, calling a “create process” function in the OS kernel module, calling a pre-registered “create process” callback function to the application access manager driver, and determining whether the application is allowed to execute based on whether the application access manager driver identifies the application as an allowable process in either public application whitelist or user/group application whitelist.
US08863221B2

A method and system that enables aggregation and management of services and contents on multiple networks, is provided. In one implementation, such a method and system functionally bridges a first network and a second network such that services and contents, no matter where they come from, can be delivered to a user on one or more devices in the second network. The services and contents in the first network are converted by certain applications to behave as if they exist in the second network, so that they can be accessed by one or more devices in the second network. Such a method and system enables applications to be easily developed and distributed over the Internet using popular Web browsers as the platform for application runtime environments.
US08863220B2

A method for rendering text onto moving image content. The method comprises receiving a request to translate dialog associated with moving image content, transmitting an interface, transmitting a time-stamped transcription, and receiving a translation of the dialog.
US08863219B2

A television system that provides an on screen display menu system that allows a user to select from available input source using a graphical user interface. The television system also automatically adapts to the type on input signal selected for display. The television system and on screen display menu also support interaction between the television system and attached devices to unify the control of such devices including attached personal computers through the remote control of the television system.
US08863210B2

The present invention relates to a cable broadcast program receiver and a diagnostic method of the cable broadcast program receiver. In an aspect of the present invention, a diagnostic method of a cable broadcast program receiver may include transmitting, at a cablecard, a diagnostic request containing diagnostic information regarding DiiVA connection status to a host according to a protocol of an interface between the cablecard and the host; and receiving, at the host, the diagnostic request and transmitting diagnostic confirmation information containing a diagnostic status report regarding the DiiVA connection status to the cablecard according to the protocol of the interface between the cablecard and the host in response to the diagnostic request.
US08863196B2

The user of an Internet TV device can control the Internet TV device using a mobile device such as a smart phone. The smart phone also obtains program information from the Internet TV device and sends the information to a server as a search term, presenting supplemental program information received from the server on the display of the mobile device so that a person can browse the supplemental information without disturbing viewers of the Internet TV device. The mobile device can also grab a link related to the program from the Internet TV device and use that link as a recommendation to friends on social networking sites.
US08863194B2

A content downloader system including a display for displaying a user interface enabling a user to select content to be downloaded and initiate downloading; a set-top-box coupled to the display for providing the user interface and for receiving an indication of the content to be downloaded; and a content downloader coupled to and separate from the set-top-box, the content downloader for receiving the content. The content downloader has at least one memory component for storing content, at least one input/output connection for communicating to electronic devices, optionally including a removable memory card and optionally including an encryption/decryption unit. The content downloader may have an identification whereby its identity is authenticated by the content provider. The content downloader downloads the content selected by the user after successful authentication whereby the selection is made using the display and the set-top-box, and the content downloaded to the content downloader separate than the set-top-box.
US08863191B2

A multifunctional display device displays a first area containing a program received through a channel, a second area containing card objects, and a third area containing additional information of a downloadable applications selected in association with one of the card objects.
US08863189B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, set top box (STB) having a controller to record one or more soft key preferences associated with a user of the STB for each of a plurality of media presentation states of a media communication system, receive a request for presentation of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with one of the media presentation states, select one or more soft keys according to the one or more soft key preferences assigned to the requested media presentation state, and present the selected one or more soft keys in the GUI. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08863187B2

Provided is a method and system for displaying video from a plurality of video streams on a display. It includes an input interface for receiving video data from a plurality of video streams and transferring the video data to a frame controller in communication with a television display. The frame controller causes the video data from each of the plurality of different video streams to be displayed in a separate frame on the television display, and each frame occupying an area of the television display separate from an area occupied by any other frame. A system for displaying video from a plurality of video stream using the correct aspect ratio and resolution is also provided.
US08863184B2

A controlling device is provided with the ability to present personalized program guide information by using personal preferences provided to a home computing device. The personal preferences are used to filter program guide data received at the home computing device whereby the program guide data will include only programming information for user-specified sources of programming for each of plural, different user-specified periods of time. The filtered program guide data is then downloaded to the controlling device from the home computing device for use in connection with an application of the controlling device that functions to display program guide information within a display of the controlling device.
US08863181B2

The present invention relates to a broadcasting receiver and a method for providing a background channel EPG and comprises a first tuner that selects a channel chosen by a user; a second tuner that receives channels other than the channel tuned with said first tuner; a data parser that collects data broadcast signals from among the broadcast signals of the channels received at said second tuner; an image processor that processes said collected data broadcast signals to convert these into image data; a storage part that stores said converted image data; and a display part that displays the broadcast program information for the channels that are received via said second tuner, wherein said stored image data has been inserted into a channel screen selected via said first tuner. Thus, in the present invention, two tuners are used to capture the ACAP image of a background channel and insert it into the EPG program image of the background channel so that other channel information is converted into an image and provided to a user. In addition, the EPG program image of the present invention is generated by obtaining location information from the file system structure of broadcast program contents that represent an object unit and by capturing video data so that it can be shifted to the program of an applicable background channel and displayed when the EPG program image is executed. Also, the present invention provides detailed program information for the selected channel by extracting image data from a data broadcast signal and inserting it into the EPG as an image block for a selected channel.
US08863178B1

Systems and methods are described for providing targeted content delivery, including advertising, to mobile devices. A content organization and distribution system may be configured to receive content from a plurality of publishers and provide targeted content to a plurality of users having mobile devices, where the mobile devices are connected to the content organization and distribution system through a plurality of carriers. The provided content may be based on one or more user customization criteria.
US08863174B2

A method is disclosed for delivering targeted advertising data over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network including but not limited to displaying in a picture in picture queue display, a set of follow-on advertisements comprising less than all of the plurality of follow-on advertisements; rotating one of the set of follow-on advertisements off of the on-screen picture in picture queue display to an off-screen storage; and rotating another one of the follow-on advertisements from the off-screen storage to the on screen picture in picture queue display. A system and computer program are disclosed for practicing the method.
US08863170B2

Systems and methods for providing metadata-selected advertisements are provided. These systems and methods may receive metadata and other media, select an object, read metadata attached to or associated with the selected object, select an advertisement based on the metadata, and display the selected advertisement. In addition, monitoring, collecting, and recording of predefined data concerning metadata selected advertisements may be provided. The invention also provides a receiver for receiving signals and/or data (e.g., programs, advertisements, program guides, metadata, etc.) and a processor for accepting a user's input signal, selecting an object, reading metadata attached to or associated with a selected object, selecting an advertisement, and displaying the selected advertisement.
US08863168B2

Systems and methods for viewing media content are provided. A set of media content with at least one feedback application is created. In response to the set creation and activation, media content may be tuned and launched automatically while other programming is restricted. User input associated with feedback applications may be received and media content rewards may be awarded.
US08863165B2

A media system, receives a received sequence of media content, for presentation at the media system and generates a comparison fingerprint of the received sequence of media content. The comparison fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the received sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for identification of additional content to a server system. The request is based at least in part on the comparison fingerprint. The media system receives a response to the request, including information enabling additional content to be selected for display at the media system based at least in part on the identification of the received sequence of media content, and presents a displayed sequence of media content that includes at least a portion of the received sequence of media content and at least a portion of the additional content.
US08863164B1

A method and system for reporting a percentage of an advertisement played by a smart appliance is disclosed. The server receives data from a smart appliance. The server detects a marker in the data corresponding to a segment of an advertisement of a session played by the smart appliance. The server maps the marker to a percentage played of the advertisement in the session by the smart appliance. The server reports the percentage played of the advertisement in the session by the smart appliance to at least one tracking element.
US08863162B2

A method includes receiving a user selection of an option related to a first content item and sending data to a server to enable the server to update a user profile. The method also includes receiving a channel selection during or after playback of the first content item. The method further includes sending a content recommendation channel request to the server in response to the channel selection corresponding to a content recommendation channel selection and receiving a list of recommended content items from the server. The list of recommended content items is based on the user profile. The method also includes sending a merchandise recommendation channel request to the server in response to the channel selection corresponding to a merchandise recommendation channel selection and receiving a list of recommended merchandise items from the server. The list of recommended merchandise items is based on the user profile.
US08863158B1

Improvements to previous intents frameworks/platforms are provided. In particular, previous general-purpose data common to intents frameworks can be augmented with application-specific data, which can provide numerous benefits or advantages. For example, applications that implement an intent can be supplied with information that can be used by the implementing application to enhance the services associated with the implementing application.
US08863153B2

Situational recommendations in heterogeneous system environment are described herein. An event is received, where the event represents an interaction between an agent and a first resource from a number of resources available at the heterogeneous system environment. At least one impacted situation of a number of situations is determined based on the event. At least one operator from a number of operators is determined to apply on the at least one impacted situation. The at least one operator updates the at least one impacted situation. Recommendation of a second resource from the number of resources is generated based on the updated situation.
US08863148B1

A network interface includes a firmware module that generates a first message based on a first print macro call and a memory module that stores the first message. The first message comprises a subset of data indicative of the first print macro call.
US08863144B2

In a computer system comprising a plurality of computing devices wherein the plurality of computing devices processes a plurality of tasks and each task has a task type, a method for determining overheads associated with task types comprises the following steps. Overheads are estimated for a plurality of task types. One of the plurality of computing devices is selected to execute one of the plurality of tasks, wherein the selection comprises estimating load on at least a portion of the plurality of computing devices from tasks assigned to at least a portion of the plurality of computing devices and the estimates of overheads of the plurality of task types. One or more of the estimates of overheads of the plurality of task types are varied.
US08863141B2

Responsive to a hypervisor determining that insufficient local resources are available for reservation to meet a performance parameter for at least one resource specified in a reservation request for a particular logical partition managed by the hypervisor in a host system, the hypervisor identifies another logical partition managed by the hypervisor in the host system that is assigned at the least one resource meeting the performance parameter specified in the reservation request. The hypervisor estimates a first cost of migrating the particular logical partition and a second cost of migrating the another logical partition to at least one other host system communicatively connected in a peer-to-peer network based on at least one previously recorded cost stored by the host system of migrating a previous logical partition to the at least one other host system.
US08863131B2

The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for reducing transaction load for process instance completion. One process includes identifying an end event triggered by an initial token of a process instance, determining a type of the end event, performing a search for additional tokens associated with the process instance that are distinct from the initial token, and performing a termination action based on the type of end event and a number of additional tokens identified in the search. The end event type may be non-terminating or terminating, and the end event type can determine the termination action to be performed. If the end event is non-terminating, then the termination action includes joining each finalization action for each process instance variable to a completion transaction if no additional tokens are found and executing the completion transaction to terminate the process instance.
US08863127B2

An analytics engine receives real-time statistics from a set of virtual machines supporting a line of business (LOB) application. The statistics relate to computing resource utilization and are used by the analytics engine to generate a prediction of demand for the LOB application in order to dynamically control the provisioning of virtual machines to support the LOB application.
US08863122B2

A system is operatively coupled to a remote computer via a network. The system comprises service processing logic and a server executing a virtual machine. The service processing logic controls the virtual machine as directed by the remote computer.
US08863120B2

In a virtual environment, a virtual machine (VM) host creates and displays one or more application shortcuts in the VM host. An application shortcut correlates to a software application that is installed in a VM guest. When the VM host receives an execution command for the application shortcut from the VM host, the VM host establishes a connection channel between the VM host and the VM guest and transmits a launch request to the VM guest via the connection channel. The VM guest launches the software application in response to the launch request.
US08863109B2

Updating secure pre-boot firmware in a computing system in real-time, including: storing in a secure firmware memory region a firmware update module configured to update the secure pre-boot firmware; responsive to a user request to update the secure pre-boot firmware: entering a processor management mode, including suspending operating system and user-level data processing operations; executing the firmware update module; and determining whether the secure pre-boot firmware was successfully updated; and exiting the processor management mode, including resuming operating system and user-level data processing operations and notifying the user of the successful update.
US08863104B2

Systems and methods for parallelizing applications that operate on irregular data structures. In an embodiment, the methods and systems enable programmers to use set iterators to express algorithms containing amorphous data parallelism. Parallelization can be achieved by speculatively executing multiple iterations of the iterator in parallel. Conflicts between speculatively executing iterations can be detected and handled using information in class libraries.
US08863102B2

A method for assembling an information processing application, includes: inputting a plurality of component descriptions, wherein each of the component descriptions includes a graph pattern that semantically describes an applicability condition of a component and a graph pattern that semantically describes an inclusion effect of the component; inputting a processing request, wherein the processing request includes a goal that is represented by a graph pattern that semantically describes a desired processing outcome; assembling a processing graph, wherein the processing graph includes at least one component that satisfies the desired processing outcome; and outputting the processing graph.
US08863100B2

An embodiment of the disclosure can compile source of an interactive application with debug options enabled. Execution activity of the interactive application can be enabled. A code path of a selected service of the interactive application can be executed in a debug environment using a user interface of the selected service to identify execution data associated with the selected service. Unresolved branch conditions in the execution data can be addressed for each code path of the selected service. A source extraction of the selected service can be performed.
US08863098B2

A computer-implemented method of processing a reified generic in an interface method written in a first programming language includes a processor accessing a definition and an invocation of the interface method from a memory device; the processor generating a definition of a general dispatch method in a second programming language; the processor generating definitions of special dispatch methods in the second programming language, each of the special dispatch methods corresponding to each primitive return type of the interface method the processor generating an invocation of either the general dispatch method or one of the special dispatch methods in the second programming language based on a return type of the interface method.
US08863095B2

A system includes a recording interface configured for receiving tagged information for recording system interactions. A recording module is configured for communicating with the recording interface and for recording the system interactions from a first computing environment between at least one application and a common component based on the tagged information. A repository is configured for storing the recorded system interactions. A playback interface is configured for retrieving a portion of the stored system interactions from the repository and playing back the retrieved portion of system interactions for simulating system interactions for a second computing environment.
US08863090B2

An approach is provided in a fake check-in event is received at a software application corresponding to a user of the software application. Fake check-ins are initiated on behalf of the user in response to the fake check-in event. The software application posts a set of fake check-in entries on behalf of the user while the user is away. The posted fake check-ins are visible by other users of the software application and are used to obfuscate others that the user is out-of-town. In one embodiment, check-in entries that are received from the user after fake check-ins have been initiated are cached. In this embodiment, a local check-in event is received when the user is within the user's geographical local area and the cached check-in entries are posted so that they are now visible by the other users of the software application.
US08863085B1

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for monitoring web applications are provided. An exemplary method for monitoring a web application includes executing a first test on a first browser residing on a server. The exemplary method also includes executing a second test on a second browser residing on the server. The first and second browsers are heterogeneous browsers and run in heterogeneous browser environments.
US08863082B2

Porting between local, cluster, and cloud execution is aided by using the same source code for multiple data sources. A data source identifier recited in source code maps to data sources at different execution targets. Executable codes tailored to successive targets are produced using a resolution API without changing the developer's source code. An editable data source mapping is per-project, maintained in a file or project property, and placed in a distributable software package with executable code. Burdens on developers to determine execution targets in their source code and explicitly handle different execution locations in the source code are reduced. Source code can be freed of absolute path data source identifiers or code for detecting execution location. Source-to-source translation injects calls to create a folder, file, or cloud container. Data source resolution can be based on a relative path rooted at the data source identifier.
US08863079B2

A tool, such as a compiler or an interpreter, receives program source code and determines that the code includes an operation for which type conversion is permitted on an operand. The tool determines a source type of the operand, and a target type to which the operand is to be converted. In response to determining that the source type is a reference type and the target type is a primitive type, the tool generates a set of instructions to (a) determine whether, at run time, in accordance with a class definition of the reference type, a value of the target primitive type can be obtained via one or more method invocations on the operand (b) if such a value can be obtained, obtain the value and assign the value to a result of the operation and (c) if such a value cannot be obtained, generate an error indication.
US08863074B2

A system and method for providing a software modeling framework which supports different types of dependency injection and other software modeling or software development frameworks, and which allows software developers to develop models that strategically layer different components for different implementations. A service provider interface (SPI) enables different DI frameworks to be incorporated into the system; while an application provider interface (API) enable machines or implementations to be constructed. Extenders can be modeled so that, for example a particular bundle requires a handler for a particular configuration manifest entry; while a particular module provides handling of that manifest entry.
US08863069B1

A system and method optimizes hardware description code generated from a graphical program or model automatically. The system may include a streaming optimizer, and a delay balancing engine. The streaming optimizer transforms one or more vector data paths in the source model to scalar data paths or to a smaller-sized vector data paths. The streaming optimizer may also configure portions of the modified model to execute at a faster rate. The delay balancing engine may examine the modified model to determine whether any delays or latencies have been introduced. If so, the delay balancing engine may insert one or more blocks into the modified model to correct for any data path misalignment caused by the introduction of the delays or latencies. A validation model, a report, or hardware description code that utilizes fewer hardware resources may be generated from the modified model.
US08863066B1

High performance clock distributions and similar wiring networks require improvements in reliability and performance. This is especially true when hierarchical wiring with different metal thicknesses is employed and when a smaller number of large, higher-power buffers are used to reduce timing variability. Routing of critical nets improves robustness, reliability, and resistance while minimizing track and power usage. The method further optimizes the use of multiple physical pins on buffers to achieve desired electrical criteria. This involves optimal selection of additional routing beyond what is needed to satisfy simple connectivity. The routing involves an iterative process to select and evaluate additional possible routes on multiple layers. Each iteration involves extraction and simulation or estimation, and additional routes are added until the desired electrical criteria are met.
US08863051B2

A method of calculating electrical interactions of circuit elements in an integrated circuit layout without flattening the entire database that describes the layout. In one embodiment, a hierarchical database is analyzed and resistance and capacitance calculations made for a repeating pattern of elements are re-used at each instance of the repeated pattern and adjusted for local conditions. In another embodiment, a circuit layout is converted into a number of tiles, wherein the resistance and capacitance calculations made for the circuit elements in the center and a boundary region of the tiles are computed separately and combined. Environmental information that affects electrical interaction between circuit elements in different levels of hierarchy is calculated at a lower level of hierarchy so that such calculations do not need to be made for each placement of a repeated cell and so that not all interacting elements need to be promoted to the same hierarchy level to compute the electrical interactions.
US08863047B1

The present invention relates to a photolithography capacity planning system and a non-transitory computer readable media thereof. The photolithography capacity planning system includes a cost calculation module, a capacity calculation module, a demand calculation module, and a data processing module. The cost calculation module calculates a production cost, an unfulfilled demand cost, and a mask cost of the photolithography manufacturing process. The capacity calculation module calculates a capacity of light sources, a capacity of shared equipments, and a capacity of specified equipments of the photolithography manufacturing process. The demand calculation module calculates a quantity of unfulfilled demand. The data processing module produces a planning result.
US08863046B2

Impedance control, and the uniformity of electrical and mechanical characteristics in electronic packaging are becoming more important as chip and bus speeds increase and manufacturing processes evolve. Current state of the art design and manufacture processes inherently introduce physical dielectric thickness variations into PCB cross sections. These thickness variations between the ground reference plane(s) and the signal layer(s) inject undesirable characteristic impedance variations and undesirable mechanical variations in thickness and surface topology. Therefore a multilayer electronic structure and a method of manufacture is presented.
US08863044B1

Candidate layout patterns can be assessed using a sparse pattern dictionary of known design layout patterns by determining sparse coefficients for each candidate pattern, reconstructing the respective candidate pattern, and determining reconstruction error. Any pattern with reconstruction error over a threshold value can be flagged. Compressive sampling can be employed, such as by projecting each candidate pattern onto a random line or a random matrix. The dictionary can be built by determining sparse coefficients of known patterns and respective basis function sets using matching pursuit, variants of SVD, and/or other techniques.
US08863042B2

A system is described for reconfiguring touch controls on a device, such as a cell phone, in reaction to a user's changing mode of operation. For example, a standard display of icons that works well in two-handed operation may not work as well for one-handed operation where the user tries to operate the controls with a thumb of the holding hand. A device can detect that the user is trying to operate the controls with a thumb of the holding hand and the controls can be reconfigured to be more suitable for thumb operation. Reconfiguration can also occur in other modes of operation, such as when the user is using a stylus, multiple fingers of a second (non-holding hand), fingers on both hands, etc. In some embodiments, detection of the mode of operation can be automatic such as where a camera takes an image to determine the mode.
US08863037B2

A handheld electronic communication device includes a plurality of text entry keys arranged in a keyfield. A user navigates among alphabetic selections shown on a display by moving his fingers across keys lying within a navigation travel region and other wise generally used to effect text entry into the device.
US08863033B2

This disclosure describes embodiments of systems and methods for performing inspections of an asset. The systems can include an inspection apparatus that executes a menu directed inspection (MDI) protocol to direct an inspector that performs the inspection. The MDI protocol includes, in one example, reference material that is associated with areas of the asset that the inspector will inspect. This reference material can include data and information (e.g., technical manuals, operating manuals, images, etc.). In one embodiment, the method includes one or more steps for building an inspection tree with inspection points that correspond to the inspection areas on the asset. The method can also comprise steps for assigning or associating the reference material to inspection points, which is then available to the inspector on the inspection apparatus during execution of the MDI protocol.
US08863032B2

The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for presenting object properties by receiving selection of a component of a model presented in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer aided design tool, the GUI including an interactive display element having an arrangement of property fields related to the selected component, determining property values associated with the property fields based on the selected component, and providing the determined property values in corresponding property fields of the interactive display element for presentation in the GUI in conjunction with the model, such that responsive to receiving selection of a different component of the model, the property fields are updated with property values corresponding to the different component.
US08863027B2

In response to receiving a first user action in relation to an object displayed on the rendered display, a collar is displayed on the rendered display around the object. The collar and the object can be made translucent. The collar can have the same shape as the object, but can be larger in size than the object. In response to receiving a second user action in relation to the collar, the object and the collar are moved on the rendered display in correspondence with the second user action, without finalizing a current location of the object on the rendered display after the second user action has been completed. In response to receiving a third user action, the current location of the object is finalized on the rendered display and the collar is removed from around the object on the rendered display.
US08863022B2

Two different process management views can be displayed, and a user can request to switch between the two views. The user can select a process in either view and have the selected process terminated. One view is a simplified view that identifies processes and whether they are non-responsive. The other view is an expanded view that identifies processes and the amount of various system resources used by each of those processes. Various additional information can be displayed in the expanded view, such as identifiers of various windows, tabs, and/or services associated with each of the processes.
US08863006B2

Methods and apparatus for providing an inter-service application, wherein connections of a network service are accessed to facilitate the transfer of an article to a list of participants. The article is transferred to and displayed on the desktop environment of a participant. In some embodiments, a timer is initiated on the first transfer, whereupon expiration of the timer, a termination sequence is performed. The termination sequence terminates transfer of the article to the participant list and further displays a graphical presentation to the current participant. Additional methods and apparatus are described.
US08863005B2

A system and method for creating extension fields for business objects are described. In various embodiments, a system includes modules to display business processes and business objects thereof in graphical user interface screens. In various embodiments, the system propagates created extension fields to other business objects via metadata derived from selections in the graphical user interface. In various embodiments, a method for propagating extension fields from one business object to another business object via a data flow between the two business objects is presented. In various embodiments, the method receives instructions from a graphical user interface for the propagation of an extension field and sends instructions to a backend module to propagate the extension field from the source business object to the other business object.
US08863003B2

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a message handling system for displaying messages in a structured way. The message handling system may store template messages in a table of a database and generate messages using the template messages. The message handling system may further assess a display area for displaying the generated messages and determine whether all of the generated messages can be viewed on the display area without scrolling. If not, the message handling system may determine whether there are more than one type of generated messages. If there are more than one type of generated messages, the message handling system may group the messages based on message types; and display a list of messages in a plurality of message groups. Each message group may be displayed with a representative message and a link for other similar message in the message group.
US08862988B2

An apparatus, method and computer readable medium are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a keyboard including keys, a plurality of the keys each being associated with a polysemous symbol relating to a concept represented by a Chinese radical; and a processor, to determine whether or not a plurality of symbols, associated with a plurality of selected keys, form a sequence of symbols associated with at least one Chinese character, and, in response to determining that the plurality of selected symbols form a sequence of symbols associated with at least one Chinese character, to instruct output of the at least one Chinese character. A plurality of the keys may include each of a polysemous symbol, a Chinese radical, a Chinese measure word character and a Pinyin/Bopomofo letter, each associated with one another.
US08862987B2

Methods and apparatuses receiving a plurality of images and metadata associated with each respective image, determining a viewpoint of one of the images of the plurality, the viewpoint to represent the location and orientation of the image capture device when the image was captured and creating a view including the plurality of images, wherein placement of the images based on each images respective metadata and the determined viewpoint.
US08862986B2

A user-specified layout of graphic objects is received. A relative layout specification is derived from the user-specified layout. The relative layout specification describes relative positions of the graphic objects. A final layout of the graphic objects is determined in accordance with the relative layout specification. The final layout includes a specification of size dimensions and positions of the graphic objects on a page. The final layout of graphic objects is output.
US08862976B1

In one aspect of a computer-implemented method of diagnosing formatting errors in document renderings, first and second renderings of a document are generated that correspond respectively to first and second locales. A first difference in a display characteristic of a first textual element of the document in the second rendering as compared to the first rendering is identified based on a first predefined criterion. A report is generated specifying the first textual element as having the first difference. In another aspect of the method, a rendering of a document is generated that corresponds to a locale. It is determined that a first element of the document having a first element type has a format in the rendering distinct from a format associated with the first element type in the locale. A report is generated specifying that the first element has a potential formatting error.
US08862972B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes first and second data detectors and an error cancellation circuit. The first data detector is operable to perform a data detection process on a first signal derived from a data input to yield a detected output. The second data detector circuit is operable to perform a data detection process on a second signal derived from the data input to yield a second detected output. The error cancellation circuit is operable to combine a first error signal derived from the detected output with a second error signal derived from the second detected output to yield a feedback signal. The feedback signal is operable to modify the data input during a subsequent period.
US08862969B2

In one embodiment, an encoder reads a set of data from memory cells to obtain retrieved data influenced by one or more distortion mechanisms as a result of having been stored. A quality metric is generated responsive to the retrieved data that changes in value responsive to differences between the user data and the associated retrieved data. A quality monitor establishes a relationship between a current value of the quality metric and a threshold value and monitors the relationship as being indicative of a degradation of the quality of the retrieved data, and selectively initiates an error response. In another embodiment, a correction value is iterated through a set of values as a quality metric is monitored such that the value of the quality metric which most closely approaches the value of the quality metric immediately subsequent to an initial writing of the data can be selected.
US08862961B2

The present inventions are related to systems and methods for an LDPC decoder with dynamic Tanner graph modification, and in particular, to a non-erasure channel LDPC decoder that implements a probabilistic approach to Tanner graph modification.
US08862960B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a low density parity check encoding system is described that includes: a low density parity check encoder circuit, and a combining circuit. The low density parity check encoder circuit is operable to encode a first data set to yield a first low density parity check encoded sub-codeword, and to encode a second data set to yield a second low density parity check encoded sub-codeword. The combining circuit is operable to: generate a composite low density parity check sub-codeword by mathematically combining at least the first low density parity check encoded sub-codeword and the second low density parity check encoded sub-codeword; and combine at least the first low density parity check encoded sub-codeword and the composite low density parity check sub-codeword into an overall codeword.
US08862957B2

The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for data processing systems with symbol selective scaling interacting with parity forcing.
US08862952B1

A data storage system configured to perform prioritized memory scanning for memory errors is disclosed. In one embodiment, the data storage system prioritizes scanning for memory errors based on a quality attribute of pages or zones of a non-volatile memory array. Pages or zones having quality attributes that reflect a lower level of reliability or endurance than other pages or zones are scanned more frequently for memory errors. When memory errors are discovered, the quality attribute of pages or zones can be adjusted to reflect a lower level of reliability or endurance. In addition, stored data can be recovered before it may become permanently lost and before a host system reads the stored data. Improved performance of the data storage system is thereby attained.
US08862947B1

The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for application lifecycle management including providing a first application version to initial computing devices. The method includes receiving first crash reports from the first application version. The method includes determining that the first crash reports include more than a first threshold of reports. The method includes preventing provision of the first application version to additional computing devices in response to determining that the first crash reports include more than the first threshold of reports. The method includes receiving second crash reports from the first application version. The method includes determining that the second crash reports include less than a second threshold of reports. The method includes providing the first application version to the additional computing devices in response to determining that the second crash reports include less than the second threshold of reports.
US08862940B2

Integrated fuzzing techniques are described. A fuzzing system may employ a container configured as a separate component that can host different target pages to implement fuzzing for an application. A hosted target file is loaded as a subcomponent of the container and parsed to recognize functionality of the application invoked by the file. In at least some embodiments, this involves building a document object model (DOM) for a browser page and determining DOM interfaces of a browser to call based on the page DOM. The container then operates to systematically invoke the recognized functionality to cause and detect failures. Additionally, the container may operate to perform iterative fuzzing with multiple test files in an automation mode. Log files may be created to describe the testing and enable both self-contained replaying of failures and coverage analysis for multiple test runs.
US08862939B2

A network system configured from a test device that executes a test including a continuity test and a performance test of a network configured from a plurality of transfer devices and a management server that requests an execution of the test for the test device, in this way, one or more backup session used for executing the test is selected from a plurality of sessions, the test is executed for a processing interval in a success, a next test is executed by the backup session when the processing time for the test exceeds over a specified time, thereby, a large number of tests can be executed and the test can be executed regularly even when the processing time becomes longer caused by a failure etc.
US08862938B2

A system includes at least one monitored device collect data detect and detect an error in the data, a central server, and at least one local server communicatively coupled to the monitored device and the central server. The local server is configured to receive the data and an indication of the error detected from the monitored device, determine a solution for use in resolving the error, transmit instructions to perform the solution to the monitored device, and transmit the error and the solution to the central server for storage.
US08862922B2

A power cap agent establishes a power cap. The power cap agent throttles a first power priority virtual machine. The power cap agent determines that the first power priority virtual machine and the additional power priority virtual machine contribute to power consumption above the power cap among the plurality of servers. The power cap agent throttles the additional power priority virtual machine, wherein the first power priority virtual machine has a first power priority lower than an additional power priority of the additional power priority virtual machine. The power cap agent determines that the first power priority virtual machine and the additional power priority virtual machine contribute to power consumption above the power cap, responsive to throttling the first power priority virtual machine and throttling the additional virtual machine.
US08862921B1

An apparatus for remote wake-up during dedicated charging mode includes: a USB transceiver port; a USB connector port; a switch network coupling the USB transceiver port to the USB connector port; and control logic coupled to the switch network and operative to control the switch network to disconnect the USB transceiver port from the USB connector port during a dedicated charger operational mode and to connect the USB transceiver port to the USB connector port upon the detection of a potential remote wake-up condition.
US08862916B2

The present disclosure illustrates a power controller adapted for controlling the operation of a power socket. The power controller includes a first signal transmission interface and a first micro-control unit. The first signal transmission interface receives power control flow data and a mode signal for the peripheral devices of a host computer. The first micro-control unit outputs a control signal in accordance with the received periphery power control flow data and the received mode signal from a host computer. Further, the first micro-control unit through the communication established between a first communication unit and the second communication unit of the power socket outputs a control signal to the power socket, in order to control the power socket to power or not to power the peripheral devices after a predetermined time delay.
US08862911B2

An information processing apparatus includes a processing unit, a power supply control unit configured to control powering on and off of the processing unit, and a controller unit configured to access the processing unit irrespective of a power supply state of the processing unit. The power supply control unit powers off a processing unit that is not in use, powers on a processing unit that is accessed by the controller unit, and outputs a predetermined control signal to the controller unit. The controller unit recognizes that an error occurs in a case where, after accessing a processing unit, the controller unit does not receive a response from the accessed processing unit until a time-out time elapses, and delays recognizing the error when the control signal is received.
US08862897B2

A method, system, and computer program product for using hidden buffer formatting and passing obfuscated encryption key values to detect tampering with and/or prevent unauthorized inspection of a data buffer. The method comprises receiving an unencrypted sequence to be encrypted, selecting a layout version to associate to an encryption method and a checksum method, then encrypting the unencrypted sequence using the encryption method to form an encrypted sequence, and calculating, using the checksum calculation method, an unencrypted sequence checksum. Further, storing the encrypted sequence to form a hidden buffer payload, which hidden buffer has its own hidden buffer payload checksum. Encryption keys are not stored in program data, nor sent in the hidden buffers. Instead obfuscated encryption key values are used to generate keys on the fly. The receiver of a hidden buffer and obfuscated encryption key values can detect tampering or data corruption of the payload for further processing.
US08862887B1

In one embodiment, a method for providing user contributions for shared content on a network includes receiving content at a network system for publication on the network system where content is not currently being published. The method determines that the content is associated with one or more stored previous user contributions that were contributed by one or more users of a previous network system and previously published with the content on the previous system. The previous user contributions are obtained, and the content and the previous user contributions are published on the network system to allow access by users of the network system.
US08862883B2

An example method includes receiving a request for a cloud capability set during an Internet Key Exchange negotiation associated with a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel between a subscriber and a cloud, wherein the cloud capability set comprises one or more cloud capabilities, mapping the request to one or more cryptographic modules that can support the cloud capability set, and offloading the VPN tunnel to the one or more cryptographic modules. The request can be an Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP) packet listing the one or more cloud capabilities in a private payload. The method may further include splitting the VPN tunnel between the cryptographic modules if no single cryptographic module can support substantially all the cloud capabilities in the cloud capability set. In some embodiments, the request is compared with a service catalog comprising authorized cloud capabilities.
US08862872B2

Aspects describe spectrum authorization, access control, and configuration parameters validation. Devices in an ad-hoc or peer-to-peer configuration can utilize a licensed spectrum if the devices are authorized to use the spectrum, which can be determined automatically. Aspects relate to distribution of authorization tickets by an authorization server as a result of validating a device's credentials and services to which the device is entitled. An exchange and verification of authorization tickets can be performed by devices as a condition for enabling a validated wireless link using the spectrum.
US08862866B2

A method of communicating in a secure communication system, comprises the steps of assembling a message at a sender, then determining a security level, and including an indication of the security level in a header of the message. The message is then sent to a recipient.
US08862864B2

An information device has a storage medium storing information items which includes a first program provided on a first partition, a second program and data provided on a second partition to restore the first program on the first partition to a predetermined state, a boot block which causes system activation from one of the first partition and the second partition, and an active-partition switching program which indicates, to the boot block, one of the first and second partitions. An input/output system activates the active-partition switching program when a specific operation is performed. The active-partition stitching program indicates to the boot block that system activation is to be executed from the second partition.
US08862863B2

Apparatuses, master-slave detect circuits, memories, and methods are disclosed. One such method includes performing a master detect phase during which a memory unit in a memory group is determined to be a master memory unit, determining at each memory unit its location relative to other memory units, and determining at each memory unit its location in the memory group based on a total number of slave memory units and its location relative to other memory units.
US08862860B2

Methods and apparatus may operate to receive allocation requests from a processor configured to manage memory comprising a non-volatile memory device configurable as a plurality of blocks comprising a plurality of sectors, assign partial page blocks from the plurality of blocks for memory storage, fill some of the sectors by storing data bits associated with the allocation request in the at least one of the plurality of sectors, determine that the sectors are full, assigning a full page block from the plurality of blocks, and transfer the data bits associated with the allocation request from the partial page blocks to the full page block. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08862858B1

A computer-implemented method and apparatus manages block mapping. The block mapping maps physical blocks in a block storage device to virtual blocks of a virtual address space. The method involves assigning a generation number from a net of generation numbers to each block mapping entry, where the block mapping entry correlates a physical block with a virtual block. A maximum generation number of the set of generation numbers is increased and a first block mapping entry is marked dirty in response to an update of a correlated first virtual block. A generation number of the first block mapping entry is set to the maximum generation number. Finally, a generation number of a second block mapping entry having a lowest generation number is set to a generation number of the first block mapping entry.
US08862857B2

A data access processing method and apparatus, the method comprising: copying a kernel code and a global descriptor table on a memory of each of nodes respectively (101); making base addresses of kernel code segments on the respective nodes in the global descriptor table respectively point to linear addresses of the kernel code corresponding to the respective nodes based on a virtual address of the kernel code (102); and recording a mapping relation between the linear addresses of the kernel code corresponding to the respective nodes and physical addresses of the respective nodes in a kernel page table respectively, to enable a process to access the kernel code locally in the respective nodes (103). The apparatus comprises a copying module (401), a modifying module (402) and a recording module (403).
US08862854B2

The invention relates to hardware decoders that efficiently expand a small number of input bits to a large number of output bits, while providing considerable flexibility in selecting the output instances. One main area of application of the invention is in pin-limited environments, such as field programmable gates array (FPGA) used with dynamic reconfiguration. The invention includes a mapping unit that is a circuit, possibly in combination with a reconfigurable memory device. The circuit has as input a z-bit source word having a value at each bit position and it outputs an n-bit output word, where n>z, where the value of each bit position of the n-bit output word is based upon the value of a pre-selected hardwired one of the bit positions in the x-bit word, where the said pre-selected hardwired bit positions is selected by a selector address. The invention may include a second reconfigurable memory device that outputs the z-bit source word, based upon an x-bit source address input to the second memory device, where x
US08862853B2

A system and method for high performance secure access to a trusted platform module on a hardware virtualization platform, which includes Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) managed components coupled to the VMM and a plurality of Virtual Machines (VMs). One of the VMM managed components is a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Each virtual machine includes a guest Operating System, a TPM device driver (TDD), and at least one security application. The VMM creates an intra-partition in memory for each TDD such that other code and information at a same or higher privilege level in the VM cannot access the TDD's memory contents. The VMM also maps access only from the TDD to a TPM register space specifically designated for the VM requesting access. Contents of the TPM requested by the TDD are stored in an exclusively VMM-managed protected page table that provides hardware-based memory isolation for the TDD.
US08862852B2

A method is disclosed to selectively provide information to one or more remote computing devices. The method provides an information storage and retrieval system comprising first information, a first logical partition, and a second logical partition, where the first information is disposed in the first logical partition. The method further provides a data extraction algorithm, forms second information comprising an instantaneous point-in-time copy of the first information, and forms third information from the second information using the data extraction algorithm. The method then migrates the third information from the first logical partition to the second logical partition, and provides access rights to that third information to one or more computing devices capable of communicating with the information storage and retrieval system.
US08862847B2

A distributed data storage method, apparatus, and system for reducing a data loss that may result from a single-point failure. The method includes: splitting a data file to generate K data slices, splitting each data slice of the K data slices to generate M data blocks for each data slice, and performing check coding on the M data blocks by using a redundancy algorithm to generate N check blocks; determining, by using a random algorithm, a first physical storage node corresponding to one block of the M data blocks and the N check blocks, and determining at least M+1 different physical storage nodes based on the determined first physical storage node and according to a first rule-based sorting manner; and storing at least M+1 blocks of the M data blocks and the N check blocks onto the at least M+1 different storage nodes, where K, M, and N are integers.
US08862846B2

A control apparatus includes a processor. The processor determines, upon detecting a read error on a first volume of a storage under a non-equivalent state, a first storage area in which the read error has occurred. The first storage area is included in the first volume. The processor determines whether a write process has been conducted on the first storage area under the non-equivalent state. The processor determines whether a write process has been conducted on a second storage area under the non-equivalent state. The second storage area is included in a second volume of a storage and corresponds to the first storage area. The processor copies data stored in the second storage area to the first storage area when no write process has been conducted on the first storage area and the second storage area under the non-equivalent state.
US08862844B2

Upon production of a backup of a first generation, all of an operation volume is stored. However, upon production of a backup of a second or later generation, an update situation of the operation volume is confirmed, and a physical region of a capacity corresponding to a capacity of an update region of the operation volume is secured. Then, only data of the update region is stored into the secured physical region.
US08862842B2

A data recovery system is disclosed that permits recovery of data in a computer memory. The system includes an update storage system, a long-term storage system, a coupling functional circuit, and a parity register. The update storage system is for providing backup storage of recently updated data. The long-term storage system is for providing backup storage of data that has not been recently updated. The coupling functional circuit is for providing a bit-wise commutative binary operation of data from the update storage system and from the long term storage system. The parity register is for maintaining parity snapshots of the output of the coupling functional circuit.
US08862841B2

One embodiment of the present invention provides a distributed, differential electronic-data backup and archiving system that includes client computers and cells. Client computers execute front-end-application components of the distributed, differential electronic-data backup and archiving system, the front-end application components receiving data objects from client computers and sending the received data objects to cells of the distributed, differential electronic-data backup and archiving system for storage. Cells within the distributed, differential electronic-data backup and archiving system store the data objects, each cell comprising at least one computer system with attached mass-storage and each cell storing entire data objects as lists that reference stored, unique data chunks within the cell, a cell storing all of the unique data chunks for all data objects stored in the cell.
US08862834B2

Aspects include a system, method and computer program product for providing a shared memory translation facility. The method includes receiving a request for access to a memory address from a requestor at a configuration, the receiving at a shared memory translation mechanism. It is determined whether the memory address refers to a shared memory object (SMO), the SMO accessible by a plurality of configurations managed in different zones of memory. Based on determining that the memory address refers to the SMO, it is determined whether the configuration has access to the SMO. Based on determining that the configuration has access to the SMO, the requestor is provided a system absolute address for the SMO and access to the SMO. In this manner direct interchange of data between the configuration and the plurality of configurations is allowed.
US08862830B2

Provided are a computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for caching a data object. A copy of an original data object to a specified depth is obtained. The copy of the original data object to the specified depth is cached with reference to the original data object in a prototype chain. A change to a value of a property of the cached copy is received. A new property entry is created for the changed value of the property under the cached copy. A change flag is set to indicate that there is a changed value for the property.
US08862827B2

A cache manager receives a request for data, which includes a requested effective address. The cache manager determines whether the requested effective address matches a most recently used effective address stored in a mapped tag vector. When the most recently used effective address matches the requested effective address, the cache manager identifies a corresponding cache location and retrieves the data from the identified cache location. However, when the most recently used effective address fails to match the requested effective address, the cache manager determines whether the requested effective address matches a subsequent effective address stored in the mapped tag vector. When the cache manager determines a match to a subsequent effective address, the cache manager identifies a different cache location corresponding to the subsequent effective address and retrieves the data from the different cache location.
US08862825B2

A processor and an operating method are described. By diversifying an L1 memory being accessed, based on an execution mode of the processor, an operating performance of the processor may be enhanced. By disposing a local/stack section in a system dynamic random access memory (DRAM) located external to the processor, a size of a scratch pad memory may be reduced without deteriorating a performance. While a core of the processor is performing in a very long instruction word (VLIW) mode, the core may data-access a cache memory and thus, a bottleneck may not occur with respect to the scratch pad memory even though a memory access occurs with respect to the scratch pad memory by an external component.
US08862818B1

A system and method for writing data a series of partial stripe writes to a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) with parity system. In one embodiment, the RAID with parity system is implemented as a log-structured storage system. In the RAID with parity system, each of the partial stripe writes can be issued before the active stripe is fully written. To buffer each partial stripe write, some data from each partial stripe write can be written to a scratch stripe before being written to the active stripe so that only writes of a predetermined size are issued to the active stripe. Other embodiments are also described herein.
US08862816B2

Systems, methods, and computer program products for mirroring dual writeable storage arrays are provided. Various embodiments provide configurations including two or more mirrored storage arrays that are each capable of being written to by different hosts. When commands to write data to corresponding mirrored data blocks within the respective storage arrays are received from different hosts at substantially the same time, write priority for writing data to the mirrored data blocks is given to one of the storage arrays based on a predetermined criterion or multiple predetermined criteria.
US08862811B2

Disclosed herein is a device that a device including first data lines transmitting a plurality of sequential first data bits, respectively, second data lines transmitting a plurality of sequential second data bits, respectively, third data lines transmitting a plurality of sequential third data bits, respectively, a BOC circuit rearranging order of the plurality of first data bits supplied from the plurality of first data lines in accordance with address information, the BOC circuit supplying the resultant to the plurality of second data lines as the plurality of second data bits, and a DBI circuit performing inversion or non-inversion of the plurality of second data bits supplied from the plurality of second data lines independently of each other in accordance with a predetermined condition, the DBI circuit supplying the resultant to the plurality of third data lines as the plurality of third data bits.
US08862805B2

A storage system has a plurality of flash packages, and a storage controller for receiving a write request from a host and sending a write-data write request based on data conforming to this write request to a write-destination flash package. A virtual capacity, which is larger than the physical capacity of the flash package, is defined in the storage controller. The storage system compresses the write data, and writes the compressed write data to the write-destination flash chip.
US08862803B2

An apparatus for mediating communication between a universal serial bus (USB) device and a host computing device is described. In an example, the apparatus includes a USB host interface configured to be connected to a downstream USB device, and a USB device interface configured to be connected to an upstream host computing device. The apparatus also includes a mediation module positioned between the USB host interface and the USB device interface and configured to determine whether the USB device is authorized to communicate with the host computing device.
US08862797B2

There are disclosed systems and methods for reducing the average delay and the average delay variation of network communication data in a buffer. The buffer comprises a plurality of memory entries, and associated with the buffer is a read point and a write pointer. The buffer has a depth defined as the number of memory entries in the buffer between the memory entry pointed to by the read pointer and the memory entry pointed to by the write pointer. In one embodiment, at least one of the read pointer and the write pointer is initially set to establish the depth of the buffer to be a first value. The variation of the depth of the buffer is then monitored for a predetermined period of time as network communication data flows through the buffer. The depth of the buffer is then reduced based upon this monitoring.
US08862796B1

Configurations providing a configurable buffer for storing incoming event tracking data communications in a lossy manner are described. In one aspect, a server can utilize the configurable buffer for storing the incoming event tracking data communications. When the buffer becomes full, the server can transmit the accumulated tracking data communications in the configuration buffer as a batch transmission. The server can discard any new incoming requests once the buffer becomes full. Further, the server can replace data in the buffer with new incoming requests based on one or more criterion if the buffer is full.In some implementations, the server transmits the batch of the accumulated tracking data communications in the configurable buffer after a predetermined time has elapsed.
US08862792B2

Retrieval of status information from a remote device performed on a host system is provided, wherein the remote device is connected to the host system via a bus system comprising at least two signal lines terminated with resistors on the host system side and on the remote device side. The retrieval method includes: activating a sensing phase; sensing the at least two terminated signal lines during the sensing phase; and determining operating state of the remote device based on the sensing result; wherein at least a first operating state representing a connected and powered remote device is detectable.
US08862791B2

An electronic device to determine a type of digital interface between a source device and a sink device. A control unit of the sink device may include a determining unit which determines whether or not the source device is connected to this sink device, and whether or not the digital interface of a data transmission unit of the source device is a HDMI standard or a new standard. When a data reception unit can handle both the HDMI standard and new standard, based on the determination result of the determining unit, a control unit may switch the operation of the data reception unit so as to perform an operation in accordance with the digital interface of the data transmission unit of the source device. A connector unit for connecting the devices which may operate using the digital interfaces of HDMI and the new standard can be shared.
US08862788B2

A startup method and circuit to allow high current consumption for startup processes of a low operating voltage memory device such as a NAND device until the receipt of a valid command to the memory device. Upon receipt of a valid command, startup functions are ceased at the high current consumption, and normal operation begins without the need for using an unreliable low voltage power on reset circuit.
US08862786B2

Program execution with improved power efficiency including a computer program that for performing a method that includes determining a current power state of a processor. Low power state instructions of an application are executed on the processor in response to determining that the current power state of the processor is a low power state. Executing the low power state instructions includes collecting hardware state data, storing the hardware state data, and performing a task. High power state instructions of the application are executed on the processor in response to determining that the current power state of the processor is a high power state. Executing the high power state instructions includes performing the task using the stored hardware state data as an input.
US08862784B2

A network interface device in a manufacturing system may receive communications from remote users in a database query language. The network interface device may translate or forward commands and queries in a pump-supported language. The network interface device may communicate the commands and queries to pumps and other components on the manufacturing process using the pump-supported language. The results of the command or query may be returned to the network interface device, which may send the information to a database. A GUI allows the remote user to check states of pumps or other functions.
US08862770B1

A method and apparatus for tracking packets in a processor architecture verification system are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the method comprises identifying a completion event associated with the transfer of a packet across a point to point link network of a virtual bus interface; creating an identification for the packet; and storing data associated with the packet in a database, the data being indexable by way of the identification.
US08862768B2

Aspects of a method and system for packetizing data for servicing traffic end-to-end are provided. In this regard, a networking subsystem may receive, from an application, one or more values of one or more parameters associated with data generated by the application. The networking subsystem may packetize the data into one or more packets. The networking subsystem may translate the received one or more values into one or more corresponding OSI layer 2 tags. The networking subsystem may tag the one or more packets with the corresponding OSI layer 2 tags and transmit the tagged packet(s) to one or more link partners. The link partners may thus process and forward the tagged packet(s) by inspecting only OSI layer 2 information of the tagged packet(s). The one or more corresponding OSI layer 2 tags may indicate, for example, quality of service required by, and/or protocols associated with, the data.
US08862756B2

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for facilitating data flow between a first application programming interface (“API”) and a second API. The function receiving module receives a first function call from a calling application. The first function call is directed at one or more files comprising an API signature according to the first API. The function converting module converts the first function call according to the first API into a second function call according to a second API. The sending module sends the second function call to a processing application. The result receiving module receives a first data result from the processing application according to the second API. The result converting module converts the first data result according to the second API to a second data result according to the first API. The returning module returns the second data result to the calling application.
US08862751B2

The invention is a system and method of controlling an access of a subscriber to a network. The method includes sending an identification of the subscriber and a level of access to be provided to the subscriber from a visited network of a plurality of networks (12, 14, 16) connected to a home network (10); in response to the identification of the subscriber and a level of access to be provided to the subscriber, storing a subscriber profile of the authorized of access to be provided to the subscriber; and controlling access of the subscriber to any network dependent upon a comparison of access to be provided to the subscriber and the stored subscriber profile.
US08862745B2

An automatic network domain diagnostic, repair, and mapping tool facilitates access by a user to shared resources on a network. A user provides an address, such as a domain name system (DNS) address, of the shared resource and user identification information, such as a username and password. The provided address is checked and repaired if necessary to identify the network server having the shared resource. The identified server is checked, such as by pinging the server, to ensure that it is actually responding. The supplied user identification is checked, such as by querying a domain controller, to confirm whether the user identification corresponds to an existing account. When the checks are complete, and everything is found to be in order, the shared resource is mapped automatically for the user.
US08862743B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing resources in a computing system. A plurality of distributed computing system resources are represented as nodes in a graph. Links between the nodes are defined, where each link in the links representing ownership or usage by a parent node of a respective resource represented by a child node. A message is sent from a source node in the graph to a target node in the graph wherein the source node is linked directly or indirectly to the target node. The message is processed by a message handler task associated with the target node, wherein processing includes allocating or deallocating a respective resource represented by the target node.
US08862740B2

In a network, a user can configure host-level policies usable for load balancing traffic to servers of a domain. A global server load balancing (GSLB) switch provides load balancing to the servers, and is configured with the GSLB host-level policies. Users can define a host-level policy (alternatively or additionally to a globally applied GSLB policy) and apply the host-level policy to hosts in domains configured on the GSLB switch. Thus, the user can enable different policies for different hosts. This allows the user to have the flexibility to control metrics used for selection of a best address for querying clients, as well as the metric order and additional parameters used in the GSLB process, at the host level.
US08862734B2

In one embodiment, a system and method is disclosed for changing the resource availability of a particular user in a manner calculated to add the least cost to the user. A cluster of partition servers are arranged, in one embodiment, with a master controller for keeping track at any point in time as to the different licensing costs involved with different methods of adding resource capacity. When a user requires additional capacity the system calculates which of several possible resource enhancements to initiate based upon a least cost analysis.
US08862730B1

Providing security for a network is disclosed. Network traffic associated with a host is monitored. If an activity pattern associated with a configuration change of the host is observed, access by the host to the network is restricted based at least in part on the observed activity pattern.
US08862722B2

An approach is provided for monitoring network environment changes. A plurality of events relating to activation of one or more network elements are tracked, wherein the events include movement of cables for the network element and activities corresponding to verification of connections over the cables. Event information relating to the events are stored. The event information includes status information of the verification of the connections. Access is provided to the stored event information for presentation via a portal.
US08862720B2

A cloud management system can maintain a set of “virtual groups,” and assign different “virtual groups” to particular computing resources of both local and external clouds. The “virtual groups” can be based on the particular usage (type of virtual machine, application of the virtual machine, function of the virtual machine, and the like) of the members in the groups and/or can be based on the specifications of the computing resources (type and amount of computing resources). When instantiating virtual machines in local or external clouds, the cloud management system can utilize the “virtual groups” to identify and allocate the computing resources.
US08862713B2

Disclosed are an apparatus and methods of remotely managing a managed machine over a communication network. One example method of operation may include identifying the managed machine operating in a communication network and transmitting a connection establishment message to the managed machine over the communication network. In response, an acceptance message may be received from the manage machine. Once a secure channel has been established, the administrator may begin transmitting a command prompt command over the communication network to be executed on the managed machine. The management operations may be performed from a browser-based application.
US08862709B2

Systems and arrangements for remotely selecting a bootable image via a WOL packet for a wake-on-LAN (WOL) capable computer are contemplated. Server-side embodiments include hardware and/or software for determining a client to be managed, determining whether the client is active on the network, and transmitting a WOL packet having a vector, or operating system partition identification (OSPID), to describe a bootable image accessible by the WOL capable computer. Some embodiments may include an OSPID that points to a secure bootable image such as a bootable image on a hard drive, a compact disk (CD) connected to the computer, or other local resource. Client-side embodiments may receive the WOL packet at, for instance, a network interface card (NIC), recognize that the WOL packet includes an OSPID that describes the bootable image to boot, and implement an alternative boot sequence to boot from that bootable image.
US08862705B2

In general, this disclosure describes network security techniques that may accommodate legitimate movement of a subscriber device while preventing MAC collisions that may result from configuration errors or MAC spoofing attempts. MAC spoofing may result in packets directed to one subscriber device being sent instead to another subscriber device. By modifying an access node or a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server to allow only authorized subscriber devices on the access network, layer two collisions (“MAC collisions”) may be prevented.
US08862703B2

A mechanism is provided for attributing network addresses to virtual machines. A request for a number of addresses is received from a requesting entity, thereby forming a requested number of addresses. A length of continuous ranges of available addresses is compared to the requested number of addresses. A range of available addresses comprising a number of addresses greater than the requested number of addresses is selected from a memory, thereby forming a selected range of available addresses. A first new range comprising the requested number of addresses excised from the selected range of available addresses is defined and one or more further new ranges are defined comprising the remainder of the selected range of available addresses not belonging to the first new range. The first new range is attributed for the use of the requesting entity.
US08862699B2

A reputation based redirection service is usable to build URL wrappers for un-trusted and unknown URLs. Such URL wrappers can be used to protect Web users by, for example, redirecting traffic to interstitial Web pages. Additionally, reputation decisions can be made by the service to further protect users from malicious URLs.
US08862693B2

A mobile device supports a mobile server hosting an HTML web site. The mobile device has an identifier and receives dynamically updated IP addresses from a network connected through a firewall to the Internet. The mobile device reports received updates of the IP address to an HTTP server in the network that interfaces with the Internet. The HTTP server updates a redirect address record associating the identifier of the mobile device with the reported IP address. The HTTP server receives, from a web browser in the Internet, an HTTP request having the identifier of the mobile device. The HTTP server, using the redirect address record, redirects the web browser to the mobile device. The web browser sends an HTTP request directly to the mobile device.
US08862691B2

A system and methods for aggregating content, displaying the aggregated content to a user for selection, and if more than one of the same file is detected, determining which file to play back to the user. When a request to view a certain type of content is received from the user, personal content themes are identified based on content stored on the user's local network. Remote content providers are searched for content relevant to the personal content themes. The relevant content is displayed to the user based on a total relevance score. The user selects a piece of content displayed in the interface. If more than one media file for the selected piece of content is identified, the optimal media file is selected and played back to the user.
US08862682B2

An improved method of using sockets in connection with TCP over certain local networks, such as the enhanced Ethernet. In particular, an accelerated socket protocol is provided to enhance data communications between different host computer systems connected to an enhanced Ethernet network. Under the accelerated socket protocol, a host computer, while sending a number of data packets, is able to indicate a particular data packet is a last ready data packet out of all packets ready to be sent by setting a PUSH bit in that particular data packet, which triggers an automatic acknowledgement message that confirms receipt of data from the receiver. In addition, while receiving data packets, the host computer can advertise an effective window that corresponds to the actually available receiving space in the host computer.
US08862681B2

In one embodiment, a user may transfer a multimodal conversation. A multimodal conversation may have a first mode communication session and a second mode communication session. A first user point of presence may execute a first transfer of the first mode communication session with a first partner point of presence from the first user point of presence to a first target point of presence. A second user point of presence may execute a second transfer of the second mode communication session with a second partner point of presence from the second user point of presence to a second target point of presence.
US08862680B2

Methods and systems for data prioritization are described. In one example embodiment, the method includes the steps of assigning data an urgency and importance, and prioritizing the data using the assigned urgency and importance. In one specific example, such prioritization is then used in communicating, e.g., dispatching, the data. For example, such urgency and importance are used in prioritizing data to be communicated between an onboard aircraft system and a ground based system.
US08862675B1

A method and apparatus for asynchronous analysis of URLs in messages in a live message processing environment whereby an identified URL included in a message identified for further analysis is extracted and prioritized based on one or more prioritization parameters. The URL is then sent from a live message processing stream to a URL analysis process and the live message processing stream is stalled, with respect to that message, until the results of the URL analysis process are received, or until a defined “timeout” period passes. The results, or “verdict”, of the URL analysis process are then sent back to the live message processing stream in an asynchronous manner based on the prioritization of the URL. If the results of the URL analysis process are not received by the live message processing stream before the defined “timeout” period passes, then the “best” action is taken based on the best available data/verdict. If the results of the URL analysis process are received by the live message processing stream before the defined “timeout” period passes, then the “best” action is taken based on the verdict provided by the URL analysis process.
US08862665B2

Automated file distribution is described. A member of a peer-to-peer network receives from a file server, a file to be distributed. The file is then distributed via the peer-to-peer network to other members of the peer-to-peer network. Members of the peer-to-peer network can choose whether or not to receive a file from another member based on a trust level or reputation associated with the member. The trust level may be based, at least in part, on a number of degrees of separation between the members. Furthermore the file is verified, for example, by validating a digital signature associated with the file.
US08862653B2

Systems and methods for sparse matrix vector multiplication (SpMV) are disclosed. The systems and methods include a novel streaming reduction architecture for floating point accumulation and a novel on-chip cache design optimized for streaming compressed sparse row (CSR) matrices. The present disclosure is also directed to implementation of the reduction circuit and/or processing elements for SpMV processing into a personality for the Convey HC-1 computing device.
US08862642B1

Various embodiments are directed towards enabling data writes utilizing a node cache and a logstore stored on a stable storage device. A client device may send data to a node for writing to a parent file. The node may cache the received data prior to writing the data to the parent file. Caching the received data may comprise adding the received data to a node cache and to a logstore. In one embodiment, the node cache may include a coalescer that combines data from a plurality of data writes from the client device to the node prior to writing to the parent file. In some embodiments, the logstore may be mirrored logstore on one or more stable storage devices. The parent file may periodically be updated from the node cache data. After the parent file is updated, the node cache data and the logstore data may be purged.
US08862640B2

Aspects for conservative garbage collecting are disclosed. In one aspect, root objects included in a call stack are identified, which comprise integers and pointers. Integer representations are tagged and distinguishable from untagged pointer representations. Root objects are traced to corresponding memory locations such that a subsequent tracing is performed on the pointer representations and skipped on the integer representations. Memory allocated to objects unreachable by the call stack is then freed. In another aspect, an object graph associated with a call stack is tagged, and a heap is generated comprising objects included in an executed portion of the call stack. Objects included in an unexecuted portion of the call stack are traced to corresponding memory locations on the heap such that a subsequent tracing is only performed on the untagged pointer representations. Memory locations corresponding to heap objects unreachable by the unexecuted portion of the call stack are then cleared.
US08862636B2

A computer-implemented method for use with an extensible markup language (XML) document includes inputting a high-level mapping specification for a schema mapping; and generating a target XML document based on the mapping. The method may perform schema mapping-based XML transformation as a three-phase process comprising tuple extraction, XML-fragment generation, and data merging. The tuple extraction phase may be adapted to handle streamed XML data (as well as stored/indexed XML data). The data merging phase may use a hybrid method that can dynamically switch between main memory-based and disk-based algorithms based on the size of the XML data to be merged.
US08862635B2

Disclosed are method and apparatus for identifying members of a social network who have a high likelihood of providing a useful response to a query. A query engine examines the personal pages of a set of members and automatically gleans semantic information relevant to the query. From the automatically-gleaned semantic information, a score indicative of the likelihood that the member may provide a useful response is calculated.
US08862633B2

A system and method for efficiently building virtual appliances in a hosted environment is provided. In particular, a plurality of image archives may be stored in a build database, with each image archive including a file system having a directory structure and a plurality of files installed within the directory structure. In response to a build request containing an image description, a build engine may create a file system layout defining a directory structure for an image. The build engine may then copy the file system from one of the image archives to the file system layout of the image, wherein the copied file system may provide a subset of the file system for the image. The build engine may then build the image, which may include a file system having various files installed within various directories in accordance with the directory structure defined for the image.
US08862626B2

The navigation overhead and/or the content managing/updating overhead is reduced by providing link objects with condition data being associated with the link items of the link objects so that, depending on a check as to whether the condition data is fulfilled or not, an automatic handling of a link object may be performed. For example, the automatic handling may have an automatic appointing an object ID referred to by a link item of the link object that has condition data associated therewith which is fulfilled, as a newly-selected object ID.
US08862624B2

A method, system, and computer program product are provided for performing access control. Regarding an arbitrary document or the like in a logical hierarchy structure, there is provided a method for determining whether a range of access authority set for a certain user with respect to a document or the like exceeds a range of access authority set for the user with respect to the folder positioned immediately above the folder is provided, when a change in contents of the access authority set for each user or a new document or the like by being moved or copied from another document is created or the documents moved or copied. Where the exceeding is determined, a new folder for direct access is created and access authority is set equal to or exceeds the range of access authority determined to exceeding the range of access authority set for the user.
US08862621B1

A relational database is used to determine a possibility of events, such as terrorist threats. A database is populated or updated in an automated fashion by using appropriate sensor sources. Whenever a field is augmented or updated, an event is defined. Events trigger intelligent data collection agents using a push technology. A list of events is defined over a relative time interval. A selection of lists of events is made in response to events. The defined database is updated according to an iterative architecture for the defined database.
US08862605B2

Discovering a keyword query corresponding to an input collection of documents taken from a candidate pool includes selecting a document from a working set as the input set, and extracting a list of snippets in the selected document. For each snippet, executing a set of proximity queries based on selected terms in that snippet, and finding all possible proximity queries that return less than N query results from the candidate pool. A query is selected from said proximity queries, based on the selected query returning the greatest number of working set documents, and returning the smallest number of documents not in the working set. Documents returned by the selected query are removed from the working set, and the above steps are repeated until no documents remain in the working set. The disjunction of selected queries is returned as the discovered query.
US08862604B2

Ordering search results may include obtaining an exposed log file from a log system, computing a Bayesian posterior probability for relevancy between the log file and a search request, computing an expected value of the relevancy between the log file and the search request based on the Bayesian posterior probability, storing the search request and an identifier of the log file as a key and the expected value of the relevancy between the log file and the search request as a value into a search data structure, in response to receiving a search request submitted by a user, finding expected values of relevancy between the submitted search request and log files that are relevant to the submitted search request from the search data structure, and ordering the found log files in a descending order of the expected values.
US08862595B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for cross-language information retrieval. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving a query in a source language, the query including one or more query terms; automatically determining one or more target languages relevant to the query; translating the query into one or more translated queries in the respective one or more target languages; determining search results responsive to the respective one or more translated queries; and providing one or more of the search results.
US08862592B2

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a graphical user interface as a means of inputting search parameters to database search engines. In some embodiments, two or three dimensional projections spatially represent relationships between search parameters, located along the periphery of the projections and search hits whose significance are represented by position relative to the center of the projection and comparative distance from each of the search parameters. As the user manipulates the overall shape of the search projection, the weighting of search parameters adjusts, reconfiguring the search. The present disclosure also provides, in some embodiments, an intuitive means of assimilating search parameter weightings based on peer or social network preferences with global search results. Finally, the present disclosure provides a means of using search output itself as an input for refinement of search.
US08862589B2

A system and method for managing geotag data associated with content within a geofeed is provided. The content may be tagged with metadata such as geotag data that may specify a location where the content was created. The generated content may be geotagged by one or more geotag sources including a GPS-enabled device, a user input, a content provider, a user profile, or other sources. The system may determine the geotag data for the content that is not already associated with geotag data. The system may determine a confidence level of the geotag data, whether already geotagged or not. The confidence level may be indicative of a likelihood that the geotag data accurately describes a location where the content was actually created.
US08862563B2

An execution plan for a database statement can be retrieved from a database server. References to objects can be identified in the execution plan, and metadata from the references can be assembled in a data structure on computer readable storage media. The metadata can reflect dependencies on the objects. Additionally, other dependency metadata can be augmented with the metadata from the references.
US08862553B2

A method, system, and computer-readable medium for backing up and/or restoring user-specific settings for one or more IP telecommunications terminals. A backup process is initiated through a user interface of the IP telecommunications terminal. A file name and a backup file are supplied from the telecommunication terminal during a backup process. The backup file is transferred to an HTTP server and the backup file is transferred to the IP telecommunications terminal or other terminals in response to an HTTP GET message received from an IP telecommunications terminal connected to the HTTP server. Accordingly, multiple users can enjoy customized user-interfaces at multiple locations and across multiple platforms.
US08862547B2

A method of managing backup records is provided. A central server receives, across a network, the contents of a first backup catalog from a first backup server as well as the contents of a second (distinct) backup catalog from a second backup server. The central server also extracts backup records from the first backup catalog and the second backup catalog and places the contents of each extracted backup record into a central backup catalog on the central server. Software for carrying out the method is also provided.
US08862542B2

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for dynamically replicating data from a primary resource to a secondary resource within a storage network. In particular, a user can select parameters that specify a policy framework. A policy management module can determine one or more attributes associated with resources of the storage network, and enter the one or more attributes into the policy framework to determine a replication policy. The one or more attributes can be determined at any point before or during a replication. The policy management module can then replicate the data according to the replication policy.
US08862541B1

A computing system includes at least one source data center that generates data and a plurality of recovery groups, coupled to the at least one source data center, where each of the recovery groups includes a synchronous data center that receives synchronous data from the at least one source data center and includes an asynchronous data center that receives asynchronous data from the at least one source data center. Cycle switching for asynchronous data transfer is coordinated by the at least one source data center for a first subset of recovery groups containing at least two of the recovery groups. The computing system may also include a second subset of the recovery groups, different from the first subset, where cycle switching for asynchronous data transfer is coordinated by the at least one source data center for the second subset.
US08862535B1

In the area of storage management, service automation can be realized through the use of “MAPE” loop(s). A Planner (P) interacts with the Monitoring (M), Analysis (A) and Execution (E) components in a closed loop. For each new option or potential planning action the Planner (P) invokes the Analysis (A) component. The correctness, as well as effectiveness, of the planning decision is dependent on the Analysis (A) component. Embodiments can utilize an adaptive Analysis (A) component (i.e., an analysis component that can be retrained) that also associates a value of confidence and a corresponding error in the evaluation along with a predicted impact. The Planner (P) component uses this additional information for quoting the final impact of a particular planning action as part of an adaptive MAPE loop to provide improved resource utilization and resource management.
US08862534B1

This disclosure pertains to methods and systems for predicting demographics and psychographics of any application object (user or item), and matching them to other objects based on an aggregated similarity scores derived from location and unstructured textual data. In some embodiments, vector-space representation may be used for matching, with demographic weights dynamically computed, for example, based on census data distribution information. Psychographic similarity may be computed, in some embodiments, on the basis of both non-classical semantic relatedness—finding implicit connections between terms in a knowledge source, and categorical information embedded in the knowledge source, preferably a large corpus such as Wikipedia.
US08862522B1

A computing device receives a document that was incorrectly classified as sensitive data based on a machine learning-based detection (MLD) profile. The computing device modifies a training data set that was used to generate the MLD profile by adding the document to the training data set as a negative example of sensitive data to generate a modified training data set. The computing device then analyzes the modified training data set using machine learning to generate an updated MLD profile.
US08862521B2

Exemplary embodiments provide systems, devices, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media and computer-executable methods for managing publication of online advertising. In exemplary embodiments, computer-based publication techniques may include, but is not limited to, automatically determining whether the content of a particular web page article is suitable or unsuitable for accompaniment with one or more advertisements, automatically determining whether an advertisement is suitable or unsuitable for publication on a web page associated with a web page article, and automatically determining a category that may be used to classify the content of a web page article in order to select one or more categories of advertisements suitable for accompaniment with the web page article.
US08862514B2

A method and system for detecting and preventing Internet fraud in online transactions by utilizing and analyzing a number of parameters to uniquely identify a computer user and potential fraudulent transaction through predictive modeling. The method and system uses a delta of time between the clock of the computer used by the actual fraudulent use and the potentially fraudulent user and the clock of the server computer in conjunction with personal information and/or non-personal information, preferably the Browser ID.
US08862511B2

In one embodiment, a mechanism for providing real-time audio-based financial asset information is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a trigger event related to a financial asset from a computer of a user of a financial asset information system while the user is away from the computer, contacting the user via a phone call, and playing an audio signal to the user where a change in sound volume of the audio signal correlates to a deviation of the financial asset from the trigger event.
US08862502B2

This object is aimed to provide an advertisement providing system, etc. that defines a web API that contributes to the creation of an advertisement attached webpage for making it possible to distribute referral fees of the advertisement. A system carries out processing while taking a session ID generated by an advertisement intermediary service (105) among a website (103), a web API (104) and the advertisement intermediary service (105), wherein the website (103) creates a webpage including a result of processing by the web API (104), a link for acquiring a resource of advertisement information, and a link having as a parameter a session ID which is called on selection of an advertisement. And returns the webpage to a web browser (102), and the advertisement intermediary service (105) records an advertisement information request in association with the session ID when the web browser (102) requests the advertisement intermediary service (105) for an advertisement information resource and then returns the advertisement information resource to the web browser (102), thereby attaining the object.
US08862498B2

A computer-implemented method is described for determining a response attribution value that represents a credit assignment to a communication, for an associated response received from a recipient during a marketing campaign.
US08862491B2

A method and computer program product for integrating risk management concepts into a standard business process metamodel by defining a set of metamodel extensions to standard process modeling languages that incorporate risk information directly in the process model. The method includes collecting risk-relevant information for addition to a business process model, and enabling visualizing of a risk-extended business process model. using a notation to express notions as failure modes of resources, root cause events, and sources of execution failure and low job output quality directly in the context of process models. Additionally, the method enables the computation of risk-related impacts on the distribution of process performance measures using a Bayesian network model or a discrete-event simulation model.
US08862490B2

A method is disclosed for presenting static and dynamic data corresponding to an entity within an application on a mobile device. An entity object is created as part of a data model within the application such that the entity object has a plurality of fields with the plurality of fields having static data corresponding to the entity. Based on the static data corresponding to the entity, dynamic data corresponding to the entity is received into the entity object from at least one of a plurality of applications executable within the mobile device. The static and dynamic data from the entity object corresponding to the entity is displayed simultaneously within a user interface of the application in a single presentation view.
US08862487B2

A system and method is disclosed herein for customizing pages of a rental vehicle reservation booking website with deep-links for specialized rental vehicle reservations. The specialized rental vehicle reservations may comprise reservations for a division of a customer entity and/or promotional offer reservations. Multi-division and multi-offer pages can also be defined for the website through an administrative tool.
US08862475B2

Speech-enabled content navigation and control of a distributed multimodal browser is disclosed, the browser providing an execution environment for a multimodal application, the browser including a graphical user agent (‘GUA’) and a voice user agent (‘VUA’), the GUA operating on a multimodal device, the VUA operating on a voice server, that includes: transmitting, by the GUA, a link message to the VUA, the link message specifying voice commands that control the browser and an event corresponding to each voice command; receiving, by the GUA, a voice utterance from a user, the voice utterance specifying a particular voice command; transmitting, by the GUA, the voice utterance to the VUA for speech recognition by the VUA; receiving, by the GUA, an event message from the VUA, the event message specifying a particular event corresponding to the particular voice command; and controlling, by the GUA, the browser in dependence upon the particular event.
US08862467B1

A computer-implemented method can include receiving, by a computer system, a request to transcribe spoken input from a user of a computing device, the request including information that (i) characterizes a spoken input, and (ii) context information associated with the user or the computing device. The method can determine, based on the information that characterizes the spoken input, multiple hypotheses that each represent a possible textual transcription of the spoken input. The method can select, based on the context information, one or more of the multiple hypotheses for the spoken input as one or more likely intended hypotheses for the spoken input, and can send the one or more likely intended hypotheses for the spoken input to the computing device. In conjunction with sending the one or more likely intended hypotheses for the spoken input to the computing device, the method can delete the context information.
US08862459B2

Embodiments are disclosed for automatically generating a banner given a first scroll sentence and a second scroll sentence of a Chinese couplet. The first and/or second scroll sentence can be generated by an automatic computer system or by a human (e.g., manually generated and then provided as input to an automated banner generation system) or obtained from any source (e.g., a book) and provided as input. In one embodiment, an information retrieval process is utilized to identify banner candidates that best match the first and second scroll sentences. In one embodiment, candidate banners are automatically generated. In one embodiment, a ranking model is applied in order to rank banner candidates derived from the banner search and generation processes. One or more banners are then selected from the ranked banner candidates.
US08862454B2

Methods and apparatus for simulating risk tolerance and associated adversary costs in a distributed business process are disclosed. The methods and apparatus simulate an interdependent business process, such as a financial transaction system, in a secure distributed manner. Each business entity that is part of the interdependent business process models itself on a local client device at any chosen level of detail. A simulation server connects the separate client based simulations into one large simulation. Details of each local simulation may be hidden from other simulation participants. However, interruptions in business flow caused by simulated disruptions introduced at the simulation server and/or a client device are propagated to all of the effected simulation participants via the simulation server. In addition, the simulation server receives inputs from users indicative of risk tolerance levels and associated response actions. If the operational costs imposed by a selected response action are greater than a deterrence threshold associated with a particular adversary, the adversary is not deterred from causing a certain disruption to the simulated competitive market environment. If the operational costs imposed by a selected response action are greater than the deterrence threshold the adversary is deterred.
US08862451B2

A programmer device includes an interface that communicates with an implantable fluid delivery device and a user interface that displays a representation of a portion of the implantable fluid delivery device and displays an indication of a location of fluid within the implantable fluid delivery device during a delivery phase, e.g., a priming or bridging phase. The user interface may display a representation of progress of the delivery phase. The user interface may display the indication of the location of the fluid within internal tubing of the implantable fluid delivery device or within a catheter of the implantable fluid delivery device. The programmer device may display the representation of the progress of the delivery phase as a simulation of the delivery phase or during the actual delivery phase of the implantable fluid delivery device. A user may therefore observe a location of fluid corresponding to progress of the delivery phase.
US08862446B1

In an embodiment, a computer readable medium that stores computer executable instructions is provided. The computer readable medium includes instructions for displaying a graphical model representing a modeled system, the graphical model having a first element and a second element. The computer readable medium includes instructions for identifying, in response to a request to connect at least one of the first element and the second element with a signal, a routing path within the graphical model. The routing path can be mapped through at least one subsystem of the modeled system and configured to logically connect the first element with the second element. The computer readable medium includes instructions for logically connecting, in the graphical model, the first element and the second element via the routing path.
US08862437B1

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are present for creating a composite structure. A number of characteristics for a number of components for the composite structure is obtained from a simulation of the composite structure using a model of the composite structure. A number of changes in the number of characteristics needed to meet a desired level of performance for the number of characteristics is ascertained. A number of attributes for a number of composite materials used to form the number of components corresponding to the number of characteristics having the number of changes is identified. The number of attributes for the number of composite materials for the number of characteristics having the number of changes based on the desired level of performance is changed.
US08862430B2

There is provided a method for estimating a position of a mobile node in a wireless sensor network. The method includes estimating a frequency offset between anchor nodes and estimating a difference between times when ranging frames from a mobile node are received by two anchor node, without use of a separate synchronization unit, such as a network synchronized clock supply unit that supplies a network synchronized clock via a cable, in a wireless sensor network, unlike a conventional method of estimating Time of Flight (TOF) using Two-Way Ranging (TWR) and Symmetric Double Sided-TWR (SDS-TWR) schemes. The estimated receiving time difference is directly applied to a Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA) algorithm in order to estimate the position of the mobile node.
US08862425B2

A sensing and control system terminates a cycle test when it senses the part being cycle tested is about to fail. The sensing and control system uses a sensor for generating a signal each time the test part completes a motion cycle. The sensing and control system uses a controller, responsive to the sensor, for determining whether a failure is about to occur and stopping the cycle test.
US08862423B2

A sensor calibration system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The sensor calibration system may have a first machine mounted sensor disposed on the mobile machine and configured to sense a characteristic of an offboard object and to generate a corresponding signal, and a second machine mounted sensor disposed on the mobile machine and configured to sense the characteristic of the offboard object and to generate a corresponding signal. The sensor calibration system may also have a controller in communication with the first and second machine mounted sensors. The controller may be configured to compare the characteristic of the offboard object as sensed by the first machine mounted sensor to the characteristic of the offboard object as sensed by the second machine mounted sensor, and to correct subsequent signals received from the first machine mounted sensor based on the comparison.
US08862417B2

Systems and methods for determining adjustable wafer acceptance criteria based on chip characteristics. The method includes measuring a density of at least one chip. The method further includes computing a difference in density between the density of the at least one chip and a density of at least one kerf structure. The method further includes calculating an offset value to modify a Wafer Acceptance Criteria (WAC) to match the density difference between the at least one chip and the at least one kerf structure. The method further includes applying the offset value to the WAC for a wafer level measurement in order to increase chip yield performance.
US08862416B2

A method and device for extending the useful life of an energy storage device, for a mobile computing device is described. The method (150) can include the steps of: running (155) a first application in synchronous communication with a first application server; detecting (160) energy expenditure while running the first application; and synchronizing (165) a subsequent application based on the detected energy expenditure, by: continuing to communicate with the subsequent application if the detected energy expenditure is below a threshold, and discontinuing communication if the detected energy expenditure is above a threshold. Advantageously, this method can provide substantial energy savings in mobile computing device applications.
US08862410B2

The compositions and methods provided herein allow for identification of causative genetic biomarkers for a disease condition or drug response.
US08862409B2

A method of measuring the contents of a search volume. The method includes: energizing one or more transmitters so as to transmit electromagnetic wave energy into the search volume; detecting the effect of the search volume on the passage of the electromagnetic wave energy by recording two or more signals, each signal being associated with a different propagation path (typically either a monostatic or bistatic path) within the search volume; aligning the signals in order to generate two or more aligned signals which are synthetically focused on a desired voxel in the search volume, each aligned signal being associated with a different propagation path (typically either a monostatic or bistatic path) within the search volume; calculating a quality factor by processing the aligned signals to generate two or more data values, and processing the data values to generate a quality factor, the quality factor being indicative of a degree of coherence in the aligned signals; summing the aligned signals to generate a summed signal; and processing the summed signal to generate an output which is indicative of the internal structure of the search volume at the location of the desired voxel, the output varying in accordance with the quality factor.
US08862407B2

Percolation theory is applied to establish a connection between magnetization decay of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements and residual carbon dioxide saturation (Scr). As a result, estimations of Scr are obtained through use of an NMR tool in a formation and appropriate processing. Data may be displayed as a log.
US08862406B2

This disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for reducing current leakage between a measure electrode and a logging tool body during borehole investigations in an earth formation involving electric current and non-conductive drilling fluid. The apparatus may include one or more transmitters disposed on a pad body, configured to inject an electric current into the earth formation, and coupled to the mandrel and one or more measure electrodes. The measure electrodes may be configured to receive current from the formation and coupled to a back plate of the pad body. The apparatus may be configured to maintain a selected ratio between pad body to logging tool body impedance and transmitters to logging tool body impedance sufficient to reduce current leakage between the earth formation and the logging tool body. The transmitter/mandrel and measure electrode/back plate may be electrically isolated from one another. The method may include using the apparatus.
US08862399B2

In a method for generating a generic object exchange profile message, navigation data is inserted into the generic object exchange profile message.
US08862393B2

The present invention generally relates to systems, methods and applications utilizing the convergence of any combination of the following three technologies: wireless positioning or localization technology, wireless communications technology and sensor technology. In particular, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a remote device that includes a sensor for determining or measuring a desired parameter, a receiver for receiving position data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite system, a processor for determining whether or not alert conditions are present and a wireless transceiver for transmitting the measured parameter data and the position data to a central station, such as an application service provider (ASP). The ASP, in turn, may communicate the measured data, position data and notification of any alerts to an end user via an alert device. The present invention also relates to various applications and systems utilizing the capabilities of such a device.
US08862392B2

A navigation system includes a display for displaying at least a part of a digital map. A landmark detected within the digital map is displayed as a three-dimensional graphical object or a two-dimensional graphical object depending on a location of the landmark.
US08862391B2

Provided is an electric bus and an electric bus battery exchange system. The electric bus according to the present invention includes: a battery exchange hole disposed on top of the electric bus for exchanging a discharged battery for a charged battery; a front camera unit taking front images in the process of entering the battery exchange station for battery exchange; a communication unit for receiving position information of the battery exchange unit from the battery exchange station; a route output unit outputting a predicted driving route for reaching a swapping point below the battery exchange unit based on the front images taken by the front camera unit and the position information of the battery exchange unit; and a display unit displaying the predicted driving route outputted by the route output unit, superimposed on the front images taken by the front camera unit.
US08862385B2

Providing machine-generated travel directions with customized augmentations to enhance the navigation process. To provide machine-generated travel directions, a user submitted starting location, destination location, and meta-data associated with the user is used to generate a route between the starting location and destination location Annotations to the route are derived based on the meta-data associated with the user or characteristics associated with the route. The annotations are then ranked according to a determined priority. The route generated between the starting location and the destination location, and augmented with the ranked annotations, is displayed to the user.
US08862383B2

A collision judgment apparatus includes: a distance detecting unit detecting distance between a vehicle and an object; a relative speed detecting unit detecting a relative speed therebetween; a margin time calculation unit calculating a time to collision therebetween, based on the distance and the relative speed; an angle detecting unit detecting an angle of the object with respect to a running direction of the vehicle; a variation calculation unit calculating a variation of the angle over time; a setting unit setting a judgment value such that the shorter the margin time, the larger the judgment value; and a judgment unit judging that the vehicle is likely to collide with the object when the variation of the angle calculated by the variation calculation unit is lower than the judgment value set by the setting unit.
US08862374B2

Evaluation indication systems, methods, and programs display a current location of a host vehicle together with a map around the current location on a display unit. The systems, methods, and programs acquire a current evaluation that is an evaluation of a fuel efficiency level in a unit section of current travel of the host vehicle and a previous evaluation that is an evaluation of the fuel efficiency level in the unit section of previous travel previous to the current travel. The systems, methods, and programs acquire an achievement difficulty level of a target value of the fuel efficiency level, set on the basis of results of the fuel efficiency levels when a plurality of vehicles have travelled the unit section, and indicate the achievement difficulty level together with the current evaluation and the previous evaluation on the map.
US08862370B2

Methods and systems are provided for improving engine exhaust emissions while enabling exhaust catalyst regeneration following an engine lean event. Prior to a VDE event, or prior to an engine idle-stop, ammonia is produced and stored on an exhaust underbody SCR catalyst. Then, during the engine restart after the VDE mode or the idle-stop, the stored ammonia is used to treat exhaust NOx species while an upstream exhaust underbody three-way catalyst is regenerated.
US08862366B2

Heat generation amount PVκ(θ) is calculated with the use of cylinder pressure P(θ), detected by a cylinder pressure sensor, cylinder volume V(θ), and specific heat ratio κ (steps 100 to 102). A crank angle θfix, at which the value of PVκ(θ) peaks, is determined as a start crank angle, at which an adiabatic process after combustion starts (step 104). A correction coefficient Kfix is calculated based on the variation of the value of PVκ(θ) after θfix (step 106). An actual heat generation amount PVκfix(θ) is calculated with the use of the correction coefficient Kfix (step 110). A cooling loss coefficient Kcool that determines a correlation between the cooling loss and crank angles may be calculated based on a water temperature and an engine speed and the actual heat generation amount PVκfix(θ) may be made to reflect the cooling loss coefficient Kcool.
US08862358B2

A vehicle includes a control system configured to implement a method for regenerative braking control. The control system has at least one controller and is configured to control regenerative braking torque to be no greater than a regenerative braking torque limit when a wheel slip of a wheel of the vehicle is above a threshold value. The regenerative braking torque limit is non-zero for at least some values of the wheel slip above the threshold value.
US08862345B2

A method for prevention of unwanted double gear changes for a gearbox in a motor vehicle. The vehicle comprises an engine connected to drive the gearbox. The gearbox also effects a manual gear change in an automatic mode if a mode selector connected to the gearbox is activated. The manual gear change is barred if the mode selector is only activated a first time during a gear change period, which represents a period of time during which an automatic gear change is effected in the automatic mode. A system, a computer program, a computer program product and a motor vehicle, which prevent an unwanted double gear change, are disclosed.
US08862341B2

A system is provided in which a control module may include a user interface configurable to receive input and display hydraulic control settings, wherein the hydraulic control settings include at least a hydraulic pressure setting and a hydraulic flow setting. The control module may also include a processor executable to convert the hydraulic control settings to corresponding electrical currents, wherein the electrical currents correspond to at least the hydraulic pressure setting and the hydraulic flow setting. The control module may also include one or more communication interfaces coupled to the processor configurable to output the electrical currents to the hydraulic circuit to control hydraulics that operate one or more attachments of a machine.
US08862339B2

An agricultural implement system is provided that includes a row unit configured to deposit agricultural material into soil along a direction of travel. The agricultural implement system also includes a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of soil displaced by the row unit, and an implement controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The implement controller is configured to determine a smoothness of a soil finish behind the row unit along the direction of travel based on the signal. The controller is also configured to adjust a parameter affecting the soil finish while the smoothness is outside of a desired range.
US08862337B2

The present disclosure provides embodiments directed towards a system for the control of hydraulic output by a hydraulic power source. In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a hydraulic supply system having a drive, a hydraulic pump coupled to the drive, a first hydraulic output configured to supply a first flow of a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to a hydraulic lift, a second hydraulic output configured to supply a second flow of the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to a first hydraulic tool, and a controller configured to adjust a speed of the drive in response to a feedback indicative of a first load by the hydraulic lift, a second load by the first hydraulic tool, or a combination thereof.
US08862333B2

Disclosed is a method to determine a vehicle's lateral velocity during abnormal driving situations of a vehicle during controlled side-impact or rollover crash tests that involve the pulling of a vehicle sideways into an object. A high-resolution, low-range, lateral accelerometer is integrated to determine the lateral velocity. Furthermore, is a method to initiate the integration of the acceleration signal and a method to stop and reset the integration. The method recognizes special conditions associated with abnormal driving situations like controlled crash tests, and therefore will not be active during normal operating conditions. The method also includes a means to handle offset tolerances associated with accelerometers by finding the sensor's zero-g point while the vehicle is at rest.
US08862322B2

A motor control unit controls a motor including a rotor and a stator facing the rotor. A current drive unit drives the motor at an axis current value of a rotating coordinate system that rotates in accordance with a control angle that is a rotational angle used in a control. An addition angle calculation unit calculates an addition angle to be added to the control angle. A control angle calculation unit obtains, at every predetermined calculation cycle, a present value of the control angle by adding the addition angle that is calculated by the addition angle calculation unit to an immediately preceding value of the control angle. An angular speed calculation unit calculates an angular speed of the rotor. An addition angle correction unit corrects the addition angle based on the angular speed calculated by the angular speed calculation unit. A filtering unit filters the angular speed calculated by the angular speed calculation unit.
US08862319B2

Disclosed herein is an over-current damage prevention method and apparatus for a subsidiary inverter of an electric bus, which may reduce surge current generated due to a substantially abrupt occurrence of a load when a clutch is connected thereon by reducing the speed of a power steering motor before the clutch is connected thereon. The method and apparatus include sensing, by a sensor, a pressure of an air tank and an on position of an air pressure; reducing, by an inverter, a speed of a power steering motor by controlling the voltage applied to the power steering motor when the pressure of the air tank is less than a setup value or when the air pressure switch is on; and in response to reducing the speed of the power steering motor, maintaining a clutch in an engaged position to transmit power from the power steering motor to an air compressor.
US08862313B2

A smart trailer RFID system includes a vehicle such as a trailer or cargo van having one or more RFID tag readers configured to acquire load-specific data from RFID tags attached to a load. The load-specific data is collected by a computer and conveyed wirelessly to a tow vehicle. Depending on the nature of the load, the load data can be used to control or change operation of the tow vehicle or be displayed to a vehicle operator.
US08862307B2

The present invention relates to a control system comprising at least one unit for operating the steering or navigation of a mobile assistive device for disabled persons, wherein said control system is adapted to be connectable to an existing assistive device for disabled persons.
US08862296B2

A rear body of an electric vehicle can include rear body frames attached in a vertically swingable manner with respect to a body frame and a chassis attached to the rear body frames by a pivot shaft on a vehicle forward side in a vertically swingable manner. Front and rear batteries are located on the rear body frames, and a motor and rear wheels are supported on the chassis. The front and rear batteries are housed in a battery case fixed on the rear body frames. A PDU as a battery control device, is located on a vehicle forward side of the battery case. A contactor, having a function to open and close the connection between the front and rear batteries and the PDU, is located on a lateral face of the battery case.
US08862291B2

A system for verifying a route segment that a vehicle is traveling along includes a magnetic sensor and a control unit. The magnetic sensor generates an output signal based on an orientation of the sensor relative to an external magnetic field. The control unit receives an operator-designated route segment. The operator-designated route segment represents a selected route segment of the route segments that is identified by the operator as being the route segment on which the vehicle is traveling. The control unit identifies a directional heading of the vehicle based on the output signal from the magnetic sensor and determines an actual route segment of the routes segments in the network that the vehicle is actually traveling along based on the directional heading of the vehicle. The control unit verifies that the actual route segment on which the vehicle is actually traveling is the selected route segment.
US08862289B2

A power electronic control circuitry device comprises the following intercommunicating distinct hardware physical entities: a digital microcontroller unit (UNMC) for managing the operation of the device, hardened to withstand the effects of radiations in space; a digital fast regulation unit (UNRR) for controlling priority and real-time processes, hardened to withstand the effects of radiations in space; a digital communication unit (UNC) for communications external to the device, hardened to withstand the effects of radiations in space; a digital tracing and debugging unit (UNTD) for detecting errors in the design of the device; and a digital non-volatile memory (MRN) for storing information representative of the initial configuration of the device, hardened to withstand the effects of radiations in space.
US08862284B2

The present invention provides a neutral-position parking apparatus and method in a shift-by-wire system. The neutral-position parking apparatus connects a shift-by-wire unit to a smart key control ECU through a controller area network (CAN) communication to perform a control of maintaining a neutral position according to a control command of the smart key control ECU receiving a door lock signal from a smart key. Also, the neutral-position parking apparatus communicably connects a power distributor to the smart key control ECU to power off a vehicle upon neutral-position parking according to the control command of the smart key control ECU receiving the door lock signal from the smart key.
US08862278B2

An electronic system employs multiple power supplies that provide electrical energy to components of the server system. Each power supply exhibits or experiences a uniquely different air flow within the system chassis. Different air flows correspond to different component temperatures for each power supply. Each power supply stores a collection of selectable thermal profiles that determine cooling element control within the power supply. Each thermal profile may correspond to a different physical location within the system. Thermal profiles provide each power supply with local environmental response correlations, such as between local power supply temperature and cooling fan speed. The power supply selects a particular thermal profile in response to determining the power supply's physical location in the system. The power supply instructs the cooling fan to provide an amount of cooling dependent on both the selected thermal profile and a sensed local environmental condition such as temperature.
US08862274B2

A work machine (10) comprises an operator interface (30), an auxiliary electro-hydraulic circuit (22 or 322) adapted to operate a hydraulic actuator (16) of an auxiliary tool (12) when the auxiliary tool (12) is attached to the work machine (10), and a controller unit (24) that communicates with the operator interface (30) and the auxiliary electro-hydraulic circuit (22 or 322). The controller unit (24) is adapted to receive from the operator interface (30) an electrical setpoint signal representative of a flow setpoint selected by an operator via the operator interface (30), and electrically operate the auxiliary electro-hydraulic circuit (22 or 322) so as to output flow from the auxiliary electro-hydraulic circuit (22 or 322) to the auxiliary tool (12) at a substantially constant magnitude represented by the flow setpoint. An associated method is disclosed.
US08862272B2

A reagent preparation apparatus for supplying a reagent, prepared by mixing a high concentration reagent and purified water supplied from a purified water production device, to a sample measurement device for measuring a sample using the prepared reagent, the reagent preparation apparatus comprising: a reagent preparation unit for preparing the reagent by mixing the high concentration reagent and the purified water supplied from the purified water production device; and a controller, communicably connected to the purified water production device, for controlling the purified water production device to continue producing the purified water until a predetermined time has elapsed from when the purified water production device starts the production of the purified water.Also, a reagent preparation system and a reagent preparation method.
US08862271B2

A proximity sensor includes first and second sensors disposed on a sensor body adjacent to one another. The first sensor is one of an emitter and a receiver. The second sensor is the other one of an emitter and a receiver. A third sensor is disposed adjacent the second sensor opposite the first sensor. The third sensor is an emitter if the first sensor is an emitter or a receiver if the first sensor is a receiver. Each sensor is positioned at an angle with respect to the other two sensors. Each sensor has a respective field of view. A first field of view intersects a second field of view defining a first volume that detects a floor surface within a first threshold distance. The second field of view intersects a third field of view defining a second volume that detects a floor surface within a second threshold distance.
US08862270B2

There is provided a control apparatus for a drive mechanism driven by a pneumatic artificial muscle, the control apparatus including a pressure controller that controls pressure of the pneumatic artificial muscle, a desired pressure calculator that calculates, based on a pneumatic artificial muscle model, a desired pressure of the pneumatic artificial muscle in order to control motion of the drive mechanism, a pneumatic artificial muscle model error estimator that estimates aging variation in a contraction percentage error between the pneumatic artificial muscle and the pneumatic artificial muscle model, a pneumatic artificial muscle model updater that updates the pneumatic artificial muscle model so as to reflect the aging variation based on an estimation result of the pneumatic artificial muscle model error estimator, and a lifetime predictor that predicts a lifetime of the pneumatic artificial muscle based on the estimation result of the pneumatic artificial muscle model error estimator.
US08862257B2

A method and a device for clipping control are provided in the present invention. The method includes: updating a clipping factor according to a maximum absolute value FrameLev in a current frame signal; obtaining a clipping restoration filter according to the clipping factor; filtering the current frame signal according to the clipping restoration filter to obtain a filtered clipping restoration signal. With the method and device for clipping control provided in the present invention, whether a clipping phenomenon occurs may be automatically detected, and clipping restoration is performed, so that subjective quality of an output signal is improved.
US08862255B2

A computing device may provide a control interface that enables the user to manage the synchronized output of companion content (e.g., textual content and corresponding audio content generated by a text-to-speech component). For example, the computing device may display a visual cue to identify a current location in textual content corresponding to a current output position of companion audio content. As the audio content is presented, the visual cue may be advanced to maintain synchronization between the output position within the audio content and a corresponding position in the textual content. The user may control the synchronized output by dragging her finger across the textual content displayed on the touch screen. Accordingly, the control interface may provide a highlight or other visual indication of the distance between the advancing position in the textual content and the location of a pointer to the textual content indicated by the current position of the user's finger.
US08862243B2

Apparatus (20) is provided, including a bifurcation stent (50) comprising one or more electrodes (32), the stent (50) configured to be placed in a primary passage (52) and a secondary passage (54) of a blood vessel (30), and a control unit (34), configured to drive the electrodes (32) to apply a signal to a wall (36) of the blood vessel (30), and to configure the signal to increase nitric oxide (NO) secretion by the wall (36). Other embodiments are also described.
US08862241B2

An implanted coil supplies energy or control signals to, or provides information from, a medical device implanted in a human or animal patient. Preferably, the coil is implanted subcutaneously in the patient at a location suitable for easy access to the coil. The implanted coil is wound from a wire that is formed into a plurality of smaller diameter coils connected in series and positioned perpendicular to the larger implanted coil. Preferably, the wire used to form the implanted coil is a helically-shaped wire that is very resilient, and, thus, capable of handling even extreme movements of a patient in whom it is implanted without the risk of breaking.
US08862239B2

Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.
US08862231B2

An implantable medical device includes a multi-axial acceleration sensor and an evaluation unit connected thereto. The evaluation unit is configured to (1) split the accelerometer output signal into at least two signal components, one of which is associated with a right-ventricular contraction and another of which is associated with a left-ventricular contraction; (2) detect events in the signal components, and/or determine signal features therein; and (3) determine at least one characteristic value K by evaluating the signal components, and/or the events and/or signal features therein.
US08862230B2

An implantable medical device includes a sensor configured to generate an endocardial acceleration (EA) signal representative of activity of a patient's heart. The device further includes one or more circuits configured to identify within the EA signal at least one EA signal component corresponding to at least one peak of endocardial acceleration, and extract from the at least one EA signal component at least two characteristic parameters. The one or more circuits are further configured to generate a composite index based on a combination of the at least two characteristic parameters, determine a plurality of values of the composite index for a plurality of pacing configurations, and select a current pacing configuration from among the plurality of pacing configurations based on the plurality of values of the composite index.
US08862220B2

A system and method are described for determining an estimated neural response in a hybrid electric acoustic audio prosthesis. Target nerve tissue such as remaining hair cells and cochlear nerve tissue receive synchronized electric and acoustic stimulation signals which are recorded and processed to determine an artifact canceled estimated neural response.
US08862205B2

Disclosed is a microrobot for the therapy of brain/spinal cord diseases. It comprises a microrobot comprising a driving unit having a magnet therein, and a therapeutic means or drug delivery means for treating a disease lesion; a microrobot driving module for performing and controlling various motions of the microrobot by generating an electromagnetic force through an electromagnetic coil system; an imaging module for imaging a thecal sac filled with cerebrospinal fluid, a ventricle, and the microrobot; a diagnosis module for diagnosing the brain/spinal cord disease, based on a pre-operative image produced by the imaging module; and a navigation module for planning a moving path for the microrobot, based on the pre-operative image produced by the imaging module and for monitoring the microrobot through an intraoperative image produced by the imaging module.
US08862204B2

A medical device configured for diagnosis or treatment of tissues within a body is provided. The device includes an elongate, deformable member configured to be received within a lumen in the body and having proximal and distal ends. A position sensor is disposed at the distal end. In one embodiment, a conductor is wound about the member. The conductor is connected to the position sensor and has a first winding pitch over a first portion of the deformable member and a second winding pitch, different from the first winding pitch, over a second portion of the deformable member. In another embodiment, the member defines a neutral longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. A conductor extending between the proximal and distal ends is connected to the position sensor at a connection node on the neutral axis.
US08862197B2

Systems and methods of use for continuous analyte measurement of a host's vascular system are provided. In some embodiments, a continuous glucose measurement system includes a vascular access device, a sensor and sensor electronics, the system being configured for insertion into communication with a host's circulatory system.
US08862196B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to a patient monitor for evaluating a patient. The patient monitor may comprise a sensor that is adapted to detect a sound associated with breathing of the patient and to produce a first output indicative of the sound, an oximeter that is adapted to receive an input from the patient and to produce a second output indicative of oxygen saturation of blood of the patient, and a processor adapted to receive at least the first output and the second output and to correlate the first output with the second output.
US08862185B2

A method for configuring a first base station within a cluster in a communications system having a plurality of cluster includes optimizing an operating parameter of the first base station in accordance with first utility function results from a first utility function associated with the first base station and second utility function results from a second utility function associated with a second base station within the cluster, the first utility function results and the second utility function results according to multiple settings for the operating parameter of the first base station, a first initialized setting of the operating parameter for the second base station, and a second initialized setting of the operating parameter for an external base station outside the cluster. The method also includes sharing the optimized operating parameter with the external base station.
US08862179B2

The hand-held device integrating computer and cell phone and a method for realizing the same. The hand-held device includes: a computer mode processing module; a cell phone mode processing module; a shared storing module connected both to the computer mode processing module and cell phone mode processing module; a shared processing module connected to all of the computer mode processing module, cell phone mode processing module and shared storing module for responding to the selection of the user and enabling the computer mode processing module or cell phone mode processing module; and a power supply module for supplying working power to the computer mode processing module, cell phone mode processing module, shared processing module or shared storing module. By this way, the computer and cell phone are combined together to form a hand-held terminal device capable of being received into a pocket.
US08862172B1

A terminal random access procedure is improved by allowing a mobile terminal to correctly map signature indexes onto cyclic shifted Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequences when the deployed cells support a high-speed mobility by informing a mobile terminal whether a cell supports high-speed mobility.
US08862161B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for selecting identifying numbers associated with a mobile station (MS) having multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) such that the paging intervals for both identifying numbers are aligned. The MS having multiple SIMs may operate in a network via a particular radio access technology (RAT), such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 1×RTT (1 times Radio Transmission Technology). By having aligned paging intervals, the MS may wake up only once during the paging cycles for the various identifying numbers rather than waking up multiple times, thereby reducing power consumption of the MS during idle mode compared to a conventional MS with multiple SIMs, and thus multiple identifying numbers.
US08862159B2

A current location of a mobile user device within a building may be determined and presented to the user via map information. Map information, including data about locations within the building, may be retrieved and business process information associated with a user's execution of a business process may be accessed. The business process may have a series of business process steps, and steps may be associated with the pre-determined locations within the building. It may then be automatically arranged for the map information to be displayed, along with information about the business process steps, via the mobile user device based on the current location of the mobile user device within the building. The system may automatically direct the user step-by-step through a process using map and/or audio information indicating what the next step is, where the next step is located, and/or time requirements associated with the next step.
US08862153B1

An automated portable call collection unit (APCCU) may gather information used in testing the accuracy of a wireless mobile device locating system. A GPS ground truth detector may detect the location of the APCCU based on GPS signals. A cellular GPS detector may detect GPS signals identified by a signal-identification communication from the locating system. An internal clock may keep time and synchronize its time to GPS time as announced periodically by GPS time signals. A controller may repeatedly cause a cellular network communication system to wirelessly request and receive the signal-identification communication and to send the information about the detected GPS signals, the locations, and the times. All of this may be done in a manner that insures that the accuracy of the locating system is not tested before the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the APCCU.
US08862148B2

A system and method are provided for enabling a mobile device to establish a local IP access on a packet data network connection on a femto cellular access network. A local server gateway and a macro server gateway are coupled to the femto cellular access network. A mobility management entity is coupled to the femto cellular access network, the local server gateway and the macro server gateway. The mobility management entity obtains a status mode of the mobile device and a location of the mobile device transmitted on the femto cellular access network. The mobility management entity selects one of the local server gateway and the macro server gateway based on the status mode of the mobile device and the location of the mobile device.
US08862146B2

A method, system and apparatus for obtaining enhanced location information for a mobile device. The mobile device is configured to allow a determination of its location, for example via GPS. Location data for the mobile device, exemplarily obtained via GPS, may be further specified using context information for the mobile device. Additional data is obtained and processed to obtain context information for the mobile device. Enhanced location information is determined for the mobile device at least in part based on processing the location data in association with the context information. Additional data may comprise, for example, ambient noise, speech, images or text.
US08862142B2

The present disclosure provides a coordinated scheduling method and system in coordinated multi-point transmission. The method includes: a central control cell of a region determines priorities of users to be scheduled in all coordinated cells according to user information from other coordinated cells in the region; the central control cell schedules users in each coordinated cell according to the determined priorities and informs a corresponding coordinated cell of the information on a user that is finally determined to be scheduled; and after receiving the scheduling information from the central control cell, the corresponding coordinated cell schedules a user in corresponding time and frequency resources. The present disclosure ensures performance of a user with the highest priority, further, considering the performance of the whole system, scheduling is performed in a scheduling stage according to a principle that the subsequent users to be scheduled should cause as little interference on the scheduled users as possible, therefore, the interference between scheduled users is effectively reduced, and the capacity of the system is greatly increased.
US08862124B2

Systems and methods that provide a mechanism to relocate functions from one gateway to another gateway in a wireless communication network are disclosed. The gateway can implement an access service network (ASN) gateway in a WiMAX based network with a number of functionalities co-located on the gateway such as an authenticator, an anchor FA, an anchor DPF, a PMIP client, and a prepaid client. These functionalities can then be relocated from a first ASN gateway to a second ASN gateway. The proposed system and method reduces the messaging needed for the relocation and the number of components in the network, which can save capital and operating expenses. Additionally, the reduced messaging can reduce latency and delay in the process of relocating, which saves bandwidth and increases the level of service provided to the user.
US08862113B2

Methods and systems are disclosed that provide refresh procedure to ensure successful subscriber identity module activation during active data and voice calls. A request to update a subscription data on a network application housed on a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) is processed by a mobile equipment (ME) and is forwarded to the UICC smart card. The UICC smart card updates the requested parameters on the network application and probes the ME to read the updated parameters. The ME polls its services to check if the network application can be refreshed. If the network application was not previously activated, the voting mechanism on refresh procedure is skipped and the ME proceeds with refreshing the network application for updating its copy of the subscription information.
US08862112B2

A mobile device includes a communication interface configured to receive, over a wireless communication link, output data from a server device via a wireless network, and send, over the wireless communication link, input data to the server device via the wireless network. The mobile device also includes a display for displaying a first portion of the output data, a speaker for providing sounds corresponding to a second portion of the output data, a human interface component for receiving input data to the mobile device, and a hardware component. The hardware component provides the output data to the display and the speaker, and provides the input data to the server device. The hardware component does not include any processor that runs an operating system or an application for the mobile device.
US08862107B2

A tracking system for food products includes labeled food product packages and labeled containers for transporting the labeled packages to harvest sites. A data-clearing center receives mobile phone communications from the harvest sites for uploading the container codes. Ancillary information collected from the mobile phone communications including the time, date, location, and phone identification is associated with the container codes for linking the labeled food product packages to details of their harvest.
US08862099B2

The present invention relates to methods and arrangements that make CSG cell discovery more resource efficient. That is achieved by providing the UE with accurate and up-to-date knowledge of the physical cell identity (identities) of its allowed CSG cell(s). Accurate knowledge of the PCI of an allowed CSG cell greatly simplifies the search/discovery procedure for this CSG cell, in particular the procedure can be made much more resource efficient and UE battery lifetime can be prolonged.
US08862088B2

An amplifier circuitry having adjustable parameters is presented. The present amplifier circuitry includes a feed-back loop, wherein the feedback loop converts (26) a signal to another frequency, filters (20) the signal in the other frequency, and restores (24) the filtered signal back to the original frequency for inputting the signal to an input of the amplifier (22). The feed-back loop implements a band-stop filter (20) having an adjustable stopband causing the amplifier circuitry to have an adjustable band-pass response. A passband of the amplifier circuitry is changed from one operating frequency to another operating frequency by changing frequency conversion parameters of the feedback loop.
US08862081B2

Methods and apparatus for implementing a wireless communication transceiver having receive path performance diversity. The transceiver implements a plurality of signal paths that can be configured as diversity receive paths. Each of the plurality of signal paths includes a distinct RF filter. Each RF filter can be configured to provide a distinct jammer rejection profile. Each receive path also includes a jammer detector, that can be a multiple level jammer detector. Each jammer detector operates to control a level of processing gain applied to the signals in its receive path. The multiple gain scaled receive signals can be combined in a coherent combiner before being routed for further processing.
US08862076B2

There is provided a method of method of estimating a quality of a signal, the method in a first device comprising measuring a signal transmitted from a second device to a third device; determining a value of a metric from an autocorrelation function of the measured signal; and determining an estimate of the quality of the signal from the determined metric.
US08862071B2

Radiocommunication system for aircraft. The radiocommunication system (S1) comprises a single box and, integrated into this single box, at least one single main interface module (7), which is formed in such a way as to carry out the processing of the interfaces of all the radiocommunication means (3 to 6) of said radiocommunication system (S1).
US08862062B2

A subtraction section subtracts from a received signal point a replica obtained by reflecting an influence of a propagation path state in a likely transmitted signal point. A calculation section calculates a metric for the received signal point and the replica from a value which the subtraction section calculates by subtracting the replica from the received signal point by the use of a linear interpolation formula obtained by separating a quadratic function at a power of 2.
US08862045B2

A conveyor has a first conveying unit including a pair of first nip roll sets configured to nip and convey the sheet, and a second conveying unit including a second nip roll set configured to nip and convey the sheet from the first conveying unit. The second nip roll set nips the sheet at an inner location than the first nip roll set, and the first nip roll set nips the sheet more strongly than the second nip roll set.
US08862033B2

A drive transmission structure includes a driven shaft, a drive shaft, and a bearing member. The driven shaft has a drive receiving gear attached thereto and a first shaft portion near the drive receiving gear, to which a rotational force is transmitted. The drive shaft has a drive transmitting gear attached thereto and a second shaft portion near the drive transmitting gear. The drive transmitting gear is engaged with the drive receiving gear so as to transmit the rotational force. The bearing member has a first bearing and a second bearing, which respectively support the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion. In the drive transmission structure, the axis of the drive shaft does not intersect and is non-parallel to the axis of the driven shaft, and the first and second bearings are integrally formed with the bearing member.
US08862022B2

An image forming apparatus includes a tray for supporting cartridges, wherein the tray is movable to an outside position, a first inside position, and a second inside position, a first positioning portion, provided in a main assembly, for positioning an associated cartridge of the cartridges when the tray is located at the first inside position, and a first preventing portion, provided in the main assembly, for preventing rotation of the associated cartridge about the first positioning portion. In addition, a second positioning portion, provided in the tray, positions the associated cartridge when the tray is located between the outside position and the second inside position. The second positioning portion spaced from the associated cartridge when the tray is located at the first inside position.
US08862012B2

An image forming apparatus includes a first control unit configured to control an image forming unit; a power supply unit configured to supply power from a commercial power source; a switching unit configured to switch a connection state between the power supply unit and the commercial power source from a conduction state to a non-conduction state, or vice versa; a capacitor configured to store therein power used by the switching unit; a second control unit configured to detect a start signal for starting power supply from the power supply unit; and a battery for supplying power to the second control unit. The power supply unit supplies power to the first control unit in the conduction state and stops the power supply in the non-conduction state. When detecting the start signal, the second control unit causes the switching unit to switch the connection state to the conduction state.
US08862002B2

An image forming apparatus reduces superimposing misalignment due to skew difference and registration difference and superimposing misalignment of visible image due to periodic position error generated on a plurality of latent image carriers respectively by correcting image information. A controller of the image forming apparatus has a deviation amount storing unit store data of magnification error in the sub-scanning direction e, executes rotation posture determining process that sets writing rotation posture as rotation angle posture at the time of starting writing latent image on photoconductors for Y, M, C, and K respectively, and has an image data correcting unit correct the image information based on the determined writing rotation posture and various error data (including magnification error in the sub-scanning direction e).
US08862000B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance member; a detection unit which outputs a detection signal according to a mark for image formation condition correction; an image forming unit which forms a print image and the mark; and a change unit which changes at least one of a printing reference position and a mark reference position such that an offset amount between the printing reference position and the mark reference position becomes larger as an angle difference between a sub-scanning direction and a conveyance direction of the conveyance member is larger, wherein the printing reference position is a basis of determining a formation position of the print image in a main scanning direction and the mark reference position is a basis of determining at least one of a formation position and a size of the mark in the main scanning direction.
US08861992B2

An image forming device includes a replaceable cartridge, a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element, and a determining unit. The replaceable cartridge accommodates developer therein and includes an agitator and a developing roller rotatable together with the agitator. The light-emitting element is configured to emit a light toward the replaceable cartridge. The light-receiving element is configured to receive the light emitted by the light-emitting element through the replaceable cartridge to output a signal. The determination value is produced based on the signal. The determining unit is configured to determine whether or not the determination value is greater than a predetermined determination threshold upon the agitator having rotated continuously more than a first prescribed number of times. The determining unit determines that the replaceable cartridge should be replaced with a new one when the determination value is greater than the predetermined determination threshold.
US08861989B2

A printer includes a printing unit configured to print on a print medium while transferring the print medium by a first transfer section, a transfer unit located downstream the printing unit in a transfer route and configured to transfer the print medium by a second transfer section, and a controller configured to control the printing unit and the transfer unit. The controller is configured to stop the first transfer section prior to the second transfer section upon detection of a jam of the print medium.
US08861985B2

A cooling device for an image forming apparatus includes a heat receiver disposed to contact a heated member; a heat releaser to release heat; a coolant circulation passage connecting the heat receiver and the heat releaser in which a coolant circulates between the heat receiver and the heat releaser; a pump configured to convey and circulate the coolant in the coolant circulation passage; a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of a part of the heated portion of the heated member at which a temperature rises; a cooling fan, included in the heat releaser, configured to change a thermal capacity released from the heat releaser based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a controller to determine presence or absence of a leakage of the liquid or a pump failure by monitoring a control performed by the cooling fan and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
US08861983B2

Analog transport of a wideband RF signal is effectively and efficiently provided using a coherent, narrowband optical carrier. The wideband RF signal is phase modulated onto the carrier at a first location. Non-coherent discrimination is applied to the modulated carrier at a second, different location to generate an amplitude modulated optical signal where the amplitude modulation represents the original wideband RF signal. A photo-detector is then used to regenerate a representation of the original wideband RF signal. The method and apparatus of the invention can be applied in systems dedicated to the analog RF transport or in wavelength division multiplexed systems which also provide transport for other analog or digital data.
US08861981B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose an optical signal compensation device, where, a nonlinear compensation module in the optical signal compensation device adopts a new nonlinear compensation algorithm to perform nonlinear compensation on an optical signal, and during the process of performing the nonlinear compensation, it is no longer required to look up a table. Technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention can effectively increase the processing speed of the nonlinear compensation, thereby reducing the overall processing delay of an optical signal compensation system.
US08861979B2

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a coherent receiver apparatus and a chromatic dispersion compensation method. The apparatus includes a polarization beam splitter and a chromatic dispersion compensation module. An optical splitter is disposed in front of the polarization beam splitter, and a chromatic dispersion monitoring module is connected between the optical splitter and the chromatic dispersion compensation module. The optical splitter is configured to split a modulated optical signal received by the coherent receiver apparatus and then transmit the split modulated optical signal to the chromatic dispersion monitoring module and the polarization beam splitter. The chromatic dispersion monitoring module is configured to perform chromatic dispersion monitoring on the modulated optical signal to determine a chromatic dispersion range of the modulated optical signal, and enable the chromatic dispersion compensation module to perform chromatic dispersion compensation in the chromatic dispersion range.
US08861962B2

A method for enabling alternating current (AC) coupling of high-speed burst data signals transmitted by an optical network unit (ONU). The method comprises generating a first data pattern to be sent to an optical transceiver through an AC coupling circuit, wherein the first data pattern is a direct current (DC) balanced pattern; generating a second data pattern to be sent to the optical transceiver through the AC coupling circuit, wherein the second data pattern is output prior to transmission of a high-speed burst data signal; and generating a third data pattern to be sent to the optical transceiver through the AC coupling circuit, wherein the third data pattern is output posterior to the transmission of the high-speed burst data signal.
US08861956B2

An apparatus switches paths in a wavelength-multiplexing network in which a first number of wavelengths each used for a path to transmit an optical signal are multiplexed into an optical fiber. The apparatus includes an entire switching unit and a second number of individual switching units where the second number is smaller than the first number. The entire switching unit is configured to perform a path-switching process for switching a path, simultaneously on all the first number of wavelengths when failures have occurred for all the first number of wavelengths. The second number of individual switching units are each configured to perform the path-switching process individually on one of a third number of wavelengths included in the first number of wavelengths when at least one failure has occurred for the third number of wavelengths where the third numbers is smaller than the first number.
US08861954B2

To, even when a transmission wavelength varies in each ONU and an optical amplifier gain depends on the wavelength in an OLT equipped with an optical amplifier, prevent the optical amplifier gain from varying in every ONU and thus prevent deterioration of a dynamic range. The OLT estimates a transmission wavelength of each ONU at the time of ONU registration, and retains a correspondence between an ONU identifier and the transmission wavelength. Moreover, for every burst, an injection current to the optical amplifier is adjusted based on a wavelength and optical amplifier characteristic database.
US08861940B2

A main-view stream and a sub-view stream are recorded on a recording medium. The main-view stream is used for monoscopic video playback. The sub-view stream is used for stereoscopic video playback in combination with the main-view stream are recorded. The main-view stream includes a plurality of main-view pictures, and the sub-view stream includes a plurality of sub-view pictures. The main-view pictures and the sub-view pictures are in one-to-one correspondence. A B picture is not used as a reference picture for compression of any of the sub-view pictures whose corresponding main-view picture is one of an I picture and a P picture.
US08861938B2

A method and a system for replacement of programs on a video recorder based on preferences and size constraints of a video recorder. The video recorder compares recorded programs in the computer readable storage media and a schedule of programs to be recorded to a plurality of global preferences and program specific preferences specifying preferred recording quality. For each recorded program whose quality does not match a global preference or program specific preference, a listing of future programs is examined for alternate versions of the program which do match a global preference or program specific preference.
US08861935B2

Exemplary systems and methods for enhancing utilization of recorded media content programs are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a media content processing system maintaining data representative of a recorded media content program in a data storage facility, accessing program highlights data for the recorded media content program, the program highlights data specifying a set of one or more select segments of the recorded media content program, and utilizing the program highlights data to access and play back the set of one or more select segments of the recorded media content program for experiencing by a user. In some examples, the end user has control of selection and playback of the set of one or more select segments of the recorded media content program. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08861934B2

Moving image editing device, method, and storage medium storing a program provide a smart rendering scheme to minimize the variation of playback time, even when editing moving image data that does not match the save format. The format of the moving image data is compared with the save format. The moving image data is converted into the save format. The moving image data is sequentially joined and saved. A portion or the entirety of the moving image data itself is output if the format of the moving image data matches the save format, or the data encoded into the save format after decoding a portion or the entirety of the moving image data is output if the format of the moving image data does not match the save format. The device repeats sequential joining so that the difference in the playback time with the moving image data is minimized.
US08861931B2

A method and apparatus for reproducing a video using a watermark inserting function. The method of inserting a watermark into a video being reproduced, using an on-screen-display (OSD) data mixer included in a video reproduction apparatus, includes determining a watermark pattern indicating information on reproduction of the original video. The watermark pattern is converted into watermark data capable of being recognized by an OSD data mixer and synthesized with the video being reproduced, using the OSD data mixer.
US08861929B2

Consistent with embodiments of the present invention, a system may be provided to provide per-subscriber stream management comprising: a client capable of receiving a playlist containing a subset of segments associated with a video asset; a video application server to request subscriber state information and to build state representations in a subscriber database on a per-subscriber basis; a media segmenter capable of providing the video asset in multiple bit rates; a subscriber state manager capable of managing the current state of one or more subscribers in a subscriber database; and a stream manager capable of requesting the assignment of bandwidth from a wireless infrastructure on a per-subscriber basis.
US08861924B2

A computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for: (1) receiving video footage taken by a handheld device; (2) identifying one or more indicia associated with a point of interest within the video footage; (3) using the one or more indicia to retrieve information associated with the point of interest; (4) displaying the information on a display screen associated with the handheld device as the video footage is being displayed on the display screen; and (5) recording a screen capture of the display screen as the display screen is displaying the video footage and information.
US08861923B2

A system and method for controlling subtitle switching through Bluetooth are provided. The method includes the following steps: a Bluetooth control device transmits a media control instruction which instructs a Bluetooth multimedia playing device to perform subtitle switching to the Bluetooth multimedia playing device after a Bluetooth connection is established between the Bluetooth control device and the Bluetooth multimedia playing device; the Bluetooth multimedia playing device performs the subtitle switching after receiving the media control instruction, and after switching successfully, it loads the subtitle file which is obtained through switching and plays after combined with a video stream. By adopting the technical scheme of the present invention, it can realize wirelessly and remotely controlling a multimedia player through Bluetooth to load subtitle files freely and switch between a plurality of subtitle files when playing a multimedia video file.
US08861921B2

The present invention provides an organic fibrous photovoltaic device with a frequency conversion region comprising a waveguide being arranged normal to the axis of the fiber.
US08861913B2

Holey fibers provide optical propagation. In various embodiments, a large core holey fiber comprises a cladding region formed by large holes arranged in few layers. The number of layers or rows of holes about the large core can be used to coarse tune the leakage losses of the fundamental and higher modes of a signal, thereby allowing the non-fundamental modes to be substantially eliminated by leakage over a given length of fiber. Fine tuning of leakage losses can be performed by adjusting the hole dimension and/or spacing to yield a desired operation with a desired leakage loss of the fundamental mode. Resulting holey fibers have a large hole dimension and spacing, and thus a large core, when compared to traditional fibers and conventional fibers that propagate a single mode. Other loss mechanisms, such as bend loss and modal spacing can be utilized for selected modes of operation of holey fibers.
US08861911B2

An optical and power composite cable includes a plurality of power lines adjacently arranged in a cable, each power line having a central conductor and an insulating coating layer surrounding the central conductor; at least one optical fiber unit arranged together with the power lines, each optical fiber unit having at least one optical fiber and a tube surrounding the optical fiber; and a cable sheath surrounding the power lines and the optical fiber unit, wherein, assuming that the thickness of the tube is t and that the outer diameter of the tube is D, the ratio of the thickness of the tube to the outer diameter defined as t/D is 8% to 20%.
US08861903B2

A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide device, the method includes: inserting an inclined surface of a mold which is inclined relative to a surface of a substrate including an optical waveguide member into a through hole in which the optical waveguide member is exposed from one surface side of the substrate; locating an optical component above an opening of the through hole on the other surface side of the substrate; injecting an underfill material into between the optical component and the other surface and into the through hole; and curing the underfill material to form a mirror surface.
US08861896B2

The present invention may provide a method for image-based identification. The method may include providing a digital photo of an unidentified item; transmitting, over a network, the digital photo to an identification service; in response to transmitting the digital photo, receiving, over the network, item information from the identification service, wherein the item information includes textual identification information about the item; and displaying the textual identification information.
US08861892B2

A method and an apparatus for determining a projection area of an image are provided. The method for determining a projection area of an image, comprises: an input step of inputting an image sequence having a plurality of images; a detecting step of detecting locations of projection areas of the respective images in the image sequence; a relationship classification judging step of judging a relationship classification between the image and a previous image before the image being projected based on a relationship between the location of the projection area of the image and the location of the projection area of the previous image; and a determining step of determining the locations of the projection areas of the respective images based on the relationship classification judged in the relationship classification judging step.
US08861876B2

A pixel data compression device is provided. The device includes: a first judgment unit for comparing a number of bits of a value of first pixel data and a number of bits of a value of second pixel data with a number of reference bits; a format determination unit for determining a format of compressed data, the format corresponding to the number of bits of the value of the first pixel data and the number of bits of the value of the second pixel data; and a compression unit for generating the compressed data, which corresponds to the format of the compressed data, from the first pixel data and the second pixel data. The compressed data includes a flag region, a first data region, and a second data region.
US08861874B2

Disclosed is a three-dimensional (3D) image encoding apparatus. The 3D image encoding apparatus includes a first compressed information generation unit to generate first compressed information used to encode one image of two types of images to form a 3D image and a second compressed information generation unit to generate second compressed information used to encode another one image using the first compressed information.
US08861868B2

Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable storage media for patch-based image synthesis. A patch matching technique provides an extended patch search space that encompasses geometric and photometric transformations, as well as gradient domain features. The geometric transformations may include translation, rotation, reflection, scale, and non-uniform scale. The photometric transformations may include gain and bias. Patch-based image synthesis techniques may leverage the extended patch search space in various image synthesis applications. The patch-based image synthesis techniques may also integrate image gradients into the patch representation and replace conventional color averaging with a technique that performs voting for colors and gradients and then solves a screened Poisson equation based on values for colors and gradients when blending patch(es) with a target image.
US08861863B2

Systems and methods are provided for analyzing lip conditions using digital images. The method comprises acquiring a white-light image and an ultraviolet (“UV”) image of the lips of a subject, each of the white-light and UV images including a plurality of pixels and each pixel in the UV image corresponding to a respective pixel in the white-light image. The method further comprises identifying lip-pixels in the white-light and UV images, and obtaining results associated with at least one lip condition using information in the lip pixels in the first white light and UV images.
US08861861B2

A service can perform optical character recognition (OCR) on an image of a record to determine a first set of information items about the record. A second set of information items can be identified that are likely part of the record but not determinable from performing OCR on the image. Another resource can be utilized to determine the second set of information items. A classification for the record can be determined based on first and second sets of information items. The record can be associated with a financial resource of the user based at least in part on the classification.
US08861857B2

In order to prevent an image print and/or an image view from being visually monotonous, if it is determined that there is a similarity between similarity determination target images arranged in a specific area in an album, image processing is performed upon both or either of these similarity determination target images so as to eliminate the similarity between these similarity determination target images.
US08861854B2

There are provided an image processing apparatus, a character recognition method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can perform character recognition at high speed while retaining character recognition accuracy. The image processing apparatus includes a histogram generator for generating a histogram based on a pixel value of each pixel in an input image, a component judging unit for judging whether the input image contains a character component and whether the input image contains the character component and a non-character component, a binarization unit for producing a binary image based on edge strength of each pixel, when the input image contains both the character component and the non-character component, and for producing a binary image based on a luminance value of each pixel, when the input image contains the character component but does not contain the non-character component, and a character recognition unit for performing character recognition on the binary image.
US08861851B2

Methods and apparatus may be applied to reconstruct pixel values in saturated regions of an image. Saturated regions are identified and hues for pixels in the saturated regions are estimated based on hues in boundaries of the saturated regions. Gradients for pixel values in saturated color channels within the saturated region may be estimated based on known gradients for non-saturated color channels. Reconstructed pixel values may be derived from the estimated gradients. The methods and apparatus may be applied in conjunction with dynamic range expansion.
US08861847B2

A system and method for detecting human skin tone in one or more images. The system includes an image processing module configured to receive an image and provide contrast enhancement of the image so as to compensate for background illumination in the image. The image processing module is further configured to detect and identify regions of the contrast-enhanced image containing human skin tone based, at least in part, on the utilization of multiple color spaces and adaptively generated thresholds for each color space. A system and method consistent with the present disclosure is configure to provide accurate detection of human skin tone while accounting for variations in skin appearance due to a variety of factors, including background illumination and objects.
US08861844B2

A system and method, which may be an offline method, extracts relevant image features about listing items in a network-based publication system for enabling image similarity searching of such listing items. When a seller lists an item, an image of the item is uploaded and may be sent to a picture processing service, which generates several digests. The digests are compressed data structures each representing a particular image feature such as edge, color, texture, or words. These digests are then stored in a search database, where the digests can be used to retrieve listings by image similarity at scale. A similar process can be performed for a query listing for searching the search database for items similar to the query listing.
US08861834B2

A recognition processing method and an image processing device ends recognition of an object within a predetermined time while maintaining the recognition accuracy. The device extracts combinations of three points defining a triangle whose side length satisfy predetermined criterion values from feature points of the model of a recognition object, registers the extracted combinations as model triangles, and similarly extracts combinations of three points defining a triangle whose side lengths satisfy predetermined criterion values from feature points of the recognition object. The combinations are used as comparison object triangles and associated with the respective model triangles. The device calculates a transformation parameter representing the correspondence relation between each comparison object triangle and the corresponding model triangle using the coordinates of the corresponding points (A and A′, B and B′, and C and C′), determines the goodness of fit of the transformation parameters on the relation between the feature points of the model and those of the recognition object. The object is recognized by specifying the transformation parameters representing the correspondence relation between the feature points of the model and those of the recognition object according to the goodness of fit determined for each association.
US08861832B2

An inspection region of a mask is virtually divided by stripes, and a pattern on a position error correcting unit is also virtually divided by stripes. Then, a stage is moved such that all the stripes of both the mask and the position error correcting unit are continuously scanned, so that optical images of these stripes are acquired. Fluctuation values of position coordinates of the patterns formed on the position error correcting unit are acquired from the optical images of the position error correcting unit. Based upon the fluctuation values, fluctuation values of the position coordinates of the respective patterns in the inspection region of the mask are obtained so that the position coordinates are corrected. Thereafter, a map is generated from the fluctuation values of the position coordinates of the respective patterns in the inspection region of the mask.
US08861831B2

A method for analyzing quality of a glazing unit including: generating a digital image of a test chart produced in reflection by an outer surface of the glazing, the test chart presenting a pattern composed of a plurality of contrasted elements defining between them interface lines; calculating quantities representative of the glazing from the image generated, the calculation being carried out by a processing unit; and comparing the calculated values for the representative values relative to reference values. The representative quantities are representative of a deformation of the image of the test chart produced in reflection by the outer surface of the glazing.
US08861822B2

Systems and methods which implement a plurality of different imaging signatures in generating an image frame are shown. A first imaging signature may be configured for providing relatively high quality images with respect to subsurface regions of living tissue, for example, whereas a second imaging signature may be configured for providing relatively high quality images with respect to interventional instruments inserted into living tissue at a steep angle. Image sub-frames generated using each such different imaging signature are blended to form a frame of the final image providing a relatively high quality image of various objects within the volume being imaged.
US08861819B2

A method of processing data acquired by an MRI apparatus includes: acquiring functional image data of an object; acquiring structural image data of the object; determining motion information of the object based on the structural image data; and correcting the functional image data based on the motion information of the object to generate a corrected functional image of the object.
US08861811B2

The present invention uses a microprocessor, a memory storage device, and a segmentation program comprising a plurality of program modules containing computer-readable instructions that cause the microprocessor to measure the spatial offsets between all pairs of scans in an m-mode image of a blood vessel with a cross-correlation function, convert the spatial offsets to a relative wall motion waveform through a global optimization procedure, and then translate the relative wall motion waveform to an absolute wall motion waveform by interpolation over the m-mode image. The resulting detailed absolute wall distension waveform may be beneficially rendered (e.g., superimposed) on the m-mode ultrasound image for display (e.g., on a printer and/or video monitor) and diagnostic purposes, and has enormous potential for enhancing existing techniques for identifying and studying vascular biomarkers, such as vessel wall strain and compliance.
US08861808B2

The disclosure relates to a method for recording a fingerprint, with authenticity identification, using a fingerprint recording device which is connected to a data processing instrument and has a prism body with a contact face, an illumination unit for illuminating a finger disposed on the contact face, and a first camera sensor for recording a fingerprint image.
US08861805B2

A face recognition apparatus and face recognition method perform face recognition of a face by comparing an image of the face to be identified with target images for identification. The face recognition apparatus includes an image input unit to receive an image of a face to be identified, a sub-image production unit to produce a plurality of sub-images of the input face image using a plurality of different face models, a storage unit to store a plurality of target images, and a face recognition unit to set the sub-images to observed nodes of a Markov network, to set the target images to hidden nodes of the Markov network, and to recognize the presence of a target image corresponding to the face images to be identified using a first relationship between the observed nodes and the hidden nodes and a second relationship between the hidden nodes.
US08861799B2

A method and system for uniquely identifying a subject based on an iris image. After obtaining the iris image, the method produces a filtered iris image by applying filters to the iris image to enhance discriminative features of the iris image. The method analyzes an intensity value for pixels in the filtered iris image to produce an iris code that uniquely identifies the subject. The method also creates a segmented iris image by detecting an inner and outer boundary for an iris region in the iris image, and remapping pixels in the iris region, represented in a Cartesian coordinate system, to pixels in the segmented iris image, represented in a log-polar coordinate system, by employing a logarithm representation process. The method also creates a one-dimensional iris string from the iris image by unfolding the iris region by employing a spiral sampling method to obtain sample pixels in the iris region, wherein the sample pixels are the one-dimensional iris string.
US08861788B2

The invention provides a method, system, and program product for detecting an object in a digital image. In one embodiment, the invention includes: deriving an initial object indication mask based on pixel-wise differences between a first digital image and a second digital image, at least one of which includes the object; performing an edge finding operation on both the first and second digital images, wherein the edge finding operation includes marking added edges; generating a plurality of straight linear runs of pixels across an image containing the object, wherein each of the plurality of straight linear runs starts and ends on an added edge and is contained within the initial object indication mask; and forming a final object indication mask by retaining only pixels that are part of at least one of the plurality of straight linear runs.
US08861770B2

An assembly for holding a personal speaker relative to a user's ear. A headband assembly can include a band, a sleeve attached to an end of the band, and an arm moveably secured to the sleeve. The sleeve can include a pair of laterally opposed detent channels, and the arm can include a pair of spring-loaded bearings. Each spring-loaded bearing can engage one of the laterally opposed detent channels. The headband assembly can be adjusted by moving the arm relative to the sleeve. An arm of the headband assembly can be pivotally secured to a yoke by a magnetic pivot arrangement. The magnetic pivot arrangement can include a groove, a protrusion, and magnetic elements. A yoke can be pivotally secured to a housing by housing pivot arrangement. The housing pivot arrangement can include a pin extending from the yoke and a collar retained in the housing.
US08861764B2

An enclosure (10) of a microphone unit (1) includes a mounting portion (11) which has a mounting surface (11a) where a first vibration portion (13) and a second vibration portion (15) are mounted and in which, in the back surface (11b) of the mounting surface (11a), a first sound hole (23) and a second sound hole (25) are provided; in the enclosure (10), a first sound path (41) is provided that transmits sound waves input through the first sound hole (23) to one surface of a first diaphragm (134) and that also transmits the sound waves to one surface of a second diaphragm (154) and a second sound path (42) is provided that transmits sound waves input through the second sound hole to the other surface of the second diaphragm (154).
US08861754B2

This invention provides a moving iron unit for loudspeakers, which includes coil, iron core, diaphragm, and magnet, among which, the iron core is disposed in the coil, and the magnet is connected to the diaphragm on a transmission basis. It is characterized in that it also includes vibrating ring, to which the magnet is secured, and which is secured to the inner wall of a shielded cavity through its elastic body disposed radially, and which is connected to the diaphragm on a transmission basis through the transmission rod. Further, the unit comprises two diaphragms, which are disposed symmetrically at two sides of the vibrating ring and connected respectively to the vibrating ring on a transmission basis through a transmission rod. The coil is shaped directly by coiling on the iron core.
US08861753B2

An acoustic sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate; a vibrating membrane, formed above the semiconductor substrate, which includes a vibrating electrode; and a fixed membrane, formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, which includes a fixed electrode, the acoustic sensor detecting an acoustic wave according to a change in capacitance between the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode. The fixed membrane has a plurality of sound hole portions formed therein in order to allow the acoustic wave to reach the vibrating membrane from outside, and the fixed electrode is formed so that a boundary of an edge portion of the fixed electrode does not intersect the sound hole portions.
US08861749B2

An audio output circuit includes an on-chip left channel amplifier module, an on-chip center channel amplifier module, and an on-chip right channel amplifier module. A left channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip left channel amplifier module. A right channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip right channel amplifier module. A center channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip center channel amplifier module. A center channel feedback IC pin is operably coupled to an input of the on-chip center channel amplifier module to provide a feedback loop. A left jack connection is operably coupled to the left channel IC pin. A right jack connection is operably coupled to the right channel IC pin. A jack return connection coupled to the center feedback IC pin. An inductor has a first node coupled to the jack return connection and a second node coupled to the center channel IC pin.
US08861739B2

An apparatus comprises a processor configured to receive a first audio signal and first location data, the first location data relating to a location of a source of the first audio signal; receive a second audio signal and second location data, the second location data relating to a location of a source of the second audio signal; receive selected location data relating to a selected location; and generate a multichannel signal in dependence on the first and second audio signals, the first and second location data and the selected location data.
US08861735B2

A system and method for securing communications between a plurality of users communicating over an optical network. The system utilizes a fixed or tunable source optical generator to generate entangled photon pairs, distribute the photons and establish a key exchange between users. The distribution of entangled photon pairs is implemented via at least one wavelength selective switch.
US08861733B2

The invention relates to a method for personalizing a secure processor in a NFC system to execute a secure application, comprising steps of obtaining by a server identification data of a user memorized in a secure storage medium, personalization data corresponding to the user identification data, and identification data of a NFC system of the user, comprising an encryption key of the secure processor, encrypting by the server personalization data using the encryption key, transmitting to the NFC system encrypted personalization data, receiving by the secure processor encrypted personalization data, deciphering personalization data, and memorizing in a secured way personalization data by the secure processor.
US08861715B2

An electronic device includes a housing having an open portion at a part of a surface thereof, a door portion having at the open portion, a first face and a second face to be selectively exposed by rotation thereof, and a cradle having a connector and provided on the first face. The cradle is rotatable between a first attitude and a second attitude around a rotation axis line perpendicularly intersecting the first face.
US08861710B2

Systems and methods for providing estimated wait times are provided. More particularly, an estimated wait time is calculated based at least in part on agent availability information entered by the agent. The agent availability information may be obtained from the agent through a user interface provided by a contact center communication device. The user interface may include soft keys. In addition, the estimated wait time can be provided to client communication devices.
US08861703B2

A system and method for reestablishing a voice communications session moderated by a group call server between two or more telephony devices. The method is performed by a processor monitoring the communications session. The method comprises: storing one or more data records representing group call information; detecting disconnection of at least one participating telephony device from the group communications session, and determining that the disconnection was not intentionally initiated; accessing the stored call group information data and causing signals to enable reestablishment of participation by the disconnected device to be sent to the disconnected device; and upon receipt by the group call server from the disconnected device of signals representing a request to reconnect the disconnected device, outputting command signals for reestablishing a communications session between the disconnected device and at least one other device participating in the group communications session.
US08861696B2

The present invention allows for dynamic association of a computational device, such as a personal computer or personal digital assistant, with a telephone terminal. A computer-telephone adaptor or like function implemented in a telephony switch or other telephony device will receive authentication indicia. The authentication indicia may be provided by the computational device that is to be associated with the telephone terminal, or through other means. The authentication indicia may be provided by a user or generated by the computational device or by other means. To confirm the association, the user must enter confirmatory authentication indicia corresponding to the original authentication indicia through the telephone terminal.
US08861692B1

A system may include a Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) backend server configured to receive a request for a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) for a WebRTC call session requested by a browser application and generate the URI for the WebRTC call session; and a validation proxy configured to receive the URI from a WebRTC gateway and validate the URI with the WebRTC backend server. The WebRTC backend server may be receive a request to validate the URI from the validation proxy, determine whether the URI corresponds to a valid URI, and send a validation message to the validation proxy, if the received URI is valid. The validation proxy may generate a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message based on the received validation message and send the generated SIP message to a contact center services system to initiate a real-time call between the contact center services system and the browser application.
US08861690B2

A method and system are provided for forwarding telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and electronic messages to a single forwarding telephone number. The telephone calls, fax transmissions and electronic messages are first forwarded to a central forwarding repository by the forwarding party where the fax transmissions, and messages are converted to audio formats. Forwarded telephone calls and audio formatted versions of the fax transmissions and electronic messages are then forwarded directly to a designated forwarding number. If the forwarding party answers at the forwarding number, she will receive forwarded calls, and the audio formatted versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages will be played to her over her telephone. If the forwarding party does not answer the forwarded call, she subsequently may retrieve saved telephone calls, saved telephone messages and saved audio versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages from the central forwarding repository. The forwarding party may retrieve saved messages as a retrieving party from the central forwarding repository after entry of a personal identification number to authenticate the forwarding (retrieving) party's permission to retrieve saved calls and messages.
US08861689B1

Methods and systems to facilitate communications between users via different modalities. A method includes identifying, by a first user device, a voice call originating from a second user device, and presenting a user interface to a user of the first user device, where the user interface provides an option to respond to the voice call by voice and an option to respond to the voice call in a text form. The method further includes detecting that the user of the first user device has selected the option to respond to the voice call in the text form, and causing a user response to the voice call to be converted into voice data for the second user device.
US08861679B2

X-ray imaging systems and methods utilize an imaging apparatus comprising an emitter emitting X-rays through an object and a receiver receiving the X-rays. A control circuit controls the emitter and processes the X-rays received by the receiver to generate X-ray images of the object. The control circuit controls a display to display an initial view of the object, the display of the initial view being modifiable by a user; controls the imaging apparatus to generate an X-ray positioning image of the object based upon a user modification of the display of the initial view; controls the display to display the positioning image, the display of the positioning image being modifiable by a user; and controls the imaging apparatus to generate an X-ray image of the object based upon a user modification of the display of the positioning image.
US08861665B2

A communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device that performs power line communication with the first communication device via an electric power line, wherein the first communication device transmits an initial packet signal added with an error detection code in each zero crossing period including zero crossing timing while changing transmission timing within the zero crossing period. The second communication device specifies optimum communication timing out of a plurality of pieces of transmission timing within the zero crossing periods based on a result of error detection on each initial packet signal, and transmits an ACK signal including timing information on the optimum communication timing. Then, the first communication device transmits a data packet signal in the optimum communication timing within the zero crossing period, which is specified based on the timing information.
US08861664B2

A communication system and method is provided herein for synchronizing a plurality of network nodes after a network lock condition occurs within a network. According to one embodiment, the method may generate a local trigger signal simultaneously at each of the plurality of network nodes by compensating for unique phase delays attributed to each of the plurality of network nodes. As described herein, the local trigger signals may be used for synchronizing devices, such as multimedia devices, which may be coupled to the network nodes. More specifically, the local trigger signals may be used to synchronize events occurring within devices, which are coupled to different nodes of the network.
US08861661B2

An interference wave suppressing apparatus includes a digital demultiplexing unit configured to demultiplex a reception signal into demultiplexed signals having predetermined bandwidth, an interference-wave detecting unit configured to determine, for each of the demultiplexed signals, based on a power value, whether an interference wave is present, an interference-wave suppressing unit configured to change a signal value of the demultiplexed signal, in which the interference-wave detecting unit determines that an interference wave is present, to a value equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, output the demultiplexed signal, and output the demultiplexed signal, in which the interference-wave detecting unit determines that an interference wave is absent, and a digital multiplexing unit configured to multiplex the signals output from the interference-wave suppressing unit.
US08861651B2

A process for performing a QR Decomposition of a channel matrix of a wireless communication channel system, said process involving the steps of: performing a full QR Decomposition of one channel matrix for the purpose of deriving a first QR representation of the channel; performing a second iterative QR Decomposition of an adjacent channel matrix, said second iterative QR Decomposition using the results of said first QR representation as well as the difference of the two adjacent channel matrices ΔH. More particularly, the process is characterized in that the iterative QR Decomposition is performed in response to the detection of a high level of workload of the processor.
US08861648B2

To adequately perform sampling, a receiving device that solves problems that involve an increase in circuit area and an increase in cost, is provided.A/D converter 2 samples a coherent signal that is an analog signal in synchronization with a sampling clock signal so as to convert the analog signal into a digital signal. DSP 3 demodulates the digital signal converted by A/D converter 2 and computes a phase of the sampling clock signal in which an error rate of the digital signal is the minimum based on the demodulated digital signal. Sampling clock extraction circuit 4 extracts a clock signal having a symbol rate of the coherent signal therefrom. Phase adjustment circuit 5 adjusts the phase of the clock signal extracted by sampling clock extraction circuit 4 to the phase computed by DSP 3 and generates a clock signal having the adjusted phase as the sampling clock signal.
US08861642B2

A method and an apparatus for mapping a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) symbol. The QAM symbol mapping apparatus includes a frequency checker, which checks frequencies of sub-carriers in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol; and a data categorizer, which maps data coded for error correction and uncoded data to the sub-carriers based on the checked frequencies, wherein the data categorizer maps a combination of the coded data and the uncoded data with respect to sub-carriers having frequencies lower than a reference frequency.
US08861639B2

A method for determining precoding matrix for the sub-band precoding in a transmitter with M transmitting antennas. The method includes determining an optimized first matrix W1 according to wideband and/or long-term channel properties, multiplying the optimized first matrix W1, with each second matrix W2, in a second codebook, to obtain a plurality of candidate precoding matrices, the second matrix W2 corresponds to frequency-selective and/or short-term channel properties; selecting an optimized one from the plurality of candidate preceding matrices for precoding the data to be transmitted, according to a frequency selection and/or a short-term channel state information. The amount of DFT beams may be increased to improve the spatial resolution; a diagonal matrix is involved in the first matrix W1; and phase adjustment is involved in the second matrix W2, so as to guarantee the adjusted phase is evenly distributed among the whole phase space.
US08861638B2

The present application relates to a method for reducing the peak-to-mean amplitude ratio of a transmission signal comprising a plurality of coherent replicated signals, and to a transmitted for transmitting such a signal. The transmission signal is separated into the plurality of coherent replicated signals and one of the plurality of replicated signals is delayed with respect to another of the plurality of replicated signals, either in the time domain by introducing a time delay or in the frequency domain by introducing a phase shift. This has the effect of reducing the coherence of the delayed replicated signal with respect to the other replicated signal, reducing the peak power of the signal and therefore reducing the peak-to-mean amplitude ratio of the transmission signal.
US08861635B2

A system and a closed form method of optimizing a set of receive beamformers' weights, each feeding one of N multi-layer MIMO receiving system wherein the beamformers have a pool of M receive antennas wherein M is greater than N. Each beamformer is tuned to optimize one data stream, where selection of antennas per beamformer may be done out of a pool of antennas, and mapping of a given beamformer to a data stream is optimized per certain performance metrics.
US08861633B2

A method for transmitting pilots in a wireless communication system includes generating first two pilots for a first antenna. Second two pilots for a second antenna are generated by multiplying the first two pilots with two weight values respectively. The first two pilots are transmitted over two Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols via the first antenna. The second two pilots are transmitted over the two OFDM symbols via the second antenna, wherein each weight value is determined based on a value used to obtain a symbol index of a corresponding OFDM symbol of the two OFDM symbols within a slot. Symbol indexes for the two OFDM symbols are consecutive, and the two weight values are different with each other.
US08861631B2

An interpolation method selection processing section 41 derives, from a ZF output signal, an error in a frequency direction and an error in a time direction concerning two transmit antennas (TxAnt#0#1) used in two antenna transmission, respectively, and determines if the error in the frequency direction is smaller than the error in the time direction. In case the determination indicates that the error in the frequency direction is smaller than the error in the time direction concerning the two transmit antennas (TxAnt#0#1), a frequency interpolation processing section 43 interpolates the ZF output signal in the frequency direction and produces a provisional estimate. If it is determined that the error in the frequency direction is not smaller than the error in the time direction concerning the two transmit antennas (TxAnt#0#1), a time interpolation processing section 42 interpolates the ZF output signal in the time direction and generates a provisional estimate.
US08861624B2

A method of transmitting a signal of a mobile station that performs communication with a plurality of cells in a wireless communication system comprises transmitting a control signal or a data signal through an asynchronous channel to a neighboring cell which is not synchronized with the mobile station, the asynchronous channel including cyclic prefix and guard time.
US08861623B2

A multi-carrier linear equalization receiver, e.g., a RAKE receiver or chip equalization receiver, is described herein. The multi-carrier receiver distributes processing delays among a plurality of received carriers based on a dispersion determined for each carrier. The receiver initially allocates a minimum number of processing delays sufficient for light dispersion to each carrier. For the dispersive carriers, the receiver allocates one or more additional processing delays. In one embodiment, the additional processing delays are allocated to the dispersive carriers based on SIR.
US08861621B2

In a receiver circuit, a binary signal is generated based on a signal level of a received signal that has been received via a transmission line from a driver of a transmitter circuit. Then, a first stable state and a second stable state are detected based on a reference signal whose signal level changes in accordance with the received signal. In the first stable state, the received signal is stable at a first signal level. In the second stable state, the received signal is stable at a second signal level. When the first stable state is detected and the received signal is changed from the first signal level into the second signal level, the generated binary signal is retained at a signal level corresponding to the second signal level, until the second stable state is detected.
US08861616B2

The present invention provides video encoding and decoding methods using block merging, which can be applied to a high resolution video of more than HD (High Definition) resolution. A video encoding method includes partitioning a current block into a first and a second prediction unit by using asymmetric partitioning, constructing a list of common merging candidate blocks including a predetermined number of common merging candidate blocks selected from adjacent blocks of the current block, selecting at least one candidate block from among the list of common merging candidate blocks and sending information of the selected candidate block to a decoder for each of the first and the second prediction unit.
US08861608B2

Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a motion vector. The method of encoding a motion vector includes: selecting a mode from among a first mode in which information indicating a motion vector predictor of at least one motion vector predictor is encoded and a second mode in which information indicating generation of a motion vector predictor based on pixels included in a previously encoded area adjacent to a current block is encoded; determining a motion vector predictor of the current block according to the selected mode and encoding information about the motion vector predictor of the current block; and encoding a difference vector between a motion vector of the current block and the motion vector predictor of the current block.
US08861606B2

An image coding method includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector predictor from a co-located motion vector; adding the candidate to a list; selecting the motion vector predictor from the list; and coding a current block and coding a current motion vector, wherein the deriving includes: deriving the candidate by a first derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of a current reference picture and a co-located reference picture is a long-term reference picture; and deriving the candidate by a second derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of the current reference picture and the co-located reference picture is a short-term reference picture.
US08861595B2

In an embodiment, a method for converting an input video sequence, comprising digital images organized in frames and operating at a variable frame-rate, into an output video sequence, operating at a pre-set constant frame-rate, storing the input video sequence temporarily and controlling fetching of images of said temporarily stored input video sequence. The method further includes controlling fetching of images from the temporarily stored input video sequence by adjusting an emptying rate to form an intermediate video sequence; and carrying out an operation of motion-compensated interpolation on the intermediate video sequence to form the output video sequence operating at a pre-set constant frame-rate, the emptying rate being adjusted as a function of a number of images of the input video sequence with variable frame-rate temporarily stored. An application is in the reproduction of video sequences in mobile terminals, with the capacity of audio-video conversation, for example for videoconferences.
US08861588B2

A method and system of reconstructing data signals from one of incomplete measurements comprising a receiver for receiving data signals, an ADC system operatively connected to the receiver that digitizes the received data signal at a slower rate than the Nyquist rate to obtain sparse measurements; first and second dictionaries comprising a plurality of time shifted responses recovered from the data signal; the first dictionary comprising time shifted versions of the previously observed data signals which are sampled at or above the Nyquist minimum sample rate; the second dictionary comprising time shifted versions are sampled below the Nyquist minimum, and at least one processor for reconstruction of the waveform signals by transforming the sub-Nyquist digitized output using the first and second dictionaries to produce the data signal.
US08861581B2

Provided is a receiver for processing VSB signal. The receiver includes a first equalizer/decoder unit and a second equalizer/decoder unit. The first equalizer/decoder unit performs a first equalizing operation, first TCM decoding and first RS decoding on a received symbol to output a first dibit. The second equalizer/decoder unit performs a second equalizing operation, second TCM decoding and second RS decoding on the received symbol to output a transport stream. The first dibit is provided as a priori information for a soft-decision operation of the second TCM decoding.
US08861578B1

Methods, apparatus and systems for measuring signal transition times for a four-level pulse modulated amplitude (PAM4) transmitter. During a test procedure, a PAM4 transmitter is configured to repetitively transmitting a four-level test pattern, which is captured and digitized. The digitized data is processed to generate a linear-fitted waveform. A voltage modulation amplitude (VMA) level for each of a −1 and +1 PAM4 signal level is measured and used to derive 20% and 80% VMA levels in an eye diagram. The rise transition time is then determined by measuring the time interval between when a rising signal crosses the 20% and 80% VMA levels, and the fall transition time is determined by measuring the time interval between when a falling signal crosses the 80% and 20% VMA levels.
US08861571B2

A transmitter includes a synthesis filter bank to spread a data symbol to a plurality of frequencies by encoding the data symbol on each frequency, apply a common pulse-shaping filter, and apply gains to the frequencies such that a power level of each frequency is less than a noise level of other communication signals within the spectrum. Each frequency is modulated onto a different evenly spaced subcarrier. A demodulator in a receiver converts a radio frequency input to a spread-spectrum signal in a baseband. A matched filter filters the spread-spectrum signal with a common filter having characteristics matched to the synthesis filter bank in the transmitter by filtering each frequency to generate a sequence of narrow pulses. A carrier recovery unit generates control signals responsive to the sequence of narrow pulses suitable for generating a phase-locked loop between the demodulator, the matched filter, and the carrier recovery unit.
US08861570B2

Various methods and apparatuses for beacon transmission in an ad-hoc peer-to-peer network are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for communication is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a processing system configured to determine device-independent beacon data, determine device-dependent beacon data, and to spread the device-dependent beacon data using one or more spreading codes and a transmitter configured to transmit one or more beacons during a beacon transmission period, wherein each beacon comprises the device-independent beacon data and the spread device-dependent beacon data.
US08861569B2

The present invention proposes an LTE eNodeB receiver channel estimation technique that is referred to as reduced complexity minimum mean squared error (MMSE) technique for channel estimation. From the invention's assumptions, estimations and modified calculations, the present invention generates precise channel estimates of RS using the reduced complexity MMSE matrix and previously computed LS channel estimates HLS is as follows: (Formula I) which generates precise channel estimates of RS using the reduced complexity MMSE matrix and previously computed LS channel estimates. As a second aspect of the present invention, it is desired that the SNR be estimated within −3 dB of the actual channel SNR. As a third aspect of the invention, an adaptive method of data channel interpolation from RS channel is being proposed in this invention.
US08861565B2

A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for operating a network are disclosed. In particular, methods are disclosed for operating a wireless mesh network to increase the number of frequency channels used by the system without needing to increase the preamble length. According to various embodiments, a wireless mesh network divides the ISM spectrum into two types of channels: acquisition channels and data channels. An acquisition channel is used to transmit a preamble of a communication packet. One or more data channels are used to transmit a data portion of the communication packet.
US08861563B2

The use of reflecting surfaces that are inclined towards one another enables the multiple reflection of a beam path to be achieved in a laser structure. This permits the realization of compact laser assemblies. The introduction of beam-influencing media between the reflective surfaces or the configuration of said reflective surfaces from or using media of this type allows the use of the multiple reflection for influencing parameters of the radiation or radiation field.
US08861553B2

An asynchronous master-slave serial communication system, a data transmission method, and a control module using the same are disclosed. The asynchronous master-slave serial communication system comprises a master control module and a slave control module. The master control module generates a check code according to an address information and a data information, and generates a data package according to the address information, the data information, the check code and the master clock signal. The slave control module generates a decoding data according to the data package and a slave clock signal, and generates the address information, the data information and the check code according to the decoding data.
US08861537B1

This disclosure describes a bridge and control proxy for unified communication systems. The bridge transmits and receives data from a unified communication system. In addition, the bridge transmits and receives data from a non-compatible device. The bridge translates the data between the unified communication system and the non-compatible device. The bridge stores selected data such as presence information for later use by the unified communication system and/or the non-compatible device. Further, the bridge uses Web services to discover, promote, and/or advertise non-compatible devices to the unified communication system.
US08861535B2

Prioritization of data traffic is a common technique for providing enhanced quality of service (QoS), allowing some traffic to reach its destination on an expedited basis without being obstructed or delayed by other lower-priority traffic. A mechanism is disclosed using the bearer architecture of the evolved packet core (EPC) to provide prioritization of traffic from specific packet data networks (PDNs), as well as over specific bearers. The priority information is requested by the mobile management entity (MME), which is commonly overloaded with traffic to and from multiple users and PDNs. In addition, a mechanism is provided for reducing the frequency of unwanted paging notifications for MMEs that are overloaded.
US08861534B2

A system for providing lifeline telecommunication service includes a gateway, an analog signal service module, and an integrated access device. The gateway receives telecommunication information from a telecommunication switch and generates data packets for communicating the telecommunication information. The analog signal service module is remotely coupled to the gateway. The analog signal service module may receive the data packets from the gateway and generate a first analog telephone signal for communicating the telecommunication information over a local loop circuit. Coupled to the local loop circuit, the integrated access device may receive the first analog telephone signal from the analog signal service module and communicate the first analog telephone signal to a subscriber line in a first mode of operation. The integrated access device also may receive the data packets from the gateway, process the data packets to generate a second analog telephone signal communicating the telecommunication information, and communicate the second analog telephone signal to the subscriber line in a second mode of operation.
US08861531B2

A variety of techniques and devices for acquiring user status information at a transmitting device to a receiving device, or vice versa, are provided.
US08861530B2

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting a plurality of PUCCHs in a wireless communication system, wherein the method comprises the following steps: checking a resource for a first PUCCH among the plurality of PUCCHs; inferring, from the resource for the first PUCCH, a resource for the remaining one or more second PUCCHs excluding the first PUCCH among the plurality of PUCCHs; and transmitting the plurality of PUCCHs simultaneously via corresponding relevant resources.
US08861526B2

Provided is a method for receiving a broadcast service. The method includes: receiving a first packetized stream; extracting presentation time information from a header of the first packetized stream; extracting trigger information comprising a target service identifier and a trigger action from a payload of the first packetized stream; and performing the trigger action to an object corresponding to the target service identifier at a time indicated by presentation time information.
US08861525B1

A translation data center (TDC) is described that provides cloud-based network protocol translation services. In an example system, the TDC is coupled to a first public network that includes client devices and operates according to a first network-layer protocol (NLP) and a second public network that includes content providers and operates according to a second NLP. Domain name servers within the first public network are updated to include records that resolve respective domain names for each of a plurality of content providers of the second public network to different, globally-routable network destination addresses assigned to the TDC. The TDC receives packets from the first network, transforms the packets from the first NLP to the second NLP and replaces network-layer destination addresses of the TDC with the network-layer destination addresses for the content providers.
US08861519B2

Disclosed herein is a data filtering apparatus, including: a plurality of pre-filters configured to extract a designated type of data from input data carrying a plurality of types of data; a plurality of post-filters configured to extract, from the data extracted by the pre-filter designated to be connected, the data that matches a designated data extraction condition; and a filter connection information holding device configured to hold filter connection information for designating at least one of the pre-filters to be connected, in correspondence with each of the post-filters.
US08861516B2

Aspects of a system for transforming compressed video traffic to network-aware Ethernet traffic with A/V bridging capabilities and A/V bridging extensions may include a graphics processing unit (GPU) that may enable encapsulation of compressed video data within a Display Port protocol data unit (PDU). A LAN subsystem may enable encapsulation of the Display Port PDU within an encapsulating PDU. The LAN subsystem may enable determination of a traffic class designation associated with the encapsulating PDU. The LAN subsystem may enable transmission of the encapsulating PDU via a network based on the traffic class designation. The LAN subsystem may also enable the encapsulation of compressed video data within Ethernet frames. A computing device, which receives the Ethernet frames may de-compress the compressed video data and send the uncompressed video data, which may be encapsulated within one or more Display Port mini-packets, to a multimedia monitor.
US08861510B1

The present technology comprises system architecture and methods that provide a media proxy configured to be inserted dynamically into a VoIP system, as-needed, either during call setup or during a call; in either case, in response to invoking a particular feature that requires the media proxy. This dynamic media proxy configuration provides many advantages, including lower cost and better quality of calls. In some embodiments of the system architecture and methods, the media proxy is configured to be inserted during set up of a call. In other embodiments of the system architecture and methods, the media proxy is configured to be inserted when a call is in progress.
US08861500B2

The present invention provides a method and device for detecting downlink control information, which relates to the communication field. The method includes: during cross carrier scheduling, the user equipment (UE) determines a search space for monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) according to the number of downlink component carriers in a PDCCH Monitoring Set and the number of downlink component carriers in a UE DL Component Carrier Set.
US08861492B2

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatuses corresponding to a WLAN terminal and a wireless human interface device (HID), for enabling communication between the WLAN terminal and HID. According to the method, the WLAN terminal can receive data frames directly from the HID and these frames are compliant with the WLAN standard protocol. The frames are received even if the WLAN terminal is associated with an AP and the HID does not support infrastructure mode.
US08861491B2

A mobile application gateway for connecting devices on a cellular network with individual networks, such as enterprise voice and data networks and/or residential networks. The effects of the present invention are far reaching in terms of transferring effective call control from the cellular network into the control of the individual network such as the enterprise, and enabling new business models for the purchase of cellular service from a public cellular carrier by an enterprise. The invention may consist of a primarily of core network and services components based on the IMS network architecture, and is backward compatible to support legacy systems in place in current telecom and data networks.
US08861463B2

Provided are an apparatus and method of performing an uplink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) in a wireless communication system. A terminal transmits a transport block to a base station via a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) using uplink resource allocation and receives an ACK/NACK signal for the transport block from the base station via a physical hybrid-ARQ indicator channel (PHICH). A PHICH resource used for transmitting the PHICH is identified from a PUSCH resource used for transmitting the PUSCH, and the PUSCH resource is mapped to the PHICH resource according to an uplink element carrier through which the transport block is transmitted.
US08861460B2

A method for random access to a base station by a user equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system using carrier aggregation in which communication is conducted over a plurality of component carriers, and a terminal for the method are disclosed. When the UE performs a contention-based random access procedure in the mobile communication system to which CA technology is applied, the UE considers an uplink grant signal as a contention resolution message when receiving the uplink grant signal from a eNB only when the uplink grant signal is received through a downlink CC corresponding to an uplink CC used to transmit a random access preamble or a third message, to thereby prevent contention resolution from being erroneously ended.
US08861457B2

A method for managing uplink carrier frequencies is provided, which is applicable to the field of communication. The method includes the following steps: A state switching response message sent by a UE is received, where the state switching response message includes a result of state switching performed by on a secondary uplink carrier serving cell; The result of the state switching is notified to a secondary uplink carrier non-serving cell in a secondary carrier active set through an RNC. A device and a system for managing uplink carrier frequencies are further provided. Through the method, device, and system provided in embodiments of the present invention, the uplink carrier frequencies are managed, so as to facilitate transmission of uplink data during multi-cell collaboration.
US08861454B2

The disclosure provides a method and device for enhancing Quality of Service (QoS) in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The method for enhancing QoS in the WLAN includes the steps of: adding a message category in a wireless access point (S10); adding a QoS priority transmission queue according to the added message category and setting queue attributes (S11); performing QoS scheduling by using the added transmission queue and performing data transmission (S12). The device for enhancing QoS in the WLAN can ensure that a wireless full service is carried out normally according to requirements of users by expanding the message categories in Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) QoS, adding a wireless priority queue correspondingly, and using a policy of discarding a message intelligently and the like, thereby enhancing QoS to improve the user experience.
US08861452B2

Techniques are provided for control signaling and channel selection in cognitive Long Term Evolution (LTE). In one example, there is provided a method, operable by a mobile entity, that involves receiving, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed channel used by one or more network nodes. The method further involves: performing a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes; determining at least one random access parameter to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the at least one random access parameter being associated with a characteristic of the user device and determining a preferred downlink channel.
US08861447B2

Group identification and definition employing look up table (LUT) within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. A LUT provides a very concise representation of the relationship between group IDs and various subsets of wireless communication devices. Each respective group ID can correspond to more than one subset of wireless communication devices, and each when included within corresponding subsets, a given wireless communication device occupies a common, respective location (e.g., first location, second location, etc.) within each of those corresponding subsets. When a received multi-user packet (e.g., OFDMA, MU-MIMO, or combination thereof) is received by and ascertained to be intended for a wireless communication device, then it may be further determined which space time streams of the multi-user packet correspond to that wireless communication device, as determined based on to the location of the wireless communication device within the corresponding subset associated with that particular group ID.
US08861446B2

Various methods and apparatuses for channel selection based on energy levels are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for communication is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a processing system configured to determine, for each of one or more channels, a plurality of energy levels of a respective plurality of signals received via a respective plurality of beam directions and to select one of the channels based on the determined energy levels and a transceiver configured to communicate over the selected channel.
US08861445B2

An embodiment is a technique to use a single radio for multi-channel wireless communication. A local device having a local channel table operates on a common channel in a multi-channel wireless network having a plurality of network devices to perform management, control, and discovery functions using a single radio. A data session channel is negotiated with a remote device having a remote channel table upon an initiation of a communication session using the local and remote channel tables on the common channel. Data packets are exchanged with the remote device using the data session channel in a data transmission mode.
US08861432B2

A method and an apparatus are configured to support a plurality of Media Access Control (MAC) versions in a broadband wireless communication system. An operating method of a terminal to support the multiple MAC versions in the broadband wireless communication system includes receiving a message comprising information of one or more MAC versions supported by a base station, from the base station; and sending information of one or more MAC versions supported by the terminal, to the base station using a message. Thus, in the wireless environment where the multiple MAC versions are mixed, the MAC version can be matched.
US08861428B2

A system and process that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an interference monitor configured to detect occurrences of unintended signals within a communications link. A communications link may carry a down-converted format of a satellite signal from an earth terminal to an integrated receiver and decoder for further network distribution. Depending upon the nature of any such detected unintended signals, the communications link can be “swapped out” for a redundant communications link carrying a down-converted format of the same satellite signal obtained by way of a redundant earth terminal. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08861424B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communications. The method generally includes allocating resources of a backhaul link between a donor base station and a relay base station to the relay station for communicating with the donor base station and transmitting a control channel indicating the allocated resources to the relay base station, wherein the control channel is transmitted on a subset of physical resource blocks (PRBs) of subframes assigned for downlink communications on the backhaul link.
US08861422B2

A method of managing MBMS reception for a communication device in a wireless communication system includes the step of performing discontinuous reception with off durations and receiving data of a MBMS subframe when the communication device has subscribed a MBMS service and the MBMS subframe is in one of the off durations.
US08861407B2

Apparatus, including a communication device which has two or more radio frequency (RF) ports for communicating in respective frequency bands. The apparatus also includes a substrate which has two or more interconnection ports, and which are respectively connected to the two or more RF ports of the communication device and are configured to couple a selected one of the RF ports to a duplexer operating at one of the respective frequency bands.
US08861400B2

Apparatuses and methods to request multicast membership information in a distributed switch are provided. A particular method may include requesting multicast membership information of a group identified by a multicast destination address in a distributed switch. The distributed switch may include a plurality of distributed switch elements with a plurality of switch forwarding units. The method may generate a miss event indicating that the multicast destination address is unregistered in a switch forwarding unit of a distributed switch element and there is a need for the multicast membership information. The method may also request the multicast membership information of the multicast destination address in response to the miss event. The method may further initiate a query for the multicast membership information of the multicast destination address in response to the request.
US08861395B2

A process for dimensioning a cellular telecommunications network, including, for each of one or more network elements of the network: accessing network element environment data representing a configuration and environment of the network element; accessing QoS data representing quality of service criteria for users of the network; and processing the network element environment data and the QoS data to generate network element capacity data representing combinations of loads of network services corresponding to capacities of the network element that meet the quality of service criteria.
US08861390B2

In one embodiment, an expected transmission count (ETX) link metric is computed for a link between a transmitter and a receiver in a communication network, the ETX representative of an expected number of transmissions necessary for a message to be successfully received by the receiver over the link, and a data rate of the link at which the ETX is computed is also determined. From these, an estimated transmission overhead (ETO) link metric for the link may be computed by dividing the ETX by the data rate. In one embodiment, the data rate of the link may be adjusted based on the ETO (e.g., to minimize the ETO). In another embodiment, routes through the communication network may be selected based on ETO values along the route.
US08861385B2

A communication device selects a layer 2 address to be changed, and transmits a presence check request message via a network to which the communication device is connected. The communication device determines, based on a received result of the presence check request message, whether the layer 2 address is duplicated with another communication device connected to the network. When the communication device confirms the layer 2 address is not duplicated, the communication device changes the layer 2 address of the communication device.
US08861384B2

In geographical areas with incomplete coverage of Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) networks, it may be beneficial for a multimode User Equipment (UE) to handover to a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network. Before handover, a multimode UE may receive an indication from a serving TD-SCDMA cell to enter a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode and perform measurement on a nearby GSM cell. After measurement, the UE receives a grant from the serving TD-SCDMA cell allowing the UE to transmit a measurement report to the serving TD-SCDMA cell. The TD-SCDMA cell may use the measurement report to determine if the multimode UE should handover to the GSM cell.
US08861383B2

In an example embodiment, a wireless device is configured to associate with a first access point on a first frequency. The wireless device listens for a predefined frame, which may be sent by neighboring access points or other wireless devices. When the wireless device receives a signal comprising a predefined frame, the wireless device acquires a parameter, such as signal strength, for the signal. The wireless device sends the parameter for the signal to the first access point.
US08861378B2

A method, system, and network device for node configuration and path detection are provided. The method for path detection includes: receiving a path detection message, and writing path state information of a present node into the path detection message; forwarding the path detection message, into which the path state information of the present node has been written, to downstream nodes according to a forwarding manner for a multicast data stream. The method for path detection is capable of improving the acquisition efficiency for multicast paths and saving network bandwidth.
US08861374B2

Methods and apparatus for compensating for time-based sampling using packet elimination are disclosed herein. An example method may be implemented in a network device communicatively connected to a network. The method may include: receiving a packet over the network at a monitoring point; replicating the received packet; determining whether to sample the replicated packet using a time-based sampling scheme; upon determining that the replicated packet should be sampled, queuing the replicated packet to a port of the network device; determining whether to eliminate the queued packet by comparing a configured sample rate with a current sample rate; upon determining that the current sample rate is less than the configured sample rate, exporting the queued packet from the network device; and upon determining that the current sample rate is greater than or equal to the configured sample rate, dropping the queued packet.
US08861370B2

Systems and methods for testing a communications network having a central bus guardian (CBG) to detect a faulty condition associated with the CBG are described. In one embodiment, a method for testing a communications network having a CBG to detect a faulty condition associated with the CBG includes supplying a communications schedule to the CBG, causing test data to be transmitted between different buses that are connected to the CBG according to the communications schedule, and determining the faulty condition associated with the CBG based on whether or not the test data is received according to the communications schedule. Other embodiments are also described.
US08861369B2

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with using packet filter hooks to selectively re-direct network packets to a virtual network interface are described. In one embodiment, a method includes re-directing a network packet at a filter hook point in an Internet Protocol processing stack. The example method may also include re-directing the network packet to a virtual network interface.
US08861368B2

Apparatus and methods are described herein for managing data network connections. When a gateway or user equipment receives a message indicating the active data network connections associated with the sending party, the gateway or user equipment checks a locally stored list of active data network connections to determine whether there is a match. If at least one active data network connection does not match, the receiving device sends a message to the sending party indicating the locally stored active data network connections.
US08861364B2

An integrated circuit that includes a link controller and a plurality of queue controllers in communication with the link controller is provided. Each of the plurality of queue controllers is operable to be coupled to a dedicated buffer of a remote transmitter of data external to the integrated circuit. The plurality of queue controllers are operable to monitor a buffer full level for the dedicated buffer and each of the plurality of queue controllers are operable to transmit a signal indicating the buffer full level to the link controller. The link controller is operable to transmit a priority flow control signal to the remote transmitter, wherein a time period from transmission of the signal indicating the buffer full level to detection of the buffer full level is consistent for each dedicated buffer.
US08861361B2

An apparatus and method for fast load balancing bandwidth allocation based on a binary search may be provided, wherein the apparatus may include a bandwidth allocation request receiving unit to receive a bandwidth allocation request signal from at least one modem, and a bandwidth allocation processing unit to allocate a bandwidth to an upstream channel of the at least one modem, using a load balancing algorithm, in response to the received bandwidth allocation request signal.
US08861360B2

A monitoring device may determine an application to monitor, may determine a parameter to monitor, where the parameter is associated with at least one of a network or a device, may determine user devices from which to collect the parameter, and may transmit, to the user devices, information that identifies the application and information that identifies the parameter. The monitoring device may receive, from the user devices, information that identifies values of the parameter, may analyze the values of the parameter, may determine, based on the analysis, that the application is a cause of a problem associated with the network or the device. The monitoring device may perform an action based on determining that the application is a cause of the problem.
US08861359B2

A network system includes a server which accommodates a plurality of tenants, at least one network appliance which has a resource shared by the plurality of tenants, a plurality of switches arranged between the at least one network appliance and a network; and a controller which controls the switches. Each switch has a flow table indicating an association of an input source with a transfer destination of packets for each flow, and transfers packets received from the input source to the transfer destination by referring to the flow table. The controller includes an assignment control block which dynamically assigns each of a plurality of tenants to any of the at least one network appliance; a route design block which designs a flow route for each of the tenants; and a switch setting block which sets the flow table for each of switches along the designed route.
US08861354B2

Systems and methods for deploying and employing policies for wireless traffic optimization in a wireless network based on hierarchies are disclosed. One embodiment includes deploying a global policy set of the policies for wireless traffic optimization among mobile devices in the wireless network and deploying a first policy set of the policies among a first subset of mobile devices among the mobile devices. In one embodiment, the first subset of mobile devices meet a device-based criteria including one or more of, device type, device platform, or device model and any policy of the first policy set overwrites any policy of the global policy set in case of conflict when deployed on any of the first subset of mobile devices.
US08861346B2

A IP video delivery system (10) includes a multiplexer (30) for transmitting multiple data streams of packets over link (31) to a site having one or more receivers (22). During times of congestion, the multiplexer will discard packets from its internal queues. Packets are intelligently chosen to minimize the effects on the output from the receivers (22) by taking into account timing information related to the packets and priority.
US08861340B1

Network devices provide Internet Protocol (IP) and Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) fast reroute for unicast and multicast traffic. The approach described herein for fast reroute for IP and LDP uses maximally redundant trees (MRTs). MRTs are a pair of trees where the path from any node X to the root R along the first tree and the path from the same node X to the root along the second tree share the minimum number of nodes and the minimum number of links. A network device, such as a router, computes a pair of MRTs for each destination and installs one or more MRT alternate next-hops in its forwarding plane for use in forwarding network traffic to a destination in the event a failure occurs that renders a primary next-hop unusable for reaching the destination.
US08861334B2

A method, apparatus and computer readable medium for maintaining two variables per port member of a network device which is part of a Split Multi Link Trunk/Link Aggregation Group (SMLT/LAG) is presented. A first variable comprising a link status variable reflecting a link status, and a second variable comprising a forwarding status variable reflecting a forwarding status of a forwarding plane with respect to the port are provided, the link status variable and the forwarding status variable in a first state when the port is operating properly. A failure related to the port is detected. The link status variable is set to a second state, and the forwarding status variable is set to a second state.
US08861329B2

A mobile station apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive control information; a selecting unit configured to randomly select a sequence from a plurality of sequences contained in one group of a plurality of groups, into which a predetermined number of sequences generated from a plurality of base sequences are grouped and which are respectively associated with different amounts of data or reception qualities; and a transmitting unit for transmitting the selected sequence. The predetermined number of sequences are grouped by partitioning the predetermined number of sequences, in which sequences generated from the same base sequence and having different cyclic shifts are arranged in an increasing order of the cyclic shifts. A position at which the predetermined number of sequences are partitioned is determined based on the control information, and a number of sequences contained in each of the plurality of groups varies in accordance with the control information.
US08861317B1

A method fabricates a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) and that is optically coupled with a laser. The HAMR transducer includes a write pole, a waveguide, and at least one protective pad. The write pole has a pole tip with an ABS facing surface. The waveguide is located in a down track direction from the pole tip and directs light from the laser toward the ABS. The protective pad(s) are adjacent to the write pole and have front surface(s) at the ABS.
US08861309B2

Self-consistency and/or differences between volume images and interpreted spatial/volumetric context may be exploited for improving seismic imaging and estimation of attributes of geobodies, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Exemplary embodiments allow exploitation of positional and/or shape discrepancies and/or similarities of geobodies in image volumes associated with a geologic model of a geologic volume of interest to improve the accuracy of the geologic model and/or the image volumes. Constraints associated with the geologic volume of interest may be determined and/or utilized to confirm and/or specify dependencies between attributes that are potentially associated with individual geobodies.
US08861308B2

A technique includes a method and apparatus for simultaneous joint inversion of surface wave and refraction data to identify near surface geophysical and geological properties.
US08861303B2

A new address transition detection (ATD) circuit for use on an address bus having a plurality of address signal lines comprises a first circuit for each address signal line and a second circuit. The first circuit has a first input, a second input and an output. The first input is coupled to an address signal line. The second input is coupled to an ATD signal. The first circuit saves the current level of the first input in response to an ATD pulse on the ATD signal and generates a change signal at its output by comparing the current level and the saved level of the first input. The second circuit has an input and an output. The second circuit receives on its input the change signal from the first circuit. In response, the second circuit generates the ATD pulse on the ATD signal at its output.
US08861301B2

A memory includes a memory array having a plurality of word lines, a plurality of latching predecoders, and word line driver logic. Each latching predecoder receives a clock signal and a plurality of address signals and latches a result of a logic function of the plurality of address signals in response to a first edge of a clock cycle of the clock signal and provides a predetermined value in response to a second edge of the first clock cycle of the clock signal, wherein, in response to the second edge, every latching decoder of the plurality of latching predecoders provides a same predetermined value. The word line driver logic selectively activates a selected word line of the plurality of word lines in response to the latched results.
US08861300B2

A multi-port memory may be formed from a plurality of “simpler” memories. In one implementation, the memory includes a write port and a number of memories provided in groups, such that the write port supplies each of a plurality of copies of the data unit to a subset of the memories, each of the subset of memories being provided in a corresponding one of the groups, a number of the copies of the data unit being greater than two. Multiplexers may be implemented, each of which being associated with a corresponding one of the groups of the memories. One of the plurality of multiplexers may be configured to selectively supply one of the copies of the data unit from one of the memories. A read port may receive the one of the copies of the data unit from the one of the multiplexers and output the one of the copies of the data unit.
US08861295B2

A sense amplifier includes a first transistor. The first transistor includes a gate connected to a bit line, and a first source/drain (S/D) electrically coupled with a global bit line. The sense amplifier further includes a second transistor. The second transistor includes a gate connected to a first signal line, and a first S/D coupled to the global bit line, wherein the second transistor is configured to pre-charge the bit line.
US08861280B2

An erase operation for a 3D stacked memory device adjusts a start time of an erase period and/or a duration of the erase period for each storage element based on a position of the storage element. A voltage is applied to one or both drive ends of a NAND string to pre-charge a channel to a level which is sufficient to create gate-induced drain leakage at the select gate transistors. With timing based on a storage element's distance from the driven end, the control gate voltage is lowered to encourage tunneling of holes into a charge trapping layer in the erase period. The lowered control gate voltage results in a channel-to-control gate voltage which is sufficiently high to encourage tunneling. The duration of the erase period is also increased when the distance from the driven end is greater. As a result, a narrow erase distribution can be achieved.
US08861272B1

Embodiments of solid-state storage system are provided herein include data recovery mechanism to recover data upon detection of a read error (e.g., an uncorrectable ECC error) in a storage element such as a page. In various embodiments, the system is configured to determine optimal reference voltage value(s) by evaluating the reference voltage value(s) of page(s) that are related to the page where the failure occurred. The related page(a) may include a page that is paired with the initial page where the failure occurred (e.g., the paired pages reside in a common memory cell), or a neighboring page that is physically near the page where the initial page, and/or a paired page of the neighboring page. In another embodiment, the system is configured to perform a time-limited search function to attempt to determine optimal reference voltage values through an iterative process that adjusts voltage values in a progression to determine a set of values that can retrieve the data.
US08861266B2

A method for operating a phase change memory that includes initializing a memory cell that includes: a first conductive electrode having a length greater than its width and an axis aligned with the length; a second conductive electrode having an edge oriented at an angle to the axis of the first conductive electrode; an insulator providing a separation distance between an end of the first conductive electrode and the edge of the second conductive electrode; and a phase change material covering a substantial portion of the first conductive electrode and at least a portion of the second conductive electrode. The initializing the memory cell includes creating a first amorphous material region in the phase change material. An active crystalline material region is created inside the first amorphous material region. Information is stored in the memory cell by creating a second amorphous material region inside the active crystalline material region.
US08861245B2

A control circuit board includes a first storage unit configured to store therein predetermined data; a connecting unit configured to be connected to another control circuit board including a second storage unit; a switching unit configured to switch between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which data read from the first storage unit is enabled but data read from the second storage unit is disabled, the second state being a state in which data read from the first storage unit is disabled but data read from the second storage unit is enabled; and a storage control unit configured to write or read data to or from the first storage unit in the first state, and perform a copying operation that reads the data from the second storage unit and stores the read data in the first storage unit in the second state.
US08861240B2

A power converter includes pairs of series-connected switching elements and, for each pair, a bidirectional switch that clamps the switching elements of the pair at the mid-point of a DC voltage that is supplied to the power converter. An abnormal voltage rise in a forward recovery process of the bidirectional switch is avoided by restraining an induced electromotive force developing across the bidirectional switch upon turning OFF of one of the semiconductor switching elements below the difference in voltage between the gate voltage at the start of the forward recovery process of the bidirectional switch and the gate threshold voltage that allows the maximum recovery current of the bidirectional switch to flow.
US08861234B2

A DC voltage source converter for use in high voltage DC power transmission comprising at least one chain-link converter connected between first and second DC terminals. The or each chain-link converter includes a chain of modules connected in series and each module including at least one pair of semiconductor switches connected in parallel with an energy storage device. The or each chain-link converter is operable when DC networks are connected to the first and second DC terminals to control switching of the modules to selectively charge or discharge the energy storage device of one or more of the modules, as required, to offset any difference in the DC voltage levels of the DC networks.
US08861230B2

A control circuit for controlling one or more power switches of a power converter includes a voltage control loop and a current control loop. The control circuit is configured to generate a current reference for the current control loop using the voltage control loop and an AC reference signal. The control circuit is configured to operate in at least a first mode in which a parameter of the voltage control loop is sampled only at every other zero crossing of the AC reference signal and the sampled parameter is used to generate the current reference for the current control loop. The power converter may be an AC-DC converter or a DC-AC converter (i.e., inverter). Alternatively, the voltage control loop may be sampled at every zero crossing of the AC reference signal, and/or more frequently during transient load conditions.
US08861229B2

An apparatus includes a regulator circuit that generates a voltage in response to an input current being supplied to an input terminal and functional circuitry, powered by the voltage generated by the regulator circuit. The functional circuitry, e.g., an oscillator, generates a signal using the generated voltage, the signal indicative that the current is being supplied to the apparatus. The signal can be provided over an isolation link to provide a control signal for controlling a high voltage driver circuit.
US08861224B2

An electronic mobile device includes a base supporting an input panel. A cover pivotally connects to the base and is pivotable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa relative to the base. In the closed position the cover covers the input panel, and in the open position the cover is disposed away from the base. A base magnet is supported within the base and has a first magnetic axis. A cover magnet is supported within the cover so as to move with the cover relative to the base. The cover magnet has a second magnetic axis that tends to align with the first magnetic axis to thereby bias the cover towards at least one of the closed position and the open position.
US08861223B2

An electronic device includes a housing and at least one connector assembly. The housing includes a bottom wall and a sidewall. The sidewall includes an outer side surface, a top surface and an inner side surface. At least one insertion interface is defined through the outer side surface. One resisting groove is defined on each end wall of the insertion interface. The top surface forms at least one receiving groove communicating with the corresponding insertion interface. Each connector assembly includes a connecting member and a connector. The connecting member includes a main body and two positioning ends protruding from the main body. The main body is received in the receiving groove. Each positioning end passes through the receiving groove and extends into the insertion interface to resist a side wall of one resisting groove. The connector is received in the insertion interface and resists between the two positioning ends.
US08861222B2

A backplane includes multiple vertical insertion plates separately arranged from each other, and connectors connecting circuit boards and a circuit serving as signal wiring are disposed on the vertical insertion plates. Each connector is electronically connected to the circuit of the vertical insertion plate on which the connector is disposed, so that when the connector on the vertical insertion plate connects a switch board with a service board, the switch board and the service board can implement signal interconnection through the signal wiring of the vertical insertion plate. Due to the backplane of a three-dimensional structure, the processing difficulty of the backplane is greatly lowered, the cost is greatly reduced, thus solving the problem of excessively large number of layers and excessively large size, which is caused by large-scale backplane wiring.
US08861219B2

A printed circuit board (PCB) includes two power supply units, a central processing unit (CPU), two inductors and a temperature compensation resistor. One of the inductor is electrically connected between one power supply unit and the CPU, the other inductor is electrically connected between another power supply unit and the CPU. The temperature compensation resistor is electrically connected between the power supply units and ground, and is positioned between the two inductors to adjust output voltage from the CPU.
US08861218B2

Embodiments disclosed herein generally include using a large number of small MEMS devices to replace the function of an individual larger MEMS device or digital variable capacitor. The large number of smaller MEMS devices perform the same function as the larger device, but because of the smaller size, they can be encapsulated in a cavity using complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatible processes. Signal averaging over a large number of the smaller devices allows the accuracy of the array of smaller devices to be equivalent to the larger device. The process is exemplified by considering the use of a MEMS based accelerometer switch array with an integrated analog to digital conversion of the inertial response. The process is also exemplified by considering the use of a MEMS based device structure where the MEMS devices operate in parallel as a digital variable capacitor.
US08861214B1

Substrates for integrated passive devices are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide substrates including a glass layer and at least one passive device disposed thereon. According to various embodiments of the present invention, the glass layer may have a thickness adapted to minimize conductive and/or other interactions between the substrate and the at least one passive device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
Patent Agency Ranking