US08863538B2

A method of treating a contaminated refrigeration fluid including the steps of transferring, separating, returning, moving and removing. The transferring step includes the transferring of a portion of the contaminated refrigeration fluid from a refrigeration system to a first tank. The separating step includes the separating of refrigerant from the portion of the contaminated refrigeration fluid resulting in the refrigerant and a refrigerant depleted portion. The returning step includes the returning of the refrigerant to the refrigeration system. The moving step includes the moving of the refrigerant depleted portion to a second tank. The removing step includes the removing of oil from the refrigerant depleted portion.
US08863534B2

A transport refrigeration system with a direct drive compressor arrangement is provided with a variable speed electrically driven booster compressor that operates in series with the direct drive compressor. The speed of the booster compressor is controlled to either boost or decrease the system capacity. The booster compressor also acts to regulate the flow of refrigerant from the evaporator during periods of operation in which the direct drive compressor might otherwise become overloaded.
US08863521B2

A steam turbine plant of one embodiment includes a boiler configured to change water into steam, a high pressure turbine including a turbine or turbines connected to each other in series, and having a first inlet to supply the steam from the boiler, an extraction port located at a downstream of the first inlet, a second inlet to supply the steam extracted from the extraction port and located at a downstream of the extraction port, and an exhaust port located at a downstream of the second inlet, the high pressure turbine being configured to be driven by the steam supplied from the first and second inlets, an extraction steam heater configured to heat the steam extracted from the extraction port and to supply the heated steam to the second inlet, a reheater configured to heat the steam exhausted from the exhaust port, and a reheat turbine configured to be driven by the steam from the reheater.
US08863510B2

The invention relates to an electrohydraulic actuator comprising a body (1) that defines a cylindrical cavity (2) in which a piston (3) slides in leaktight manner and divides an inside volume of the cavity into two chambers (A, B) of variable volume, the piston being associated with at least one rod (4) passing in leaktight manner through an end wall of the cavity, the actuator including a bidirectional pump (5) having two ports (P1, P2), each connected to one of the chambers, an electric motor (8) for selectively driving the pump in one direction or the other, the pump being placed inside the piston of the actuator so as to move together therewith. According to the invention, the motor is placed at the end of the actuator and drives a shaft of non-circular section (6) extending through the cavity parallel to a sliding direction of the piston (3) and of the rod (4), the shaft passing through the piston (3) to co-operate with a complementary drive member (11; 21) of the pump that slides freely along the shaft during movements of the rod but that is driven in rotation when the shaft turns under drive from the electric motor.
US08863508B2

A hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit may have a pump, a motor, a tank, and an accumulator. The hydraulic circuit may also have a valve movable between a first position at which an output of the pump is fluidly connected to the tank and the accumulator is fluidly connected to the motor, and a second position at which the output of the pump is fluidly connected to the motor.
US08863506B2

A method of sizing a light-off core supporting a fixed quantity of a light-off catalyst for an exhaust gas treatment system having an electric heater upstream of the light-off catalyst for heating the exhaust gas includes measuring the cumulative hydrocarbon or carbon monoxide emissions leaving the exhaust gas treatment system for multiple volumetric sizes of the light-off core in accordance with a heating strategy. Alternatively, a model of the treatment system may be used to predict the cumulative hydrocarbon or carbon monoxide emissions. The method further includes selecting the volumetric size of the light-off core that is associated with the lowest cumulative hydrocarbon or carbon monoxide emissions level from the measured or predicted hydrocarbon or carbon monoxide emissions when the exhaust gas is heated in accordance with the heating strategy. The heating strategy may include pre-crank heating, post-crank heating, or a combination of pre-crank heating and post crank heating.
US08863505B2

A catalyst heating system includes a first monitoring module, a mode selection module and an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) control module. The first monitoring module monitors at least one of (i) a first temperature of a first catalyst of a catalyst assembly in an exhaust system of an engine and (ii) an active catalyst volume of the catalyst assembly. The mode selection module is configured to select an EHC heating mode and at least one of a fuel enrichment mode and a secondary air injection mode based on the at least one of the first temperature and the active catalyst volume. The EHC control module controls current to one of the first catalyst and a second catalyst of the catalyst assembly based on the mode signal.
US08863503B2

An exhaust purification system is provided that can appropriately grasp the NOx concentration or NH3 concentration on a downstream side of a selective reduction catalyst. A separation filter of the system models a downstream NOx estimated value (NOx_DW_hat) of the catalyst with a value obtained by multiplying a coefficient (Kscr) by an output (NOx_UP) of an upstream-side NOx sensor. The separation filter includes transient extraction filters that block a stationary component and allow a frequency band corresponding to an increase-decrease request of drive power from the driver to pass from the downstream NOx sensor output (Ynox) and upstream NOx sensor output (NOx_UP), and calculate filter values (Ynox_f, NOx_UP_f) of each; and an identifier that identifies the coefficient (Kscr) so that error (eid) between the filter value (Ynox_f) and a value (NOx_DW_hat_f) obtained by multiplying the purification coefficient (Kscr) by the filter value (NOx_UP_f) becomes a minimum.
US08863502B2

The present invention relates to a metering module (15) for a liquid reducing agent, in particular a urea-water solution, for mixing the reducing agent with a gas, in particular air, for further introduction into an exhaust pipe (5) of an internal combustion engine (1). The metering module (15) comprises a metering valve (31) having a conduit (33), a compressed air duct (49) and a mixing chamber (35). An outlet opening of the conduit (33) for the reducing agent is arranged in the mixing chamber (35) at a distance from the mid-axis of the metering module (36).
US08863497B1

A controlling method for adjusting concentrations of, for example, individual cylinder's exhaust gas constituents to provide engine functions such as catalytic converter diagnosis, increased overall catalytic converter efficiency and rapid catalyst heating, before and/or after initiating closed loop fuel injection control, using a selected temperature sensor location within a low thermal mass catalytic converter design.
US08863489B2

A windrow merger having a plurality of rotationally driven tines that rotate around a non-circular cam to vary the rotational speed of the times. The tines extend from the cam on elongated cam followers such that the tines are moved through a flicking motion as the tines are rotated around the cam. The window merger also has an internal drive assembly positioned in an internal aperture around which the rotatable tines are rotated.
US08863488B2

A windrow merger has a frame supporting first, second and third pickup assemblies, with the two outside pickup assemblies foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position. Each of the pickup assemblies includes a reversible conveyor providing multiple windrow merging configurations. The pickup assemblies are interchangeable and aligned to define an unobstructed pickup face.
US08863479B2

A container containing a fluorinated organic carbonate and a gas atmosphere which contains a cover gas selected from the group consisting of a noble gas, e.g., argon, xenon, a gaseous fluorinated aliphatic carbon which is heavier than air and does not interfere with the fluorinated organic compound, SF6, and any mixture thereof. Fluorinated organic carbonates are highly suitable as solvents or additives for solvent in Li ion batteries and consequently, must be kept in a very pure state even during expanded times of storage. The argon or xenon gas atmosphere prevents the intrusion of air or moisture even if the container is opened and the liquid handled in an environment of common air. A method of storing one or more fluorinated organic carbonates in a safe manner.
US08863478B2

Packaging Machine operable to produce sealed packages made of heat-seal sheet packaging material and containing a food product, and comprising an ultrasonic sealing device including an electrical power signal source operable to generate an electrical power signal; an ultrasonic transducer electrically coupled to the electrical power signal source to receive the electrical power signal and responsively heat seal the sheet packaging material; and an electronic counter operable to count the ultrasonic sealing cycles of the ultrasonic sealing device.
US08863465B2

A segmental wall block system including one or more a face units and one or more anchoring units. The face units each have a front face and a rear face and one or more channels formed in the rear face, the channels extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the face unit along a face unit height. The anchoring units each have a first connector on a first end and a second connector on a second end. The first and second connectors are sized to slide into and be interlocked with the channels of the face unit. The distance between the upper surface and the lower surface of the anchoring unit forms its height, which is approximately uniform and is approximately one half of the height of the face unit. The anchoring units may also include one or more grooves on the connectors.
US08863463B2

The present invention concerns an insulation building system comprising an assembly having at least one frame profile, a plurality of joining profiles and insulation panels, wherein the insulation panels are retained between the joining profiles.
US08863461B2

A panel for attachment to a mounting surface includes a fastener edge defined along one edge of the panel and a butt edge defined opposite the fastener edge. The fastener edge contacts the mounting surface. The panel includes a plurality of raised faces formed between the fastener edge and the butt edge. The raised faces are oriented at a first angle to the mounting surface, such that the raised faces are further from the mounting surface toward the butt edge. The panel also includes a tapered keyway linking each of the raised faces. The tapered keyway extends from the raised faces toward the mounting surface and is at a second angle to the raised faces. An offset hem is formed on the fastener edge and extends away from the mounting surface.
US08863458B2

This disclosure relates to an insulative system and materials therefor comprising a polymeric composition disposed at the junctions of the framing and exterior sheathing. In particular, an insulative system and materials therefor comprising a polymeric composition in the form of a sealing structure in contact with both the framing and exterior sheathing of a building are described.
US08863456B2

The present invention is directed to glass-fiber-reinforced concrete compositions that may be sprayed, methods of preparing and applying such compositions, devices used in preparing and applying such compositions, and composite structural insulated panels that may be fabricated using such compositions, related methods of manufacture, and building systems employing such panels.
US08863455B2

The present invention discloses a unitized precast grillage foundation for supporting a structure comprising: a plurality of anchoring elements defining a grid for resting on an underlying surface; a base connected on the grid, the base comprising at least a first footing and a second footing spaced apart and at least one connecting member between and connected to the at least first footing and the second footing; and a beam-column projecting upwardly from the base, and a method of making same.
US08863454B2

A building curtain wall is formed by vertical frame members carrying panels of glass bridging the space between the members so that edges of the panels are mounted on the members. Each frame member is a hollow pultruded member defined by a thermo-set resin reinforced by reinforcing fibers including longitudinal rovings and a mat located at an exposed surface of the inner wall and the side walls of the generally rectangular member. The exterior surface is defined by the resin which is pigmented but uncoated. In order to provide a required finish to the exterior surfaces the inner wall and the side walls have a thickness of at least 0.090 inch with a difference in thickness therebetween which is less than 20%.
US08863449B2

Disclosed herein is a raisable substructure of a drilling rig that includes first and second substructure boxes. The first and second substructure boxes of the raisable substructure each include, among other things an upper box and a lower box, wherein each of the upper boxes is adapted to be raised above a respective lower box. The disclosed raisable substructure also includes a movable center floor section that is adapted to be supported by the upper boxes of the first and second substructure boxes, wherein the movable center floor section is further adapted to be slidably moved between the upper boxes during assembly of the drilling rig.
US08863447B2

A hybrid geodesic structure includes a core structure and a geodesic shell surrounding the core structure. The core structure extends from a base at a center of the geodesic shell through an upper extent of the geodesic shell opposite to the base. The core structure supports the geodesic shell at an upper extent and includes a roof.
US08863445B2

A monolithic reinforced concrete (RC) dense column structure includes RC dense columns along a structure perimeter, RC window structures along the structure perimeter, and a RC beam over the dense columns and the window structures around the structure perimeter. Each window structure includes RC window columns, a RC short window column between the window columns, and a RC window beam between the window columns and over the short window column. The structure further includes prefabricated wall panels having molds that casted the dense columns, the window structures, and the beam.
US08863438B1

An overhead door frame apparatus having a plurality of elongated structural C-channel members. At least one of the members has a tube secured within and perpendicular to the first member and having a flat plate attached to an outside of the tube. At least an adjacent C-channel member of the plurality of members having a closed end. At least one fastener passes through the flat plate and through the tube of the first member and through the adjacent member.
US08863435B2

Methods and apparatus involve locating an algae production facility in close proximity to a livestock production facility whereby the outputs of one or both facilities promotes productivity levels in the facility. In an illustrative example, the algae production facility includes a bioreactor in fluid communication with the atmosphere inside, for example, a poultry facility. In some examples, the atmosphere inside the poultry facility may be around a substantially controlled temperature suitable for poultry. The atmosphere may further contain substantial Nitrogen-content suitable to promote algae growth. Various embodiments may symbiotically consume waste products from each facility to promote production of, for example, protein for food and algae, which may be used for animal feed, for example, and/or processed into fuel. In some examples, the algae production facility may be conveniently packaged into a module. In some examples, the module may be stored and shipped in a conventional shipping container.
US08863434B2

An animal deterrent device includes an elongated carrier having an internal cavity. A conductive trace can be coupled to the carrier by a first fastener that extends from the conductive trace to the cavity, which prevents water from contacting the fastener and shorting the conductive trace.
US08863431B2

A universal gun cleaning patch assembly comprising a support frame having a hub and hub bore, a plurality of resiliently deformable legs, and a swab. The assembly is radially compressible to effectively wipe the bores of weapons having a wide range of bore diameters. The swab material is preferably made integral with the support frame and may include natural or synthetic fibers and/or laminates of natural and/or synthetic fibers and a metal or plastic mesh embedded in a fabric to effectively scrub the inner bore of the firearm and remove gunpowder residues and excess solvents or oils during the cleaning process. The hub bore may sized to be self-tapping on male threads of a cable or rod that is pulled and/or pushed through the bore, or the bore may be tapered and include a plurality of deformable fingers to received a quick-disconnect stem.
US08863430B2

A bipod kit for a firearm has a bipod leg mounting body and a firearm structural component. The bipod leg mounting body has a substantially round central passage defining an interior side surface thereof and has two leg mounting structures on an exterior side surface thereof generally opposite the interior side surface. The firearm structural component can be mounted on the firearm at an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) mounting structure thereof. The firearm structural component includes a bipod mounting portion integral therewith. The bipod mounting portion is cylindrical and is rotatably mounted within the central passage of the bipod leg mounting body. The bipod mounting portion is configured such that a barrel of the firearm extends through a central passage thereof when the firearm structural component is mounted on the firearm at the OEM mounting structure thereof.
US08863429B2

The invention relates to a device for producing a gun barrel, in which the barrel is formed from a pipe blank (1) in which barrel rifles (2) are formed against a mandrel (3) having grooves (2b) shaped as the rifles.
US08863428B2

A stock assembly for attachment to a firearm assembly is described. The stock assembly includes a buttstock having a longitudinal conduit and a locking member; a connector tube with, front and back ends slidable within the buttstock conduit between a fully inserted position and a fully extended position, the tube having a longitudinal conduit; an attachment member slidable within the tube conduit between a forward position and a rearward position, the attachment member having a front end attachable to the firearm assembly and a rear end; a spring within the connector tube engaging the rear end of the attachment member, the spring urging the attachment member toward its forward position; and locking means preventing rotation of the attachment member relative to the connector tube, while allowing the attachment member to move within the tube between its forward and rearward positions.
US08863422B2

Magazines with detachable feed lip elements have a tubular body having a lower end and an upper end that defines an elongated passage that receives a spring and a detachable feed element positioned on top of the upper end of the passage that has feed lips that retain cartridges in the magazine and permit the cartridges to be extracted forwardly. The feed element may be a U-shaped device having a main upper panel that defines a feed lip aperture. The feed element may have side walls with fasteners that connect the feed element to the body. The feed element may have opposed sides, the aperture may be defined by the opposed sides, and a spring may be attached to one of the opposed sides to provide a biasing force toward the other opposed side such that a cartridge cannot be extracted from the aperture except in a forward direction.
US08863420B2

A three-dimensional supporting frame includes a blank. The blank includes an image receiving surface, a back surface opposed to the image receiving surface, a center portion defining a perimeter, and at least three foldable extensions extending from the perimeter. Each of the foldable extensions includes no less than four folds to be folded toward the back surface to form the three-dimensional supporting frame. A tab line is scored in one of the folds of each of the at least three foldable extensions, the tab line to be released to form a tab to be secured to the back surface when the folds are folded. An adhesion promoting layer is present on the back surface at the center portion.
US08863418B2

A point of sale display is disclosed. A display unit according to an embodiment includes: a first display face; a second display face; and a foldable central member positioned between the first and second display faces, the foldable central member including: a foldable L-shaped member; and a transverse member positioned within a slot of the foldable L-shaped member, wherein the foldable central member automatically expands from a storage position to a display position, such that the first and second display faces form an opening therebetween.
US08863417B2

A display system for use with an end stand or end cap shelving system is provided. The display system is formed from a first blank of material and a second blank of material. The blanks are cut and provided with fold lines, score lines and perforations necessary to fold the blanks into a set up display system. A lighting system can be incorporated into the display system. A side saddle display and product holder is also provided.
US08863409B2

An air cushioning system for use in a shoe is formed from a first layer of a plastic material and a second layer of plastic material both of which are sized to fit within an interior of the shoe. The periphery of the second layer is joined to the periphery of the first layer and one or more interior locations within the periphery of the second layer are also joined to correspondingly adjacent interior locations within the periphery of the first layer. The unjoined surfaces of the second layer are spaced from the first layer and thereby function to define a trapped air chamber within the joined peripheries of the second layer and the first layer.
US08863399B2

A tape measure includes a housing assembly defining a cavity and a tape port. A measuring tape is selectively extendable and retractable from the tape port. The measuring tape includes a spool portion disposed within the cavity and an end portion. A top surface extends from the end portion to the spool portion, and a bottom surface extends from the end portion to the spool portion opposite the top surface. A hook member is fixedly coupled to a end portion of the measuring tape. A first measurement scale is defined on the top surface and includes indicia having a first orientation relative to a longitudinal tape axis. The bottom surface includes a second measurement scale with indicia having a second orientation relative to the longitudinal tape axis. The second orientation is substantially opposite the first orientation.
US08863398B2

A method and system for creating a feature-based coordinate reference is provided. In one aspect, a system comprises a first, second, and third feature location block configured to engage a first, second, and third feature of an object, respectively. Each feature location block has a means for attachment to the object and a target placement feature. The target placement feature of each feature location block is configured to receive a respective target and guide placement of the respective target on the object. A target measuring system measures the locations of the targets on the object, and a coordinate system creates a coordinate reference based on the locations of the targets.
US08863397B2

A gauge is provided for measuring the thickness of roofing shingles and vinyl siding. The gauge includes a main body having at least two elongated slots, one slot functioning to receive and measure the thickness of roofing shingles and the other slot functioning to receive and measure the thickness of vinyl siding. Both slots are open from a respective edge of the main body and include a width that progressively decreases from the open edge to a terminating point in the slot.
US08863394B2

The present invention is to provide a folding knife having a blade pivotally connected to a handle. A resilient locking arm has a first end fixed inside to the handle and a second end extending slantingly toward the blade when the blade is received in the handle. A positioning plate is movably positioned in the handle, and has a first end extending outside to the handle. Once the blade is received in the handle, the positioning plate engages with the resilient locking arm. However, when the blade is rotated out of the handle completely, the second end of the resilient locking arm presses against the end of the blade in a locked position, and thereby the positioning plate disengages with the resilient locking arm and presses against the resilient locking arm to avoid the blade from being out of the locked position and rotated into the handle.
US08863392B2

A grafting pruner includes a first handle and a second handle pivotally connected together, a fixed cutter holder affixed to the first handle, a link affixed to the second handle, a cutter assembly mounted between the fixed cutter holder and the link. A pivot device is inserted through an arched sliding slot of the fixed cutter holder, an axle hole of the link and a longitudinal sliding slot of the cutter blade assembly to secure the fixed cutter blade, the link and the cutter blade assembly together. During relative movement between the first and second handles subject to an external force, the link will be forced by the second handle to move along the arched sliding slot, pushing the cutter blade assembly toward the first handle to cut a living shoot or bud off a plant.
US08863387B2

A system and a method for plugging a heat exchanger tube or the like. The system includes a plug member having a central shaft having a compressible member mounted on the central shaft such that axial compression of the compressible member radially expands the compressible member into sealing engagement with an inner wall of a tube in which the plug member is inserted. The system further includes a drive means removably engaged with the plug member for inserting the plug member into the tube and for providing axial force on the compressible member to cause radial expansion of the compressible member into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tube.
US08863372B1

A hard disk drive (HDD) top cover removal tool includes a nest assembly, a clamp, a guide plate, and a purge and vacuum assembly (PAVA). The nest assembly secures an HDD and rotates it from a first to a second position. The clamp presses against a top cover of the HDD such that the top cover maintains contact with a hard drive body of the HDD. A hole defined in the guide plate is aligned with a screw location of the top cover and the hard drive body, and receives a screw driver for removing a screw fastening the top cover to the hard drive body. The PAVA purges and evacuates particles from the screw location of the top cover and the hard drive body of the HDD in the second position. The clamp releases the top cover. The PAVA removes the released top cover from the hard drive body.
US08863370B2

The invention relates to a windscreen wiper apparatus for a motor vehicle, having a wiper motor and having at least one wiper bearing in which a wiper shaft is mounted, it being possible to drive said wiper shaft by means of the wiper motor in order to operate a wiper arm which is connected to the wiper shaft, wherein the wiper bearing has a bearing pin (4) for holding a tubular support (1), it being possible for said bearing pin to be fixed to the tubular support (1) by means of a crimp, characterized in that the bearing pin (4) has an outer contour (5) which is already formed, at least in a region of overlap with the crimp, so as to correspond to an inner contour (3) of the crimped tubular support (1), before the crimp is introduced, and also to a method for producing said windscreen wiper apparatus.
US08863361B2

A door hinge for recessed installation between an edge of a door panel and a door jamb has first and second leaf assemblies that each form a cavity and are recessed in the door-panel edge and in the door jamb and a pair of U-section links pivoted centrally together about a center axis and each having a first end and a second end engaged in the cavities of the respective first and second leaf assemblies. The first end of one of the links and the second end of the other link are pivoted about respective vertical axes fixed in the respective leaf assemblies and the second end of the one link and the first end of the other link are pivotal about another respective vertical axis and horizontally shiftable in a respective guide of the respective leaf assemblies.
US08863360B2

The present invention relates to a hinge joint mechanism. The hinge joint mechanism comprises a fixed component including a plurality of curved portions and at least one straight portion; a movable component including a plurality of curved portions and a plurality of straight portions; said hinge joint mechanism provides a relative rotation between the two surfaces of the hinge joints to rotate the movable component by a desired amount relative to the fixed component. The hinge joint mechanism of the invention provides a proper sealing in the joints to avoid liquid or any such kind of material to move across it.
US08863356B2

A piston device for the controlled rotatable movement of a closing element anchored to a stationary support structure includes a tubular body removably insertable into at least one seat of a hinge device, an actuating head external to the tubular body, a plunger member slidably movable unitarily with the actuating head between a retracted end position and an extended end position, an elastic contrast member acting on the plunger member for the returning thereof from the retracted end position to the extended end position, and a working fluid acting on the plunger member to hydraulically counteract the action thereof. A hinge device, in which a piston device according to the invention is removably insertable.
US08863353B2

A floor cleaning apparatus includes a body having a suction inlet and an exhaust outlet. A dirt cup assembly is carried on the body. The dirt cup assembly includes a primary cyclone, a plurality of secondary cyclones and an airflow path between the primary cyclone and the plurality of secondary cyclones. A suction generator is carried on the body. The suction generator moves an airstream through the suction inlet, the airflow path of the dirt cup assembly and the suction outlet. The airflow path is characterized by a primary air guide including an airflow surface that provides for laminar airflow between the secondary cyclones.
US08863351B2

A floor cleaning machine includes a cleaning system, a drive mechanism, and at least one steerable front wheel driven by the drive mechanism. The floor cleaning machine also includes two independently suspended rear wheels. A platform is located along a geometrical center axis between the two rear wheels. The platform is configured to support an operator of the floor cleaning machine in a standing position. A maximum vertical distance between the platform and the floor is 200 millimeters.
US08863345B2

A toothbrush having an arrangement of cleaning elements for improved oral care and dentifrice retention. In one aspect, the invention is a toothbrush comprising a first set of cleaning elements forming a loop that extends from the distal periphery of the head to the proximal periphery of the head. The loop has the shape of a racetrack and comprises a first par-elliptical wall of cleaning elements at the distal periphery of the head and a second par-elliptical wall of cleaning elements located at the proximal periphery of the head. The par elliptical walls are connected first and second arcuate rows of cleaning elements. In one embodiment, the first and second arcuate rows are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis so that peripheral convex surfaces of the first and second arcuate rows face the longitudinal axis.
US08863344B2

The power toothbrush includes a handle (12) and a workpiece assembly (18) which includes a brushhead (20) at a forward end thereof. The toothbrush further includes a drive assembly (14) which includes a DC motor (26) having a rotating output shaft (41) and a mounting assembly (28) for flexibly mounting the motor to the handle. The drive assembly includes a torsion spring member (64), an eccentric member (52), a coupling member (44) for connecting the rotating output shaft of the motor to the rear end of the eccentric and a hub member (62) forward of the eccentric, wherein the other end of the eccentric extends to and is mounted to the hub member. The torsion spring extends between the motor mount and the hub member. In operation, the rotating eccentric excites a desired resonant mode in the torsion spring, resulting in a sweeping back and forth action of the workpiece assembly and the brushhead.
US08863341B1

A ramp assembly for deplaning passengers from and boarding passengers on an airplane includes a level deck having a front deck edge, at least one bridge connector assembly carried by the level deck at the front deck edge and at least one floating upper bridge carried by the at least one bridge connector assembly. The at least one bridge connector assembly facilitates horizontal pivoting movement, vertical pivoting movement and side-to-side movement of the at least one floating upper bridge relative to the level deck. A passenger deplaning and boarding method is also disclosed.
US08863337B2

The present invention relates to a sleeping restraint for a child that can be used to secure the child to the chest of an adult who is in a substantially horizontal position as well as to methods of using a sleeping restraint. In certain embodiments, the sleeping restraint comprises at least one chest strap for at least partially encircling the chest of an adult, first and second child restraining walls connected to the at least one chest strap, and a restraining strap connected to the chest strap for restraining a child in place on the adult's chest between the walls when the adult is lying on his back.
US08863323B2

A wall-entry bathtub includes an entry wall movable between a raised position and a lowered position to provide convenient ingress and egress. A handle assembly is coupled to a pair of latches and brackets to selectively restrain the wall-entry bathtub in the raised position. A counterweight assembly is coupled to the entry wall and reduces the force required to move the entry wall between the lowered and raised positions. The entry wall also includes a seal member that is expandable to inhibit water from leaking past the entry wall when the wall-entry bathtub is in use. Dual drains are provided to reduce the time required to drain water from the wall-entry bathtub. And, a controller, in combination with a variety of sensors, applies predetermined logic to control the water filling, entry wall sealing, and water draining of the wall-entry bathtub.
US08863322B2

A jet apparatus for a toilet includes a base, a fixed support provided with a longitudinal opening, and a mobile support including a longitudinal support body and an installation portion disposed on the support body. The support body is received inside the opening and is capable of moving inside the opening. A jet pipe is rotatably installed on the installation portion of the mobile support and includes a jet pipe body, a nozzle formed at the front end of the jet pipe body, a rotation portion disposed at the rear end of the jet pipe body, and an inlet pipe connected with a cleaning water pipe. A drive motor for driving the mobile support to move is also included, and the jet apparatus further includes a fan-shaped engaging gear disposed on the rotation portion. A matching gear for engaging with the fan-shaped engaging gear is disposed on the fixed support.
US08863321B2

A chair assembly including a toilet seat, a chair seat lid and a backrest. The toilet seat, the lid and the backrest are connected relative to one another such that they are positionable in alternative chair and toilet-use modes. The lid is behind the generally upright backrest when the assembly is in the toilet-use mode and is on the toilet seat when the assembly is in the chair mode. The assembly can have self-supporting legs whereby it can form a standalone chair remote from the toilet. When in a male urination mode, the toilet seat is lifted and the backrest is in a lifted, generally horizontal position.
US08869311B2

A displacement detection mechanism for a vibrationally driven cantilever includes a vibration frequency detector comprised of an LC resonator that detects a change of capacitance between the cantilever and a sample surface due to a change of vibration of the cantilever, and an F-V converter or an FM demodulator that detects a voltage based on the vibration frequency, whereby displacement of the cantilever can be detected. The displacement detection mechanism can be used in a scanning probe microscope to perform shape measurement and physical property measurement without the presence of light.
US08869309B2

Systems and methods for securing devices and encoding information in hardware and hardware arrangements are provided. Variations include switched networks included in conformal coatings applied to or connected to components to be protected or encoded. The decoding or security key data is included as part of the network layout and/or switching logic such that physical changes to the network prevent the recovery of the key data. Nodes in the network may include sensors meant to change node or network behavior based on sensor detection results.
US08869306B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for using a device identification program. In some embodiments, a system is configured to: receive device identification information from a mobile device, search a database of records based on the identification information, and in response to determining a match between information associated with a record in the database and the identification information, enable first access to an application initiated on the mobile device.
US08869299B2

A method and system for generating trusted security labels in electronic documents is disclosed. The method comprises determining parts of the document to be cryptographically bound to the security label and hashing them; hashing the security label; specifying any necessary policies as signable signature properties; and digitally signing the collection of these items. The resulting security label is trusted, because it is digitally signed and its digital signature also covers the parts of the document to be protected, thus allowing any tampering of the security label or the covered parts of the document to be detectable. A corresponding system for generating trusted security labels is also provided.
US08869298B2

A method of providing automatically verifiable trust in a content resolution process in which a PDR resolves a content reference identifier (CRID) identifying a content item using a resolution authority record (RAR) to obtain a locator identifying a location where the PDR can obtain the content item. Preferably, the measure comprises computing a digital signature over at least part of the contents of the CRID, the locator and/or the RAR. The method may also comprise encrypting at least a data portion of the CRID, RAR or locator. Digital rights needed to access the content item can be provided with the CRID, RAR or locator.
US08869297B2

Computerized methods and systems methods and systems in a clinical computing environment for effectuating clinical orders only upon receipt of an authorization from at least two privileged clinicians, i.e., two clinicians having appropriate ordering privileges, are provided. Upon receipt of an order from a privileged clinician that requires authorization by at least two privileged clinicians, such order is assigned a non-effectuated status until such time as the required review by one or more other privileged clinicians is completed. While in the non-effectuated status, the order is not exposed to clinicians or others that do not have appropriate ordering privileges to prescribe and/or authorize the order.
US08869295B2

A system and method of protecting the privacy of data is presented. The system and method may include receiving data from a data warehouse and determining an access level for each data element received. The access value may be based on the assigned business purpose of the user attempting to access the data. If a user with an assigned business purpose is authorized to access the data then access will be given, if not, access to the data will be denied. In some examples, the requesting user may request to override the security settings in order to obtain access to the data.
US08869293B2

A self-contained device for protecting content, the content having usage rights associated therewith, includes a usage rights portion having usage rights that control the use of the content; a rights management module that authorizes a request to access to the content based on the usage rights; a rights assignment module that generates and updates the usage rights based on the content access; and an interface module that allows accessing of the content.
US08869292B2

A 3D object is protected by a first device that receives the 3D object, generates translation vectors that are added to the points of the 3D object to obtain a protected 3D object, and outputs the protected 3D object. The protected 3D object is unprotected by a second device by receiving the protected 3D object, generating translation vectors that are subtracted from the points of the protected 3D object to obtain an unprotected 3D object, and outputting the unprotected 3D object. Also provided are the first device, the second device and computer readable storage media.
US08869286B1

A computer-implemented method for analyzing client-side storage security for Internet applications may include 1) identifying an interactive Internet resource, 2) identifying at least one input field for entering sensitive data within the interactive Internet resource, 3) identifying at least one instance of local client-side storage performed by the interactive Internet resource by simulating at least one interaction with the interactive Internet resource, and 4) comparing the instance of local client-side storage with a content of the input field to determine that the interactive Internet resource performs local client-side storage of sensitive data. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08869285B2

The present invention provides a log management system which is devised so that improper behavior by managers with regard to the log information can easily be discovered. Virtual OS are respectively installed for respective users in a file server that can also be constructed as an NAS device. These virtual OS function as virtual NAS. The virtual OS and manager OS can exchange information relating to log information via an information exchange part constructed as a kernel. The log information produced in the virtual OS is transmitted to a first log management device via a first communications network, and is also transmitted to a second log management device via a second communications network. The respective networks are separated. As a result of the same log information being managed by multiplex management using separate management devices, it can be detected whether or not there has been any improper behavior with respect to the log information.
US08869284B1

A computer-implemented method for evaluating application trustworthiness may include 1) identify an application subject to a security assessment, 2) identify a secondary identifier used by the application to identify the application to a third-party service to which the application is configured to send a request during execution, 3) query a secondary identity database with the secondary identifier for information about the secondary identifier, and 4) determine whether the application is malicious based at least in part on the information about the secondary identifier. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08869278B2

A method of defending against a denial-of-service (DoS) attack on an IPv6 neighbor cache includes steps of determining a number of neighbor cache entries currently stored in the neighbor cache and then determining whether the number of entries exceeds a neighbor cache threshold that is less than a neighbor cache limit defining a maximum capacity of the neighbor cache. When the number of entries in the neighbor cache exceeds the neighbor cache threshold, stateless neighbor resolution is triggered. Stateless neighbor resolution entails sending a neighbor solicitation to resolve an address for an incoming packet without logging a corresponding entry in the neighbor cache. Additional techniques that complement the above method involve purging of neighbor cache entries designated as incomplete, prioritization of the entries based on trustworthiness, shortening the incomplete-status timer to less than 3 seconds, and curtailing the number of retransmissions of the neighbor solicitations.
US08869277B2

Architecture that selects a classification engine based on the expertise of the engine to process a given entity (e.g., a file). Selection of an engine is based on a probability that the engine will detect an unknown entity classification using properties of the entity. One or more of the highest ranked engines are activated in order to achieve the desired performance. A statistical, performance-light module is employed to skip or select several performance-demanding processes. Methods and algorithms are utilized for learning based on matching the best classification engine(s) to detect the entity class based on the entity properties. A user selection option is provided for specifying a maximum number of ranked, classification engines to consider for each state of the machine. A user can also select the minimum probability of detection for a specific entity (e.g., unknown file). The best classifications are re-evaluated over time as the classification engines are updated.
US08869275B2

Embodiments relate to systems, devices, and computer-implemented methods for mitigating Distributed Denial of Service (“DDoS”) attacks. The method can include receiving, by a server, a response message from an application server. The method can further include determining a source internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source client based on a request message received from a source client. The request message received from the source client corresponds to the response message received from the application server. In addition, the method can include identifying, by the server, a plurality of counters associated with the source IP address, and identifying, by the server, a response type of the response message. Further, the method can include causing a value of at least one of the plurality of counters to change based on the response message and the response type.
US08869274B2

Identifying whether a first application is malicious. The first application can be presented for installation on a processing system. The first application can be scanned, via a static analysis implemented by a processor, to determine whether a user interface layout of the first application is suspiciously similar to a user interface layout of a second application installed on the processing system. When the user interface layout of the first application is suspiciously similar to the user interface layout of the second application installed on the processing system, an alert can be generated indicating that the first application is malicious.
US08869272B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for preventing a modification to a domain name system setting. In use, an attempt to modify a domain name system setting is detected. Additionally, a source of the attempt and an attribute of the modification are verified. Further, the modification to the domain name system setting is prevented, based on the verification.
US08869269B1

A method and apparatus for identifying domain name abuse in web-based content is described. In one embodiment, the method for identifying domain name abuse in web-based content to secure a computer comprising processing a first domain name and modifying the first domain name using a at least one rule for replacing characters. The modified first domain name indicates an imitation of a second domain name by the first domain name.
US08869266B2

Assigning identifiers to a plurality of test devices to manage the test devices, and displaying the assigned identifiers on the test devices to distinguish the test devices.
US08869257B2

An identity selector manages the identity requirements of an online interaction between a user and a service provider environment. The identity selector is adapted for interoperable use with a user-portable computing device. The user device enables a user to carry identification information and to generate security tokens for use in authenticating the user to a service provider. The identity selector includes an agent module that facilitates communication with the user device. The identity selector imports the user identities from the user device and determines which user identities satisfy a security policy of a relying party. After the user selects one of the eligible user identities, the identity selector generates a token request based on the selected identity and forwards it to the user device, which in response issues a security token. The security token is returned to the identity selector and used to facilitate the authentication process.
US08869254B2

Verifying a user includes: receiving a service request; generating a text based first dynamic password upon receiving the service request; converting the first dynamic password into sound information; transmitting the sound information to a user terminal over a communication network; receiving over the Internet a second dynamic password entered by the user based on the sound information, the second dynamic password being a text based password; comparing the first and second dynamic passwords for consistency; and indicating that verification is successful if the first and the second dynamic passwords are consistent.
US08869251B2

Consistent one-time password (OTP) functionality is provided from a presentation server to secure various on-line resources. A seed file can be provided to or created by a service provider for execution as part of a hosted page displayed at a client to a user. A presentation server receives a call from the seed file. A user interface widget can be initialized at the presentation server in response to the call from the seed file. The widget can be displayed as part of the remotely hosted Web page so that the user perceives the UI widget to be embedded in the page as viewed on the client computer system. Security for the interaction between the servers can be provided through use of security assertion markup language (SAML).
US08869245B2

A user device is associated with a dynamic trust score that may be updated as needed, where the trust score and the updates are based on various activities and information associated with the mobile device. The trust score is based on both parameters of the device, such as device type, registered device location, device phone number, device ID, the last time the device has been accessed, etc. and activities the device engages in, such as amount of transactions, dollar amount of transactions, amount of denied requests, amount of approved requests, location of requests, etc. Based on a transaction request from the user device, the trust score and a network reputation score is used to determine an overall trust/fraud score associated with the transaction request.
US08869236B1

One embodiment includes a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions executable by a processor to implement a method. The method includes receiving user configuration data for a network device, the configuration system being coupled to a service network. The method also includes storing device configuration data in a configuration database coupled to the service network, the device configuration data being based on the user configuration data and service network data. The method also includes receiving a configuration request at the configuration system from the network device in response to the network device being unconfigured and connected in a user network. The method further includes transmitting the device configuration data from the configuration database to the network device in response to the configuration request.
US08869220B2

Processing a video stream using upon Program Clock References (PCRs) contained therein in preparation for transmission to a wireless device. Operation includes receiving video frames of the video stream, buffering the video frames, and extracting PCRs from at least some of the video frames of the video stream. Operation further includes, based upon at least the values of the PCRs, determining transmission parameters, and transmitting video frames of the video stream to the wireless device according to the transmission parameters. Operation may further include determining a round trip delay of transmissions to the wireless device and acknowledgements from the wireless device, adjusting PCRs of at least some video frames of the video stream based upon the round trip delay, and transmitting the video frames of the video stream to the wireless device.
US08869219B2

A method for controlling an inactive channel for building a channel map in an internet protocol television (IPTV) receiver and the IPTV receiver thereof are provided. The method includes receiving a master service information (SI) table including a first element defining location of a virtual channel map table, parsing the first element in the received master SI table, receiving the virtual channel map table including a second element defining location of a virtual channel description table based on the parsed location element, parsing the second element in the received virtual channel map table, receiving the virtual channel description table, which includes a third element indicating designation of times when a virtual channel service is active, based on the parsed second element, parsing the third element in the received virtual channel description table, and controlling display of a virtual channel according to the parsed third element.
US08869218B2

Systems and methods of performing on the fly transcoding of video on demand content for adaptive streaming are disclosed. For example, a media server has access to a single rendition of a video on demand item. The media server receives a request from a computing device. The request is for a portion of one of a plurality of renditions of the video on demand item that are available for adaptive streaming, where each of the renditions has a distinct bitrate. In response to the request, the media server generates, on the fly, the requested portion of the requested rendition by transcoding a corresponding portion of the accessible rendition. The media server sends the generated portion to the computing device.
US08869214B2

There is provided a device control apparatus including a transmission signal input/output unit for receiving a signal including a control signal for controlling an internal state from another device or outputting the signal to the other device, an application acquisition unit for properly accessing an application server over a network and properly acquiring the application, a display control unit for controlling a display based on the application acquired by the application acquisition unit, and an operation control unit for executing the application acquired by the application acquisition unit and controlling an operation of the other device connected to the transmission signal input/output unit. The operation control unit permits the other device to transmit its status upon initiation of the execution of the application acquired by the application acquisition unit, and prohibits the other device from transmitting the status upon termination of the application execution.
US08869212B2

A media content receiver receives a message including an address. The receiver processes the address to determine whether the address is associated with the media content receiver. Additionally, if a removable circuit device is installed in the receiver, the receiver processes the address to determine whether the address is associated with the installed removable circuit device. If the address is associated with the media content receiver, the receiver processes the message. If the address is associated with the removable circuit device, the receiver transfers the message to the removable circuit device, which then processes the message.
US08869205B2

A method and a system for video collection management are provided. The method and the system can gather related videos in a network, classify the videos into multiple channels and recommend the channels to be viewed by the user. The method and the system can check the videos of the channels periodically to determine whether the videos are valid or invalid and search for other videos to replace the invalid videos. The method and the system also provide continuous, cross-apparatus and cross-channel video replay.
US08869202B2

A mobile terminal including a wireless communication configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal; a touch screen display unit configured to display a video; and a controller configured to receive metadata that can be displayed in association with the video and to control the display unit to display a metadata information indication indicating the metadata is available.
US08869199B2

Disclosed is a media content reception method for providing augmenting media contents using graphic objects, including: receiving metadata including information representing each event of any one of broadcast contents or moving picture contents, and any one of the broadcast contents or the moving picture contents and graphic object related information associated with events, the events including at least one of a specific scene, a specific situation, and a specific phenomenon of any one of the broadcast contents or the moving picture contents; analyzing the received metadata; designating the graphic objects to correspond to each event within any one of the broadcast contents or the moving picture contents based on the analyzed metadata; and displaying the designated graphic objects to meet each event at the time of playing any one of the broadcast contents or the moving picture contents.
US08869187B2

Methods and apparatus to determine audience viewing of recorded programs are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises processing first bus information obtained by monitoring a bus of a time shifting device to determine a record time corresponding to when the time-shifting device stored data associated with first media content being recorded for later presentation, processing second bus information obtained by monitoring the bus of the time shifting device to determine a playback time corresponding to when the time-shifting device later retrieved the data to present the recorded first media content, and estimating a possible distribution time corresponding to when the first media content was initially distributed to the time-shifting device based on a difference between the playback time and the record time.
US08869184B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box having a controller to present media content at a presentation device as directed by a user, monitor the media content consumed by the user, detect a first behavioral pattern based on the media content consumed by the user, transmit the detected first behavioral pattern to a communication device of the user, receive from the communication device a second behavioral pattern, and identify media content correlating to the second behavioral pattern. The communication device can be adapted to adjust communication operations according to the detected first behavioral pattern. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08869183B2

Methods and apparatus to detect user attentiveness to handheld computing devices are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a change of a handheld computing device from a first starting spatial condition to a first ending spatial condition, wherein the first starting spatial condition and the first ending spatial condition are angular orientations of the handheld computing device relative to a reference; and querying an index associating a plurality of spatial condition changes with respective likelihoods indicative of user attentiveness to determine if the index includes an entry having the first starting spatial condition and the first ending spatial condition of the detected change.
US08869182B2

Listening information indicating a number of audience members who switched stations during each of the designated periods of time is displayed on a graph having a plot representing the listening information. The graph is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion about a normalized line representing an average number of audience members who listened during designated periods of time. Additional plots can also be presented, including plots arranged so that portions above the normalized line represent a greater than average number of listeners, and portions below the normalized line represent a lower than average number of listeners.
US08869169B2

Among other things, processing an incoming message stream includes storing context data of an application in a global database. Various messages from the incoming message stream are placed in an in-memory message queue. One of at least a first and a second phases at a first process is executed, and another of the at least first and second phases at a second process is also executed, so as to alternately execute a first phase and a second phase by a first process and a second process. The first phase includes processing at least one message from the various messages and storing at least one corresponding result in a local memory area. The first phase also includes storing al least one modification to the context data in the local memory area. The second phase includes performing a transaction of the at least one result and the at least one modification of the context data to the global database and committing the transaction.
US08869167B2

Operating a data processing system comprises defining a plurality of profiles, each profile comprising a list of one or more applications; receiving a defined user input requesting a switch from a first profile to a second profile; hibernating the (or each) application listed in the first profile; and recalling from hibernation the (or each) application listed in the second profile. Preferably, a graphical user interface is adjusted to reflect a change in status of each application that has been hibernated or recalled from hibernation.
US08869165B2

Techniques for executing a batch of one or more workflows on one or more domains are provided. The techniques include receiving a request for workflow execution, sending at least one of one or more individual jobs in each workflow and dependency information to a scheduler, computing, by the scheduler, one or more outputs, wherein the one or more outputs are based on one or more performance objectives, and integrating orchestration of one or more workflows and scheduling of at least one of one or more jobs and one or more data transfers, wherein the integrating is used to execute a batch of one or more workflows based on at least one of one or more outputs of the scheduler, static information and run-time information.
US08869144B2

The methods and systems described herein provide functionality for managing injection of input events to one virtual machine of a plurality of guest virtual machines, in a computing device executing a hypervisor hosting a trusted virtual machine and a non-trusted virtual machine. An input manager receives a first item of input data from an input device communicating with the computing device. The input manager identifies whether the first item of input data includes a predetermined string. The input manager forwards, responsive to the identification, the first item of input data to one of (i) a first virtual machine of a plurality of guest virtual machines executed by the processor of the computing device and (ii) an application executed by the control virtual machine, wherein at least one virtual machine of the plurality of guest virtual machines is a trusted virtual machine.
US08869136B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to “migration points” and an associated method and calculation tool. In general, a migration point is a number that represents an evaluation of the size and complexity of performing a migration, port, or refresh of an application from a legacy platform to a new target platform. When migration points are applied to applications across a portfolio, the migration points provide a relative measurement of the size and complexity necessary to perform the migration. Additionally, this measurement can be used to make a determination in calculating migration productivity (i.e., migration points divided by person-months, similar to how software productivity utilizes function points). In a typical embodiment, the migration point total is based on a set of qualitative migration points and a set of quantitative migration points, which are based on various technical aspects of the application, operating system, and hardware involved with the migration process.
US08869107B2

Techniques are described herein that are capable of executing a computer program in accordance with a declarative dynamic control flow in a continuation-based runtime. A declarative dynamic control flow identifies a set of continuations. A representation of logic that corresponds to the declarative dynamic control flow is provided in accordance with execution of the computer program in the continuation-based runtime. The declarative dynamic control flow identifies a set of continuations. Each continuation identifies a respective rule, which defines a respective event, and a respective action, which is to be performed upon occurrence of the respective event. A determination is made that a specified event occurs. The set of continuations is dynamically modified based on occurrence of the specified event.
US08869106B2

A language service provider framework that generates an application context of a dynamic language program being authored. The application context includes a description of the dynamic language application being authored, one or more specific locations within the program, and runtime environment information. A language service provider port component holds one or more language service providers. Each language service provider may receive the application context and generate a set of available symbols corresponding to each of at least one of the identified one or more specific locations. A management component receives the application context from the application context generation component, provides the application context the language service provider, and correspondingly receives the available symbol set from the language service provider. Since the management component provides an application context that also includes runtime environment information, the available symbol set may be more accurately represented, thereby facilitating authoring of dynamic language programs.
US08869104B2

A system and method for managing several versions of a device with embedded object code by using an editor to scan the object code, find a signature, change one or more parameters within the object code, and replace the object code. The device may be shipped to a customer in a standard configuration and the object code may be changed by the customer using the editor.
US08869103B2

In an embodiment, a model is sliced into a plurality of slices. A slice in the plurality of slices is selected. A portion of code, that corresponds to the selected slice, is identified from code generated from the model. The identified code is verified to be equivalent to the selected slice. Equivalence may include equivalent functionality, equivalent data types, equivalent performance, and/or other forms of equivalence between the selected slice and the identified generated code.
US08869101B2

Certain example embodiments described relate to the generation of variables for data flow chains that are associated with control flow models. Certain example embodiments relate to the creation of a diagram (e.g., an automation diagram) that encapsulates the flow of data in a process model (e.g., EPC). In certain example embodiments, the generation of variables provides for linking executable processes via the automation diagram so that the data flow may be integrated into the EPC model. An EPC model may be transformed into a BPMN model. Optionally, the transformations may occur in reverse so that an automation diagram is created from a modified EPC model.
US08869092B2

A wiring inspection apparatus includes a dividing unit, a calculating unit, and an output unit. The dividing unit draws a boundary line in a predetermined area between a transmission component and a reception component, to divide the predetermined area into a first area containing the transmission component and a second area containing the reception component. The transmission component transmits a signal to the reception component via relay components. The calculating unit calculates a number of wirings that connect the components across the boundary line, based on positions of the transmission component, the reception component, and the relay components in the predetermined area. The output unit outputs information indicating the presence of a wiring extending in a direction opposite to a direction from the transmission component to the reception component, when the number of the wirings calculated by the calculating unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
US08869081B2

Various embodiments include computer-implemented methods, computer program products and systems for generating an integrated circuit (IC) library for use in a scatterometry analysis. In some cases, approaches include: obtaining chip design data about at least one IC chip; obtaining user input data about the at least one IC chip; and running an IC library defining program using the chip design data in its original format and the user input data in its original format, the running of the IC library defining program including: determining a process variation for the at least one IC chip based upon the chip design data and the user input data; converting the process variation into shape variation data; and providing the shape variation data in a text format to a scatterometry modeling program for use in the scatterometry analysis.
US08869080B2

An automated process identifies which components that retain their state need to be resettable in a design. The design is analyzed to identify components that retain their state and are non-resettable. A set of simulation tests is run on the design, where each test is known to pass when all components that retain their state are reset at reset. The tests are run with a respective logic value (1 or 0) randomly assigned to each non-resettable component at reset, until a test run fails. The failed test is rerun a specified number of times, each time with a different set of randomly assigned logic values provided to non-resettable components at reset. For each run, statistics are logged for each non-resettable component according to the test results and the logic value provided to the non-resettable component. The process determines which non-resettable components need to be resettable according to the statistics.
US08869068B2

Disclosed herein are encoded computer readable storage media and computer-implemented systems creating a content sharing application comprising: a software module for identifying content to share; a software module for displaying a radially-distributed menu of destinations for identified content in response to a first user interaction, wherein said menu of destinations allows a user to select at least one destination; a software module for displaying a radially-distributed menu of individuals associated with one or more displayed destinations in response to a second user interaction, wherein said menu of individuals allows a user to select at least one individual; and a software module for customizing said radially-distributed menus. Also disclosed are methods for rapidly sharing content utilizing the same.
US08869064B2

A method for displaying icons corresponding to various function statuses of an electronic device on a screen thereof is provided. The method includes providing the screen with a first display area and a second display area, the first display area capable of displaying a single icon, and the second display area capable of displaying a plurality of icons; selecting one icon of a first icon set to be displayed in the first display area of the screen; and selecting at least one icon of a second icon set to be displayed in the second display area.
US08869060B2

A method of displaying a translucent pop-up including additional information corresponding to information selected on a touch screen includes receiving a first touch input for selecting first information on the touch screen; displaying a first translucent pop-up including first additional information corresponding to the first information; receiving a second touch input for selecting second information located in a region of the first translucent pop-up, on the touch screen; and displaying a second translucent pop-up including second additional information corresponding to the second information.
US08869059B2

A layout method for an operation key group in a portable terminal apparatus 1 that displays an operation key group on a display unit 4 to perform input operation via a touch panel 5, the layout method including: determining, on the basis of user operation for drawing a line figure on the touch panel 5, a display position and a range of an operation key group displayed on the display unit 4; and displaying the operation key group on the display unit 4 on the basis of the determined display position and the range.
US08869055B1

A service may enable users to store and/or acquire items that are identified from an electronic source without leaving the source. A service may identify items included in content that is available from one or more content providers (e.g., social networking sites, electronic news, product reviews, etc.). The identified items may be matched with specific items available from the service. The service may associate a designator, which may be placed proximate the description of the item in the content that is published by the content provider. A user may select the designator (link, button, etc.) to acquire the item from the service or store information about the item in a user account maintained by the service.
US08869053B2

Embodiments relate to systems and methods allowing comprehensive access to, and management of, workforce data from a remote location. Embodiments may allow communication of information between a mobile device of a supervisor or section leader working at a remote site, and a centralized information repository. Embodiments allow the user to communicate with a central enterprise resource management (ERM) application in order to receive and update relevant employment information. Utilizing certain embodiments, a supervisor working remotely may be able to quickly identify work schedules of various staff members, as well as gain access to information such as employee time management data, shift assignments, overtime, skill sets, and absences. Certain embodiments may allow a mobile device to display and/or modify information such as work schedules, time entries, clock-in/clock-out times, available/consumed vacation time, and on-call lists of replacement candidates possessing appropriate skills.
US08869049B1

Techniques for automatically completing a partially completed UI design created by a user are described. A UI query including attributes of UI components in the partially completed UI design is created. Design examples with similar UI components are identified. UI components of one such design example are displayed to automatically complete the partially completed UI design (also called an “auto-complete suggestion”). The user can systematically navigate the design examples and accept auto-completed suggestions to include into the partially complete UI design.
US08869042B2

Determining an item to present to a first user is disclosed. Preference information is received that comprises the preferences of a plurality of users associated with one or more items. User correlations are determined from the received preference information. For the first user, a set of other users most correlated with the first user is determined. One or more items are presented to the first user based at least in part on the preferences of the other users.
US08869039B2

Method and system for conditionally transmitting changes to information in a collaborative environment are provided. A system comprises a display, a change tracking module, and a rendering module. The change tracking module is configured to detect changes by a modifying user to information as a propagating or a non-propagating change. The rendering module transmits first view data to enable altering a first view based on the modification as part of a graphical user interface on the display presented to the modifying user and transmits second view data to enable altering a second view presented to a group of users, not including the modifying user, based on the modification if the modification comprises the propagating change. The second view data is not transmitted if the modification comprises the non-propagating change.
US08869037B2

Displaying a preference by a first user of a content contribution submitted by a second user is disclosed. A preference event by the first user is detected. A plurality of detected events is stored. In response to a query from a client, at least a portion of the stored detected events is stored. At least a portion of the received events is caused to be rendered graphically.
US08869024B2

The functionality of a browser application is enhanced using a browser plug-in, which enables the browser application to access portions of a file system not otherwise accessible to the browser application. The enhanced functionality provided by the browser plug-in is used in one example by an image uploading web application. The browser application may also start a task in the background, such as a task for uploading several images, and then monitor the progress of the task even when the browser application navigates away from the page that initiated the task. The browser application may use a local web server running on the client device to perform tasks, including the rendering of images and monitoring progress of long running tasks.
US08869023B2

A system for converting a collection of data to a structured, printable and navigable document includes: an analyzer and a layout unit. The analyzer is coupled to receive a data collection source such as a web page associated with a wiki and other user parameters, and generates a representation of content associated with the data collection source. The output of the analyzer is coupled to an input of the layout unit to provide the representation of content. The layout unit is also coupled to receive a style sheet or other user preferences. The linearizer of the layout unit retrieves the necessary content using the representation of content. The retrieved content is then formatted by the layout selector of the layout unit to generate a paginated document and metadata. This output can then be printed on any conventional printer or manipulated and interacted with using applications or a web browser.
US08869022B1

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates use of an application. During operation, the system obtains a visual annotation of a user interface for the application, in which the visual annotation corresponds to a user issue with the user interface. Next, the system uses the visual annotation to update a spatial map of user issues with the user interface. Finally, the system uses the visual annotation and the spatial map to facilitate use of the application by an end user.
US08869021B2

The invention is a method and apparatus for encouraging applicants or others completing electronic forms to complete the forms and to become associated with the institution to which the form is directed. While completing the form or afterward, the applicant follows a hyperlink that presents a personal communication from an identified individual associated with the institution. The communication typically relates to the underlying purpose of the form rather than providing instructions on completing the form. For example, the communication may include a personalized message encouraging the applicant to attend the university. By varying the communication depending on the information entered onto the form by the applicant, the communication can be tailored to the specific background and interests of the applicant. The communication can also vary depending upon the applicants progress in the application process, for example, upon submission of verifiable payment information identifying the applicant, the applicant may be provided contact information to contact the identified individual.
US08869018B2

A computer implemented method for displaying a plurality of web pages within a single web browsing display area includes determining a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for each of the plurality of web pages to be displayed. Each of the URLs may be determined from user inputs or predefined settings. The method may also include allocating a display region within the web browsing display area to define an allocated display region and displaying the one of the plurality of web pages within the allocated display region.
US08869008B2

A method includes storing data that is encoded with an Error Correction Code (ECC) in a group of analog memory cells. The memory cells in the group are read using multiple sets of read thresholds. The memory cells in the group are divided into two or more subsets. N partial syndromes of the ECC are computed, each partial syndrome computed over readout results that were read using a respective set of the read thresholds from a respective subset of the memory cells. For each possible N-bit combination of N bit values at corresponding bit positions in the N partial syndromes, a respective count of the bit positions in which the combination occurs is determined, so as to produce a plurality of counts. An optimal set of read thresholds is calculated based on the counts, and data recovery is performed using the optimal read thresholds.
US08868999B1

Systems and methods are provided for correcting erasures in received codewords. In certain implementations of the system and methods, a codeword transmitted over a channel is processed to identify and/or mark a set of locations in the codeword corresponding to erased codeword symbols. A decoder selects a subset of locations from the set of locations in the codeword and selects a sequence of symbol values from a plurality of symbol value sequences. The decoder replaces each of the erased symbols in the subset of locations with a corresponding symbol value from the sequence of symbols values to produce a modified codeword and attempts to decode the modified codeword.
US08868993B1

Systems and methods are provided for estimating missing samples in a signal. A plurality of samples in the signal is received, and a respective sample corresponds to a respective sample location in a plurality of sample locations. A subset of sample locations representing missing samples in the signal is identified, and a first and a second threshold are determined. Each threshold is an integer number of samples, and the second threshold is greater than the first threshold. A first set of consecutive sample locations from the identified subset of sample locations is formed, and the missing samples in the first set of consecutive sample locations are replaced based on a comparison between a number of locations in the first set of consecutive locations, the first threshold, and the second thresholds.
US08868988B2

The present invention discloses a rate matching method and device. The method includes that: an information bit sequence is coded and interleaved to obtain a mother code codeword with a length NFB—Buffer; and bits are selected from the mother code codeword to generate a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) subpacket for current transmission. By means of the present invention, the effect of covering the whole mother code area can be achieved as much as possible, and the performance of the HARQ multiple retransmission link can be enhanced.
US08868987B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and systems for detecting and correlating log events, configuration changes and conditions producing alerts within a virtual infrastructure. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08868985B2

A machine fault diagnosis system is provided. The system combines a rule-based predictive maintenance strategy with a machine learning system. A simple set of rules defined manually by human experts is used to generate artificial training feature vectors to portray machine fault conditions for which only a few real data points are available. Those artificial training feature vectors are combined with real training feature vectors and the combined set is used to train a supervised pattern recognition algorithm such as support vector machines. The resulting decision boundary closely approximates the underlying real separation boundary between the fault and normal conditions.
US08868983B1

A computer operations center that has a number of computing systems, where each computing system issues system messages regarding such computing system. Each issued system message from each computing system is stored in a message logging database. The system messages stored in the message logging database are monitored for predetermined patterns, and upon detecting a particular pattern in the system messages, a predetermined action corresponding to the detected pattern is taken. The detected pattern anticipates an occurrence of an unwanted system event, and the corresponding action is intended to prevent or at least minimize the unwanted system event.
US08868982B2

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system for generating compact function trace data for leaf functions includes a central processing unit (CPU), configured to output program flow information needed for generating a program flow trace, and a trace unit, coupled to the CPU. The trace unit is configured to receive the program flow information from the CPU for generating compact function trace data. The trace unit further comprises a first output mode and a second output mode and is further configured to select either the first output mode or the second output mode for generating compact function trace data.
US08868977B2

Systems and methods for modeling test space for verifying system behavior, using one or more auxiliary variables, are provided. The method comprises implementing a functional coverage model including: one or more attributes, wherein respective values for the attributes are assigned according to a test plan, and one or more constraints defining restrictions on value combinations assigned to the attributes, wherein the restrictions are Boolean expressions defining whether said value combinations are valid; determining a set of valid value combinations for the attributes that satisfy the restrictions to define the test space for verifying the system behavior; and determining relevant auxiliary variables and a corresponding function for said auxiliary variables to reduce the complexity associated with modeling the test space.
US08868969B2

A method begins by determining that a disk drive of a slice server has been replaced with a new disk drive. The method continues by identifying a data slice that was stored on the disk drive and identifying a data segment based on the identified data slice. The method continues by identifying other slice servers that are storing other data slices of the encoded data segment. The method continues by retrieving, from the other slice servers, a sufficient number of the other data slices to reconstruct the data segment and decoding the sufficient number of the other data slices to reconstruct the data segment. The method continues by encoding the reconstructed data segment in accordance with the information dispersal algorithm to produce a new set of data slices. The method continues by selecting a data slice of the new set of data slices as a rebuilt data slice.
US08868961B1

A method, computer readable medium, system and apparatus that acquires data link timing includes sequentially introducing a delay and sampling data on a link after each sequentially introduced delay. A starting edge of a valid data eye and a trailing edge of the valid data eye during the sequentially introducing the delay and the sampling of the data is determined. The sequentially introduced delay when the starting edge of the valid data eye is detected and a subsequently introduced delay when the trailing edge of the valid data eye is detected are recorded. A bit sampling time that provides the timing for the sampling of data in the valid data eye between the sequentially introduced delay and the subsequently introduced delay is determined. By way of example, an optimum bit sampling time is determined as a mean from the transition of the starting edge of the valid data eye to the trailing edge of the valid data eye. The bit sampling time for the sampling of data is applied and the link is established.
US08868958B2

A method and system for enhancing computer peripheral safety are configured to monitor and/or isolate alternating current (A.C.) supplies with and/or from any peripheral subsystems or devices. An exemplary method and system comprises an A.C. supply, a host computer system, and a peripheral subsystem or device connected to the host computer system, such as an ultrasound imaging and/or therapy peripheral, and an isolation subsystem configured for monitoring and/or isolating the A.C. supply from the peripheral subsystem or device. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an isolation subsystem comprises application software and associated modules and functions that when executed continuously monitors and/or polls the host computer's hardware and/or operating system for the presence of an isolated source, such as a battery, or an unisolated power source, such as through a battery charger and/or other connection path to the A.C. main supply.
US08868957B2

The invention provides a data storage system, comprising: one or more data storage media; a midplane to which the one or more data storage media are, in use, connected; at least one input/output module for providing control of data transfer between the or each of the data storage media and one or more hosts to which, in use, the data storage system is connected; and a back-up power supply to provide power to the input/output modules in the event of a failure of regular power sources therefor, the back-up power supply being provided separately from the at least one input/output module.
US08868955B2

Methods and apparatus relating to enhanced interconnect link width modulation for power savings are described. In one embodiment, the width of a link is modified from a first width to a second width in response to a power management flit, while non-idle flits continue to be transmitted over the link after transmission of the power management flit. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US08868951B2

Methods and apparatus relating to multiple-queue multiple-resource entry sleep and wakeup for power savings and bandwidth conservation in a retry based pipeline are described. In one embodiment, a bit indicates whether a corresponding queue entry is asleep or awake with respect to arbitration for resources in a retry based pipeline. Furthermore, multiple entries from different queues may be grouped together and multiple resources may be grouped together. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08868927B1

A method and apparatus for secure information input and output is described. The method may include initiating a secure data input mode at a user input device coupled with a computing system, wherein the computing system has a processor for executing an operating system, and the user input device is a peripheral input device for receiving input into the computing system. The method may also include receiving user inputted data at the user input device. The method may also include encrypting the user inputted data within the physical bounds of the user input device prior to transmission of the user inputted data from the user input device to the computing system. The method may also include transmitting the encrypted user inputted data to the computing system for routing to a trusted application, the encrypted user inputted data to remain hidden from an operating system of the computing system.
US08868926B2

A method for bursting a hash table of a key-value database comprises receiving a key and a value, traversing trie nodes of the key-value database from a root node to a leaf node by recursively dividing the key into a prefix and a suffix, reaching the leaf node, the leaf node being the hash table, determining that the key is not stored in the hash table, determining that the hash table is not able to store the key and the value, removing the hash table, associating a new trie node with a parent trie node of the hash table, associating two or more new hash tables with the new trie node, moving all keys and associated values from the hash table into one of the two or more new hash tables, and inserting the key and the associated value into one of the two or more new hash tables.
US08868922B2

In a bi-directional embodiment, an authorization transponder 114 coupled to the mobile device 128 transmits an interrogating message, which includes a UID 116 associated with the mobile device, to a nearby wireless key 100. The wireless key compares this received UID 116 with the one or more UID's 102 stored on the wireless key, and if a match is detected, sends the wireless key's UID or encrypted variant thereof to the interrogating authorization transponder 114. On receiving the UID from the wireless key 100 and determining that it matches the authorization transponder UID 116, a command is sent from authorization transponder 114 to mobile device 128 enabling some or all operations of mobile device 128. In a uni-directional embodiment, one or more UID 102 are periodically transmitted from a wireless key 200 to a receiver 122 in authorization receiver 202 coupled to the mobile device 128 to be controlled, wherein the UID 102 from the wireless key 200 is compared to a UID 116 associated with the authorization receiver 202. On receiving the one or more UID 102 from the wireless key 200 and determining that it matches the authorization receiver UID 116, a command is sent from authorization receiver 202 to mobile device 128 enabling some or all operations of mobile device 128. Yet another embodiment of the invention controls access to data on a passive mobile device, such as that data stored on the magnetic stripe of a transaction card 306, by authorizing the card reader 304 to read additional card data when the UID on the card matches a UID of a nearby wireless key. Upon reading a UID from the card, the card reader interrogates a wireless key for its UID, and compares these two UID's. If the two UID's match, authorization for further data transfer from and to the card is given.
US08868921B2

A method for authenticating users over networks includes requesting a one-time password, entering a personal identification number into a communications device, and retrieving a replaceable shared secret stored in the communications device. Moreover, the method includes generating a hashed personal identification number from the entered personal identification number, combining the hashed personal identification number with the replaceable shared secret to generate a modified shared secret, and generating a one-time password with the modified shared secret and the time of requesting the one-time password.
US08868919B2

An interactive method for authentication is based on a shared secret which is in the form of an enumerated pattern of fields on a frame of reference. An instance of the frame of reference comprises an array of characters in which the characters are arranged in a random or other irregular pattern on a grid of content fields. An authentication challenge includes characters from the character set, and is delivered in- or out-of-band. The authentication response includes the enumerated position numbers on the enumerated pattern of the field locations on the grid at which the challenge characters are found.
US08868910B2

A method includes generating a randomized base point and causing the randomized base point and a private key to be loaded into a signature engine device. The method also includes signing a message using the randomized base point and the private key as a base point as well as the private key in an elliptic curve cryptographic (ECC) signature.
US08868909B2

A method for authenticating a communication channel between a client and server has been disclosed. The method employs a mutual authentication payload (MAP) protocol that enables mutual authentication between a client and server system in a convenient user-friendly manner while providing seamless and automated portability to the clients. In the process of mutual authentication, the client verifies that the server entity is indeed the intended entity and is trusted. Likewise, the server verifies if the client entity initiating the exchange is indeed the intended entity and is trusted. Accordingly, this verification process involves multi-factor authentication factors contained within the MAP protocol.
US08868895B2

An electronic device includes a first processor, a second processor for detecting the working state of the electronic device in real time, a storage unit for storing preset information and a display unit. The second processor determines that the electronic device has entered the hardware initialization process and displays the preset information. The second processor stops displaying the preset information on the display unit when the hardware initialization process is determined to be finished. A booting method for starting an electronic device is also provided.
US08868886B2

A performance monitoring technique provides task-switch immune operation without requiring storage and retrieval of the performance monitor state when a task switch occurs. When a hypervisor signals that a task is being resumed, it provides an indication, which starts a delay timer. The delay timer is resettable in case a predetermined time period has not elapsed when the next task switch occurs. After the delay timer expires, analysis of the performance monitor measurements is resumed, which prevents an initial state or a state remaining from a previous task from corrupting the performance monitoring results. The performance monitor may be or include an execution trace unit that collects taken branches in a current trace and may use branch prediction success to determine whether to collect a predicted and taken branch instruction in a current trace or to start a new segment when the branch resolves in a non-predicted direction.
US08868885B2

A device system and method for processing program instructions, for example, to execute intra vector operations. A fetch unit may receive a program instruction defining different operations on data elements stored at the same vector memory address. A processor may include different types of execution units each executing a different one of a predetermined plurality of elemental instructions. Each program instruction may be a combination of one or more of the elemental instructions. The processor may receive a vector of data elements stored non-consecutively at the same vector memory address to be processed by a same one of the elemental instructions and a vector of configuration values independently associated with executing the same elemental instruction on the non-consecutive data elements. At least two configuration values may be different to implement different operations by executing the same elemental instruction using the different configuration values on the vector of non-consecutive data elements.
US08868876B2

Dedicated large page memory pools are provided to, at least in part, facilitate access to large pages. The large page memory is managed by: establishing multiple large page memory pools, each large page memory pool of the multiple large page memory pools including a number of large pages; and dedicating each large page memory pool of the multiple large page memory pools to a respective processor of multiple processors of the computing environment, wherein processors of the multiple processors can concurrently access pages from the respective large page memory pools of the multiple large page memory pools.
US08868871B2

Exemplary method, system, and computer program embodiments for, in a data storage environment configured for synchronous replication between a primary and secondary pair of storage entities, each having tiered storage devices, extent migration are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, a migration instruction is sent, by the primary storage entity, to the secondary storage entity, the migration instruction including a relative priority based on a primary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the primary storage entity. The relative priority is used against a secondary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the secondary storage entity to perform the extent migration, regardless of whether the primary and secondary storage entities are identical.
US08868866B2

A data archiving apparatus includes an autoloader for automated transfer of data tape cartridges between at least one tape drive and storage locations of at least one cartridge storage magazine. One or more hard disks is mounted within the autoloader apparatus. The hard disk is connected for data transfer between the hard disk and the tape drive so that data caching can be accomplished during the data archiving process. Interface controls for both the tape drive and the one or more hard disks is provided within the housing of the data archiving apparatus to permit simultaneous operation of the hard disk and the tape drive and for data transfer there between. The hard disks may be exchanged by a user to increase data storage capacity.
US08868865B1

An exemplary computer system includes a server module including a first processor and first memory, a storage module including a second processor, a second memory and a storage device, and a transfer module. The transfer module retrieves a first transfer list including an address of a first storage area, which is set on the first memory for a read command, from the server module. The transfer module retrieves a second transfer list including an address of a second storage area in the second memory, in which data corresponding to the read command read from the storage device is stored temporarily, from the storage module. The transfer module sends the data corresponding to the read command in the second storage area to the first storage area by controlling the data transfer between the second storage area and the first storage area based on the first and second transfer lists.
US08868864B2

A selector calculates a difference between the number of write operations of a first storage medium and that of a second storage medium and takes the difference as a first difference. Further, the selector calculates a difference between the number of write operations of the first storage medium and that of a third storage medium after copying the data within the second storage medium to the third storage medium and takes the difference as a second difference. Then, the selector selects the second storage medium as a target of replacement with which the second difference is larger than the first difference. A setting changer copies the data stored in the second storage medium selected as a target of replacement to the third storage medium, and changes the setting of the second storage medium to a spare and the setting of the third storage medium to a data write destination.
US08868859B2

Methods and apparatus that restore a resource from a first source and a second source to a device are described. Availability of the resource from a second source may be dynamically determined after a portion of the resource has been restored to the device from the first source. If the second source is determined to be more efficiently connected with the device than the first source, a remaining portion of the resource may be restored from the second source to the device after the portion of the resource has been restored to the device.
US08868857B2

Various systems, processes, and products may be used to manage remote replication of data. In particular implementations, a system, process, and product for managing remote replication of data may include the ability to receive writes from an external system, request an ordered index for the writes, and send the writes to at least one storage system. The system, process, and product may also include the ability to receive writes from the at least one storage system, receive ordered indexes for the writes from the external system and the at least one storage system, and store the writes based on the indexes.
US08868850B2

Systems and methods for implementing a distributed shared memory (DSM) in a computer cluster in which an unreliable underlying message passing technology is used, such that the DSM efficiently maintains coherency and reliability. DSM agents residing on different nodes of the cluster process access permission requests of local and remote users on specified data segments via handling procedures, which provide for recovering of lost ownership of a data segment while ensuring exclusive ownership of a data segment among the DSM agents detecting and resolving a no-owner messaging deadlock, pruning of obsolete messages, and recovery of the latest contents of a data segment whose ownership has been lost.
US08868845B1

Example embodiments of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for managing spinlocks in a multi-core computer system. The method comprises providing a spinlock per core in the multi-core computer system and storing each spinlock in a respective memory location configured to be access independently by respective cores of the multi-core computer system. A request is then received at a core in the multi-core computer system to perform an operation on a spinlock in the multi-core computer system. A multi-reader/single writer spinlock is obtained in response to the request.
US08868841B2

Storing data in a cache is disclosed. It is determined that a data record is not stored in a cache. A random value is generated using a threshold value. It is determined whether to store the data record in the cache based at least in part on the generated random value.
US08868836B2

Methods and apparatus to reduce minimum operating voltage through a hybrid cache design are described. In one embodiment, a cache with different size bit cells may be used, e.g., to reduce minimum operating voltage of an integrated circuit device that includes the cache and possibly other logic (such as a processor). Other embodiments are also described.
US08868831B2

Techniques are provided for using an intermediate cache between the shared cache of a database server and the non-volatile storage of a storage system. The intermediate cache may be local to the machine upon which the database server is executing, or may be implemented within the storage system. In one embodiment, the database system includes both a DB server-side intermediate cache, and a storage-side intermediate cache. The caching policies used to populate the intermediate cache are intelligent, taking into account factors that may include which database object an item belongs to, the item type of the item, a characteristic of the item; or the database operation in which the item is involved.
US08868830B2

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for providing value help. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving, at a code list provider, a request from a user interface for code list value help; determining, based on the request, whether to access at least one of a cache and a secondary storage; accessing, by the code list provider, a cache including at least a first code list, the cache implemented in memory, when the determination results in access to the cache; accessing a secondary storage including at least a second code list, when the determination results in access to the secondary storage; and sending, by the code list provider, at least one of the first code list and the second code list to a user interface to enable the user interface to provide code list value help. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US08868827B2

A FIFO apparatus uses a first clock signal in a first clock domain to receive an input signal and uses a second clock signal in a second clock domain to output an output signal. An example apparatus includes: at least three write registers belonging to the first clock domain for receiving the input signal. Each of the write registers has a first output. A first controller belonging to the first clock domain enables the registers, in accordance with an order, to generate an initial signal. A multiplexer receives the first outputs. A second controller belonging to the second clock domain, receives the initial signal through an asynchronous interface and controls the multiplexer to output the first outputs in accordance with the order to be the output signal, wherein the second clock domain is a clock tree generated based on the first clock domain.
US08868822B2

A data-processing method in a flash memory with a plurality of sectors, the method includes arranging first data which is not updated in a first sector at a leading portion of a second sector and adding a first identifier of the first data to the second sector by a memory control circuit when transferring data in the first sector to the second sector, the plurality of sectors including the first sector and the second sector.
US08868815B2

An information processing device including a reader unit connected through a connection switch to a first control section and a second control section. The first control section is connected to the connection switch by a first bus supporting a first specification. The second control section is connected to a conversion unit by a second bus supporting a second specification. The conversion unit is connected to the connection switch by a third bus supporting the first specification. When the connection switch connects the reader unit to the first control section, the second control section halts communication with the conversion unit, thereby avoiding unnecessary use of processing resources.
US08868807B2

In a communication system, a bus allows information to be communicated thereon as signals. Each of the signals has an electrical dominant level thereon and an electrical recessive level thereon. The electrical dominant level is asserted on the bus in priority to the electrical recessive level. Each of a master node and at least one autonomous communicating slave node detects that the bus is in an idle state when the electrical recessive level on the bus is continued for a predetermined period or more, transmits a corresponding header via the bus after detection of the bus being in the idle state, and performs arbitration on the bus based on the corresponding header.
US08868802B2

An indicia reading apparatus includes an interconnect cable and an indicia reading device. The indicia reading device is configured so that, if the indicia reader device is not configured to any interconnect cable and detects an indicia which does not contain one of a plurality of specified sequences of data elements that the indicia reading device will recognize and use to configure itself to operate with the interconnect cable, the indicia reading device will indicate to the user of the indicia reading device that the indicia reading device needs to be configured to operate with the interconnect cable.
US08868790B2

A hybrid server and multi-layer switch system architecture, referred to hereinafter as the Enterprise Fabric (EF) architecture, forms the basis for a number of Enterprise Server (ES) chassis embodiments. Each ES embodiment generally includes one or more Processor Memory Modules (PMMs, each generally having one or more symmetric multiprocessor complexes), one or more Network Modules, and a System Control Module (SCM). The SCM includes a cellified switching-fabric core (SF) and a System Intelligence Module (SIM). Each PMM has one or more resident Virtual IO Controller (VIOC) adapters. Each VIOC is a specialized I/O controller that includes embedded layer-2 forwarding and filtering functions and tightly couples the PMM to the SF. Thus the layer-2 switch functionality within the ES chassis is distributed over all of the SCM, NM, and PMM modules. Through the use of VIOC/VNIC device drivers, host operating system software (Host O/S) running on the PMMs is presented with a plurality of Virtual Network Interface Cards (VNICs). In some embodiments, each VNIC behaves as a high-performance Ethernet interface at the full disposal of the Host O/S. In other embodiments, at least some of the VNICs behave as high-performance Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters.
US08868783B2

In one embodiment, a method to display a visual representation of subblock utilization in an address block is provided. A plurality of subblock sizes in the address block are determined. A subblock may be referred to as a subnet or subblock but is a portion of the addresses in the address block. The size for the subblocks is determined for each of the subblocks based on which address spaces have been assigned to each of the subblocks. Also, a positioning within the address block is determined based on which address space has been assigned to each of the subblocks. A utilization for the plurality of subblocks is then determined. The utilization may be a determination based on how many addresses have been leased in the subblock. A visual representation is then generated that shows the size of the subblocks relative to each other and also showing a utilization measurement for the subblocks.
US08868773B2

A method, system and computer program product for efficiently distributing video content. A peer-to-peer network and a content distribution network are used in combination to distribute video content. A content distribution network relies on servers distributed across the Internet to achieve high quality content delivery at a high cost. A peer-to-peer network distributes content among peers without incurring server side cost but may experience poor performance. The peer-to-peer network and the content distribution network are leveraged in a manner that achieves high content delivery and low cost by allowing the peer-to-peer network to serve as much content as possible while using the content distribution network to bootstrap the content in the peer-to-peer network and using it as a fallback whenever the peer-to-peer network has insufficient bandwidth, insufficient quality or when the missing piece of video content in the video buffer of the client device has an immediate deadline.
US08868763B2

A media player may stream media content, such as music, to other media players over a data network connection, for example, a WiFi/802.11 connection. An encounter object may be used to keep a record of each media object transmitted. The encounter object may include information about the transmission itself, such as a date and time when the media object was transmitted and the source and destination media players involved. The encounter object may also include metadata about the media object, such as genre, album, title, and artist, if the media object is a song. The DJ session may also support user interaction, such as sharing library listings, suggesting next plays (requests), and polls.
US08868761B2

A computer-implemented process facilitates communication with an entity over a network. A static HTTP URL is associated with the entity. Communications information reflecting the entity's current online presence including the entity's dynamic session information as determined using the HTTP protocol is linked with the URL. Communication with the entity is facilitated using the URL and the communications information. The forms of communication facilitated include type chat/instant messaging, voice communication over a computer network, video communication over a computer network, voice communication from a computer network to a telephone network and two-way text messaging to Internet enabled wireless devices.
US08868759B2

A communication system and server includes a first memory for storing terminal information of a first terminal and a second terminal, a second memory for storing outgoing call history information of at least either the first terminal or the second terminal, a third memory for storing incoming call history information of at least either the first terminal or the second terminal; and a processing unit for reading out the information from the first memory to control at least either information of the second memory or the third memory in accordance with information contained in a notification from the communication device when setting the connection between at least either the first terminal or the second terminal and the communication device, therefore, two parties to be communicated with each other specify a connection terminal of a call source.
US08868758B2

A library of routines may serve as a connection point between multiple services. Each service may be a consumer or provider of data, and may be connected through the library using a registry service. The library may include a provider access mechanism through which provider services may transmit availability of an interface, as well as a consumer access mechanism through which an interface to be consumed may be transmitted. A registry service may match providers with consumers and facilitate communication between the two. The library may be configured to allow providers and consumers to be added or removed at any time.
US08868757B1

A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing two-way web service interaction crossing different enterprise domains is presented. A web service gateway provides data tunnels for directing web service requests and responses between a first endpoint, a second endpoint and the web service gateway, wherein the first endpoint is located in a different enterprise network than said second endpoint. A Service Local Registry is maintained at the gateway, the Service Local Registry exposing Web Service Description Language (WSDL) interfaces of the first endpoint and the second endpoint.
US08868750B2

An information processing device includes: a detecting unit that detects a load of a process performed on the first virtual computer; a load determining unit that determines whether the load detected by the detecting unit is higher than a threshold; and an inhibiting unit that inhibits the process when a second virtual computer to which the first virtual computer is switched operates on the other information processing device and the process that causes the load determined by the load determining unit is performed on the second virtual computer.
US08868748B2

In a shared data system comprising one or more primary nodes and a plurality of secondary nodes, global lock manager on a primary node manages locks for shared resources by exchanging an abstract lock state with local lock managers on the secondary nodes. The abstract lock state includes a particular representation of all of the applications on the nodes that are requesting or are granted locks. The exchange of these particular lock states instead of individual requests improves performance by increasing concurrency and reducing off-machine communication. A global deadlock detector on a node detects and resolves global deadlocks, in conjunction with local deadlock detectors on the secondary nodes.
US08868747B2

The present invention discloses a P2P system and a resource query method for this system, wherein the P2P system includes: at least one content management servers, for managing the distribution of content resources in its domain and accepting a resource query request from P2P node in its domain; and at least one resource management servers, for managing the content resources of the P2P nodes in its domain, accepting a resource query request from P2P nodes in its domain and in domains of other resource management servers, and reporting to the at least one content management servers the statistic information of the content resources in its domain.
US08868745B1

A number of route tables are stored in a server at the edge of a service provider network, and are used to connect a set of customer sites to VPNs provided by the service provider. The forwarding entries in the route tables describe how packets conveyed over associated VPNs are to be forwarded between the service provider network and customer equipment systems. The disclosed system provides a configuration process for the route table including a route count limit as a parameter. The route count limit parameter provided through the configuration process is associated with the route table, and may be stored at the provider edge system, as well as at each other packet forwarding device within the network infrastructure of the service provider. Each forwarding device in the service provider infrastructure stores the route count limit, and further operates to keep track of the current number of routes inserted into the route table. Once the route table reaches the route count limit associated with it, new route requests can be either rejected, or accepted, based on a predetermined policy configuration. If new route requests are accepted, then the number of routes exceeding the route count limit is taken into account when charging the associated customer for service.
US08868732B2

Systems and methods for facilitating communication with Foundation Fieldbus linking devices are described. A first Foundation Fieldbus linking device associated with a first Ethernet network and a second Foundation Fieldbus linking device associated with a second Ethernet network may be identified by a gateway device that includes one or more computers. At least one virtual address representative of the first linking device and the second linking device may be determined by the gateway device. Communications between the first and second linking devices and an external system may be facilitated by the gateway device, and the at least one virtual address may be utilized to represent the linking devices to the external system.
US08868726B1

A computer-implemented method for performing backups may include identifying a request to back up a client system. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a plurality of backup servers available to the client system via a network. The computer-implemented method may further include pairing the client system with a backup server in the plurality of backup servers based on a measure of network proximity between the client system and the backup server. The computer-implemented method may additionally include performing the requested backup of the client system via the backup server as a result of the pairing. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08868725B2

The invention is directed to network management systems and methods that provide substantially real-time network management and control capabilities of multimedia streaming traffic in telecommunications networks. The invention provides pre-emptive and autonomous network management and control capabilities, and may include shared intelligence of embedded systems—Heterogeneous Sensor Entities (HSE) and the Sensor Service Management (SSM) system. HSEs are distributed real-time embedded systems provisioned in various network elements. HSEs performs fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security network management functions in real-time; and real-time network management control activations and removals. SSM facilitates automated decision making, rapid deployment of HSEs and real-time provisioning of network management and control services. The service communication framework amongst various HSEs and the SSM is provided by the Heterogeneous Service Creation system. The proposed network management procedure provides real-time network management and control capabilities of multimedia traffic in wireless networks and clusters of independent networks respectively.
US08868719B1

Monitoring for potential misuses of identity information is disclosed. A profile comprising a user's identity information is received. An indication from a third party website that at least a portion of the identity information in the user's profile is being or has been provided to register at the third party website, alter user information stored by the third party website, or both is received. Whether the indicated use of the identity information is a potential misuse is evaluated.
US08868715B2

A system visualizes and generates reports from stored data, concerning various measured parameters related to a network carrying call traffic. The network is displayed in an easily recognized arrangement, with various parameters being indicated by different shapes and colors for each device on the network. The parameters are changed to indicate the status of the network at different times. More detailed information about a parameter, a device or a path between devices may be obtained simply using a mouse or keystrokes. A variety of different types of detailed displays allows the operator to troubleshoot problems in the network.
US08868708B2

Methods and devices for non-intrusive identification and communication between a server node and at least one client node in a communication network. An identification message is first transmitted to at least one client node, the identification message including at the application level a duplicate of the addressing data, the physical address and the internet address of the server node, also contained in the MAC and IP layers. The reception of at least one couple of addresses from at least one client node, wherein a couple of addresses from a client node includes a physical address and an internet address according to the same duplication strategy, can be used for identifying the client node by the server. Similarly, the methods and devices can be used for identifying in a client node at least one server node in the network.
US08868702B2

According to one embodiment, a server device connected to a client device by way of a network includes a receiving unit, a first detecting unit, a cycle changing unit, a second detecting unit, and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit receives operation data through the network. The first detecting unit detects, from among operation events based on the received operation data, a specific operation event. The cycle changing unit, when the specific operation event is detected, changes a change detection cycle for screen data that is updated in an application in accordance with the specific operation event from a first cycle to a second cycle that is longer than the first cycle. The second detecting unit detects a change in the screen data in the second cycle. The transmitting unit transmits the screen data, in which the change is detected, to the client device.
US08868701B1

Some embodiments provide a repository that manages configurations for a distributed platform and that automatedly configures servers of the distributed platform with different hierarchical sets of configurations while ensuring integrity and consistency across the servers and in the repository. In some embodiment, the repository includes a data store that stores configurations for a first set of servers that are operated by a first service provider and a second set of servers that are operated by a second service provider. The data store also identifies different sets of configurations to deploy to different sets of servers from the first and second sets of servers. The repository also includes a function processor to automatedly deploy the different sets of configurations to the different sets of servers and to perform functions for updating the configurations in a manner that ensures integrity and consistency.
US08868697B2

The present invention discloses a method and a system for device management and a device, and relates to the field of communications technologies. The method includes: mapping information of a first command supported by a proxied device to an object in a data model; receiving a second command which is used for setting the object in the data model and is sent by a management device; and sending the first command to the proxied device according to the setting of the object in the data model by the second command, and reporting a result of executing, by the proxied device, the first command to the management device as a response of the second command.
US08868694B2

A smart network may include a smart network host device as well as a smart network connector device, a smart network extender device and one or more client devices configured to connect to the smart network. An installation module is configured to connect to the smart network host device to determine whether a user is attempting to setup multiple network devices substantially simultaneously. The installation module then configures the multiple network devices based on the other network devices connected to the smart network host device. The installation module simplifies setup of the smart network by combining the configuration of multiple network devices into a single setup flow.
US08868693B2

Described herein are apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for changing an out of compliance client device into a client device that is in compliance utilizing a compliance tool. In some embodiments of the invention the compliance tool identifies the location of the out of compliance client device, determines why the client device is out of compliance, brings the client device into compliance, and modifies the client device to allow it to access the network. In other embodiments of the invention the compliance tool is a compliance agent, wherein at a least a part of the compliance agent is uploaded on the client device. The compliance agent periodically checks the client device to determine if the client device has been brought into compliance, and when it is brought into compliance the compliance agent modifies the client device to allow it to access the network, and is then uninstalled from the client device.
US08868687B2

This system provides wired and/or wireless access throughout a multimedia network built on a distributed architecture which can be transparent to the user. This multimedia network includes content which is imported or generated within the network. The system allows for the content provider to determine the license status of content and update the license status of content which was previously provided by that provider. The external content can be accessed in real time or downloaded and stored within the system for later access at the convenience of the user. The usage of some content is controlled by the use of encryption and other protection methods. The system allows for storage of live video by storing the digitized video and allowing the user to control how, when and where the content is viewed. The system makes available multiple multimedia services to all users in the network or connected via the internet.
US08868685B2

A system and method for a server to provide an early notification to a target group devices when paging a wireless device during a push-to-talk (PTT) communication. When a wireless device is ready to transmit a PTT communication, a message is sent from the wireless device to a server that then sends an early PING message to a base station while processing a call request message from the wireless device. After processing the call request message, the server sends an announce message to the base station. On receipt of the PING message, the base station sends a paging message to all targeted devices while processing the announce message. The early PING message causes a communication channel to be established between a targeted device and the base station, and the communication channel can then be used by the announce message with less set-up time.
US08868684B2

Telepresence is coordinated among multiple interconnected devices. The presence of a first interconnected device and a second interconnected device in a common space is determined. Multimedia capabilities of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device are determined. Communications of at least one type of media information using one of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device are selectively and temporarily enabled by an external controller over a second network. Communications of the at least one type of media information using the other of the first interconnected device and the second interconnected device are selectively and temporarily not enabled by the external controller over the second network.
US08868681B2

A method, a device, and a system for remotely acquiring user physiological detection data are provided according to embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: receiving detection related information sent by handheld equipment, in which the detection related information includes user identity (ID) information and equipment positioning information; sending a detection start instruction to corresponding medical detection equipment according to the equipment positioning information; receiving user physiological detection data sent by the medical detection equipment, in which the user physiological detection data is associated with an equipment ID of the medical detection equipment; and binding and sending the user physiological detection data and the associated user ID information according to associative information of the user ID information and the equipment ID of the medical detection equipment.
US08868680B2

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus that identifies profile information for a received request associated with an end user at a requesting computing device and context information associated with the requesting computing device. Customized content responsive to the received request is obtained from a content provider device based on the identified profile information and the identified context information. The obtained customized content is providing to the requesting computing device.
US08868674B2

In described embodiments, processing of a data stream, such as a packet stream or flow, associated with data streaming is improved by context switching that employs context history. For each data stream that is transformed through processing, a context is maintained that comprises state information and includes a history and state information that enables the transformation for the data stream. Processing for the data transformation examines currently arriving data and then processes the data based on the context data and previously known context information for the data stream from the history stored in memory.
US08868653B2

In a method for automatically filtering communications, a networking request from an initiating party on an initiating communication device is received. The networking request pertains to a request for communication between the initiating communication device and a recipient communication device of a user over a communication channel. A determination is made of whether the communication channel to be used for the communication matches a communication channel for a previous communication between the initiating party and the user. It is automatically determined whether to grant the networking request, based at least in part on the determination of whether the communication channel for the communication matches the communication channel for the previous communication between the initiating party and the user. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08868650B1

Methods, devices, and products facilitate consolidating multi-user communications by redirecting calls to a multi-user device, with which multiple users can interact. A multi-user device monitors the density of users and devices within a specified distance of the multi-user device. Based at least in part on the proximity of a user, the multi-user device can designate a preferred device associated with the user and inform a multi-user-device server of the preference. The multi-user-device server provides a conference server with instructions that include contact information for the preferred devices to be used by the conference server when initiating a multi-user communication session.
US08868646B2

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for generating virtual game clients. The apparatus includes a description grammar module, a description generation module, and a client generation and control module. The description grammar module includes a game packet description grammar. The description generation module generates a game protocol description corresponding to the structure of a packet protocol of a game and a game protocol sequence description corresponding to the relationship of transmission and reception between packets, based on the game packet description grammar. The client generation and control module generates a virtual game client using the game protocol description and the game protocol sequence description.
US08868638B2

A method, computer readable medium, and apparatus for reducing latency in network connections include receiving at a web content optimization apparatus a request from one of one or more client devices for network content hosted at one of one or more server devices. The web content optimization apparatus determines whether an automatic redirect parameter is enabled for the request. The request from one proxy processing device acting as the requesting one of the client devices within the web content optimization apparatus is sent to another proxy processing device within the web content optimization apparatus when the automatic redirect parameter is determined to be enabled. One or more redirect messages with one or more optimized cookies associated with the requested network resource are obtained from the one or more server devices at the another proxy processing device within the web content optimization apparatus. The last of the one or more redirects messages with the one or more optimized cookies when the requested network resource is located is sent from the another proxy processing device within the web content optimization apparatus to the one proxy processing device within the web content optimization apparatus. The last of the one or more redirect messages with the one or more optimized cookies associated with the requested network resource is sent from the web content optimization apparatus to the requesting one of the one or more of client devices.
US08868635B2

A media content sharing system includes multiple broadcast operation centers that together are configured to automatically acquire and distribute media content among one another based upon the media content needs and inventories of each participating broadcast operation center. The media sharing system architecture eliminates any single-point of system failure such that an inventory of media content corresponding to a particular broadcast operation center remains available to broadcast operation centers remaining on the media content sharing system subsequent to failure of the particular broadcast operation center.
US08868630B1

A method of assessing parallel random number streams includes mixing two or more parallel random number streams. Mixing the parallel random number streams may include pairing at least one of the random number streams with other random number streams. For each mixed random number stream, an inter-stream correlation value may be computed based on a correlation among the random number steams used. A quality metric for the parallel random number streams may be determined from inter-stream correlation values for the two or more mixed streams created from the parallel random number streams. A quality metric for a single random number stream may be computed by segmenting the single random number stream into multiple substreams and applying the methods of mixing streams and computing quality metric in the case of parallel streams.
US08868620B2

Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for composing data queries. In one embodiment, a mapping template is provided to represent data in terms that are easy to understand. The mapping template is used to provide a tree structure made up of nodes that are queried. A query may be composed by navigating the tree structure to select nodes of interest and specifying predicates for the selected nodes. Once the query is composed, it may be executed against the data.
US08868618B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for employing usage-optimized tables with a computer database system. In one embodiment, the database system stores create, update, and delete database operations in the usage-optimized table. The create, update, and delete database operations remain in the usage-optimized table until a flush condition is reached. When the flush condition is reached, the create, update, and delete operations are transferred to their corresponding real tables. In embodiments, the read operation does not flush the contents of the usage-optimized table to the real table. In such embodiments, the database system modifies read operations to account for data resident on the usage-optimized tables.
US08868616B1

A personal monitoring system of the present disclosure has a network and a sensing device. The sensing device has a network interface for coupling the sensing device to the network and is coupled to a user for sensing raw data at a discrete time related to the user. Additionally, the system has logic that associates a timestamp with the raw data at the discrete time and stores the raw data as raw history data indicative of a plurality of raw data from discrete times. Further, the logic determines, based upon the raw history data, whether an event has occurred.
US08868614B2

Metadata is created in connection with an editing of a copy of a digital media for the purpose of generating a sample of the digital media, such as a ringtone generated from a song. The metadata is published and is retrievable for use in editing another copy of the digital media to automatically recreate the media sample.
US08868613B2

Systems and methods, including computer software products, for updating data on a remote device involve defining multiple channels on a remote device, where each channel is associated with a predetermined type of content. Content updates for the channels are automatically delivered to the remote device, and an update frequency is identified for each channel. A most frequent update frequency among the multiple channels defined on the remote device is determined, and updates to the channels are requested according to the most frequent update frequency.
US08868608B2

A system and method for managing a virtual appliance lifecycle is provided. In particular, a hosted web service may provide a collaborative environment for and unified environment for developing, configuring, personalizing, building, testing, deploying, and otherwise managing a lifecycle for one or more virtual appliances, wherein the collaborative and unified environment may provide various features for-creating virtual appliances, monitoring upstream changes and modifications to the virtual appliances, and providing real-time analysis and feedback during various phases of the virtual appliance lifecycle, among other things.
US08868599B2

Described herein are approaches for computing correlated aggregates. An aspect provides for receiving a stream of data elements at a device, each data element having at least one numerical attribute; maintaining in memory plurality of tree structures comprising a plurality of separate nodes for summarizing numerical attributes of the data elements with respect to a predicate value of a correlated aggregation query, said maintaining comprising: creating the plurality of tree structures in which each node implements one of: a probabilistic counter and a sketch, wherein said probabilistic counter and said sketch each act to estimate aggregated data element numerical attributes to form a summary of said numerical attributes; and responsive to a correlated aggregation query specifying said predicate value, using said plurality of tree structures as a summary of said data element numerical attributes to compute a response to said correlated aggregate query.
US08868595B2

Providing enhanced control to users to populate a cache in a database system. A user provides an explicit indication indicating the specific information (available from the data stored in a storage of the database system) to be populated in the cache, and the cache is populated with the corresponding information. The information in the cache (whether due to explicit indications or otherwise) can then be used to generate results of queries, without having to access the same information from the storage of the database system.
US08868592B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing customized autocomplete suggestions. First profile data is obtained for a first user. Second profile data is obtained for second users that submitted search queries, where the second users are different from the first user. Based on the first profile data and the second profile data, similarity scores are determined. The similarity scores are each indicative of a degree of similarity between the first user and at least one of the second users. A proper subset of the search queries is selected based on the similarity scores, and an update for an autocomplete cache of a computing device associated with the first user is generated using the selected subset of search queries. The update is provided to the computing device associated with the first user.
US08868588B2

Systems and methods are described for performing a SQL bypass in a business intelligence (BI) server environment. The BI server initially receives a SQL query and constructs an extensible markup language (XML) representation of the SQL query. The XML representation is sent to an application server that hosts an application developer framework (ADF). The ADF receives the XML representation of the SQL query and constructs a composite view object at runtime, to access the appropriate data. It then generates a database-specific query based on the composite view object and returns it to the BI server. The BI server replans the database-specific query and sends it to a database storing the data.
US08868586B2

A search system generates an ordered list of destination targets including identified individuals and data objects, based on applying a user context to an information context and to a connection context. The user context identifies a search context (i.e., the information the user is seeking) relative to an identity of the user, and the information context identifies destinations accessible by the user, including data objects and communications-based actions (e.g., voice over IP telephony calls, instant messaging session transcripts, etc.). The connection context identifies relationships between chosen destinations throughout the system, and the strength of those relationships determined from artifacts of the chosen destinations: the connection context is updated based on artifact detection. The portion of the connection context that is relevant to the user context is used to order the portion of the information context that is relevant to the user context, resulting in the ordered list of destination targets.
US08868581B2

A communication device and method of controlling an operation of a communication device are provided, by which an application can be efficiently selected according to location information. The communication device includes a wireless communication unit for determining a location using received information, a controller for generating location information based on the determined location and searching for an application corresponding to the location information, and a display for displaying an indicator of the searched application.
US08868576B1

Techniques are provided for storing files in a parallel computing system based on a user-specified parser function. A plurality of files generated by a distributed application in a parallel computing system are stored by obtaining a parser from the distributed application for processing the plurality of files prior to storage; and storing one or more of the plurality of files in one or more storage nodes of the parallel computing system based on the processing by the parser. The plurality of files comprise one or more of a plurality of complete files and a plurality of sub-files. The parser can optionally store only those files that satisfy one or more semantic requirements of the parser. The parser can also extract metadata from one or more of the files and the extracted metadata can be stored with one or more of the plurality of files and used for searching for files.
US08868575B2

Various embodiments for transforming a logical data object for storage in a storage device operable with at least one storage protocol are provided. In one such embodiment, the logical data object into one or more segments are divided with each segment characterized by respective start and end offsets. One or more obtained variable size data chunks are processed corresponding to the logical data object to obtain processed data chunks, wherein at least one of the processed data chunks comprises transformed data resulting from the processing. Each of the variable size data chunks is associated with a respective segment of the logical data object. The processed data chunks are sequentially accommodated in accordance with an order of chunks received while keeping the association with the respective segments.
US08868563B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for analyzing a plurality of rules in a textual rules structure. Further, the plurality of rules are decomposed into a plurality of contexts, based on the analysis. In addition, the plurality of contexts are stored in a table. Furthermore, a database associated with a device and/or any robot equipped with an operating system may be utilized.
US08868552B2

Business, recommendation, and social relationship graph information for businesses may be received from a data source social networking website, where each business is recommended by users. The recommendation information may indicate users that recommend certain businesses. The social relationship graph information may indicate user-specific networks of social relationships on the social networking website. For a user query including business and affinity group selection criteria, business, recommendation, and social relationship graph information may be searched to select businesses that: match the business selection criteria; and are recommended by users having social relationships within a maximum degree of closeness with the querying user and being in an affinity group matching the affinity group selection criteria. The selected businesses may be ranked based on numbers of recommending users and social relationship graph information. A search result, with businesses indicated in a rank order and with business and recommendation information, may be provided.
US08868550B2

A method of providing an answer, comprising receiving a criteria, identifying a subset of a set of answers in a data store based on the criteria, calculating a random value for each of the answers in the subset, ranking the subset of answers based on the random values, selecting one of the answers of the subset based on the ranking; and providing an output including the selected answer.
US08868549B1

A system limits search results based on context information. The system obtains the context information and a search query, and obtains a set of references to documents in response to the search query. The system then filters the set of references based on the context information and presents the filtered set of references to a user.
US08868543B1

A media stream, such as a news broadcast, is supplemented with documents that are relevant to the media stream. The documents may be web pages returned from a search engine. A search query generation component generates search queries for the search engine based on the media stream. A post processing component may re-rank and/or filter the documents to enhance the viewing experience for the user.
US08868542B2

A user interface including one or more references to content is customized. Several user profiles are provided from which a user may be associated. Each user profile includes user profile information. The user profile associated with a user to whom a user interface will be provided is accessed. A user interface is configured for the user, based at least in part upon the user profile accessed as being associated with the user. Access to content is enabled based on user manipulation of the configured user interface.
US08868537B1

A system of one or more computing devices is utilized for, among other purposes, creating a template-driven search interface and conducting searches thereon. In an embodiment, the system comprises: a template repository; search templates in the template repository, the search templates comprising at least: field specification data that specify search interface fields for obtaining search input data, and query specification data that specify how to generate structured queries based on the search input data obtained for the one or more of the search interface fields; a search field generator that generates search fields indicated by the field specification data; a template loading module, coupled to the template repository, that identifies available search templates in the template repository; and a search interface generator, coupled to the search field generator and template loading module, that generates different search interfaces depending on which template is selected.
US08868519B2

Method, apparatus and program product for generating check data for a location within an area of a workspace include receiving an identifier for a selected location that has check data associated therewith. Candidate check data for use with the selected location is generated. The candidate check data is evaluated for a match against at least one of existing check data for the selected location or check data associated with a related location. Based on the evaluation, a determination is made of whether the candidate check data is acceptable for use for the selected location.
US08868516B2

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method associated with a data processing system disposed to receive and process enterprise data. Responsive to receiving a specified data element, the method determines a data type to be used for the specified data element. The method selectively determines a confidence level of the specified data element, and selects a plurality of subject matter experts (SMEs), wherein the data type of the specified data element is used in selecting each SME. A request is dispatched to each of the SMEs to selectively revise and validate the specified data element. The specified data element is then updated in accordance with each revision provided by an SME in response to one of the requests.
US08868515B2

A method of distributing mainframe software and data using PC-based data media is disclosed, comprising a mainframe program for converting a mainframe sequential dataset or all or part of a mainframe library of texts or load modules to a sequential dataset of fixed length records and for reverting these converted records to its original form in the same or another mainframe data center, and procedures for downloading the converted mainframe data to a PC and uploading the PC file to a mainframe. The converted mainframe data downloaded to a PC can be delivered to another mainframe data center using floppy diskettes, recordable CD-ROM, Internet Website, TCP/IP FTP, or email attachment, as an alternative to magnetic tapes. The PC hard disk is used as a backup storage of the mainframe libraries, and a mainframe text library downloaded to a PC can be edited on a local or remote stand-alone PC.
US08868512B2

According to some embodiments, a column-oriented in-memory database structure may be established. The database structure may, for example, include a main store and a dictionary compressed delta store. Moreover, the delta store may comprise a value identifier vector and a delta dictionary associated with a column of the database. A transaction associated with the column may then be received and recorded within the delta store. According to some embodiments, entries associated with the transaction may be added to a value log of the value identifier vector and, independently, to a dictionary log of the delta dictionary.
US08868511B2

A computer-implemented method for archiving information includes: executing a first application in a first process; determining that the first application is an archiving application configured to archive information stored in a transactional system; assigning, based on the determination, an archiving mode to the first process; receiving, from the first process and after assigning the archiving mode, a request to delete information; and processing the request to delete information according to the archiving mode.
US08868507B2

A storage system maintains a journal and a snapshot of one or more data volumes. Two journal entry types are maintained, an AFTER journal entry and a BEFORE journal entry. Two modes of data recovery are provided: “fast” recovery and “undo-able”recovery. A combination of both recovery modes allows the user to quickly recover a targeted data state.
US08868505B1

Data protection programs are installed at each network host. The programs communicate with each other to scan the hosts and identify duplicate and unique data objects stored at the hosts. Duplicate data objects are maintained on the hosts. Unique data objects are broken into chunks, copied to other hosts, and a parity data is calculated. When a network host becomes unavailable and is replaced with a new network host, duplicate data objects stored on the now unavailable network host may be rebuilt on the new network host using the maintained duplicate data objects on the other hosts. Unique data objects stored on the now unavailable network host may be rebuilt on the new network host using the copied chunks and parity data.
US08868489B2

A method and system for users to concurrently edit a digital file to achieve a predetermined goal. Each iteration creates a copy of the digital file for each user; enables the users to create an altered digital file by making a change having a magnitude within predetermined limits; creates a voting set containing a plurality of digital files, the plurality of digital files including at least one altered or unaltered digital file; enables the users to cast votes in relation to the digital files in the voting set; repeats the steps of creating a voting set and enables the users to cast votes until one of the digital files in one of the voting sets receives a number of votes above a predetermined voting threshold; and includes in the next iteration the digital file which received a number of votes above the predetermined voting threshold.
US08868488B2

Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for integrating structured accounting data with unstructured data. From an application that manages structured accounting data related to an entity, a user selection is received to create a document container for a collaboration tool. The document container is used for storing unstructured data related to the entity. In response to the selection of the create option, a site creation service is launched for automatically creating the document container using settings previously specified by an administrator on a configuration screen of the application. Once the document container is created, unstructured data related to the entity is stored in the document container. The user can view and navigate between the structured accounting data and unstructured data without having to leave the application. Unstructured data is automatically published to the document container for the entity as users interact with the application.
US08868484B2

An aspect of the present invention facilitates efficient updating of rows in a data warehouse. In one embodiment, a sequence of identifiers is allocated to rows of data elements received earlier, and then inserted along with the received data elements in a table according to the defined by the sequence of identifiers. On receiving data elements as updates to the rows having associated identifiers, the received data elements are sorted according to the order of the associated identifiers and updates of the rows are performed successively in the sorted order of identifiers. According to another aspect, the above features are performed when (target) fact/dimension tables in the data warehouse are sought to be updated based on transformations/computations performed on data in other (source) fact/dimension tables.
US08868477B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a neural core circuit comprising a synaptic interconnect network including plural electronic synapses for interconnecting one or more source electronic neurons with one or more target electronic neurons. The interconnect network further includes multiple axon paths and multiple dendrite paths. Each synapse is at a cross-point junction of the interconnect network between a dendrite path and an axon path. The core circuit further comprises a routing module maintaining routing information. The routing module routes output from a source electronic neuron to one or more selected axon paths. Each synapse provides a configurable level of signal conduction from an axon path of a source electronic neuron to a dendrite path of a target electronic neuron.
US08868459B2

The present subject-matter belongs to the field of system and methods for automatic and electronic transaction control, namely in introducing minimum holding times and forcing transaction outcomes in a market. The system and method include adjusting asset value and availability for mitigating speculative market manipulation and pure speculative trading transactions outcomes in a prediction market. The modules introduce pure delays, selective delays or force the transaction outcome evaluations such that these goals are addressed. One of the principles used in these methods and modules is that by increasing the risk of the purely speculative or manipulative trading strategies, their expected payoff will be reduced. Thus participants will have less incentive to use them and their occurrence and impact will be greatly reduced.
US08868457B2

A computer-implemented method for providing firm offers of credit to a consumer includes receiving consumer information from a consumer via a network, receiving a selection via the network from the consumer to permit at least one soft credit inquiry of the consumer's credit record, submitting a soft credit inquiry to a credit reporting agency, the soft credit inquiry based on the consumer information, receiving at least one firm offer of credit from the credit reporting agency, the firm offer of credit resulting from the credit reporting agency performing the soft credit inquiry on the consumer's credit record, each firm offer of credit provided by a credit issuer; and providing the at least one firm offer of credit to the consumer via the network.
US08868453B2

A system for tracking a product from origin to destination is disclosed. The system includes a probe that comprises two plates, a power source and a processor. The power source is controlled by the processor to produce an oscillating output at the plates. Using the oscillating voltage, the probe interrogates a device through capacitive coupling. The device includes a control unit, a memory unit, and first and second materials physically associated with the device for communication using capacitive coupling. Information associated with the device is transferred from the device to the probe through capacitive coupling between the first and second materials and the first and second plates, respectively.
US08868445B2

The disclosure details the implementation of apparatuses, methods and systems for a Framework for Ad-hoc Applications Based on Advertising (FAABA). The FAABA may employ short-range radio-frequency communications. The disclosure teaches mechanisms for providing targeted advertising in connection with ad-hoc applications/point-to-point (P2P) communications between user terminals. In a manner, the invention teaches general collection components for user terminals, which is responsible for collecting and maintaining a dynamic set of advertisements as a background operation. This allows the user terminals to initiate applications that are based on P2P communication, and furthermore, allows collections of pre-loaded advertisements to be provided to the user terminals along and/or during the P2P communications. Also, the FAABA teaches that after advertisements are stored in the receiving device, the advertisements can be tailored more closely to the interests of the user of the device and the advertisements can be filtered based on current context of the user.
US08868444B2

The systems, methods, and computer program products (collectively “systems”) described herein are generally configured to monitor actions in digital channels. More specifically, the systems may be employed in digital channels to initiate purchases or facilitate rewards. The systems are capable of syncing transaction accounts with various digital channels. Moreover, the systems are capable of initiating or completing transaction based on user information. The systems may also be capable of providing rewards based on activities or accomplishments in the digital channels. Moreover, the systems may be capable of verifying activities based on transaction information.
US08868422B2

According to one embodiment, a method for editing speech is disclosed. The method can generate speech information from a text. The speech information includes phonologic information and prosody information. The method can divide the speech information into a plurality of speech units, based on at least one of the phonologic information and the prosody information. The method can search at least two speech units from the plurality of speech units. At least one of the phonologic information and the prosody information in the at least two speech units are identical or similar. In addition, the method can store a speech unit waveform corresponding to one of the at least two speech units as a representative speech unit into a memory.
US08868414B2

An audio signal processing device is designed to enhance the low-pitch register of an audio signal by generating harmonics causing a missing fundamental effect with a light load of processing but without damaging an audio waveform. The audio signal processing device includes a filtering part (e.g. a band-pass filter configured of a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter) that extracts a low-pitch signal from an audio signal input thereto; a dynamic range compression part that compresses a dynamic range of the low-pitch signal by use of a time-variant gain relative to a peak of the low-pitch signal, which is detected via a peak hold operation using a predetermined time constant, thus producing a compressed signal; and an adder that adds the compressed signal to the audio signal so as to produce a processed audio signal including harmonics.
US08868413B2

A telecommunication device is disclosed, comprising: a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones, wherein each microphone receives an analogue acoustic signal; a position sensing device for determining how the telecommunication device is positioned in three-dimensions with respect to a user's mouth; at least one analogue/digital converter for converting each analogue acoustic signal into a digital signal; a digital signal processor for performing signal processing on the received digital signals comprising a controller, a plurality of delay circuits for delaying each received signal based on an input from the controller and a plurality of preamplifiers for adjusting the gain of each received signal based on a gain input from the controller, wherein the controller selects the appropriate delay and gain values applied to each received signal to remove noise from the received signals based on the determined position of the telecommunication device. A method for creating and controlling a location of a virtual microphone near a telecommunication device so as to reduce background noise in a speech signal is also disclosed.
US08868405B2

A system and method are presented for the comparative analysis of textual documents. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the method includes accessing two or more documents, performing a linguistic analysis on each document, outputting a quantified representation of a semantic content of each document, and comparing the quantified representations using a defined metric. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention such a metric can measure relative semantic closeness or distance of two documents. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the semantic content of a document can be expressed as a semantic vector. The format of a semantic vector is flexible, and in exemplary embodiments of the present invention it and any metric used to operate on it can be adapted and optimized to the type and/or domain of documents being analyzed and the goals of the comparison.
US08868401B1

A system and method automatically generates an object-oriented, textual program from a graphical model, and verifies the performance of the textual program as compared to the graphical model. The graphical model may have a plurality of interconnected blocks, and each block may have a plurality of parameters. One or more of the blocks are mapped to a system object, and the block's parameters are mapped to properties of the system object. An object-oriented, executable textual string is generated automatically for the block. The generated string includes at least one command to: instantiate a system object having functionality that matches the block; set one or more properties of the system object based on the block's parameters; and run the instantiated object.
US08868398B2

A method for simulating an arc flash event on an electrical power system is disclosed. The virtual system model of the electrical system is modified to introduce a short circuiting feature. The standard to supply equations used in the arc flash event calculations is chosen. The arc flash event is simulated using the modified virtual system model in accordance with the chosen standard. The quantity of arc energy released by the arc flash event is calculated using results from the simulation. The report that forecasts an aspect of the arc flash event is communicated.
US08868391B2

Disclosed is a process for characterising the evolution of a reservoir over a time lapse comprising the steps of: providing a base and a plurality of monitor surveys of the reservoir, each having a set of seismic traces at different times; deriving an optimal regularization weight-map from a combination of at least three surveys; and using the optimal regularization weights to invert and obtain an improved time lapse seismic image between pairs of seismic surveys.
US08868389B2

A computer-implemented simulation method for use in molding process by a computer processor includes specifying a simulating domain having a mold cavity configured to connect a tube of a molding machine, creating a mesh by dividing at least part of the simulating domain, generating at least one flow parameter of a molding material in the tube, specifying boundary conditions of the mesh by taking into consideration the at least one flow parameter of the molding material, and simulating a molding process of the molding material that is injected into the mold cavity by using the boundary conditions to generate a plurality of molding conditions.
US08868388B2

A contact defining device includes: a component moving unit that moves a component represented by data of a surface region in a 3D model in a predetermined direction; an overlap determination unit that determines whether or not the surface region of the component moved by the component moving unit includes an overlapping area that overlaps the surface region of another component; and a contact defining unit that, when a determination is made by the overlap determination unit that the surface region of the component includes the overlapping area that overlaps the surface region of another component, defines the overlapping area as a contact area with the another component.
US08868381B2

A method converts a plurality of functional blocks into linear blocks such that the nonlinear blocks are divided into a plurality of states through switched linearization. The plurality of states generated by said switched linearization is then transitioned selectively based on a predetermined operational scenario. Each state is then tested separately to ensure that implementation of the states are safe. A first guard block is provided when a state is deemed unsafe such that the first guard block is enabled to cause a system shutdown so as to prevent further processing that can cause an unsafe result.
US08868379B2

A measurement apparatus obtains a reference signal from reference light modulated at a first frequency and a measurement signal from measurement light reflected by a target object modulated at a second frequency along with movement of the target object in addition to the modulation at the first frequency, and processes the reference signal and the measurement signal to measure a position of the target object. Synchronized detection units multiply the measurement signal by a signal synchronized with the reference signal and output signals having the second frequency and harmonic components. Decimation filters filter, at a decimation frequency, the signals output from the synchronized detection units to attenuate the harmonic components.
US08868378B2

The invention provides a hierarchically accessible monitoring system configured to be used with a standby generator, and a method of remotely accessing generator information from a standby generator. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system includes an interface unit configured to receive information from the standby generator and to communicate the generator information, and a remote data server in communication with the interface unit. The remote data server receives the generator information from the interface unit, stores the generator information, and controls access to the generator information based upon at least two hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level having different access privileges. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system also includes a user interface configured to display the generator information from the remote data server to at least one user. The user has access privileges to read the generator information based upon the user's assigned hierarchical level.
US08868366B2

The present invention provides a method of calculating a surface shape of a target surface, including the steps of defining, as a measurement target region, each of a plurality of regions on the target surface in which adjacent regions overlap each other, and obtaining data that give the heights at the plurality of positions in each of the plurality of regions, and removing, for each of the plurality of regions, an average data from the data that are obtained in the step of obtaining the data and give the heights at the plurality of positions in each of the plurality of regions, thereby generating correction data for each of the plurality of regions.
US08868364B2

In one embodiment, a measuring device may comprise two oscillators. The first oscillator may generate a local reference signal in a frequency detector to detect a fundamental frequency of the alternating current (AC). The second oscillator may generate two substantially mutually orthogonal sinusoid signals having the selected frequency. The measuring device further may comprise a first group of multipliers that mixes the two sinusoid signals with a current and a voltage data signal of the AC respectively, a group of low-pass filters for removing high frequency components from the multiplication products, a second group of multipliers for mixing the filtered multiplication products respectively, and a plurality of adders each to sum together a pair of multiplication products of the second group of multipliers.
US08868358B2

A fill level measuring device includes: a transmitting and receiving system for producing a higher frequency microwave signal and a lower frequency microwave signal. The transmitting and receiving system includes a single antenna, which has an internally funnel shaped horn and two hollow conductor segments connected with one another and connected to the horn. The antenna additionally includes, a coaxial conductor connection, via which the antenna is fed with the lower frequency microwave signal and the associated lower frequency echo signal is received. The antenna additionally includes, connected to a horn-remote end of that one of the two hollow conductor segments arranged on an end of the hollow conductor segment adjoining the horn, a hollow conductor connection, via which the antenna is fed with the higher frequency microwave signal and the associated higher frequency echo signal is received.
US08868346B2

Systems, methods, and devices are provided to determine an accurate neutron-gamma density (NGD) measurement for a broad range of formations, including low-hydrogen-index or low-porosity formations and formations with heavy elements. For example, such an NGD measurement may be obtained by emitting neutrons into a formation such that some of the neutrons inelastically scatter off elements of the formation and generate inelastic gamma rays. The neutrons and inelastic gamma rays that return to the downhole tool may be detected. Some characteristics of certain formations are believed to affect the fast neutron transport of the formations. Thus, if a formation has one or more of such characteristics, a correction may be applied to the count rate of neutrons, the count rate of inelastic gamma rays, or the neutron transport correction function, upon which the neutron-gamma density (NGD) may be determined.
US08868344B2

Systems and method for improving the presentation of sensed data (e.g., radar) by including a priori data. The a priori data is recast as if it were the output of a sensor. This allows the inclusion of the a priori data into an evidence grid that is combined with data from multiple types of sensors. Before the sensor data is combined into the evidence grid, the sensor data is aligned with the a priori data using an optimization algorithm. The optimization algorithm provides an optimum probability of a match between the sensor data and the a priori data by adjusting position or attitude associated with the sensor device. This removes any navigational errors associated with the sensor device data.
US08868341B1

Systems and methods for locating users or equipment on an offshore oil rig or other hazardous location or during transit include user devices, each having a locatable element, at least one motion sensor, and data storage having identifying information relating to a user or item of equipment. Locator devices positioned at discrete locations detect the locatable elements and generate a record that includes the discrete location, the identifying information, and the speed or orientation of the user device. A central device can receive the record from each locator device, generate a log of the records, compare the log to expected parameters, receive expected deviations from the parameters, and generate alerts if a deviation is not expected. Additional locatable devices not associated with users can be provided for emergent access in escape vessels, emergency equipment, or similar locations, by users separated from a user device.
US08868339B2

A system and method for informing commuters of real-time time of arrival and cost information with respect to one or more routes prior to commencement of a trip. Reserved lane information (e.g., toll charge, traffic speeds in the reserved and general lanes, etc.) can be integrated with a data feed provided to, for example, navigation enabled devices such as in-car guidance systems or mobile phones. Time of arrival information with respect to the destination can be provided based on wireless data indicative of traffic conditions and highway speed limit information. Additionally, real-time toll charges can be provided to the commuter for multiple routes.
US08868334B2

A moving body position detection system including a unit that acquires dead reckoning navigation information on a moving body; a unit that identifies a position on the moving body on a link based on the dead reckoning navigation information on the moving body; a unit that acquires current position link data on a current position link and neighboring link data on a neighboring link. The current position link is a link on which the moving body position is located, and the neighboring link is connected to the current position link. The system also includes a unit that compares the dead reckoning navigation information on the moving body with the current position link data and with the neighboring link data; and a unit that updates the position of the moving body based on a comparison result of the comparison unit.
US08868331B2

A navigation apparatus in a vehicle displays road names of cross roads that crosses a to-be-traveled road along the to-be-traveled road at positions that area adjacent to respective cross roads. In this manner, a user of the navigation apparatus easily recognizes the road names of the roads to be traveled by the vehicle in his/her view.
US08868320B2

Control over an internal combustion engine that automatically stops includes: setting a first idle rotation speed, which is used after a lapse of a short stop period of the internal combustion engine, and a second idle rotation speed, which is used after a lapse of a long stop period of the internal combustion engine, at different values; and, when an idle rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is the second idle rotation speed, restricting automatic stop of the internal combustion engine.
US08868306B1

A control section selectively executes one of a first control and a second control when the accelerator opening degree is less than a first opening degree and a switching operation is performed by a forward and reverse switching operation lever. The control section controls a motor capacity control section so as to maintain the capacity of a hydraulic motor before and after the switching operation in the first control. The control section controls the motor capacity control section such that the capacity of the hydraulic motor is a minimum value which is set in advance at each speed level in the second control. The control section executes the first control when the temperature of the hydraulic oil is equal to or less than a first temperature and executes the second control when the temperature of the hydraulic oil is higher than the first temperature.
US08868300B2

The invention provides a system, device and method that can control the rates of seed dispensation and fertilizer application as a function of forward speed as well as across all rows. Thus, the system and control device allow control of each individual row unit, whereby dispensation and application are effected, by a central controller which controls a plurality of pulse width modulation valves, each of which controls a hydraulic motor with an integrated rpm reduction and which drives a stub drive shaft which rotates at the proper speed in order to provide the desired seed and fertilizer metering. Each of the stub drive shafts may rotate at completely different speeds and/or may be shut down while the remaining stub drive shafts rotate at the desired speed. The integrated rpm reduction within each hydraulic motor allows very fine rotational control of the dispensation and application rates.
US08868295B2

There is provided a movement input apparatus applied to a steering apparatus and a mobile control system using the same. In detail, the steering apparatus performing steering or adjusting functions includes: a movement input apparatus including a signal detector that is attached or embedded in a surface of a steering apparatus and uses a resistive conductive yarn to detect finger contact signals; an estimator that receives the finger contact signals detected in the signal detector to estimate a status of an operator; and a display unit that converts and displays the estimated movement of the operator into signals of a type able to be sensed by a user; an extractor that analyzes the status information transmitted from the transmitter to extract the operational signals of the user; a controller that generates and transmits control signals for external devices according to the extracted operational signals of the user.
US08868292B2

Provided is an apparatus for controlling a vehicle interior temperature, which includes a storage means configured to store a temperature control table; a wireless transceiver means configured to receive a message from an external device and transmit a corresponding response message; a message analysis means configured to analyze the message received by the wireless transceiver means; a control means configured to identify a current vehicle interior temperature and control the vehicle interior temperature based on the temperature control table until the vehicle interior temperature reaches a target temperature by communicating with a vehicle controller through an association means, when the message analyzed by the message analysis means is a temperature control message; and the association means configured to associate the control means with the vehicle controller.
US08868291B2

A solution for evaluating an object using infrared data is provided. In particular, infrared data corresponding to the object is processed to enhance a set of signal features. The infrared data is analyzed to determine whether one or more anomalies are present.
US08868289B2

An apparatus includes a connector to an on board diagnostic (OBD) port of a vehicle, wireless communications circuitry, a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to monitor the ignition state of the vehicle, and upon detecting an ignition off state, reporting at least the off state to a network-enabled communications appliance wirelessly paired for wireless communication with the apparatus.
US08868279B2

A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a voltage of the cell, determine a discharge time to reduce the voltage to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined voltages, and cause the cell to discharge for the discharge time to balance the battery.
US08868277B2

A hybrid drive system configured to selectively establish one of a first drive mode in which a first motor/generator MG1 is operated with a drive force of an engine, to generate an electric energy and in which a vehicle drive force is generated primarily by a second motor/generator MG2, and a second drive mode in which the vehicle drive force is generated by the engine, and at least one of the first motor/generator MG1 and second motor/generator MG2 is operated to generate an assisting vehicle drive force, as needed, and further configured such that an amount of a working oil to be supplied to the first motor/generator MG1 is larger in the first drive mode than in the second drive mode, permitting sufficient cooling of the electric motor depending upon a selected one of the vehicle drive modes.
US08868266B2

Methods and systems for distributing engine output among rail vehicles of a consist are disclosed. One method comprises, adjusting redistribution of engine output from at least a first engine to at least a second engine based on a particulate filter regeneration of a filter coupled to the second engine.
US08868260B2

A vehicle is provided. The vehicle may include, but is not limited to, a virtual backplane, a vehicle management computer communicatively coupled to the first virtual backplane and having a first predetermined schedule, a consolidated propulsion controller communicatively coupled to the virtual backplane and having a second predetermined schedule different from the first predetermined schedule, at least one engine communicatively coupled to the first virtual backplane, each of the at least one engines having a unique schedule, and at least one control system communicatively coupled to the first virtual backplane, each of the at least one control systems having a unique schedule, wherein each of the vehicle management computer, consolidated propulsion controller, at least one engines and at least one control system are configured to add and consume date from the virtual backplane according to their respective schedules.
US08868258B2

A flight safety assembly onboard an aerial vehicle includes a first sensor configured to sense first information related to flight of the aerial vehicle and a second sensor configured to sense second information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A sensor input is adapted to receive third information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A processor is operably coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the sensor input. The processor is configured to determine three independent instantaneous impact points for the aerial vehicle by independently analyzing each of the first information, the second information and the third information. The processor is also configured to generate three independent onboard flight termination indicators for each of the three independent instantaneous impact points that intersects with a region to be protected.
US08868254B2

A vehicle accessory can transmit a first signal to a mobile device, the first signal including a location of a vehicle. The mobile device can monitor its own location. The mobile device can assess whether one or more location-based criteria have been satisfied based on the location of the mobile device and the location of the vehicle. Upon determining that a location-based criterion has been satisfied, the mobile device can transmit a second signal to the vehicle accessory indicating that a function of the vehicle is to be controlled. Thus, for example, the mobile device can activate or de-activate vehicle features (e.g., door locking, vehicle defrosting, etc.) in a manner that capitalizes on efficient signal transmission.
US08868249B2

Methods, circuits, apparatus, and systems related to a hybrid driving and controlling circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hybrid driving and controlling circuit in a double power supply system includes first and second power supplies and at least one load, and the circuit can include: (i) a controller coupled to a hybrid switcher that enables energy transfer from the first and second power supplies; (ii) when a determined energy of the first power supply is sufficient, the controller can control the hybrid switcher to transfer energy from the first power supply to the second power supply; and (iii) when the determined energy of the first power supply is insufficient, the controller can control the hybrid switcher to transfer energy from the second power supply to the at least one load.
US08868248B2

A smart control device is disclosed. The smart control device can be equipped in an electrical appliance, so as to be capable of controlling the electrical appliance by using diverse information that is provided from both the inside and the outside of the electrical appliance. In a smart control device monitoring and scheduling operations of an electrical appliance, the smart control device includes an interface unit configured to receive energy information, a smart controller configured to control energy saving functions of the electrical appliance based upon the energy information received from the interface unit, and an input unit configured to receive an inputted control command respective to the electrical appliance. Herein, the smart controller may be provided in the electrical appliance, and the smart controller may control the electrical appliance so that the electrical appliance can be operated in an energy saving operation mode based upon the received energy information.
US08868240B2

A walking robot, respective joints of which are operated through torque servo control to achieve stable pose control, and a pose control method thereof. A virtual acceleration of gravity is calculated using the COG of the robot and gravity compensation torques to apply force to links are calculated from the calculated acceleration of gravity so as to actively cope with external changes including external force or a tilt of the ground, thereby allowing the robot to stably maintain an erect pose and a desired upper body angle. Further, the robot maintains the erect pose with respect to the direction of gravity even under the condition that data regarding whether or not the ground is level or tilted are not given in advance, and maintains uniform poses of an upper body and legs while actively changing angles of ankle joints even if the ground is gradually tilted.
US08868224B1

Computer-implemented systems and methods for use in processing a paint batch. As an example, a system and method can include an input software mechanism for receiving input data related to the paint batch. Volatile organic compound software instructions are configured to determine an addition amount of solvent to add to the paint batch. The addition amount of solvent is determined based upon the input related to the paint batch and upon pre-specified criteria.
US08868220B2

Systems and methods for automatically changing an operational state of an appliance associated with a known fixed location. A current location of an individual is automatically determined with respect to a known fixed location using at least one wireless communication device. The system automatically determines if an operational state of at least one appliance associated with the known fixed location is to be changed based on at least the current location of the individual. The operational state of the at least one appliance is automatically changed if it is determined that the operational state is to be changed.
US08868217B2

Devices and methods of treating a targeted body tissue by stimulating the body tissue with an electric current. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an electrode carrier configured to be removably coupled to an interior surface of an orthosis. The electrode carrier includes a recess configured to matingly receive a portion of an electrode. The electrode carrier is electrically coupled to the electrode when the portion of the electrode is disposed within the recess. A connection member is electrically coupled to the electrode carrier and is configured to be releasably coupled to a surface of the orthosis. The electrode carrier is electrically coupled to the orthosis when the connection member is coupled to the orthosis. In some embodiments, the electrode carrier is configured to be removably coupled to the interior surface of the orthosis. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the electrode is constructed of an absorptive material.
US08868216B2

The present disclosure is directed to a wearable garment device for application of electrical current to a patient's tissue. The garment device includes a material having a aperture and a mesh material extending across the aperture. At least one electrode is attached onto one side of the mesh material. The surface of the mesh material attached to the at least one electrode is defined as the outer surface. The other surface of the mesh material is defined as the inner surface. The inner surface of the mesh material is placed against the patient's tissue to receive the electrical stimulation from the electrode.
US08868215B2

Apparatus and methods are provided for the effective and minimally invasive treatment of obesity. In one embodiment, a device for providing therapy to a patient includes an inflatable structure adapted and configured for positioning at least partially within a gastroesophageal (GE) space formed between an inner wall of a phrenoesophageal ligament (POL) and outer walls of the esophagus and cardiac orifice and an electrode structure adapted and configured for positioning at least partially within the GE space. In another embodiment, a method for treating a patient includes introducing an electrode at least partially into a gastroesophageal (GE) space formed between an inner wall of a phrenoesophageal ligament (POL) and outer walls of the esophagus and cardiac orifice and modulating tissue using the electrode.
US08868212B2

A lead includes a conductor having a distal end and a proximal end and a resonant circuit connected to the conductor. The resonant circuit has a resonance frequency approximately equal to an excitation signal's frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner or a resonance frequency not tuned to an excitation signal's frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner so as to reduce the current flow through a tissue area, thereby reducing tissue damage. The resonant circuit may be included in an adapter that provides an electrical bridge between a lead a medical device such as an electrode, sensor, or signal generator. The resonant circuit may also be included directly in the housing of a medical device.
US08868209B2

A temporary implantable medical device lead includes a connector configured to connect the lead to an external control module, a helically coiled conductor including a plurality of insulated filars and having a proximal end mechanically and electrically connected to the connector, and one or more electrodes defined by uninsulated portions of the helically coiled conductor. The temporary implantable medical device lead also includes one or more tine assemblies proximal to the one or more electrodes and configured to inhibit axial migration of the temporary implantable medical device lead, each tine assembly including a base and a plurality of tines extending from the base.
US08868206B2

A method of manufacturing a device for brain stimulation includes forming a lead body having a distal end section and coupling at least one pre-electrode to the distal end section of the lead body. The pre-electrode defines a divider with a plurality of partitioning arms, and has a plurality of fixing lumens. A portion of the pre-electrode aligned with the portioning arms is removed to divide the pre-electrode into a plurality of segmented electrodes. Each of the plurality of segmented electrodes defines at least one of the plurality of fixing lumens at least partially disposed through the segmented electrode. A material is introduced through the at least one fixing lumen to couple the plurality of segmented electrodes to the lead body.
US08868205B2

A system and method for determining physiological parameters based on electrical impedance measurements is provided. One method includes obtaining electrical measurement signals acquired from a plurality of transducers coupled to a surface of an object and constructing a system matrix to define one or more relationships between the impedance measurement signals. The method also includes decomposing the system matrix to separate the electrical measurement signals.
US08868203B2

A method, apparatus, and system for perform dynamic detection of a lead condition associated with a lead assembly in an implantable medical device that provides a controlled current therapeutic electrical signal to a cranial nerve. A pulsed therapeutic electrical signal is provided to a portion of a patient's body. A multiplicity of feedback signals is provided. Each the signal in the multiplicity comprises a voltage signal associated with the lead assembly for a pulse in the pulsed therapeutic electrical signal. For each the feedback signal, a determination is made as to whether the voltage signal is below a predetermined threshold to create a multiplicity of voltage signal comparison results. A determination is made as to whether or not a lead condition problem exists based upon the multiplicity of voltage signal comparison results.
US08868202B2

An implantable nerve stimulation device has a sensor system, a data processor in communication with the sensor system, and a nerve stimulation system in communication with the data processor and constructed to provide electrical stimulation to at least one branch of at least one vestibulocochlear nerve. The nerve stimulation system includes an electrode array that has a first plurality of electrodes structured to be surgically implanted in electrical communication with a superior branch of the vestibular nerve, a second plurality of electrodes structured to be surgically implanted in electrical communication with a horizontal branch of the vestibular nerve, a third plurality of electrodes structured to be surgically implanted in electrical communication with a posterior branch of the vestibular nerve, and a common erus reference electrode structured to be surgically implanted into a common eras of the vestibular labyrinth.
US08868201B2

Methods, devices and systems are disclosed that provide for dynamically adjusting the valid lifespan of a session key for wireless communication sessions established between at least two medical devices. Adjusting the session key lifetime balances protecting the communications link so that it is not unnecessarily susceptible to eavesdropping by third parties or other interference while obviating the need for a user to repeatedly perform access control steps.
US08868200B2

An implantable medical device has a housing having a first housing surface side, a second housing surface side opposing the first housing surface side, and an intermediate surface side extending between the first and second housing surface sides. The implantable medical device has an antenna device arranged at the first housing surface side, continuing at the intermediate surface side and further at the second housing surface side. Improved radiation characteristics are obtained in a desired direction.
US08868198B2

A system and method using a plurality of electrodes. An immediate virtual multipole is defined, an immediate electrode configuration emulating the immediate virtual multipole is defined, electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration, a new virtual multipole is defined by changing a parameter of the immediate virtual multipole by a step size, a new electrode configuration that emulates the new virtual multipole is defined, a difference value as a function of the immediate virtual multipole and the new virtual multipole is computed, the different value is compared to a limit value, electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the new electrode configuration if the difference value does not exceed the limit value, and the absolute value of the step size is decreased to create a new step size if the difference value does exceed the limit value.
US08868186B2

An exemplary method includes introducing current between a first pair of electrodes configured for placement internally in a patient, triggering a potential measurement between a second pair of electrodes configured for placement internally in a patient wherein communication of a signal through the patient allows for proper triggering, measuring potential between the second pair of electrodes and, based at least in part on the measuring and the introducing, determining a cardiac condition. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US08868185B2

A medical device and associated method for delivery of a cardiac therapy that includes determining a first impedance signal along a thoracic electrode vector extending within a portion of a thoracic cavity, determining a second impedance signal along an extra-thoracic electrode vector extending outside the thoracic cavity, comparing first amplitude measurements corresponding to the first impedance signals and second amplitude measurements corresponding to the second impedance signals, comparing first slope measurements corresponding to the first impedance signals and second slope measurements corresponding to the second impedance signals, and determining delivery of the cardiac therapy in response to the comparing.
US08868180B2

A resuscitation device for automatic compression of victim's chest using a compression belt which exerts force evenly over the entire thoracic cavity. The belt is constricted and relaxed through a motorized spool assembly which repeatedly tightens the belt and relaxes the belt to provide repeated and rapid chest compression. An assembly includes various resuscitation devices including chest compression devices, defibrillation devices, and airway management devices, along with communications devices and senses with initiate communications with emergency medical personnel automatically upon use of the device.
US08868175B2

A method of estimating stroke volume of the heart is described. In this method, the volume of the heart is estimated from electrical impedance data of the chest, at two different phases of the cardiac cycle. The stroke volume is estimated from the difference between the volumes estimated at the two phases.
US08868170B2

An active implantable medical device (e.g., implantable pacemaker or defibrillator), for detection of QRS complexes in noisy signals. Functional units (12-16) collect, amplify, prefilter and convert from analog-to-digital an endocardial signal, and digital functional units (18) provide signal processing and analysis of the digitized signal, for delivery of an indicator corresponding to a signal peak detection representative of the presence of a QRS complex in the endocardial signal. A double threshold comparator (30) is employed, receiving as input (28) the digitized signal and outputting (40) the indicator of peak detection when, cumulatively: the amplitude (A) of the input signal exceeds a peak amplitude threshold (SA), and the peak amplitude threshold is exceeded for a period (W) greater than a peak width threshold (SW). The peak amplitude threshold (SA) is a variable adaptive threshold, according to a noise level calculated from the energy (RMS) of the input signal.
US08868168B2

A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an interface for receiving signal data representing an electrical signal indicating electrical activity of a patient heart over multiple heart beat cycles. A signal processor uses the received signal data in calculating at least one of, (a) a first signal characteristic value substantially comprising a ratio of a time interval from S wave to T wave, to a time interval from Q wave to S wave and (b) a second signal characteristic value substantially comprising a ratio of a T wave base voltage from a peak of a T wave to a zero base reference voltage, to an R wave base voltage from a peak of an R wave to a zero base reference voltage. A comparator compares at least one of the first and second characteristic values with a threshold value to provide a comparison indicator. A patient monitor in response to the comparison indicator indicating a calculated signal characteristic value exceeds the threshold value, generates an alert message associated with the threshold.
US08868164B2

A fetal monitoring device includes a piezofilm sheet, a first electrode, and a second electrode. A controller is operably connected to the piezofilm sheet, first electrode, and second electrode and receives a biopotential and a piezofilm signal. The controller derives at least one of a maternal heart rate and a uterine activity for the biopotential and derives at least one of a fetal heart rate and fetal motion detection from the piezofilm signal. The controller derives an index of fetal health and operate an indicator to present the derived index of fetal health.
US08868151B2

The use of electrical impedance spectroscopy to adjust calibration settings in an in vivo monitoring system, such as an in vivo continuous glucose monitoring sensor. The adjustments can compensate for the condition of the sensor membrane in vivo.
US08868150B2

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a noninvasive optical sensor or probe including disposable and reusable components. The assembly of the disposable and reusable components is straightforward, along with the disassembly thereof. During application to a measurement site, the assembled sensor is advantageously secured together while the componentry is advantageously properly positioned.
US08868147B2

The invention relates generally to a probe interface method and apparatus for use in conjunction with an optical based noninvasive analyzer. More particularly, an algorithm controls a sample probe position and attitude relative to a skin sample site before and/or during sampling. For example, a sample probe head of a sample module is controlled by an algorithm along the normal-to-skin-axis. Preferably, the sample probe head is positioned in terms of 3-D location in the x-, y-, and z-axes and is attitude orientated in terms of pitch, yaw, and roll. Further, attitude of the probe head is preferably orientated prior to contact of the sample probe head with the tissue sample using indicators, such as non-contact distance feedback from capacitance sensor, contacting or non-contacting optical sensors, and/or contact electrical sensors.
US08868144B2

A wireless device comprising an antenna subsystem having a selectable polarization, at least one sensor configured to provide at least one orientation measurement of the wireless device, and a processor unit coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the at least one orientation measurement, select a polarization of the antenna subsystem based on the at least one orientation measurement, and set the polarization to achieve the selected polarization.
US08868139B2

An integrated circuit including a transceiver module that receives beacons from an access point (AP), and transition a wireless network device to an active mode based on: a predetermined beacon interval; and a first predetermined period prior to one of multiple beacons. A timestamp module calculates a first correction value based on a first timestamp received from the AP. An adjustment module adjusts the first predetermined period based on the first correction value. A beacon module detects a beacon missed during an inactive mode by the transceiver module. The timestamp module transmits a probe request signal to the AP a second predetermined period after detection of the missed beacon, receives a second timestamp from the AP in response to the probe request signal, and recalculates the first correction value based on the second timestamp. The adjustment module adjusts the first predetermined period based on the recalculated first correction value.
US08868134B2

The present invention provides a handheld device comprising: a processor, which is electrically connected to a light sensor. When the processor determines that a phone call event has occurred, the processor will enable the light sensor to control the display. Moreover, the present invention provides a power saving method for a handheld device that will execute the following steps when a phone call event occurs: measuring an ambient brightness value of the handheld device; continuing determining whether a change of the ambient brightness values satisfies at least one predetermined condition; and turning off a display of the handheld device if the change satisfies the predetermined condition.
US08868132B1

Wireless communication techniques for cellular deployment of wireless communication systems with transmitters in each cell to have partially overlapped transmission patterns between two adjacent transmitters. Implementations of the described techniques can provide transmit diversity with intentional partial beam pattern overlays to improve cell sectorization or frequency re-use factor, at the same time, reduce intra-cell and inter-cell interference. Various modulations may be used in the described systems, including FDMA, TDMA, and OFDMA modulation schemes.
US08868130B2

Methods and apparatus for suspending session state during hybrid network operation. In one exemplary embodiment, a cellular device uses a single-radio solution to support circuit-switched calls on a CDMA 1X network and packet-switched calls on LTE. Periodically, the cellular device tunes away from LTE and monitors CDMA 1X activity, and vice versa. During these tuned-away periods, the client device may suspend operation on the tuned away network for extended tune away intervals.
US08868127B2

A mobile terminal device includes: a telephone communication speaker and a control module. The telephone communication speaker includes: a first speaker which releases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be output and vibration waves generated by vibrations of one surface of a housing according to vibrations corresponding to the sounds to be output, thereby to transfer the sounds to a user; and a second speaker which releases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be output. In case of execution of a function to output sounds from the telephone communication speaker, when a predetermined trigger action is not made, the control module executes first control in which the first speaker outputs sounds but the second speaker does not output sounds, and when the trigger action is made, the control module executes second control in which at least the second speaker outputs sounds.
US08868126B2

Mobile apparatus with radio frequency architecture supporting simultaneous data and voice communications, in an embodiment, includes first and second antennas, a tranceiver unit, first and second radio frequency (RF) front-end units. The tranceiver unit has a plurality of first, second, and third RF terminals. The first RF front-end unit is coupled between the first antenna and first RF terminals to provide first paths for a high-speed data communication mode and a first mobile communication mode between the first RF terminals and first RF front-end unit. The second RF front-end unit is coupled between the second antenna and second and third RF terminals to provide second paths for at least one second communication mode between the second RF terminals and second RF front-end unit and to provide third paths for the high-speed data communication mode and first mobile communication mode between the third RF terminals and second RF front-end unit.
US08868124B2

A method, system, and computer program product for beamforming in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method, system, and computer program product comprise a plurality of transmit antennas for a transmitter and at least one receive antenna for a receiver. The method, system, and computer program product comprise: initiating beamforming on a communication channel between the plurality of transmit antennas and the at least one receive antenna. The communication channel includes two data streams. A received signal to noise ratio (SNR) on one of the two data streams is weaker than a received SNR of the other data stream. The method, system, and computer program product include reallocating the transmit power between the stronger stream and the weaker stream to provide improved channel performance.
US08868107B2

An illustrative system and method for detecting a wireless terminal in a wireless network by ascertaining information about the wireless terminal's location, thus enabling individualized surveillance and tracking of certain wireless terminals. In some embodiments, the detection is triggered by a signal that is compliant with the Customized Applications for Mobile networks Enhanced Logic (“CAMEL”) protocol. Several kinds of mobile-telecommunications events can trigger detection, including events that do not involve call origination. Advantages include bypassing the home location register when obtaining a location estimate for the wireless terminal and when determining whether a wireless terminal is of interest.
US08868103B2

Techniques for location tracking, location utilization, and dissemination and management of location information are disclosed. As a location monitoring system, one embodiment includes at least a plurality of mobile computing devices supported by a wireless network, and a computing device coupled to a wired network (e.g., the Internet) that couples to the wireless network. Each of the mobile computing devices is associated with and proximate to an object whose location is being monitored. The computing device stores the locations of each of the mobile computing devices or the objects proximate thereto, and enables only authorized users to obtain access the locations via the wired network.
US08868100B1

A system for preventing noise transmission at the end of a telephone call includes a telephone having a handset and a base unit. The telephone has a proximity sensor configured to detect when the handset is in close proximity to the base unit prior to the handset contacting the base unit. A control element communicates with the proximity sensor and prevents transmission of sound received from the handset when the proximity sensor indicates that the handset is in close proximity to the base unit thereby preventing transmission of noise caused by the handset contacting the base unit.
US08868099B2

The specification and drawing figures describe and show a vehicle identification system that includes a programmable application for database management of a plurality of customer-specific vehicle descriptors. The vehicle identification system also includes a mobile computing platform in a mobile satellite communications system adapted to operatively associate the customer-specific vehicle descriptors with a vehicle.
US08868074B2

A method, a device and a mobile terminal for switching network connection automatically are provided by the embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: using one of the multiple available network connections for the mobile terminal as the current network connection, and setting the other network connections of the multiple network connections as the standby network connections; switching the mobile terminal to one of the standby network connections according to the priority order of the standby network connections when preset switching event which happens at present time is detected. Application of the method, device and mobile terminal provided by the embodiments of the present invention can provide automatic and quick switching to the standby network connections, thereby improving the switching efficiency without affecting the uninterrupted usage of the network for the user.
US08868071B2

A femto base station of a WiMAX system can manage a list of closed subscriber groups (CSGs). A CSG indicator is broadcast. The femto base station receives a registration request message from a mobile station having received the CSG indicator and adds the mobile station to a CSG registration list. The femto base station searches for the mobile station from the CSG registration list if an attach request message is received; and forwards the attach request message to an access service network (ASN) gateway if the mobile station is in the CSG registration list. The femto base station establishes a link message with the mobile station if an attach acceptance message corresponding to the attach request message from the ASN-gateway.
US08868069B2

An aircraft-mounted base transceiver station (mBTS) for providing intermittent coverage in a cellular radio network. The mBTS utilizes the existing protocol of its terrestrial counterparts, thereby avoiding dual-mode devices and enabling common usage of terminal monitoring and device management systems for devices connected to a single radio access network even when outside terrestrial coverage areas. The aircraft follows a transient flight pattern, providing intermittent flyover connectivity for remote radio device such as machine-type devices. Connectivity may be store and forward. Channel usage may be adjusted to avoid interfering with terrestrial communication cells during flyover. Doppler effects due to aircraft speed may be accounted for. The mBTS may be configured to service in-range radio devices which are outside a Doppler-inhibited region and/or to prioritize communication with devices based on expected time outside the Doppler-inhibited region. An aircraft mounted antenna may have a radiation pattern focused toward devices outside the Doppler-inhibited region.
US08868063B2

A personal wireless device is utilized to carry out measurements of one or more network-performance related metrics in response to a triggering event. The triggering event can be a message that is transmitted by a network element to the personal wireless device. The personal wireless device may be exemplified by a variety of personal devices such as, for example, a cellular phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The measurements may be used to derive network-performance related information such as cellular signal coverage areas, signal hole areas, and signal interference areas.
US08868062B2

An initial access method of a user equipment (UE) and an apparatus performing the same are provided. The initial access method of a user equipment attempting access a macro cell base station in a network with which the macro cell base station and at least one Femto cell base station share, includes: receiving a cell ID from the macro cell base station or the Femto cell base station; transmitting an interference control request message to the Femto call base station when the received cell ID is a Femto cell ID; and receiving a macro cell ID provided from the macro cell base station when an interference control response message is received from the Femto cell base station to attempt an initial access. When a macro UE near to a Femto cell base station attempts to access a macro cell, it searches an ID of the macro cell through interference control from the Femto call base station to achieve initial access.
US08868050B2

An information output method includes obtaining an identifier of a second communication terminal when a communication connection request is initiated to a second communication terminal or a communication connection request is received from the second communication terminal; determining whether the identifier of the second communication terminal satisfies a first preset condition; obtaining first associated information corresponding to the identifier of the second communication terminal according to the identifier of the second communication terminal, if the second communication terminal identifier satisfies the first predetermined condition; and outputting communication connection request prompt information and the first associated information to a display interface of the first communication terminal.
US08868047B2

A wireless communication device declares one of a plurality of extended instant messaging states and transmits the declared states to a presence information server. Declared extended instant messaging states for destination devices are received, and an enhanced instant message based on declared extended instant messaging states is generated.
US08868042B2

Disclosed is method comprising: storing in a home location register (HLR) at least one subscription record of a mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, the mobile device having a subscriber identity module (SIM) identified by a currently activated first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), the currently activated first IMSI belonging to a set of IMSIs allocated to the system, wherein the provisioning server is operative to: receive a notification that the mobile devices has moved into a first one of the wireless networks; confirm that an allocation rule is satisfied; add and activate a second one of the IMSIs in the set of IMSIs to the HLR and remove the currently activated first IMSI from the HLR; and send the second IMSI to the mobile device to enable the mobile device to communicate wirelessly in the first wireless network as a local device.
US08868040B2

A first wireless communication terminal includes: a receiver configured to receive an instruction to initiate a setting process of setting unique information to be used for a first encrypted communication with a second wireless communication terminal; a setting unit configured to set based on the instruction, a first setting method to be used for the setting process; and a processor configured to, if a first report is received from the second wireless communication terminal after the instruction is received, the first report including information indicating a second setting method to be used for the second wireless communication terminal to perform the first encrypted communication, and the first and second setting methods being identical, perform the setting process using the first setting method, and perform a set-up process of specifying an authentication method and an encryption method to be used for a second encrypted communication performed after the first encrypted communication.
US08868038B2

A particular method includes transmitting a message from a first device to a second device. The message includes first information associated with identification of the first device. The first information enables the second device to obtain access data. The method also includes establishing a first communication link between the first device and the second device based on the access data. The method further includes receiving, via the first communication link, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device. The method also includes configuring the first device to establish the second communication link between the first device and the third device based on the second information.
US08868035B2

A mobile communication device configured for Machine Type Communication (MTC) is provided. In the mobile communication device, a wireless module performs wireless transmissions and receptions to and from a service network, and a controller module starts a back-off timer in response to adding a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) identity to a forbidden PLMN list or in response to setting a subscriber identity card coupled to the mobile communication device as invalid. Also, the controller module further forbids any access to the service network via the wireless module until the back-off timer expires, and, before the back-off timer expires, stores an amount of a remaining time for the back-off timer to expire in response to a power-off of the mobile communication device or in response to detaching from the service network via the wireless module.
US08868028B1

Methods are disclosed for using an Internet server with access to a data base of PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) jurisdiction boundaries and telephone numbers to track the location of a wireless communication device and to determine a PSAP telephone number to call to request emergency services at the location of said wireless communication device using telephone company provided location information. Methods are disclosed for establishing conference call connections between a person, a PSAP and a remote wireless communication device. Also disclosed are methods for establishing an Explicit Call Transfer call connection that redirects a call from a person to a wireless communication device to the telephone of a PSAP having jurisdiction over the location of said remote wireless communication device. Alzheimer tracking devices, offender monitoring devices, medical alert notification devices, satellite tracking devices and child safety telephone embodiments of the current invention are also disclosed.
US08868021B1

In some embodiments, a system may include a passive uniplanar single-balanced millimeter-wave mixer. In some embodiments, a three-port diode-tee IC forming a mixer core is coupled between an end of a slotline balun and a second coplanar balun. The operational bandwidth of a mixer structure is enhanced by optimizing the distance between the mixer diode-tee core and the back-short circuits. The frequency separation of LO and IF signals may be accomplished by means of stand-alone three-port filter-diplexer device. The system may allow wider than a frequency octave operational bandwidth for a frequency converter device all the way into millimeter wave frequencies at the same time as supporting the operational bandwidth for baseband IF signal over more than six frequency octaves. In some embodiments, the system may accomplish a 500 MHz to 34.5 GHz continuous IF bandwidth with RF signal sweeping from 33 GHz to 67 GHz and local oscillator at 67.5 GHz fixed frequency.
US08868007B2

Communication processing paths include distortions, such as DC offset in the baseband analog path which needs to be accounted for. The use of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to inject a DC offset cancellation signal can bring about noise/area/power advantages. The DAC is driven by a mixed signal low pass filter loop. However, the DAC could also be driven in an open loop system, or a combination of open and closed loop. A low noise sign and magnitude DAC with low area and power requirements is implemented using selectively connected programmable current sources to virtual earth input terminals on a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) op-amp circuit. The constant virtual earth voltage eliminates linearity problems that would otherwise exist due to the finite current source output impedance. Current sources are only switched in when required so unneeded sources are out of circuit and do not contribute noise or use any power.
US08868006B2

A bi-directional signal interface includes a first waveguide that propagates a first traveling wave. The first waveguide has one end that is coupled to a RF input port that receives a RF transmission signal and another end that is coupled to a RF bi-directional port that receives a RF reception signal and that transmits the RF transmission signal. A second waveguide is positioned proximate to the first waveguide. The second waveguide has one end that is coupled to an output port that passes the received RF reception signal. A non-reciprocal coupler couples fields from the first waveguide to the second waveguide so that the RF reception signal from the bi-directional port couples from the first waveguide to the second waveguide in a substantially non-reciprocal manner and then passes through the output port, and the RF transmission signal from the RF input port passes through the first waveguide to the RF bi-directional port.
US08868004B2

Systems, methods, and devices enable spectrum management by identifying, classifying, and cataloging signals of interest based on radio frequency measurements. In an embodiment, signals and the parameters of the signals may be identified and indications of available frequencies may be presented to a user. In another embodiment, the protocols of signals may also be identified. In a further embodiment, the modulation of signals, data types carried by the signals, and estimated signal origins may be identified.
US08868003B2

In an embodiment, a method of controlling transmission of data from a wireless device to a receiver connected via a communication channel includes an application executing on the wireless device providing an estimate of end-to-end bandwidth of the communication channel; supplying to the application from wireless access circuitry in the wireless device at least on communication-related parameter and modifying in the application the estimate of end-to-end bandwidth using the at least one communication-related parameter.
US08867999B2

A method to mitigate interference in a wireless system is provided. The method includes processing a set of radio network identifiers and limiting a number of hypotheses associated with the radio network identifiers in order to mitigate interference in a wireless network. In another aspect, the method includes processing a set of hypotheses and limiting the set of hypotheses by limiting a number of downlink grants to a common space, limiting the number of downlink grants to a number of instances, or limiting the number of grants to a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) type. In yet another aspect, the method includes processing a downlink set and generating a target termination level for the downlink data set, the termination level associated with a Hybrid automatic repeat-request.
US08867997B2

A short-range communication system includes a portable communication terminal and an in-vehicle apparatus communicatively connected to the portable communication terminal. When connection is established between the portable communication terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus, a content is executed in the in-vehicle apparatus. When the connection therebetween is released while the content is being executed in the in-vehicle apparatus, the portable communication terminal executes the content by taking over an application execution state of the in-vehicle apparatus which is transmitted from the in-vehicle apparatus.
US08867995B2

An apparatus and method for human body communication in a mobile communication system are provided. A portable terminal includes a human body communication module and a controller. The human body communication module performs human body communication. The controller performs a process to perform connection with an external device through the human body communication and then perform an operation executable through the human body communication.
US08867992B2

A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are discussed, by which if a situation recognized by contacting with an external NFC tag corresponds to a user-set situation, a function different from a function set in the external NFC tag is activated. The method can include setting a 1st operation to be performed in case of recognizing at least one external NFC tag and a 2nd operation to be performed in case of recognizing the external NFC tag in a specific situation, performing the 1st operation if the external NFC tag is recognized via an NFC module, and performing the 2nd operation if the external NFC tag is recognized in the specific situation via the NFC module.
US08867991B2

Various arrangements for selecting data for transmission from a mobile device are presented. Proximity data indicating proximity between one or more proximity sensors and a triggering entity may be collected by the mobile device. A type of near-field communication (NFC) transaction may be determined by the mobile device. Using the proximity data and the type of the NFC transaction, data to transmit to a remote NFC device may be determined.
US08867988B2

Contactless services, applications, and/or transactions can be performed between a mobile terminal and a contactless reader even when the mobile terminal battery power is found to be insufficient or if there is some other problem with the battery. Current is induced from electromagnetic (EM) fields or radio frequency (RF) signals detected near the mobile terminal such that sufficient power can be momentarily and/or temporarily used to access information from a smart card or other components within the mobile terminal, and allow user interaction via the contactless reader.
US08867978B2

A method of forming an image comprising the steps of: forming an image on an image support to obtain an original image, and forming a gloss adjusting layer comprising a clear toner-fixed image comprising a clear toner on the original image, wherein the gloss adjusting layer comprises an aggregate of gloss adjusting units, wherein the gloss adjusting units each comprise a section where the clear toner is attached and a section where the clear toner is unattached, wherein a borderline between the section where the clear toner is attached and the section where the clear toner is unattached comprises a straight line.
US08867970B2

A toner cartridge for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. The housing has an exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir to permit toner from the reservoir to pass out of the housing. A first leg and a second leg each project from a bottom portion of the housing to limit the side-to-side travel of the toner cartridge during insertion into the image forming device. Wing guides are positioned on opposite side surfaces of the housing. A stop extends from each wing guide to limit the forward travel of the toner cartridge in the image forming device. Rounded projections extending from the bottom surfaces of the wing guides define contact points to control the vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device.
US08867969B2

The present invention provides a rotation restricting member that includes, a shaft that is inserted into a shaft insertion hole with a predetermined angle relationship, and a plurality of rotation restriction portions, each of which is formed at a different position around the shaft insertion hole and performs a rotation restriction function of the shaft by engaging with an external portion, where the shaft insertion hole is set to have a shape of the shaft and is formed around the shaft with a different angle corresponding to the shape of the shaft to allow any of the plurality of rotation restriction portions to engage with the external portion.
US08867953B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image with toner, a housing that houses the image forming section, and a toner collection mechanism. The toner collection mechanism includes a suction unit that sucks the toner, which leaves the image forming section and is flying, and air, and a separation unit separating the toner from air. The separation unit includes a separator that collects the toner and allows air to pass therethrough, a casing that houses the separator that has an opening, through which the toner and air flow, and a joining unit that is disposed along an edge of the opening and joins the casing and the housing to each other. The joining unit projects upward beyond the edge of the opening at least in the lower portion of the opening, thereby forming a space that allows the toner to be trapped.
US08867952B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, where the image carrier may include an image carrier body having a hollowness and image carrier flanges, which are installed at both ends of the image carrier body. Each image carrier flange may include a blower fan integrally formed therewith, so that air outside of the image carrier body is moved from one end of the image carrier body, at which a drive gear is positioned, to the other end of the image carrier body as the image carrier rotates. Waste developer which may accumulate on the drive gear is reduced, thereby preventing the operational error of the image carrier and thus avoiding the degradation of the image quality.
US08867946B2

Provided is an image forming system having a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus, the image forming system including: a first image forming unit provided to the first image forming apparatus and forming an image on a first surface of a recording sheet; and a second image forming unit provided to the second image forming apparatus and forming an image on a second surface of the recording sheet on the first surface of which the image has been formed by the first image forming unit, in which, when the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit form pattern images for image position adjustment on the recording sheet, the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit form a first pattern image and a second pattern image on the same surface of the recording sheet.
US08867940B2

An image forming apparatus including a transfer unit that transfers onto a transfer medium an image that is formed on a photosensitive medium; a power supply unit that provides a transfer power to the transfer unit; and a transfer power control unit that controls the transfer power that is provided to the transfer unit by the power supply unit. The transfer power control unit sets as a target voltage an output voltage of the power supply unit that is measured by supplying an initial transfer current to the transfer unit in a predetermined certain period before an image is transferred onto the transfer medium and controls the power supply unit to apply the set target voltage to the transfer unit while an image is being transferred onto the transfer medium.
US08867939B2

An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member, and a charging member for electrically charging the photosensitive member in contact or proximity to the photosensitive member. The charging member forms an upstream gap and a downstream gap between the photosensitive member and itself. In addition, a power source applies a DC voltage to the charging member, an irradiation unit irradiates with light a surface of the photosensitive member in the upstream gap, and a controller controls the irradiation of the light by the irradiation unit. The photosensitive member is movable at a first speed and a second speed slower than the first speed, and wherein the irradiation of the light is effected when the photosensitive member is moved at the first speed to effect image formation, and is not effected when the photosensitive member is moved at the second speed to effect the image formation.
US08867938B2

If the length of an adjustment toner image is longer than a circumferential length of a photosensitive member, a voltage which is less than a discharge start voltage is applied while a region of the photosensitive member irradiated with light by an optical sensor passes through a transfer portion. Further, a voltage which is greater than or equal to the discharge start voltage is applied while the photosensitive member rotates at least once after the region of the photosensitive member irradiated with light by the optical sensor passes through the transfer unit. As a result, density unevenness in the adjustment toner image and a potential change in the photosensitive member due to the optical sensor exposing the adjustment toner image are prevented.
US08867937B2

In an embodiment, a diffuse reflection output conversion method is executed in an apparatus detecting a plurality of gradation patterns. The apparatus includes a light emitter and light receiver, and detects specular reflection and diffuse reflection simultaneously. A region before specular reflection saturation is a region where the specular reflection component decreases and saturates at minimum level. A diffuse reflection detector is calibrated by: obtaining a diffuse reflection output resulting from an amount of attached powder at a border between the region before specular reflection saturation and the region after specular reflection saturation; calculating a ratio between the diffuse reflection output and a reference diffuse reflection output calculated in advance as a calibration coefficient; and multiplying a diffuse reflection output obtained from the gradation patterns by the calibration coefficient calculated at the calculating.
US08867936B2

This invention provides an image forming apparatus which performs sleep control for a shift to the sleep mode for each function and provides a user-friendly operation system, and a method of controlling the same. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus sets a shift time until a power state of the image forming apparatus shifts to the low-power state after execution of image formation; and performs control to shift the power state of the image forming apparatus to the low-power state, when the shift time is not more than the predetermined time, before an elapse of the shift time after execution of image formation by the printing function, while shifting the power state of the image forming apparatus to the low-power state, in response to an elapse of the shift time after execution of image formation by the copying function.
US08867934B2

The image forming apparatus carries out a monitoring operation in which (i) sensor outputs of the magnetic permeability sensor are periodically sampled, (ii) a time period, corresponding to one (1) circulation period which is required for the developer to be circulated once in the circulation carrying path, is evenly divided into a plurality of blocks, and (iii) an average of the sensor outputs in one (1) block time period corresponding to one (1) block is calculated for each of the plurality of blocks; and determines that toner has run short, in a case where the number of times that the averages of the sensor outputs consecutively exceed a threshold, set to be higher than a reference value of the sensor outputs, becomes not less than the number of the plurality of blocks which correspond to the time period corresponding to one (1) circulation period.
US08867932B2

A cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus which includes a main body, a driving unit and a detecting unit, includes: a housing that is configured to accommodate a developer therein, and includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall in a longitudinal direction; a passive unit that is configured to receive a driving force from the driving unit, is mounted on the first side wall, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a detected body mounted on the first side wall and including a detected part which is detected by the detecting unit. The detected body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall by the driving force received by the passive unit.
US08867919B2

A multi-port accumulator apparatus for a radio-over-fiber (RoF) wireless picocellular system comprising a housing supporting a tail cable port and transponder ports. The tail cable port is optically coupled to the RoF transponder ports to provide for transmission of uplink and downlink optical signals between the tail cable port and each of the transponder ports. The tail cable port is also electrically coupled to provide power to each transponder port. The multi-port accumulator supports RoF transponders, one at each of the transponder ports. Each RoF transponder includes a directional antenna system forming a picocellular coverage sub-area, with the combined sub-areas constituting a picocellular coverage area for the multi-port accumulator. The multi-port accumulator permits quick installation and deployment of large numbers of RoF transponders without individually connecting each RoF transponder to downlink and uplink optical fibers in an optical fiber RF communication link.
US08867909B2

A touch type portable terminal is disclosed, whereby a user is prevented from viewing a wrong auto focusing area by indicating an indicator in response to changes in view angle of lenses during auto focusing operation.
US08867908B2

A hot water heater includes a tank for storing water, one or more heating elements for selectively applying heat to the water in the tank, and a controller for controlling the heating elements, operative to automatically self-program control of the hot water heater to reduce energy consumption of the hot water heater based on usage data. The controller is operative to execute a learning algorithm that tracks usage data of the hot water heater based on one or more parameters.
US08867907B2

A heater assembly for a fluid reservoir includes an outer housing coupled to a flange on the fluid reservoir, an inner tubular member disposed within the outer housing, the inner tubular member having a central passageway therethrough, wherein an annulus is formed between the outer housing and the inner tubular member, and a heating device coupled to a lower end of the outer housing and having heating elements which extend upwardly into the central passageway of the inner tubular member.
US08867905B2

In an approach, a method of spotting music for a motion picture comprises: receiving music editor (MXE) cue related data defining a plurality of cues each having a start timecode value and an end timecode value; based on the MXE data, creating and storing an MXE timecode path, a composer (CMP) timecode path, and a cue sheet timecode path; copying one or more of the MXE cue related data to CMP cues in the CMP timecode path in a CMP spotting dataset; receiving one or more changes to the CMP cues without also modifying the MXE cue related data; applying an editing lock to the CMP cues; auto-populating the CMP cues to cue sheet cues in the cue sheet timecode path; receiving one or more changes to the cue sheet cues without also modifying the CMP cues; finalizing and distributing a cue sheet based on the cue sheet cues; wherein the method is performed by one or more special-purpose computing devices.
US08867902B2

A system for allowing a user to create a custom track on a user apparatus, the user apparatus having a display is described. A memory stores a plurality of video clips and an audio track having a timeline. An application is stored in the memory. The application is configured to provide, on the display of the user apparatus, a plurality of video source windows, each of the plurality of video source windows corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of video clips. The application is further configured to allow the user to create the custom track while the audio track is playing by correlating portions of the plurality of video clips with the audio track by selecting respective ones of the plurality of video source windows at desired times in the timeline of the audio track.
US08867901B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for mass participation movies. A storyline is provided to story line subscribers. Video segments based on the storyline are received from the story line subscribers. Viewers are enabled to view at least one of the video segments as part of a mass participation movie via user interfaces associated with the viewers.
US08867900B2

An emulation prevention byte remover may include one or more of a first buffer, a second buffer, a checker, and a shifter. The first buffer may store first stream data. The second buffer may store second stream data. The checker may determine whether one or more emulation prevention bytes are included in the first, second, or first and second stream data. If the checker determines that the one or more emulation prevention bytes are included in the first, second, or first and second stream data, the checker may output a check signal. In response to the check signal, the shifter may remove at least one of the one or more emulation prevention bytes from the first, second, or first and second stream data. The shifter may generate output stream data based on the first, second, or first and second stream data.
US08867898B1

Among other things, videos and commercials are downloaded to a mobile device for storage on the mobile device and later playout on the mobile device. The downloading includes downloading of metadata associated with the commercials and based on which the mobile device can select commercials for insertion into videos being played back to the user of the mobile device. The commercials to be downloaded are selected based on one or a combination of any two or more of the location of the user, the type of mobile device, and personally-identifiable information about a user of the mobile device.
US08867897B1

Among other things, videos and commercials are downloaded to a mobile device for storage on the mobile device and later playout on the mobile device. The downloading includes downloading of metadata associated with the commercials and based on which the mobile device can select commercials for insertion into videos being played back to the user of the mobile device. The commercials to be downloaded are selected based on one or a combination of any two or more of the location of the user, the type of mobile device, and personally-identifiable information about a user of the mobile device.
US08867895B2

A data processing apparatus generates an information file which has a plurality of storage unit elements each of which includes size information and which information file include one or more first storage unit elements each for storing encoded information data and one or more second storage unit elements each for storing management information regarding the information data stored in the first storage unit element, such that a new first storage unit element is formed for every predetermined amount of the encoded information data, and the second storage unit element corresponding to the formed first storage unit element is formed, thereby generating information file.
US08867894B2

A method and apparatus for producing video content. The method includes acquiring video data from a source. If the video data is not digitized, then the video data is digitized. The method includes generating scene indexes for the video data including a representative still image for each scene and combining the video data and scene indexes along with a media player on a video disc. The video player is operable to play the video data in accordance with the scene indexes including playing a scene from the video data on a client computer while displaying the representative stills for other of the scenes available for display on the video disc.
US08867893B2

Various arrangements are described that may cause a recording of a television channel to be stored. The recording of the television channel may include a plurality of television programs. A graphical playback status element may be displayed via a display device. The graphical playback status element may indicate a start point for each television program of the plurality of television programs within the recording of the television channel.
US08867886B2

Methods and systems are disclosed including a computing device configured to allow a user to view a multi-stream video from a selected angle/direction with respect to the contents of the multi-stream video, under the user's control. The multi-stream video is generated using multiple Image Acquisition Devices (IAD), such as cameras, simultaneously, consecutively, or independently filming a scene, each IAD having a different position with respect to each of the other IADs. Each image data stream obtained from each IAD may be uniquely identified to allow selective real-time playback of image data streams under user control. Each image data stream represents a corresponding viewing angle to the user. The user may dynamically change the selection of an image stream, and thus the viewing angle, while viewing a recorded scene. Multiple image streams of the same scene may be selected and viewed simultaneously to provide 3D or other visual effects.
US08867882B2

A photo-electric integrated circuit device comprises an on-die optical input/output device. The on-die optical input/output device comprises a substrate having a trench, a lower cladding layer disposed in the trench and having an upper surface lower than an upper surface of the substrate, and a core disposed on the lower cladding layer at a distance from sidewalls of the trench and having an upper surface at substantially the same level as the upper surface of the substrate.
US08867863B2

High depth grayscale images, (e.g. <8 bits per pixel) are losslessly cross channel encoded to multi-channel image formats for transformation and display by display devices not capable of displaying high depth grayscale. DICOM and other images may be encoded and provided to web browser based client image viewers that leverage native code for handling multi-channel images. Transformations are applied to reconstitute the high depth grayscale images.
US08867860B2

Signal processing devices and methods estimate transforms between signals, and in particular, utilize techniques for estimating phase between a reference signal and a suspect signal. A phase estimation method estimates the phase of reference signal components in a suspect signal using a point spread function. The method provides a set of feature locations representing a discrete reference signal, applies a transform to the reference signal to provide a set of transformed locations, and then uses a point spread function to sample phase from the suspect signal at discrete sample locations in a neighborhood around the transformed locations. This process provides an estimate of phase of the suspect signal at locations corresponding to the transformed locations.
US08867856B2

Systems and methods are provided for providing improved de-noising image content by using directional noise filters to accurately estimate a blur kernel from a noisy blurry image. In one embodiment, an image manipulation application applies multiple directional noise filters to an input image to generate multiple filtered images. Each of the directional noise filters has a different orientation with respect to the input image. The image manipulation application determines multiple two-dimensional blur kernels from the respective filtered images. The image manipulation application generates a two-two-dimensional blur kernel for the input image from the two-dimensional blur kernels for the filtered images. The image manipulation application generates a de-blurred version of the input image by executing a de-blurring algorithm based on the two-dimensional blur kernel for the input image.
US08867854B2

The present invention relates to an image encoding and decoding technique, and more particularly, to an image encoder and decoder using unidirectional prediction. The image encoder includes a dividing unit to divide a macro block into a plurality of sub-blocks, a unidirectional application determining unit to determine whether an identical prediction mode is applied to each of the plurality of sub-blocks, and a prediction mode determining unit to determine a prediction mode with respect to each of the plurality of sub-blocks based on a determined result of the unidirectional application determining unit.
US08867853B2

A processing resource receives original image data by a surveillance system. The original image data captures at least private information and occurrence of activity in a monitored region. The processing resource applies one or more transforms to the original image data to produce transformed image data. Application of the one or more transforms sufficiently distorts portions of the original image data to remove the private information. The transformed image data includes the distorted portions to prevent access to the private information. However, the distorted portions of the video include sufficient image detail to discern occurrence of the activity in the retail environment.
US08867851B2

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for identifying an object in an image. In embodiments, object identification includes using smooth encoding from a tree structure to generate a feature from a descriptor. In embodiments, the smooth encoding may be performed by, having identifying a leaf node for a descriptor, moving up the tree voting structure a number of levels from the identified leaf node to a branch node to identify leaf nodes dependent from the branch node; and then, by determining a sparse code under a condition that a distance between the descriptor and centroids of the leaf nodes dependent from the branch node weighted by the sparse code is minimized, wherein each element of the sparse code representing a weight corresponding to leaf nodes.
US08867849B1

A system and method for generating an ordered set of suggested profile images. The profile image application includes a scorer, a recognition engine, a trend analyzer, a suggestion module and a user interface engine. The scorer scores user images based on metadata, such as the number of people tagged in the image and the recency of the image. The recognition engine identifies people and objects in the image. The trend analyzer identifies trends. The suggestion module generates the ordered set of suggested profile images based at least in part on the score. The user interface engine generates a user interface that includes the ordered set of suggested profile images.
US08867842B2

According to one embodiment, an image processing system includes a decoder, a corresponding area detector and an image corrector. The decoder is configured to decode an input image signal obtained by encoding a plurality of images viewed from a plurality of viewing points different from each other, to generate a first image signal, a second image signal, and a motion vector for referring to the first image from the second image. The corresponding area detector is configured to detect a corresponding area in the second image, the corresponding area corresponding to a target block in the first image. The image corrector is configured to mix each pixel in the target block with each pixel in the corresponding area according to a degree of similarity between the target block and the corresponding area, to generate a third image signal.
US08867826B2

A disparity vector for a pixel in a right image corresponding to a pixel in a left image in a pair of stereo images is determined. The disparity vector is based on a horizontal disparity and a vertical disparity and the pair of stereo images is unrectified. First, a set of candidate horizontal disparities is determined. For each candidate horizontal disparity, a cost associated with a particular horizontal disparity and corresponding vertical disparities is determined. The vertical disparity associated with a first optimal cost is assigned to each candidate horizontal disparity, so that the candidate horizontal disparity and the vertical disparity yield a candidate disparity vector. Lastly, the candidate disparity vector with a second optimal cost is selected as the disparity vector of the pixel in the right image.
US08867825B2

A solution for determining a similarity or dissimilarity measure for a selected pixel of a first image relative to another selected pixel in a second image is described. The first image and the second image form a stereoscopic image pair or part of a multi-view image group. In a first step a first support window containing the selected pixel in the first image is determining. Then a second support window containing the selected pixel in the second image is determining. Subsequently one or more statistical properties of the selected pixel in the first image are calculated to define a probability distribution for the selected pixel in the first image. Finally, pixel similarity or dissimilarity between the first support window and the second support window is aggregated using only those pixels belonging to the probability distribution for the selected pixel in the first image with a probability above a defined minimum.
US08867817B1

A method for analyzing a display is described. The method includes scanning the display to generate a scanned image of the display. The scanned image may be analyzed to determine a characteristic of the display, such as whether or not the display is defective.
US08867815B2

A cell stethoscope 1 comprises a sample image input section 31 for inputting image information of a cell, an image display part 50 for displaying the image information to an observer, an area designation part 40 for designating a fixed area included in the image information in response to an operation carried out by the observer according to the image information displayed by the image display part 50, a frequency conversion section 32 for frequency-converting vibration information of the cell in the fixed area designated by the area designation part 40 into sound information, and a sound output part 60 for outputting the sound information frequency-converted by the frequency conversion section 32 to the observer.
US08867814B2

A method for generating a positron emission tomography (PET) attenuation correction map. The method includes obtaining a magnetic resonance (MR) image dataset of a subject of interest, obtaining a positron emission tomography (PET) emission dataset of the subject of interest, segmenting the MR image dataset to identify at least one object of interest, determining a volume of the object of interest, and generating a PET attenuation correction map using the determined volume. A medical imaging system and a non-transitory computer readable medium are also described herein.
US08867811B2

A therapeutic system, comprising: a MR imaging unit arranged to acquire MR signals from a patient in an examination volume, and a thermal treatment unit for depositing thermal energy within tissue of the patient. The system is arranged for: initiating a thermal treatment by heating the tissue at a focus within the examination volume selectively acquiring MR signals from a first image plane, including the focus, reconstructing a thermographic MR image from the MR signals acquired from the first image plane, computing a baseline thermographic MR image from a temperature distribution within at least one second image plane, moving the focus to a new position within the examination volume, changing the position and/or orientation of the first image plane corresponding to the new position of the focus, repeating the acquiring and reconstructing steps, wherein the baseline thermographic MR image is used for thermographic image reconstruction in a subsequent reconstructing step.
US08867810B2

In methods and an apparatus for detecting an incident or behavior in a medical image scan of a subject, a list of image data points captured during the scan is obtained, and a scan period of the scan selected. A model for a distribution of list data over the scan period is obtained, the model at least in part based on the list data from the scan period. List data are compared with the model, by calculating a statistical measure of the self-consistency of the list data with reference to the model.
US08867807B1

Provided herein are various systems and methods of adjusting images of an image series that are preloaded (and/or otherwise processed) in view of behavior data associated with viewing of other previous exams having similar characteristics (e.g., same modality) and/or by the same user.
US08867805B2

Approaches are described for addressing artifacts associated with iterative reconstruction of image data acquired using a cone-beam CT system. Such approaches include, but are not limited to, the use of asymmetric regularization during iterative reconstruction, the modulation of regularization strength for certain voxels, the modification of statistical weights, and/or the generation and use of synthesized data.
US08867799B2

A fingerprint sensing module includes a sensor substrate having a sensing side and a circuit side, an image sensor including conductive traces on the circuit side of the sensor substrate, and a sensor circuit including at least one integrated circuit mounted on the circuit side of the sensor substrate and electrically connected to the image sensor. The sensor substrate may be a flexible substrate. The module may include a velocity sensor on the sensor substrate or on a separate substrate. The module may further include a rigid substrate, and the sensor substrate may be affixed to the rigid substrate.
US08867791B2

A gesture recognition method for an interactive system includes the steps of: capturing image windows with an image sensor; obtaining information of object images associated with at least one pointer in the image windows; calculating a position coordinate of the pointer relative to the interactive system according to the position of the object images in the image windows when a single pointer is identified according to the information of object images; and performing gesture recognition according to a relation between the object images in the image window when a plurality of pointers are identified according to the information of object images. The present invention further provides an interactive system.
US08867790B2

An object detection device that can accurately identify an object candidate in captured stereo images as an object or a road surface. The object detection device (100) have a disparity map generator (120) that generates a disparity map based on the stereo images; a road surface estimator (130) that estimates a road surface based on the disparity map; an object candidate location extractor (140) that extracts an object candidate region above the road surface, based on the disparity map and the road surface; an object identifying region extractor (150) that extracts an object identifying region including a region around the object candidate region; a geometric feature extractor (160) that extracts a geometric feature of the object candidate based on the object identifying region; and an object identifying unit (170) that identifies whether the object candidate is an object or a road surface based on the geometric feature.
US08867788B2

A vehicle periphery monitoring device includes: a first edge image generation element 5 which generates a first edge image on the basis of luminance components of a captured image acquired by an in-vehicle camera 2; a second edge image generation element 6 which generates a second edge image on the basis of hue components or saturation components of the captured image; a composite edge image generation element 7 which generates a composite edge image formed by combining the first edge image and the second edge image; and an object classification identification element 8 which identifies whether or not the object is a prescribed kind of structure on the basis of the external shape of the object represented by the composite edge image.
US08867787B2

The disclosure includes a system, a computer program product, and a method for inspecting a turbine system. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one computing device configured to inspect a turbine system by performing actions including: obtaining a set of pre-maintenance digital images of the turbine system, obtaining a set of post-maintenance digital images of the turbine system, comparing the set of pre-maintenance digital images with the set of post-maintenance digital images to identify an anomaly in the set of post-maintenance digital images, and comparing the set of post-maintenance digital image with a set of computer modeled image of the turbine system to determine a type of the anomaly in response to identifying the anomaly. The post-maintenance digital images depict the turbine system after a maintenance process has been performed on the turbine system.
US08867786B2

A human subject is tracked within a scene of an observed depth image supplied to a general-purpose body-part tracker. The general-purpose body-part tracker is retrained for a specific scenario. The general-purpose body-part tracker was previously trained using supervised machine learning to identify one or more general-purpose parameters to be used by the general-purpose body-part tracker to track a human subject. During a retraining phase, scenario data is received that represents a human training-subject performing an action specific to a particular scenario. One or more special-purpose parameters are identified from the processed scenario data. The special-purpose parameters are selectively used to augment or replace one or more general-purpose parameters if the general-purpose body-part tracker is used to track a human subject performing the action specific to the particular scenario.
US08867777B2

A speaker assembly includes a speaker housing having a substantially closed speaker chamber, the speaker housing including a first wall with a dimple assembly defining a heat sink formed therein. A first driver is mounted and enclosed in the speaker chamber, the first driver including a cone coupled to a driver magnet for generating sound. The driver magnet is in direct contact with the dimple assembly effectively exposing the driver magnet to an exterior of the speaker housing via the heat sink defined by the dimple assembly.
US08867775B2

Aspects of the present invention may provide audio devices, which may be included in protective covers, suited for use with tablet computers and the like. Embodiments may include audio devices including a substantially tablet-shaped rigid housing. The housing may include a top surface, a bottom surface, and a recess in the top surface. A relatively flat audio speaker may be received in the recess of the housing, and may be pivotally mounted to the housing such that a free end of the speaker is movable between a closed position and an open position.
US08867771B2

The invention discloses a kind of portable vibration speaker that is composed of an upper cover, a lower cover, and a vibrating tone generator and a control circuit (the both are fitted inside the lower cover). The inside of the upper cover is fitted with a speaker. The improvements include a blow-molded spring; one end of the blow-molded spring is connected to the upper cover, and the other end is connected to the lower cover in rotating mode; inner wall of the upper cover is provided with a buckle, and a buckle flute is arranged in a position on the lower cover corresponding to the buckle. A blow-molded spring connects the resonant sound unit and speakers into one piece so as to avoid the flaws such as poor sound effects and narrow volume range of pure resonant sound unit or conventional compact sound unit. Music of different sound quality may be given with superior sound quality effects. The portable vibration speaker is characterized by its compactness, handiness and superior bass effects, and may meet the needs of young consumers.
US08867764B1

A hearing aid can be tuned while worn by a user according to a heuristic method, including select an adjustable parameter and an stimulus having audio energy characteristics related to the adjustable parameter. The stimulus is played via a calibrated audio output device and amplified by the hearing aid. After selecting a user perception query associated with the adjustable parameter, feedback is obtained from the user indicating that the stimulus was not perceived neutrally. A perceptual adjustment curve and a threshold curve are determined according to the user feedback, and an estimated perception curve that estimates the user's perception of the stimulus is determined. When at least a portion of the estimated perception curve exceeds a threshold curve, the hearing aid is programmed according to at least one adjustment value determined according to the user feedback value.
US08867763B2

A beamformer of a hearing instrument is focused by automatically adapting the beam width and/or beam direction. A spatial orientation and/or position of the head of the hearing instrument user is first captured. When no head movements are captured, the acoustic signals are picked up with directional dependency. Then the amplification of acoustic signals is boosted that originate from a focus solid angle in front of the head of the hearing instrument user, compared with acoustic signals from other solid angles. This activates or increases directivity. Then the focus solid angle is decreased to gradually focus and to increase directivity, until the level of acoustic signals from the focus solid angle, actually the presence of the desired signals in the focus solid angle (purely theoretically the probability that the desired signal is present in the focus solid angle), reduces on account of reducing the focus solid angle.
US08867753B2

An apparatus for upmixing a downmix audio signal describing one or more downmix audio channels into an upmixed audio signal describing a plurality of upmixed audio channels includes an upmixer configured to apply temporally variable upmixing parameters to upmix the downmix audio signal in order to obtain the upmixed audio signal. The apparatus also includes a parameter interpolator, wherein the parameter interpolator is configured to obtain one or more temporally interpolated upmix parameters to be used by the upmixer on the basis of a first complex-valued upmix parameter and a subsequent second complex-valued upmix parameter. The parameter interpolator is configured to separately interpolate between a magnitude value of the first complex-valued upmix parameter and a magnitude value of the second complex-valued upmix parameter, and between a phase value of the first complex-valued upmix parameter and a phase value of the second complex-valued upmix parameter, to obtain the one or more temporally interpolated upmix parameters. A respective method can be implemented, for example, as a computer program.
US08867751B2

A method, medium, and system encoding and/or decoding a multi-channel audio signal, and a method, medium, and system decoding a signal down-mixed from multi-channels to a 2-channel signal. The method of encoding an audio signal may include generating spatial cues indicating directivity information of a virtual sound source generated by at least two channel sound sources among a plurality of channels, and down-mixing the plurality of channel signals. The method of decoding an audio signal may include receiving inputs of spatial cues indicating directivity information of a virtual sound source generated by at least two channel sound sources among sound sources of a plurality of channels, and a signal down-mixed from the plurality of channel signals, and restoring the down-mixed signal to a plurality of channel signals by using the spatial cues. According to such systems, media, and methods, a multi-channel audio signal can be accurately encoded and/or decoded regardless of frequency bands.
US08867750B2

Method and system for generating output signals for reproduction by two physical speakers in response to input audio signals indicative of sound from multiple source locations including at least two rear locations. Typically, the input signals are indicative of sound from three front locations and two rear locations (left and right surround sources). A virtualizer generates left and right surround outputs useful for driving front loudspeakers to emit sound that a listener perceives as emitting from rear sources. Typically, the virtualizer generates left and right surround outputs by transforming rear source inputs in accordance with a head-related transfer function. To ensure that virtual channels are well heard in the presence of other channels, the virtualizer performs dynamic range compression on rear source inputs. The dynamic range compression is preferably accomplished by amplifying rear source inputs or partially processed versions thereof in a nonlinear way relative to front source inputs.
US08867744B1

Wireless security is enforced at L1, in addition to or in lieu of other layers. AP's can switch dynamically from serving to scanning. Scanners listen for authorized frame headers. Scanners either receive, or allow authorized frames to be received, at their destination. Scanners kill unauthorized frames while they are still transmitting; scanners continue listening for and killing unauthorized frame headers until frame ending time demands their return to serving, multiplying their effectiveness. AP's include dual-mode multi-frequency omni-directional antennae, used to prevent third parties from snooping messages received at those AP's.
US08867742B2

A configuration method of an optical signal, an encryption device, and an encryption system makes it possible for a legitimate communicating party to ensure information-theoretic security against a known plain text attack and to communicate long-distance. By adding a transmission information data sequence randomization device to the Yuen encrypted communications device according to the present information, which divides transmission information data into blocks, appends sequence numbers thereto, randomly switches the sequence of the blocks with a digitized signal of output of an electrical noise generator, and inputs same into a transmission data generator of a conventional Yuen encrypted optical transmitter, the relation between a known transmission information data sequence (plain text) and an optical signal which is outputted from the transmitter is randomized, allowing forcibly making even a circumstance wherein a known-plain text attack would be possible into a cipher-text-only attack, realizing information-theoretic security against a known-plain text attack.
US08867721B2

A system and methodology for managing a mute function muting a connection to a conference call is disclosed. The system is implemented when the mute function is activated on a line connected to a conference call through a telecommunications network. The method includes receiving a sound, determining whether the sound meets predetermined criteria and if the sound meets predetermined criteria then performing a mute status operation.
US08867719B2

Systems and methods are described that facilitate the generation of calling lists for use in planning or setting up conference calls. The system may include a communications module and a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact. Each contact record may include at least one contact address and at least one descriptor. For example, the descriptor may include a job title and/or expertise for the contact. The system may also include a selection module configured to select at least one of the contacts and also configured to compare the at least one descriptor to at least one qualifier criteria. The method may include: providing a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact; wherein each contact record comprises at least one contact address and at least one descriptor; determining at least one qualifier criteria; comparing the qualifier criteria to the at least one descriptor; determining a calling list corresponding to at least one contact.
US08867718B2

Systems and method for processing orders for telecommunications services are disclosed. Generally a telecommunications transaction set of an electronic data interchange standard is received, the telecommunications transaction set corresponding to a telecommunications product or service for a customer. An order for the telecommunications product or service is then generated based on processing of the telecommunications transaction set.
US08867716B2

A system and a method are disclosed for providing telephone number sharing services to subscribers over public switched telephone network or data network. The disclosed system maintains a bank of reusable caller identifiers (IDs). The system receives call details of a call from a subscriber of the system. The call details include a caller identifier (ID) preference of the subscriber and a called number corresponding to the called party. The system stores the call details in a database. The system determines whether the call from the subscriber is a first call to the called number. In response to the call being the first call to the called number, the system assigns a call ID from the bank of reusable caller IDs that satisfies the reusable caller ID preference of the subscriber, and connects the call to the called number along with the caller ID.
US08867709B2

A method and an apparatus for the identification of the mode of a telephony device in a network are provided. A call initiation signal is received from a mode-identifying telephony device. The call initiation signal is used to communicate with a mode-selecting telephony device. Thereafter, the mode at the mode-selecting telephony device is detected and an answer mode signal, including the information regarding the answering mode of the mode-selecting telephony device, is sent to the mode-identifying telephony device.
US08867705B2

A method for indicating a position of a radiation energy sensor element in a radiographic imaging system, the method executed at least in part by a computer, identifies the position of the radiation energy sensor element relative to a subject to be imaged and displays the identified position relative to the subject.
US08867694B1

A Gray code counter has multiple two-bit Gray code counter modules, clock gated integrated cells (CGICs), and a parity bit generator. The CGICs gate clock signals provided to the two-bit counter modules, which reduces dynamic power consumption. The parity bit generator generates a parity bit that indicates a count of binary ones in a counting state.
US08867690B2

A nuclear reactor includes a pressure vessel and a nuclear reactor core disposed in the pressure vessel. A subterranean containment structure contains the nuclear reactor. An ultimate heat sink (UHS) pool is disposed at grade level, and an upper portion of the subterranean containment structure defines at least a portion of the bottom of the UHS pool. In some embodiments, the upper portion of the subterranean containment structure comprises an upper dome, which may protrude above the surface of the UHS pool to define an island surrounded by the UHS pool. In some embodiments, a condenser comprising a heat exchanger including hot and cold flow paths is disposed inside the subterranean containment structure; and cooling water lines operatively connect the condenser with the UHS pool.
US08867671B2

A conversion circuit (20) for converting a complex analog input signal having an in-phase, I, component and a quadrature-phase, Q, component resulting from frequency down conversion of a radio-frequency, RF, signal (XRF) to a frequency band covering 0 Hz into a digital representation is disclosed. It comprises a channel-selection filter unit (40) arranged to filter the complex analog input signal, thereby generating a channel-filtered I and Q components, and one or more processing units (53, 53a-b). Each processing unit comprises four mixers (60-75) for generating a first and a second frequency-translated I component and a first and a second channel-filtered Q component based on two LO signals with equal LO frequency and a 90° mutual phase shift. Furthermore, each processing unit comprises a combiner unit (85, 120) for generating a first, a second, a third, and a fourth combined signal proportional to sums and differences between said frequency translated I and Q components. The first and the fourth combined signals form a first complex signal, and the second and the third combined signals form a second complex signal. Each processing unit further comprises four ADCs (110a-d, 115a-d) for providing digital representations of the first complex signal and the second complex signal for forming said digital representation of the analog complex input signal. A related radio receiver circuit and a related electronic apparatus are also disclosed.
US08867655B2

Provided are an apparatus and method for transmitting data using multiple antennas and beamforming. The apparatus of the present invention comprises: a modulation unit which performs constellation mapping on input bits to generate modulated symbols; a pre-coding unit which multiplies a pre-coding matrix and the modulated symbols to generate pre-coded symbols; and a plurality of transmitting antennas for transmitting the pre-coded symbols. According to the present invention, a beam width is maintained constant, regardless of a radiation angle, thus preventing a loss of power caused by an angular spread and preventing the generation of shadow zone at a large radiation angle.
US08867651B2

Systems and methods for combining signals from multiple active wireless transmitters are discussed herein. An exemplary system comprises a radio enclosure, a first transmitting RFU, a second transmitting RFU, and a combiner. The first transmitting RFU may be configured to receive a signal, upconvert the signal, compare a phase of the upconverted signal to a predetermined phase value, and adjust the phase of the signal based on the comparison to provide a first phase-adjusted upconverted signal. The second transmitting RFU may be configured to receive the signal, upconvert the signal, compare a phase of the upconverted signal to the predetermined phase value, and adjust the phase of the signal based on the comparison to provide a second phase-adjusted upconverted signal. The coupler may be configured to combine the first and second phase-adjusted upconverted signals to create an output signal and provide the output signal to an antenna for transmission.
US08867648B2

The present application discloses a method for reporting channel status information in a multi antenna wireless communication system. In more detail, the method includes: receiving a reference signal from a base station; calculating the optimum precoding matrix index (PMI), at which the intensity of a signal from the base station is maximized, on the basis of the reference signal: determining at least one interference PMI from the base station on the assumption that a plurality of interference PMIs corresponding to the optimum PIM are applied; and transmitting information on at least one determined interference PMI to the base station. Beams corresponding to the plurality of interference PMIs are orthogonal to the beams corresponding to the optimum PMI.
US08867643B2

Four (=M) transmission information signals are output from transmission information generating unit to linear transform unit, where they are transformed into synthesis signals by linear transform expressed by multiplication by a 2×4 matrix having complex numbers as elements. Signal processors perform signal processing corresponding to the modulation technique of test target on synthesis signals. On the resultant signals, 2×2 channel processing unit performs 2×2 pseudo channel processing, thereby forming equivalent M×N channels. Parameter setting unit sets information necessary to acquire desired M×N channel characteristics as the synthesis characteristics of linear transform unit and N×N channel processing unit.
US08867638B2

A coax network unit (CNU) is coupled to a coax line terminal (CLT) by a cable plant. In a discovery mode of operation, the CNU receives from the CLT one or more message packets that include one or more orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols with cyclic prefixes of a first length. In a normal mode of operation subsequent to the discovery mode, the CNU receives data packets comprising OFDM symbols from the CLT. The OFDM symbols of the received data packets have cyclic prefixes of a second length that is less than the first length.
US08867623B2

A digital broadcasting transmission/reception system, and a signal processing method thereof for turbo-processing digital broadcasting transport stream and transmitting the processed stream, includes a parity area generating unit preparing a first area for parity insertion with respect to a dual transport stream (TS) which includes a normal stream and a turbo stream as multiplexed, a first interleaver interleaving the dual TS which is transmitted from the parity area generating unit, a turbo processing unit detecting the turbo stream from the interleaved dual TS, exclusively encoding the detected turbo stream for turbo-processing, and stuffing the encoded turbo stream into the dual TS, a deinterleaver deinterleaving the dual TS which is processed by the turbo processing unit, and a transmitting unit transmitting the dual TS which is processed at the deinterleaver.
US08867611B2

A video transmitting method with an image quality adjusting function is provided. In the method, a video stream is transmitted to a receiving terminal. A received number of frames of the video stream received by the receiving terminal in a preset period is obtained. An image quality of the video stream is adjusted according to the received number of frames.
US08867608B2

A data processing system receives video data from a data source and separates the video data into multiple video data segments. Each of the multiple video data segments are substantially the same size. The system generates a data segmentation element associated with each video data segment. The data segmentation element describes content in the associated video data segment. Each video data segment and the associated data segmentation element are communicated to a destination device.
US08867607B2

The present invention includes determining a motion vector candidate set of a current block including a plurality of motion vector candidates, obtaining motion vector indication information of the current block from a video signal, extracting a motion vector candidate corresponding to the motion vector indication information from the motion vector candidate set, determining a predicted motion vector of the current block based on the extracted motion vector candidate, and performing motion compensation on the current block based on the predicted motion vector.
US08867598B1

An equalizer is disclosed, and associated operational method. The equalizer has a configuration that balances performance and complexity by obtaining samples that are strongly correlated with future and past transmitted bits, and are weakly correlated with future and past bit transitions, and is useful for timing recovery circuits. Samples are only obtained or collected at time intervals more than one sample period away from the reference sample. Samples are shifted by a delay value less than the sample period, and are obtained at a sample period of one unit interval. A means to adjust the sampling point delay is also disclosed. In an implementation, samples that are within the sample period away from the reference sample are obtained and used for implementing a timing shift, not for equalization of the timing recovery signal. Embodiments are also disclosed for optimizing performance for data recovery.
US08867593B2

This disclosure provides a method and transceiver for a digital subscriber line (DSL) system. A first transceiver performs a communication with a second transceiver with a bit table including a first parameter of bit load for sub-carriers, and transmits a switch message for requesting a bit load reduction to the second transceiver when the first transceiver determines that an obtained communication performance parameter reaches or exceeds the predetermined value; and in response to the transmission of the switch message, executing a switch to a second parameter of bit load for sub-carriers at a certain symbol of a frame. The first transceiver calculates the second parameter of bit load by subtracting a corresponding bit number from the first parameter of bit load. The corresponding bit number is transmitted by the first transceiver to the second transceiver for calculating a same parameter of bit load as the second parameter of bit load.
US08867592B2

In some embodiments, a receiver circuit is configured to receive a modulated signal from a transmitter that is galvanically isolated from the receiver circuit. The receiver circuit is configured to demodulate the modulated signal by using two comparator circuits that respectively detect the presence or absence of first and second signal states of a carrier signal. Based on the detection of the first and second states, the receiver circuit determines whether the carrier signal is present or absent in the modulated signal to determine a demodulated value of the modulated signal.
US08867584B2

An optical parametric oscillator comprising: an optical cavity; a semiconductor gain-medium located within the optical cavity, such that together they form a semiconductor laser, and a nonlinear material located within the cavity such that the nonlinear material continuously generates down-converted idler- and signal-waves in response to a pump-wave continuously generated by the semiconductor gain-medium, wherein the pump wave is resonant within the optical cavity and one or other but not both of the down-converted waves is resonant within the pump wave cavity or a further optical cavity. Brewster plates ensure singly resonant optical parametric oscillators and a birefringent filer is used for frequency setting. Coupled cavities allow for setting the photon lifetime in the cavity that relaxation oscillations are prevented.
US08867582B2

A laser diode assembly includes a housing having a housing part and a mounting part that is connected to the housing part and that extends away from the housing part along an extension direction. A laser diode chip is disposed on the mounting part. The laser diode chip has, on a substrate, semiconductor layers with an active layer for emitting light. The housing part and the mounting part have a main body composed of copper and at least the housing part is steel-sheathed. A first solder layer having a thickness of greater than or equal to 3 μm is arranged between the laser diode chip and the mounting part.
US08867579B2

A laser device (100) includes a laser (110; 210; 310; 410; 510) in turn including at least one Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) section (111), at least one phase section (112) and at least one gain section (113), further including a laser control element (150), a feedback control element (140) and a frequency noise discriminator (130,131), which feedback control element is arranged to feed a variable feedback signal to at least one of the at least one DBR section and the at least one phase section of the laser, so that the output laser frequency is altered in response to a variation in the feedback signal or the combination of respective feedback signals, whereby the feedback signal or combination of respective feedback signals is varied as a function of the detected frequency fluctuation so as to counteract the detected frequency fluctuation.
US08867576B2

A laser system having a cavity formed by at least two sub-cavities and a mechanism for optically pumping a first of the at least two sub-cavities. In the system, the optical pumping mechanism is arranged in such away to not reach a laser emission threshold of the first sub-cavity, the first sub-cavity (2) comprising a device for generating a short pulse, a second sub-cavity (3) comprising an external triggering device. The first and second sub-cavities are coupled such that the triggering of the second sub-cavity has at least two such laser systems, to a light emission system with a wide spectral band, comprising such a laser system and a mechanism for generating non-linear optical effects inserted into the second sub-cavity, and to a light generator with a wide spectral band, comprising such a laser generator having at least one laser system provided with a mechanism for generating non-linear optical effects inserted into the second sub-cavity.
US08867575B2

Disclosed is system comprising: a server platform operative to communicate with a wireless communication network; and data storage coupled to the server platform to store a plurality of business rules, wherein the server platform is operative to: generate a first provision instruction to provision a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) with a first rule set associated with a first set of business rules for wireless usage incurred by a mobile terminal operating in the wireless communication network; generate a first billing instruction based on the first set of business rules and a first data type determined by a packet gateway that inspects packet data communicated to or from the mobile terminal.
US08867555B2

A network apparatus includes a customer network portion having a customer premises equipment (CPE) bridge configured to connect to internal network entities of the customer network portion and to edge bridges of a provider network portion interconnecting separate customer network portions. The CPE bridge is configured to determine a transparent local area network service (TLS) for a packet received from one of the internal network entities based on a media access control (MAC) address of a destination of the packet in a different separate customer network portion. The CPE bridge is also configured to modify the packet to indicate the determined TLS, for the provider network portion to utilize to transmit the packet based on the determined TLS to a second CPE bridge associated with the destination, without the provider network utilizing the destination MAC address.
US08867548B2

In the event ACK/NACK information on downlink data transmitted on one or more carriers must be transmitted on a PUCCH together with SR, user equipment of the present invention always modulates the ACK/NACK information to a first complex modulation symbol regardless of the number of the carriers when a specific carrier is ACK and the other carriers are NACKs, or the specific carrier is ACK and ACK/NACK bundled for other carriers is NACK. Also, the user equipment always modulates the ACK/NACK information to a second complex modulation symbol regardless of the number of the carriers when a specific carrier is NACK and the other carriers are NACKs, or the specific carrier is ACK and the ACK/NACK bundled for the other carriers is NAC. According to the present invention, regardless of the number of carriers needed for the user equipment, at least ACK/NACK information on the specific carrier can be exactly transmitted to a base station.
US08867547B2

A method and an apparatus for processing a call to an aggregate endpoint device over a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a session request by an application server, wherein a route header for the session request comprises an aggregate endpoint identifier, and determines at least one Public User Identity (PUID) of the aggregate endpoint device in accordance with the aggregate endpoint identifier. The method obtains a Serving-Call Session Control Function Fully Qualified Domain Name (S-CSCF FDQN) of a Serving-Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) that performs a termination processing for the aggregate endpoint device, and forwards the session request to the S-CSCF with a route header that comprises the PUID of the aggregate endpoint device.
US08867545B2

A method of providing information regarding an Ethernet frame, within the Ethernet preamble of the Ethernet frame, comprises inserting into the Ethernet preamble an inter-line-card header that includes a start control character, a version number, a parity bit, a source port, a destination port, and a forwarding domain entry; and preserving said inter-line-card header, inside of said Ethernet preamble, in a Media Access Control (MAC) sub-layer in said Ethernet frame. The method may include a step of selecting the decoding format for the inter-line-card header corresponding to the version number and/or forwarding other Ethernet frames according to additional forwarding information provided by the forwarding domain entry. The inter-line-card header may be preserved in the MAC sub-layer by keeping the Ethernet preamble at the beginning of an Ethernet frame received over an Ethernet backplane, and passing the combined preamble and associated Ethernet frame to an inter-line-card header processing module.
US08867539B2

A protocol converter includes a processor configured to receive a request for content from a client system. The processor is further configured to determine if the protocol converter is currently receiving the content through the multicast session, and join the multicast session if the protocol converter is not currently receiving the content. Additionally, the processor is configured to receive the content as an end point of the multicast session, format the content for communication to the client system, and provide content to the client system in a communication separate from the multicast session. Receiving the content as an end point of the multicast session can include terminating the application layer protocol used by the multicast session. Additionally, formatting the content can include re-encapsulating the content as hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) with an appropriate content-type.
US08867532B2

A method of assisting communication for a user is provided. The method includes receiving an IM message including a request for a voice carry over from the user, and transmitting to the user an invitation to join a first voice connection. The method further includes initiating the first voice connection with the user, and initiating a second voice connection with a recipient. Additionally, the method includes communicating to the recipient a first voice communication from the user over the first and second voice connections, and communicating to the user a response IM message including a transcribed version of a second voice communication from the recipient. An apparatus for assisting communication for a user is provided. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions is provided. The computer-executable instructions cause a processor to perform a method when executed.
US08867530B2

A method of operating a signaling gateway for routing signaling messages between a SS7 network and an IP-based network is provided. The signaling gateway has a signaling point code allocated as a network address. Further, a signaling gateway for routing signaling messages between a SS7 network and an IP-based network is provided. The signaling gateway comprises an interface towards the SS7 network and an interface towards the IP-based network. The signaling gateway comprises a processing unit which may implement a SS7 protocol stack and an IP protocol stack. The processing unit may be configured to translate a message delivered to an upper protocol layer of the SS7 protocol stack to a corresponding message conforming to a user adaptation protocol of the IP protocol stack.
US08867516B2

A binary CDMA image transmission and receiving system directed connected to an image capturing device includes an image transmission unit including: an image capturing device comprising a CCD/CMOS camera module and configured to output a captured digital image signal; an image pre-treatment processing unit configured to process a digital image signal output from the image capturing device to be vivid; a digital image processing unit configured to convert the image signal into a compressible signal; a transmission side A/V codec configured to compress an image and a voice of an output image signal; a transmission side host processor configured to perform a binary CDMA function, a transmission side binary CDMA baseband processor; and an RF transmission unit, and an image receiving unit including: an RF receiving unit configured to receive the transmitted RF signal; a receiver side binary CDMA baseband processor configured to receive and decode the received RF signal; a receiver side host processor; a receiver side A/V codec configured to restore the image and the voice; and an image post-treatment unit configured to output the image signal. The binary CDMA image transmission and receiving system may increase a resolution of an image through a digital processing method, not an analog method, may improve security by being capable of encoding a transmission data, may have an excellent frequency efficiency, may enable a remote distance communication superior to a short range wireless communication, and may enable a low power high speed transmission.
US08867512B2

Techniques for discovering one or more nodes in a communication system are provided. A node may receive one or more discovery messages during a first occurrence of a periodic discovery interval. The node may determine a duration of a subsequent occurrence of the periodic discovery interval based on the one or more received discovery messages. The node may adjust the duration for the subsequent occurrence of the periodic discovery interval based on the determined duration.
US08867509B2

Integrated Bluetooth (BT) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) transceivers are described. BT signals and WLAN signals can be transmitted simultaneously with one another. Samples from a BT signal sample stream are injected into a WLAN signal sample stream. According to one exemplary embodiment, a simultaneously transmitted BT signal/WLAN signal can be amplified and coupled onto a pin of an integrated circuit device for transmission. If there is no WLAN signal to be transmitted when a BT signal is to be transmitted, then the BT signal can be processed in a BT section of the transceiver, amplified and coupled to the same pin for transmission.
US08867507B2

A split-plane mobility network architecture separates control and data plane operations typically encapsulated in a conventional wireless controller. Configurations provide a unified split-plane mobility switch that separates the data transport and switching in a separate hardware element, and performs control plane operations via exchanges with a centralized topology, rather than simply by adjacent switches within range. In contrast to conventional switch deployment, in which the same switch handles processing demands of the control plane and the data plane, the disclosed approach separates the data plane processing base by employing a mobility agent to define adjacent switch visibility. Thus, the routing capabilities of the data plane may be enhanced, such as to handle increasingly bandwidth-hungry applications of the same user base, without uprooting the infrastructure defined by the control plane.
US08867504B2

A distributed wide area coverage system is disclosed that effectively expands the coverage area of the local wireless links by combining the signals from local area base stations and routing the combined signal back to the base stations. The base stations provide two-way open wireless communication channels among mobile devices situated within wireless signal coverage area of each of the base stations.
US08867503B2

A system is provided for precoding in a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) joint transmission (JT) system. During operation, the system identifies, at a first base station (BS) of a first cell, a set of regular user equipments (UEs), which are located within the first cell and receive signals from the first BS; and one or more coordinated multipoint (CoMP) UEs, which are located within a second cell and receive signals. The CoMP UEs receive signals from both the first BS and a second BS of the second cell. The system obtains a first channel state information (CSI) associated with the regular UEs, receives a second CSI associated with the CoMP UEs from the second BS, and constructs a local precoder for the first cell in accordance with the first CSI and the second CSI.
US08867499B2

A method for transmitting a signal in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes: allocating a radio resource for transmitting a signal; and transmitting the signal to a destination station by using the radio resource, wherein the radio resource includes a plurality of symbols in a time domain, at least two symbols among the plurality of symbols include a guard time for switching transmission and reception of a signal, and the radio resource includes a partial symbol which is a radio resource other than the guard time in the symbol including the guard time.
US08867497B2

Example methods and apparatus to implement timing advance enhancements for cellular communications are disclosed. A disclosed example method to communicate over a cellular network by a device involves retrieving a stored timing advance value and determining if the stored timing advance value is valid based at least on whether the device is operating in a stationary mode. When the stored timing advance is valid, a contention-based transmission is transmitted to a network using the stored timing advance value in order to compensate for propagation delay.
US08867493B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure support techniques for cooperative beamforming based on inter-cell coordination. Signaling design allows coordinated downlink transmissions with reduced inter-cell interference.
US08867492B2

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for routing data to mobile devices that undergo handovers from one access point to another. In one embodiment, a processor performs operations including receiving a network location of a mobile device from a network agent in communication with the mobile device, updating a mapping table with the network location of the mobile device, receiving a request to transfer a data packet to the mobile device, routing the data packet to the mobile device according to the mapping table, and forwarding the network location to a source of the data packet. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08867473B2

The invention provides a method and system for adaptive point to multipoint wireless communication. The wireless physical layer and the wireless media-access-control (MAC) layer collectively include a set of parameters, which are adaptively modified by a base station controller for communication with a plurality of customer premises equipment. The base station controller adjusts communication with each customer premises equipment individually and adaptively in response to changes in characteristics of communication, including physical characteristics, amount of communication traffic, and nature of application for the communication traffic.
US08867461B2

A method of transmitting or receiving uplink signals in a wireless communication system and an apparatus therefor are provided. In one aspect of the method of transmitting the uplink signals, a base station determines whether each of user equipments uses an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) scheme or a single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) scheme in uplink transmission. Further, the base station transmits scheduling information containing information regarding the determined multiple access scheme to the user equipments, and thus reports a multiplexing scheme to be used by each user equipment. In addition, each user equipment transmits the uplink data to the base station by multiplexing the uplink data by using the OFDMA scheme or the SC-FDMA scheme according to the scheduling information.
US08867446B2

The present invention relates to a terminal which receives signals from a base station, and to a method in which the terminal receives signals from the base station in a distributed antenna system (DAS). The terminal receives, from the base station having a plurality of antennas, control information on one or more active transmission antennas allocated to the terminal, from among the plurality of antennas, and receives signals from the base station via said one or more active transmission antennas.
US08867444B2

A wireless communication system has a transmitting device and a receiving device that perform communication by using a multi-carrier signal, wherein the receiving device includes a quality generating unit generating each piece of receiving quality information on each pilot channel for transmitting each pilot signal, a determining unit determining the number of pilot channels needed in the multi-carrier signal based on the receiving quality information, and a notifying unit transmitting a signal requesting the determined number of pilot channels to the transmitting device, and the transmitting device includes an allocation unit determining allocations of pilot signals in the direction of the time axis and in the direction of the frequency axis, corresponding to a requested number of pilot channels, and a transmitting unit transmitting the multi-carrier signal having the determined pilot signal allocations.
US08867441B2

A wireless apparatus for a multi-carrier system is disclosed. The wireless apparatus comprises; a control channel unit which monitors a control channel transmitted via at least one carrier from among a plurality of carriers; and a data channel unit which transmits or receives data packets to or from a data channel using the resource allocation received from the control channel. The control channel unit monitors the control channel in a plurality of search space in a subframe.
US08867440B2

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus maintains at least one PHR trigger for triggering communication of a PHR for a plurality of component carriers. In addition, the apparatus communicates the PHR for at least one of the component carriers upon the at least one PHR trigger being triggered. The communicated PHR may be an aggregated PHR that includes power headroom information on the PCC and activated SCCs. The communicated PHR may further include an index associating information in the PHR to a corresponding component carrier. The communicated PHR may further include information indicating use of a PUSCH reference for computing the PHR for the at least one of the component carriers on which there is no PUSCH transmission.
US08867439B2

Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate establishing an interface for communications between access points. Where access points operate in a same local or enterprise network, an interface can be established via the local or enterprise network instead of (or in addition to) a wireless operator network. A source access point can determine an address over which to request establishment of the interface based at least in part on an identifier of a target access point. In another example, target access point can determine an address to provide to the source access point for establishing the interface based at least in part on an identifier of the source access point.
US08867432B2

Described embodiments provide a method for processing an uplink signal in a radio unit. A first uplink signal may be received directly from user equipment. The received uplink signal may be delayed using uplink delay information. A second uplink signal may be received indirectly from user equipment through at least one repeater connected to the radio unit. The delayed first uplink signal and the second uplink signal may be combined and transmitted to a digital unit.
US08867428B2

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate packet routing among relay eNBs in a wireless network. Packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer communications from a user equipment (UE) can terminate at a donor evolved Node B (eNB) and vice versa. In this regard, a relay application protocol (RAPP) layer is defined to transport application layer control data among relay eNBs to facilitate appropriate routing. RAPP layer messages can be similar to control messages at other application layers, such as S1-AP, X2, etc., while additionally including a relay UE identifier for routing the messages among relay eNBs. In addition, RAPP layer messages can exclude other parameters normally defined in other application layers to protect security and encryption/decryption details.
US08867426B2

A method and apparatus for providing a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) in a wireless communication system are disclosed. A method for receiving a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system includes obtaining a predetermined system information block (SIB) from a base station (BS), and transmitting an MBMS interest indication message to the base station (BS) only when the predetermined system information block (SIB) is obtained. The predetermined system information block (SIB) includes information related to MBMS continuity.
US08867416B2

A method for controlling a load balance between a CDMA2000 1X EV-DO network and a CDMA2000 1X network is provided. A base station controller (BSC) in the CDMA2000 1X EV-DO network receives a connection request message sent by a terminal, determines that a load of the CDMA2000 1X EV-DO network is higher than a threshold, sends a load query message to a BSC in the CDMA2000 1X network, receives a load query response message indicating that the CDMA2000 1X network is not overloaded from the BSC in the CDMA2000 1X network, and sends a system switchover message to the BSC in the CDMA2000 1X network to instruct the BSC in the CDMA2000 1X network to switch the terminal from the CDMA2000 1X EV-DO network to the CDMA2000 1X network.
US08867414B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique for enabling transmission of sounding reference signals for uplink and downlink scheduling.
US08867411B2

A system and method to determine a type of wireless network that is to be used for an emergency communication session that is initiated at a mobile device. A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) header is modified to introduce an emergency call mode preference (ECMP) field into the header. When a mobile device registers a session with an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the ECMP field is populated by the service provider with information that conveys the preferred network to use when an emergency communication session is initiated by a user of the mobile device. In the event of a subsequent request to start an emergency communication session using the mobile device, the mobile device utilizes the preferred network to establish communication.
US08867396B2

A method for device identification includes determining a mass event has occurred in a wireless network from a reception of a plurality of signals each having a last gasp message, sampling a plurality of mapped zones associated with a base station, identifying which mapped zones are associated with a disconnected endpoint in a zone list, determining a length of time of the mass event, and selectively providing the zone list to identify disconnected endpoints based at least upon the length of time of the mass event. Each mapped zone includes a plurality of wireless device endpoints associated with the mapped zone. The sampling includes determining whether any of a subset of the endpoints associated with the given mapped zone are disconnected from the wireless network.
US08867392B2

Examples are disclosed for handoff of a mobile device moving at a high relative velocity to a plurality of base stations for a wireless network.
US08867388B2

A method and apparatus is provided for distributing content to a plurality of mobile stations using a downlink point-to-multipoint (PTM) bearers and downlink point-to-point (PTP) bearers. A controller can process events, to determine whether a current modulation-and-coding scheme (MCS) level applied to downlink transmissions over the downlink PTM bearer is to be changed or maintained, and to communicate a change message whenever the current MCS level is to be changed. An actuator can adjust, in response to receiving a change message, a MCS level that is applied to downlink transmissions over the downlink PTM bearer.
US08867382B2

The present patent application comprises means, instructions and steps for controlling signal power by allowing a small bit error rate during burst processing comprising setting a transmit signal power granularity to be less than a current level (1210), tracking a power measurement report of at least one remote stations (1220), determining if at least one signal quality indicator has reached an upper threshold (1230), decreasing a downlink signal power if the at least one signal quality indicator reaches an upper threshold (1240), and stopping the decreasing of the downlink signal power (1260) when the at least one quality indicator reaches a lower threshold (1250).
US08867380B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure support techniques for cooperative beamforming based on inter-cell coordination. Signaling design allows coordinated downlink transmissions with reduced inter-cell interference.
US08867379B2

Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a method may include receiving, by a first wireless node in a first wireless network, a request from a second wireless node in a second wireless network to borrow spectral resources from the first wireless network. The method may further include determining a cost of granting the request, the cost being based at least in part on a cost to a lending cell within the first wireless network from which the spectral resources will be borrowed and a cost to neighboring cells of the lending cell. The method may further include lending the spectral resources to the second wireless node based at least in part on the determined cost of granting the request.
US08867373B2

According to one aspect, there is provided a method performed by a communication device for declaring RLF. In some embodiments, the method includes: (1) the communication device establishing a connection with a serving base station; (2) the communication device determining whether to relax a condition for declaring RLF; (3) the communication device using a first rule in declaring an RLF in response to determining that the communication device should not relax the condition; and (4) the communication device using a relaxed rule in declaring an RLF in response to determining that the communication device should relax the condition, wherein the relaxed rule is less stringent than the first rule.
US08867372B2

The invention described herein utilizes devices under test (DUTs) outfitted with stored, predefined test sequences, testers equipped with vector-signal generation (VSG) and vector-signal analysis (VSA) functionality, and novel methods for combining loopback and single-ended test functions in order to obtain higher testing efficiency for DUTs using Bluetooth or other time-division duplex (TDD) based communications.
US08867358B2

In a mobile communication network, data traffic of a certain quality of service class is forwarded in accordance with a traffic forwarding policy associated with this quality of service class, e.g. by establishing dedicated bearers (52, 54). For implementing energy control, an energy control attribute is assigned to the quality of service class. On the basis of the energy control attribute, a data throughput for forwarding the data traffic is limited to a maximum limit. This may be accomplished by using a throughput limiter (150, 250) in one or more nodes (100, 110, 120, 200) participating in the transport of the data traffic.
US08867356B2

A method for communication includes sending a pause frame from a first node to a second node over a communication link between the nodes. In response to the pause frame, one or more data frames are immediately transmitted from the second node to the first node upon receipt of the pause frame at the second node.
US08867352B2

Systems and methods are used to adjust, e.g., reduce, current driving a transmitter, i.e., to reduce transmitter power consumption, based on an actual value of a received signal from received along a cable. For example, this is very beneficial to an Ethernet system where the received signal is attenuated by the lossy cable. In this case, the transmitter power consumption can be lowered during a normal application where data is transmitted and received through the cable.
US08867349B2

In an embodiment, a method is provided for regulating network traffic and virtual private networks. In this method, network traffic transmitted along multiple communication paths is received, and these communication paths are associated with forwarding identifiers. A portion of the forwarding identifiers is identified to match a particular forwarding identifier associated with a particular virtual private network. At the same time, the policy associated with the particular virtual private network is identified. A portion of the network traffic that is associated with the portion of the identified forwarding identifiers can then be regulated based on the policy.
US08867346B2

Data flow analysis and routing processes include monitoring a process of a workflow, intercepting data traffic for data entered for the process, and identifying a communication path of a destination location for the data traffic. The method also includes verifying compliance of the process by applying business rules to the data, and notifying an entity of any non-compliance identified from the verification.
US08867340B2

A source device (10) sends information to a destination device (12) through intermediary network elements (14). If an intermediary network element (14) needs to discard one or more packets of information, it sends a smaller informational packet to the destination device (12). Upon receiving the informational packet, the destination device can immediately begin correctional procedures.
US08867337B2

Techniques for structure-aware caching are provided. The techniques include decomposing a response from an origin server into one or more independently addressable objects, using a domain specific language to navigate the response to identify the one or more addressable objects and create one or more access paths to the one or more objects, and selecting a route to an object by navigating an internal structure of a cached object to discover one or more additional independently addressable objects.
US08867329B2

In one embodiment, a transmitting device may determine a first data frame to a first destination and a second data frame to a second destination, and may assign subcarriers in a non-overlapping arrangement to the first and second data frames. Once assigned, the transmitting device may augment a transmission physical (PHY) header with a destination and tone map tuple for each of the first and second destinations, and transmits the transmission with the first and second data frames simultaneously on the assigned subcarriers.
US08867319B2

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an interval timing device and methods of utilizing the same. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for timing customized interval exercises, having set workout periods and rest periods, over a predetermined number of intervals and methods of utilizing the same. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an interval timing device comprises a housing, a means for starting the interval timing device, at least one graphical user interface for displaying multimedia content, wherein the at least one graphical user interface comprises an exercise hold timer, a rest timer, and a repetition counter.
US08867312B1

A sonar system is provided with the system having comparatively reduced power consumption, data bandwidth and data storage requirements. A sensor array of the system is configured to a sleep mode, low-resolution mode and high-resolution mode. In the sleep mode, all sonar sensors are configured in the mode and no acoustic signals are detected or processed. In the low-resolution mode, a limited number of sonar sensors are powered and acoustic signals received by the sensors are processed with reduced bandwidth and dynamic range, and then stored on a data storage device. In the high-resolution mode, the acoustic signals detected by the sonar sensors are processed with full signal bandwidth and dynamic range and then stored on the data storage device. A 10 bit mu-Law encoding scheme is used to reduce the amplitude scale of measurement or dynamic range of the digitized acoustic signals.
US08867310B1

The transmission method utilizes multiple seismic acquisition units within an array as intermediate short range radio receivers/transmitters to pass collected seismic data in relay fashion back to a control station. Any one seismic unit in the array is capable of transmitting radio signals to several other seismic units positioned within radio range of the transmitting unit, thus allowing the system to select an optimal transmission path. Utilizing an array of seismic units permits transmission routes back to a control station to be varied as needed. In transmissions from the most remote seismic unit to the control station, each unit within a string receives seismic data from other units and transmits the received seismic data along with the receiving unit's locally stored seismic data. Preferably, as a transmission is passed along a chain, it is bounced between seismic units so as to be relayed by each unit in the array.
US08867303B2

An integrated circuit with memory elements is provided. The memory elements may be single-port memory cells that are used to provide multiport memory functionality. The integrated circuit may include an arbitration circuit operable to receive memory access requests from at least first and second request generators. The arbitration circuit may be configured to operate in a synchronous mode and an asynchronous mode. The arbitration circuit operating in the synchronous mode may perform port selection based on a predetermined logic table. The arbitration circuit operating in the asynchronous mode may execute a memory request as soon as it is received by the arbitration circuit. Requests received while a current memory access is being performed may be put on hold until the current memory access has been completed.
US08867302B2

A data input circuit includes a clock sampling unit, a final clock generation unit, and a write latch signal generation unit. The sampling unit is configured to generate a shifting signal including a pulse generated after a write latency is elapsed, and generate a sampling clock by sampling an internal clock during a burst period from substantially a time when the pulse of the shifting signal is generated. The final clock generation unit is configured to generate a level signal by latching the shifting signal in synchronization with the sampling clock and generate a final clock from the level signal in response to a burst signal. The write latch signal generation unit is configured to generate an enable signal by latching the final clock and generate a write latch signal for latching and outputting aligned data in response to the enable signal.
US08867293B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a memory core circuit having memory cells for storing data, a circuit configured to refresh the memory core circuit at a refresh interval, a temperature detecting unit configured to detect temperature, and a control circuit configured to shorten the refresh interval immediately in response to detection of a predetermined temperature rise by the temperature detecting unit and to elongate the refresh interval after refreshing every one of the memory cells at least once in response to detection of a temperature drop by the temperature detecting unit.
US08867292B2

A semiconductor device includes a data memory cell for storing data; a reference data memory cell for storing reference data to be compared with the data; an inverted data memory cell for storing inverted data of the reference data; a sense amplifier unit; and a data output unit. In a first retrieving process, the sense amplifier unit differentially amplifies the data and the reference data, and adjusts an output thereof when a voltage difference between the data and the reference data becomes a predetermined retrievable voltage difference. In a second retrieving process, the sense amplifier unit differentially amplifies the data and the inverted data, and adjusts an output thereof when a voltage difference between the data and the inverted data becomes the predetermined retrievable voltage difference. The data output unit determines and outputs the data according to a result of the first retrieving process and the second retrieving process.
US08867285B2

A data write circuit of a semiconductor apparatus includes a plurality of latches configured to latch a plurality of data in response to activation of a plurality of control signals and output the latched data to data lines; and a control unit configured to generate the plurality of control signals to be activated at different timings, such that partial data input at relatively earlier timing among the plurality of data is latched at earlier timing than the other data by a portion of the plurality of latches.
US08867282B2

A semiconductor apparatus with an open bit line structure includes a memory bank including a plurality of memory cell blocks and dummy mats, in which a plurality of bit lines are formed, a bit line sense amplifier configured to be arranged between the plurality of memory cell blocks and the dummy mats, compare a voltage difference between a bit line and a complementary bit line, and amplify the difference, and a dummy word line driving unit configured to selectively activate a dummy word line of the dummy mat in response to a test mode.
US08867281B2

A hybrid charge pump and control circuit for use in a memory device is disclosed.
US08867278B2

A non-volatile memory device includes a non-volatile memory cell array including a plurality of word lines, a voltage generator configured to generate a first high-voltage using a supply voltage and a second high-voltage using an external voltage which is higher than the supply voltage, and a word line selection circuit configured. The word line selection circuit is configured apply, during a program operation of the memory cell array, the first high-voltage to a selected word line among the plurality of word lines, and the second high-voltage to unselected word lines among the plurality of word lines.
US08867277B2

A first non-selected word line including a word line adjacent to a selected word line is applied with a first write pass voltage. Furthermore, a second non-selected word line which is a non-selected word line excluding the first non-selected word line is applied with a second write pass voltage smaller than a program voltage. A control circuit, in the write operation, raises the first write pass voltage toward a first target value by executing a voltage raising operation having a first voltage rise width, X times, and raises the second write pass voltage toward a second target value by executing a voltage raising operation having a second voltage rise width, Y times. The first voltage rise width is larger than the second voltage rise width, and X times is fewer than Y times.
US08867274B2

A method of operating a nonvolatile memory device includes determining whether a program operation is performed on even memory cells coupled to even bit lines of a selected page, setting a coupling resistance value between odd bit lines of the selected page and page buffers depending on whether the program operation for the even memory cells is performed, performing a program operation on the odd memory cells coupled to the odd bit lines, and coupling the odd bit line to the page buffer based on the set coupling resistance value and performing an verification operation for verifying whether threshold voltages of the odd memory cells on which the program operation is performed are a target voltage or more.
US08867269B2

A semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines, and a control circuit. A first memory cell stores first data of n bits, a second memory cell stores second data used to determine whether data of k bits is stored in the first memory cell, and the control circuit performs first determination of determining data read from the data of the second memory cell, performs second determination of determining data read from the second memory cell by supplying the first word line with a second read voltage different from the first read voltage, and outputs either one of a result obtained by reading the data stored in the first memory cell at the first read voltage and a result obtained by reading the data stored in the first memory cell at the second read voltage, based on a result of the second determination.
US08867265B1

A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a resistive memory cell; a data sensing unit configured to sense an output voltage, formed by a sensing current supplied to the resistive memory cell, based on a reference voltage, and output data having a value corresponding to the sensing result; and a reference voltage generation unit comprising a dummy memory cell including first and second resistors having first and second resistance values, respectively, and configured to output a voltage formed by the sensing current supplied to the dummy memory cell as the reference voltage.
US08867256B2

Ferroelectric memory cell configurations, a system for controlling writing and reading to those configurations and a method for employing those configurations for writing and reading ferroelectric memories are provided. Ferroelectric memory cells according to the disclosed configurations are read without disturbing the stored data, i.e., not requiring any modification of the stored polarization state of the ferroelectric memory cell to read the stored data, thus providing a “non-destructive” reading process. Ferroelectric memory cells are read without requiring that a charge or sense amplifier be a part of the ferroelectric memory cell. Various transistor configurations provide a capability to read a signal effect through a transistor channel as an indication of capacitance of a ferroelectric memory cell polarization state.
US08867253B2

A semiconductor device enabling expansion of a noise margin. For example, in a memory area in which each memory cell MC is coupled to a word line WLA for a first port and a word line WLB for a second port, and a plurality of memory cells MC are disposed in a matrix shape, each word line is disposed in the order of WLA0, WLB0, WLB1, WLA1, WLA2. Further, a pitch d2 between WLA-WLA and between WLB-WLB is made smaller than a pitch d1 between WLA-WLB. As such, the word lines of an identical port are disposed at the pitch d2 on one of both sides of a certain word line and the word lines of different ports are disposed at the pitch d1 on the other.
US08867250B2

A power adapter, including an AC input terminal, an AC-DC power converter, a DC-DC power converter, and an output terminal, wherein the AC-DC power converter and the DC-DC power converter are separate components, and wherein the power AC input terminal, AC-DC power converter, DC-DC power converter and the output terminal are connected sequentially via a plurality of cords.
US08867246B2

A communication device, includes a CMOS type inverter configured to transfer a signal, the signal being transferred and received between an electronic device and a control part able to communicate with the electronic device whose electric power supply is a rechargeable battery; and a regulator configured to generate a regulated voltage, the regulated voltage being formed by decreasing an electric power supply voltage of the electronic device, wherein the regulator includes a depletion type NMOS transistor where a drain is connected to a high electric potential side of the electric power supply voltage and a gate and a source are mutually connected, and a capacitive element having an electrode connected to the source side and another electrode connected to a low electric potential side of the electric power supply voltage, wherein a voltage of the capacitive element is supplied across both ends of the inverter.
US08867241B2

A plant for transmitting electric power through HVDC includes two converter stations interconnected by a monopolar direct voltage network and each having an alternating voltage side for feeding electric power from one of said alternating voltage sides to the other. Each station has a line commutated converter. The plant is upgraded by making the direct voltage network bipolar, providing each station with a Voltage Source Converter and providing two switches for both line commutated converters or both Voltage Source Converters and a device configured to control said four switches.
US08867236B2

A computer system includes an enclosure, at least one cable holder, at least one data storage device, and at least one cable. The at least one cable holder is attached to the enclosure. A guiding space is defined between the at least one cable holder and a bottom wall of the enclosure. The at least one data storage device is installed in the enclosure and located above the at least one cable holder. The at least one cable is received in the guiding space. The at least one cable holder separates the at least one data storage device from the at least one cable thereby preventing the at least one data storage device and the at least one cable from interfering with each other.
US08867226B2

A MMIC having: a substrate; a plurality of active and passive electrical elements disposed on a top surface of the substrate; a plurality of coplanar waveguide transmission line sections disposed on the top surface of the substrate for electrically interconnecting the active and passive electrical elements; an electrical conductor disposed on a bottom surface of the substrate under the coplanar waveguide section. Edges of ground plane conductors of the coplanar waveguide (CPW) sections have slots therein in regions thereof connected to the active and passive devices. The design of such circuit includes mathematical models of the CPW with the pair of local ground planes and the strip conductor thereof have relatively narrow connectable ports.
US08867216B2

An apparatus includes a printed circuit board including a connector footprint comprising a first footprint portion operative to receive a first connector portion and a second footprint portion operative to receive a second connector portion. The first footprint portion is compliant with a first communications link type and the first and second footprint portions are jointly compliant with a second communications link type. The printed circuit board includes first conductive traces coupled to the first footprint portion and a first device footprint. The first conductive traces are selectively configurable according to a selected one of the first and second communications link types. The printed circuit board includes a second conductive traces coupled to the second footprint portion and the first device footprint. In at least one embodiment of the apparatus, the first communications link type is AC-coupled and the second communications link type is DC-coupled.
US08867203B2

A locking device includes a first slide part having a first lock part and configured to be movable, a second slide part having a second lock part and configured to support the first slide part and be movable independently from the first slide part, and a lock arm part configured to be movable in a direction intersecting with the first slide part and the second slide part and engage with the first lock part and the second lock part at a locking position to prevent the first slide part and the second slide part from moving.
US08867199B2

The disclosed invention is a bag and computer combination where the computing unit is in a panel on the front of the bag. The display panel is pivotally attached near the top front of the bag and pivots to cover the computing unit. The display panel may be held in an operating angular position using a fabric flap or free sections on the display panel side edges to suspend the display panel from the bag while an extension on the display panel temporarily sticks to the computing unit panel. Several ways are described to provide access from the computer to the bag interior. As an alternative, the display panel may be pivotally attached in a similar manner directly to the computing unit panel which is attachable to the bag front. In this arrangement the computer is removable and usable on a desk top or on a wall.
US08867197B2

An image forming apparatus includes a first right frame, a first left frame facing the first right frame, a second right frame positioned below the first right frame, a second left frame facing the second right frame and positioned below the second right frame. The image forming apparatus further includes an image forming unit positioned between the first right frame and the first left frame. The image forming apparatus still further includes a frame connecting unit configured to connect the first right frame, the first left frame, the second right frame and the second left frame. The first right frame and the second right frame are relatively slidable in an up-down direction, and the first left frame and the second left frame are relatively slidable in the up-down direction.
US08867195B2

Disclosed herein is an attachment/detachment mechanism for an electronics unit mounted on a casing in an attachable/detachable manner, including: a position-keeping type switch switching between first and second states of the electronics unit; a lever switching between a securing state where the electronics unit is secured to the casing and an attachable/detachable state where the electronics unit is made attachable/detachable to/from the casing; a first restricting member switching between a restricting state where state-switching of the lever is restricted and a permitting state where the state-switching of the lever is permitted; and a second restricting member traveling between a first position where the state-switching of the first restricting member is restricted and the state-switching of the position-keeping type switch is permitted, and a second position where the state-switching of the first restricting member is permitted and the state-switching of the position-keeping type switch from the first state to the second state is restricted.
US08867189B2

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a thin film capacitor involving depositing an electrode layer of conductive material on top of a substrate material, depositing a first layer of ferroelectric material on top of the substrate material using a metal organic deposition or chemical solution deposition process, depositing a second layer of ferroelectric material on top of the first layer using a high temperature sputter process and depositing a metal interconnect layer to provide electric connections to layers of the capacitor.
US08867180B2

An electric circuit, including an electric load operable from an operating current; an energy storage system providing the operating current at both a first mode and a second mode with the first mode having a first current in a first range of zero to a first particular current value and with the second mode having a second current in a second range of the first particular current value to a second particular current value; and an active protection coupled to the energy storage system, the active protection dynamically reconfigurable between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode applying a first overcurrent protection rating to the operating current when the operating current is operating in the first mode and the second mode applying a second overcurrent protection rating to the operating current when the operating current is operating in the second mode.
US08867175B1

A magnetic element may generally be configured as a read head with at least a magnetic stack that contacts at least one magnetic shield. The magnetic shield can be positioned on top of a base lamination and have at least a predetermined anisotropy and magnetic coercivity corresponding to the base lamination.
US08867157B2

The present disclosure relates to a perpendicular pole head for creating a perpendicular magnetic moment in a concentrated pattern for writing the pattern on perpendicular magnetic media, such as BaFe based media. The pole head can have flux concentrators in the shape of the written pattern, which can be repeatedly applied to a moving magnetic medium to create a timing pattern on the media, e.g., a servo timing pattern.
US08867146B2

The imaging lens includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power; and a second lens group having the positive refractive power, the first lens group being fixed with respect to an image plane, the second lens group being moved toward the object side to adjust a focus on a close object, and a given conditional expression being satisfied, thereby disclosing a downsized imaging lens having a wide angle of view, capable of preferably correcting various aberrations upon focusing on a close object from an infinitely distant object and having high optical performance over an entire picture, an optical apparatus including the imaging lens and an imaging lens manufacturing method.
US08867145B2

A compact and lightweight zoom lens system having excellent imaging performance, which is favorably applicable to an interchangeable-lens type digital camera system, is provided. The zoom lens system of the present invention includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive optical power and composed of not more than two lens elements, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having negative optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power. In zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit, the fourth lens unit moves along an optical axis. Further, the following conditions are satisfied: 1.50
US08867141B2

The present invention relates generally to a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall. The meniscus lens may include an arcuate front curve and back curve lens. Some specific embodiments include a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall essentially in the shape of multiple segments of a torus concave from the optical axis. Embodiments may also include a lens of suitable size and shape for inclusion in a contact lens.
US08867137B2

A head-up display device includes an indicator configured to emit a display light, a lower casing to which the indicator is mounted, an upper casing which is mounted to an upper portion of the lower casing, a pair of support portions which are provided on the lower casing and extend toward the upper casing, guide grooves which are formed on the support portions at opposite sides thereof, and a reflective mirror which is inserted and mounted to the lower casing toward a bottom surface of the lower casing while both lateral edges of the reflective mirror are engaged with the guide grooves, to reflect the display light emitted from the indicator and guide the reflected display light to a windshield of a vehicle.
US08867132B2

Thermochromic filters use combinations of absorptive, reflective, thermoabsorptive, and thermoreflective elements covering different portions of the solar spectrum, to achieve different levels of energy savings, throw, shading, visible light transmission, and comfort. Embodiments include stopband filters in the near-infrared spectrum.
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