US08894188B2
A recording head that is configured to eject ink containing tabular particles from nozzles includes pressure chambers, a pressure generating unit that generates pressure change in the pressure chambers, a reservoir that communicates with the pressure chambers, and an ink supply path that connects the pressure chambers and the reservoir, wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed on an inclined surface which is continuous with a wall of the pressure chambers and a wall of the ink supply paths at the boundary between the pressure chambers and the ink supply paths where a flow path cross-sectional area changes, and the plurality of protrusions project into the flow path from the wall surface.
US08894185B2
A liquid ejection head is disclosed that includes piezoelectric elements constituting driving element rows in which plural driving piezoelectric element columns that generate energy for ejecting liquid droplets from nozzles are arranged side by side; a wiring board arranged on the side opposite to a surface in which the nozzles are formed; and two sheets of flexible printed circuits that are provided to correspond to the piezoelectric elements and have output terminal parts connected to the plural driving piezoelectric element columns and input terminal parts connected to the wiring board, the input terminal parts being drawn to the side of the wiring board. The flexible printed circuits are arranged facing each other with their input terminal parts not facing each other, and the input terminal parts of the flexible printed circuits are folded in a direction where the flexible printed circuits face each other and are connected to the wiring board.
US08894181B2
The printing system is a dot matrix-type printer utilizing a liquid ink reservoir. A plurality of pins are disposed within the reservoir, each pin having a lower end and a tapered upper end terminating in a printing tip. In use, the reservoir is held stationary, the liquid ink being contained therein by gravity. A printing substrate, such as a piece of paper, is drawn over an open upper end of the reservoir. A driver selectively vertically translates the plurality of pins, each individual pin being selectively driven independent of the other pins. Each pin is initially positioned so that the lower end thereof is located adjacent a lower wall of the reservoir, and the printing tip is positioned beneath a surface of the ink. A selected pin is translated upwardly so that the printing tip thereof contacts the printing substrate to form an ink dot thereon.
US08894177B2
A pattern forming method that includes forming a pattern for detecting defective discharges of a plurality of ink discharging nozzles and recording a first dot pattern with the plurality of ink discharging nozzles. The pattern forming method also includes recording a second dot pattern to be adjacent to at least one side of the first dot pattern in the predetermined direction.
US08894168B2
A refrigerator having a gap adjuster includes a main body, at least one door to open and close the main body, and the gap adjuster located between the main body and the at least one door such that a length of the gap adjuster is increased or decreased so as to adjust a gap between the main body and the at least one door.
US08894165B2
A coffee pod tray is provided with a housing having a slide extending along opposing sides of the housing. A tray configured to hold a plurality of coffee pods has a side frame with an exterior side frame moving along the slide of the housing. The tray has a limit stop formed by a rivet in a top of the housing so the rivet hits the back of the tray to keep the tray from being removed from the housing.
US08894161B2
A cabinet for holding electronic equipment includes a first rear frame, a second rear frame, and a front frame. The second rear frame is oriented substantially orthogonal to the first rear frame. The front frame is secured to both the first rear frame and the second rear frame. The front frame includes an electronic equipment mounting element for mounting at least one of electronic equipment or a support for holding electronic equipment.
US08894152B2
The invention relates to a vehicle seat (1) with an upper part (5) and a lower part (6) and a frame (4) arranged between them and vertically adjustable by means of at least one fluid spring (11) capable of being retracted and extended, wherein a component (17) with at least one element (24) of resilient material for the damping of vibrating movements of the vehicle seat (1) is provided, wherein the component (17) is connected to a first end (20) of the fluid spring (11) and the upper part (5) of the seat or the lower part (6) of the seat.
US08894150B2
Chair comprising, a base structure bearing a seat, a tilting backrest, and at least one joint which connects the backrest to the base structure and allows a movement of the backrest between a rest position and a backward tilted position under a backwards push applied by the user, wherein said joint comprises a first and a second curved component with a circular profile coupled together in a telescopic manner and fixed to the base structure or to the seat and, respectively, to the backrest.
US08894148B2
I came up with the idea of the “Three-in-One Car Seat” because of the benefits and convenience for both parents and children. Now parents do not need to carry a car seat, a potty, and a booster seat when on the go. Some of the benefits of this car seat includes: keeping your child on track during potty training, safe from dangerous germs and bacteria (such as e-coli) found in public restrooms, as well as the convenience of having a potty ready for your child whenever he/she needs it, because everything needed can now be housed in one unit. It also comes in a handy for older kids too. This car seat takes a child from car seat, booster seat, potty training and beyond!
US08894142B2
An active headrest adapted for use with a rear seat, including a translatable, conformable, or otherwise reconfigurable shell, an active material actuator disposed within and drivenly coupled to the shell, and preferably including a linkage system fixedly coupled to the seat and/or shell, wherein the actuator is operable to cause the headrest to achieve one of a plurality of achievable positions.
US08894137B2
Open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof assembly with a panel and a mechanism for closing and opening a roof opening. The moving mechanism comprises two stationary guides extending at least partly in a non-parallel manner along opposite longitudinal edges of the roof opening and two pivot arms each having a first end movably attached to the panel and a second end connected to one of the stationary guides. Each pivot arm is provided with at least one guide member, whereas the movable panel comprises at least two guide parts along which the guide members will move when the respective pivot arms pivot around a respective pivot axis. The shape of said guide parts is such that as a result of the cooperation between corresponding guide members and guide parts the movable panel may be moved in a vertical and/or horizontal direction.
US08894123B1
A pick-up truck cargo bed material transport support system for the transportation of large panel material and the like within the cargo bed of a pick-up truck. An adjustable support rack is removably positioned within the cargo bed of a pick-up truck rearwardly of the rear wheel wells having multiple pivoted linkage arm support assembly extending onto the lowered tailgate of the cargo bed when in use. The support rack is collapsible when not in deployed use and combined with a secondary cross bed support beam positioned forward of the rear wheel wells provides a unique support material engagement system within the cargo bed for large panel-like or associated loads.
US08894116B2
A gripper of a robot for assembling a vehicle is provided, including: a gripper body that extends vertically; a lower grip that bends forward from a lower end of the gripper body and supports a lower end of an assembly object; an upper grip that is hinged at a rear end to an upper end of the gripper body and grips an upper end of the assembly object when rotating forward by extending forward at a front end of the upper grip; a seat that extends and bends rearward from the upper end of the gripper body; a link assembly that is composed of a first link and a second link that connect an upper end of the seat and the upper grip via the link assembly; and a driving unit that rotates the upper grip forward or rearward by transmitting a driving force to the link assembly.
US08894115B2
A method of handling a generally cylindrical conduit includes positioning a lift cylinder within the generally cylindrical conduit. The lift cylinder includes an inflatable bag, an inflation port, and an attachment point. The method also includes connecting a fluid source to the inflation port, inflating the inflatable bag with the fluid source such that an outer surface of the inflatable bag engages an inner surface of the generally cylindrical conduit, connecting a winch to the attachment point, and moving the lift cylinder and the generally cylindrical conduit with the winch.
US08894113B2
A robot hand is provided. The robot hand includes a plurality of holding parts provided to be holdable of a plurality of workpieces, respectively, and a pneumatic drive for protruding one of the holding parts, when the holding part holds one of the workpieces, toward the workpiece with respect to one or more remaining holding parts by pneumatic pressure.
US08894112B2
An attachment to a shovel having a shovel head and a handle is provided, converting the shovel into a tool for collecting debris. The attachment has a clamping head and a pivot arm shorter than the shovel handle, and a pivot for attaching the attachment to the shovel handle. The attachment is movable between a closed position when the shovel head and the clamping head are juxtaposed face to face forming a tunnel therebetween, and an open position when the shovel head and the clamping head are spaced apart. In operation, the clamping head is moved into an open position to collect debris, and then moved into a closed position towards the shovel head to secure the debris, followed by rotating the tool by 90° plus an offset angle, thereby causing the clamping head to open under its weight and the debris to fall through the tunnel.
US08894105B2
The invention relates to a vehicle door lock having a rotary latch arrangement for locking doors of motor vehicles, in particular for tractors, having two rotatably mounted rotary latches, wherein for each rotary latch, provision is made of in each case one locking element which interacts therewith, which locking elements can interact with the rotary latches so as to lock the lock, and also having an actuating lever (35) by means of which the locking elements can be actuated so as to release the locking action, wherein the actuating lever (35) can be actuated from a first side of the lock (1) by being pressed, wherein the vehicle door lock (1) has an inside release lever (51) which can be actuated directly from an opposite side by being pressed, and wherein the actuating lever (35) can be driven by means of the inside release lever (51).
US08894101B2
A pipe connection includes a tubular box having an internal threaded section extending from a rim, and a nose receptacle area joining the threaded section. A box seal surface is formed on the nose receptacle area. A tubular pin has a nose area extending from a pin end, and an external threaded section joining the nose area, the external threaded section mating with the internal threaded section. An annular groove is formed on the nose area between the pin end and the external threaded section. A pin seal surface is located at least partially in the groove for engaging the box seal surface to form a metal to metal sealing engagement.
US08894097B2
An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle has at least two components and at least one locking device. The components can be adjusted in the position thereof relative to each other along an adjustment path in an open position of the locking device and are locked in the position thereof relative to each other in a closed position of the locking device. A stop element is arranged at least a first of the components such that the stop element limits the adjustment path and can be detached from the first of the components when a force value is exceeded. The adjustable steering column has a tool which can be inserted between the stop element and the first of the components in order to detach the stop element.
US08894094B2
An airbag assembly may include an inflatable curtain airbag with a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The inflatable curtain may have a first protection zone and a second protection zone that inflates forward of the first protection zone to provide enhanced protection. The second protection zone may be double-folded against the first protection zone so that, during deployment, the second protection zone pivots to unfold relative to the first protection zone. The airbag assembly may have a restraint member in the form of a forward tether or a first tether secured to the forward tether such that the restraint member exerts outboard force on the second protection zone during deployment to help control deployment of the second protection zone. Portions of the first and second protection zones may be fold-over sewn together to control the angle at which the second protection zone unfolds relative to the first protection zone.
US08894093B2
An airbag cover for a vehicle that includes an airbag cover body that has a tear line to allow the airbag cover body to be torn off when an airbag cushion is deployed, and a bezel ring coupled to the airbag cover body. The airbag cover includes a plurality of separating protrusions having first and second separating protrusions that are formed on the bezel ring to be spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the bezel ring and to be adjacent to each other. In addition, the separating protrusions have third and fourth separating protrusions adjacent to each other at a position facing the first and second separating protrusions. The separating protrusions include first to fourth separating protrusion insertion apertures that are formed within the airbag cover body to allow the first to fourth separating protrusions to be inserted therein.
US08894091B2
A stroller includes: a first stroller component; a second stroller component comprising a child receiving portion; a drive mechanism operatively engaged with at least one of the first and second stroller components to move the at least one of the first and second stroller components from a first position to a second position; and an object sensor operably coupled to the child receiving portion. The object sensor provides a signal that prevents movement of the first and second stroller components from the first position to the second position if the object sensor detects the presence of an object in the child receiving portion.
US08894087B2
The present invention provides a front unit (10) for a sliding board binding, comprising first engagement means of a first binding system (12) for fixing a front sole portion of a sliding board boot in a downhill position and second engagement means of a second binding system (14), the second engagement means having separate bearing means (34L, 34R) from the first engagement means, for pivotably mounting a sliding board boot about an axis (Q) extending transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) of the sliding board.
US08894078B2
A juvenile walker includes a rolling base and a child restraint coupled to the rolling base to move therewith. The child restraint is adapted to support a child using the juvenile walker. The rolling base includes a lift carrier and a child-restraint lift coupled to both the child restraint and the lift carrier to vary a height of the child restraint above ground.
US08894065B2
The present invention provide a printing apparatus and a method for conveying a sheet wherein generation of noise is minimized using a simple configuration, wherein, during sheet discharging, a sheet is discharged at a speed suitable for the sheet discharging, and wherein the sheet is aligned at a sheet discharging position. The printing apparatus controls conveyance of sheets as follows. A first sheet and a second sheet fed subsequently to the first sheet are conveyed at a relatively low conveying speed until an upstream trailing end of the first sheet is placed at a sheet discharging standby position. Then, the first sheet is discharged to the sheet discharging position, and the first sheet and the second sheet are conveyed at a relatively low conveying speed until a downstream leading end of the second sheet is placed at a sheet feeding control position.
US08894059B2
A sheet feeding device comprises a structure as an option, on which an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus having a lower face with a positioning depression is placed. The structure includes a mounting member, a reinforcement member and a positioning pin. The mounting member is located to face to a periphery of the lower face. The reinforcement member is located below the mounting member. The positioning pin includes an upper part having a guard part and a lower part. The pin penetrates the mounting member so that the upper part can fit in the positioning depression and the lower part can come into contact with the reinforcement member. When the apparatus main body is placed, the upper part fits in the positioning depression, the guard part comes into contact with an edge of the positioning depression and the lower part comes into contact with the reinforcement member.
US08894058B2
A sheet feeder including a sheet container on which sheets are placed, a transfer roller to transfer the sheets to an image forming unit via a transfer path; a friction pad to transfer the sheets together with the transfer roller; and a movable portion provided on the transfer path to alter a direction of the transfer path based on the sheets.
US08894052B2
Method and arrangement for oscillation isolation by means of an air bearing. The electropneumatic valves (4) for the compressed-air supply to the air bearing are subjected to a dither signal. This causes additional vibration of the mass 1 to be isolated. A compensation signal transmitter (12) ensures that additional vibration of the mass (1) is suppressed, by controlling actuators (10). Overall, hysteresis effects are avoided in the control of the compressed-air flow.
US08894051B2
Disclosed is a liquid-sealed vibration isolator (10) provided with a main liquid chamber (42), a portion of the chamber wall of which is formed from a vibration isolating base (16), a subsidiary liquid chamber (44), a portion of the chamber wall of which is formed from a first diaphragm (38), and a first orifice flow path (50) which connects both liquid chambers, wherein a high-frequency second orifice flow path (54) which connects the main liquid chamber (42) and the subsidiary liquid chamber (44) is formed on a partitioning body (40), and a second diaphragm (60) is provided on the opening (59A) of the second orifice flow path (54) on the side of the main liquid chamber. The outer peripheral portion (60A) of the second diaphragm is held by the partitioning body (40) in a liquid-tight manner, and the second diaphragm (60) abuts the peripheral edge portion of the opening (54A) so as to block said opening with a flexible membrane section (60B) which is provided on the inside of the second diaphragm (60). Moreover, a through hole (74) is disposed on the flexible membrane section (60B) at a position which does not overlap the opening (54A).
US08894044B2
Dispensing devices are disclosed that include a base, a reservoir that has a volatile active, and a housing. The housing includes a horizontal component and a vertical wall extending upwardly from the horizontal component. The horizontal component and the vertical wall define an interior volume of the housing. An activator is operatively connected to the reservoir. When the activator is activated, the volatile active is released from the reservoir into the interior volume of the housing to create a first quantity of volatile active having a first emanation rate and a second quantity of volatile active having a second emanation rate.
US08894040B2
Presented is a trailer tongue lift jack which tilts in order to allow the tongue and hitch to be aligned with a towing ball attached to a towing vehicle. The trailer lift jack includes a ball joint which allows the body of the hitch to tilt for this alignment step. The lift jack can also rotate to a storage position which is basically horizontal, and rotate to a lift position which is basically vertical for lifting the trailer tongue.
US08894039B2
An air driven actuator (100) uses oppositely disposed reciprocating air drivers (122, 124) to cause a single ratchet (146) to rotate via a drive plate (150) and a pawl (170). The ratchet (146) rotates a drive tube (144) that can further extend or retract landing gear on a semi-trailer.
US08894038B2
A trailer jack having a low profile which will not interfere with opening of a towing vehicle's tailgate. The jack has tubes telescopically contained within each other. A threaded rod has a threaded tube slidingly placed over it. The threaded tube has slots and a pin in the threaded rod slides within the slots for synchronous rotation. This provides even extension and retractions for the telescoping tubes relative to each other. The jack has a low profile that extends above the trailer tongue a minimal amount when the jack is extended. When the jack is retracted, no parts of the jack are raised above the tongue. Thus, the tailgate of the towing vehicle may be operated without hitting any part of the jack.
US08894036B2
A hydraulic control valve actuated by a diaphragm's integral spring whose thicker part acts with greater force to close the diaphragm and plug unit of the valve and whose thinner part may complete the closing motion so that the integral spring may weaken faster than linearly in relation to displacement of the diaphragm and plug unit. A snap seat supporting the plug may include a seat portion and a grip skirt portion integrally joined at an acute angle. A bracket and sliding guide may guide a helical rotor touching an indicator. Movement of the diaphragm and plug unit may rotate the helical rotor and the indicator without the indicator rising out of the valve. The cover may have an internal control passage in communication with a base of the valve to allow the cover to be installed horizontally and vertically conveniently and without disconnecting the control tubing above the valve.
US08894027B2
Various methods and devices involving reprographic copy stands are described. A reprographic copy stand may include a first support element configured to support a first cover of a book at a first plurality of angles. The reprographic copy stand may also include a second support element configured to support a second configured to support a second cover of the book at a second plurality of angles. The reprographic copy stand may include a platform configured to couple with the first support element at a first plurality of positions and the second support element at a second plurality of positions. The distance between the support elements may be variable according to the position of the first support selected from the first plurality of positions and the position of the second support selected from the second plurality of positions such that a plurality of book binding thicknesses are accommodated by the distance.
US08894025B2
A multi-position adjustable height seat post comprises an inner tube, an outer tube, a locking assembly, a triggering device, a first extending element, and a second extending element disposed between the tubes. The locking assembly comprises an actuating unit, a plurality of parallel grooves located in the outer tube, a plurality of spherical detent elements located, in the grooves, and a plurality of spherical elements located in the inner tube. The triggering device connects to the actuating unit. The first extending element constantly pushes the to actuating unit moving in a first direction. The second extending element disposes between the tubes. Once the triggering device is triggered, the actuating unit moves in a second direction contrary to the first direction and makes the spherical elements to move inward laterally to let the inner tube and outer tube move relative to each other freely.
US08894021B1
A cable support is disclosed. The cable support may comprise a mount, a drive support, a strap, and a drive block. The drive support and the strap may be connected to the mount. The drive block may be connected to the drive support and the strap. A cable support may comprise a body having a through hole, a plurality of compression segments, and a spreader. The plurality of compression segments may be located at least partially within the body and may be sized to receive a wire. The spreader may be located between the plurality of compression segments.
US08894020B2
A Block Module for controlling a model railroad layout, the layout being subdivided into a plurality of block districts with each block district represented by one or more of the Block Modules, is a programmable processor having inputs for receiving serial data in a loop from other Block Modules and transmitting the serial data to other Block Modules, as well as inputs for receiving data from elements in the layout and information from other Block Modules and outputs for controlling elements in the layout and communication with other Block Modules. One of the Block Modules in the loop is designated as a Master Block Control Module, and the Block Modules respond to commands transmitted from the Master Block Control Module, to commands manually entered at the block district level, and to communications from related Block Modules to control the layout on a distributed basis.
US08894018B2
This invention discloses a method to break down, destabilize, or destroy an in flight wake vortex shed from an aircraft's wing. The wingtip has a winglet mounted to an extremity of the wing, and means for actuating displacement of the winglet relative to the wing. The winglet is displaced from a stationary position, in which the in flight wake vortex is stable, to a continuous moving condition, in which the winglet is displaced to a secondary temporary stationary position, remote from the initial stationary position, and having any angle relative to a plane extending through a vertical, longitudinal, or lateral axis of the aircraft to alter the winglet's angle of attack, and persisting in the moving condition as long as required to break down, destabilize or destroy the in flight wake vortex. The invention includes a wingtip arrangement for use in the method and an aircraft including the wingtip arrangement.
US08894017B1
Extensible solar arrays configured to support one or more rollable solar panel units and that feature yoke segments and array segments that are configured to be stowed with their long axes substantially parallel to a spacecraft's roll axis. The yoke segments and array segments may be transitioned to a deployed configuration where the yoke segments are substantially perpendicular to the position the yoke segments were in in the stowed configuration, and the array segments are substantially perpendicular to the yoke segments. Some implementations of the extensible solar arrays may also include a rigid solar panel supported by one of the yoke segments.
US08894012B2
An aircraft nacelle includes, on its outside surface, at least one opening that is blocked by at least one movable part (16) that is kept in closed position by at least one locking mechanism that connects the movable part (16) to another part of the nacelle (16′), characterized in that it includes an anchoring point (32) on one of the two parts (16′) that are to be connected, and a detachable link (34) that is connected to a traction element (36) that is integral with the other part (16) that is to be connected.
US08894007B2
A canister system for a folding aircraft may include a canister housing and a launch mechanism powered by one or more compression springs. A hand-operated drive mechanism may rotate a plurality of threaded rods to drive the launch mechanism from a released position to a cocked position, in which mechanical energy is stored in the springs. A latch mechanism may capture the launch mechanism in the cocked position. The canister may include a housing for receiving and storing the aircraft when the launch mechanism is in the cocked position. A trigger mechanism may release the latch mechanism, permitting the energy stored in the compressed springs to drive the launch mechanism toward the released position and propel the aircraft from the housing at launch velocity.
US08894006B2
A man-portable unmanned aerial system launcher (UAS) launcher includes a rail assembly having an internal track and a carriage assembly having a base configured to translate within the internal track. The carriage assembly also includes a cradle configured to support a UAS and a bracket configured to support the cradle above the base. The UAS launcher includes a launch control system configured to secure the carriage assembly in the launch-ready position until the launch control system receives a launch signal. The UAS launcher also includes one or more elastic members configured to engage the carriage assembly and the rail assembly. Once the carriage assembly is translated to the launch-ready position, strain is applied to the carriage assembly by the one or more elastic members. Release of the carriage assembly enables force generated by strain of the elastic members to propel the carriage assembly toward a launch position.
US08894003B2
An air vehicle is provided, including a body having a longitudinal axis, a wing arrangement rotatably mounted to the body with respect to the longitudinal axis, a direction control arrangement for controlling the direction of motion of the body, and an actuation mechanism operable for selectively and controllably rotating the wing arrangement with respect to the body through at least a desired first angular displacement about the longitudinal axis. Methods for operating air vehicles are also provided.
US08894001B2
A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.
US08894000B2
A cord winder device that may be used to shorten the length of a pull cord that hangs from a window covering, such that it can adjust the exposed length of window blinds. The cord winder device includes a spindle and sides that overlap the spindle. A cord hanging from the window covering may be wound around the spindle so that the length of the cord is reduced. Reducing the height of the cord may keep the cord out of reach of children and prevent injury. The sides of the spindle may have slots to secure the cord to the cord winder device after it is wound around the spindle.
US08893991B2
A hand-held, electrostatically- and/or compressed gas-aided coating material dispensing device comprises a barrel and a handle extending downward from the barrel. The handle includes a module selected from modules having a number of different characteristics for coupling sources of coating material, compressed gas and/or electrical supply to the coating material dispensing device.
US08893986B2
An adjustable spray nozzle with adjustable arc of coverage as well as spray elevation angle and flow rate. A very simple adjustable arc of coverage spray nozzle configuration is also disclosed which may be easily assembled for a particular precipitation rate and/or range of coverage at a selected nominal pressure. Also disclosed is a simple fixed arc of coverage spray nozzle with selectable ranges for a particular precipitation rate.
US08893982B2
A rail support block assembly includes a resilient member and a molded block having a top, a bottom and peripheral wall. The block is adapted for fastening one or more rails on the top. The prefabricated resilient member has an outer tray and inner tray arranged within the outer tray, and includes a resilient intermediate structure between the trays. The block is molded in a block mold into with the moldable material is introduced and allowed to harden. The block is fixed in the inner tray to extend under the bottom of the block and along a lower region of the peripheral wall. The resilient member may form a part of the block mold, so that a mold member combined with the resilient member delimit the mold for the block. The moldable material is introduced and adheres directly to the inner tray of the prefabricated resilient member.
US08893979B2
A thermo-element having incorporated in a case a heat expansion body which expands and contracts according to a change in temperature includes: a piston disposed along the axis direction within the case, protruding outward from the opening on one end side of the case, and advancing and receding as the hear expansion body expands and contracts; a guide member disposed within the case and which slidably holds the piston; and a first valve element fitted to an outside portion of the case, in the side of the case, and opening and closing a fluid flow path. A fit-in section of the first valve element and insertion sections of the guide member inserted within the case are displaced from each other in the axis direction and the radial direction of the case.
US08893976B1
A tamper-resistant electronic system includes a destructible vinyl (DV) substrate having conductive wiring disposed on a first surface of the DV substrate. An RFID device has pins mechanically and electrically connected to the wiring on the first surface of the DV substrate. A plate has a first surface, and a portion of the first surface of the plate is adhered to a portion of the first surface of the DV substrate. The plate has a cavity that encompasses the RFID device. A backing is adhered to a second surface of the plate opposite the first surface of the plate.
US08893970B2
Provided is a method for reading a code from a container of a medicinal substance and printing a label for the container. The method includes reading a machine readable code associated with a container for storing a medicinal drug. The machine readable code includes an identification information of the medicinal drug. The method also for determining a useful life of the medicinal drug based on a time at which the container for storing the medicinal drug was initially accessed and encoding a label content including the useful life of the medicinal drug. The method also includes printing a label including the label content including the useful life of the medicinal drug.
US08893964B2
Unauthorized copying of a transaction barcode is prevented by including a sensed condition or other publicly-accessible data with the transaction barcode for use as a comparison with the publicly accessible data determined at a barcode reader. If the sensed condition included in the transaction barcode indicates that the transaction barcode was generated for a different transaction, then the barcode reader invalidates the transaction. For instance, if the barcode was generated too distant in time, position, or sequential transactions, then the barcode reader invalidates the transaction barcode as an unauthorized copy of a transaction barcode generated for a different transaction.
US08893962B2
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records corresponding to authorized user or financial account data. The automated banking machine includes a card reader for reading data from user cards. The automated banking machine causes financial transfers related to financial accounts that correspond to data read from user cards. The automated banking machine also includes devices that control the supply of power to transaction function devices such as the card reader to avoid exceeding power supply capacity.
US08893961B2
A computerized method for generating a time-limited number for use in a payment card transaction involving a payment card issued by a financial institution. The payment card comprises an original payment card number. A first plurality of digits of the original payment card number is provided to a processor. The first plurality of digits are predetermined digits associated to the financial institution. A desired expiration date through which the time-limited number is valid for acceptance in the payment card transaction is provided to the processor. A program is executed by the processor to set a first plurality of digits in the time-limited number to the first plurality of digits in the original payment card number, generate a first number corresponding to the desired expiration date, set a second plurality of digits in the time-limited number to the first number, and output the time-limited number.
US08893958B1
Systems and methods are provided for managing sales tax information. The information may be generated, for example, in connection with transactions involving financial accounts, such as a credit card account. The sales tax information may be received electronically from, for example, a merchant or a point of sale device. A determination may be made whether there is any missing sales tax information. If there is missing information a request may be generated and sent to a source having the information. The source may receive the request, retrieve the desired information, and transmit it to the requesting entity. The sales tax information may be stored and later retrieved for presentation to a user, such as the account holder. The account holder may use the information in completing a tax return.
US08893952B2
Devices and methods for assembling co-planar electrical contacts in a connector are provided herein. In one aspect, an exemplary method of assembly comprises depositing solder in a connector plug enclosure, positioning electrical contacts on the solder deposits, advancing the hotbar toward the enclosure contacting each of the electrical contacts so as to planarize a top surface of each of the electrical contacts with the enclosure and melting the solder with the heated hotbar to solder the electrical contacts to the enclosure. In one aspect, an exemplary hotbar device includes a magnet for releasably coupling the electrical contacts to the hotbar. In another aspect, the hotbar includes metallic portions for heating the electrical contacts and insulated ceramic portions for contacting the enclosure. In another aspect, an electrically conductive hotbar includes side portions that extend away from the bottom heating surface facilitating more uniform current flow through the hotbar.
US08893949B2
A surgical instrument can include an anvil and, in addition, a staple cartridge support configured to support a staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the jaw can be moved toward the staple cartridge to deform staples contained within the staple cartridge. The anvil can be configured to be translated and/or rotated as the anvil is moved toward the staple cartridge. In certain embodiments, the anvil can be configured to float and adjust such that the anvil is moved downwardly in a level manner.
US08893947B2
An apparatus for placement into an opening formed in a wall of a body lumen to deploy a closure element. The apparatus comprising a housing having a handle portion formed at a distal end, the handle portion configured to be engaged by a user when advancing the housing to deploy the closure element. A locator assembly and a carrier assembly are at least partially received in the housing. The locator assembly can have a distal end that contains notches or a shaped edge which are designed to help prevent the misfiring of the tines of the closure element. A triggering system cooperates with the locator assembly and is moveable toward the one or more expansion members of the locator assembly upon the locator control system being operated to expand the one or more expansion members.
US08893939B2
The present invention relates to a trailer hitch storage apparatus for storing a trailer hitch on a trailer having a frame. The apparatus includes a trailer hitch receptacle shaped to receive the trailer hitch. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced-apart side plates. The side plates have first ends. At least one of the first ends of the side plates is connected to the trailer hitch receptacle. The side plates have second ends opposite the first ends which extend outwards from the trailer hitch receptacle. The side plates are configured to receive the frame of the trailer between the side plates. The apparatus includes a connector connected to the side plates near the second ends of the side plates. The connector is extendable between the side plates for fixedly securing the frame of the trailer.
US08893937B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a multiple mode portable wheeled backpack includes: a backpack section and an extended trailing section that is removably coupled to the backpack section, wherein the extended trailing section includes a plurality of wheels.
US08893934B2
A cap shaper has contact-members adapted for supporting and shaping a cap from its inside; The cap shaper is elastically deformable under external forces, and maintains a generally larger contact-members' collective-outline dimension than that of the cap inside when free from external forces; When placed inside the cap the cap shaper deforms under the confines of the smaller cap inside due to the contact forces exerted to the contact-members from the contacted cap regions, displacing the contact-members, resulting cap shaper internal elastic tension and tendency to expand and substantially self-adapt for the contact-members to contact and fit in with the cap regions of contact, accommodating minor cap size and shape variations, counter balancing the contact forces and maintaining the tensioned contact to shape the cap.
US08893910B2
A “no profile” electrical box, integrated flange/protective assembly and interchangeable cover that obscures standard electrical outlets such that a wall surface appears nearly continuous, uninterrupted by the outlet or cover when in use or not in use. The profile of the combined unit equals only the thickness of the material from which it is constructed; no hinges, screws or fasteners of any kind are visible and no part of the assembly requires detachment or storage when the outlet is in use, as the hinged cover is undetectably stored in the electrical box, or may be used to cover the electrical cords when engaged in the outlet. Exemplary embodiments of the cover obscure the electrical outlet. Together, the electrical box and flange assembly allow the electrical outlet to be flush mounted or recessed interchangeably, even after installation.
US08893908B2
Extrusion blow mold assemblies, extrusion blow molded articles exhibiting increased strength and enhanced processability, and processes for making said articles. In some aspects, the articles produced herein can include relatively rigid bottles and other containers that exhibit high drop impact performance, while still being relatively easy to deflash. Such containers can be efficiently produced on a commercial scale and are widely usable in a variety of applications, including those in the food, beverage, cosmetic, and medical industries.
US08893904B2
The present invention provides a crane with an automatic counterweight balancing device and a method of arranging counterweight thereof. The crane includes a main body and a counterweight device mounted to the main body. The counterweight device includes first and second magnetic field generators and first and second permanent magnetic counterweight blocks. The crane uses a combined arrangement of the magnetic field generators, the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks, an electrical control device, and a transducer device to detect, in a real time manner, output torques of servo motors, whereby when the output torques are not equal to rating torques, magnetic field intensities are varied to change downward magnetic forces acting on the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks thereby regulating loading of the servo motors and thus regulating the output torques of the servo motors to effect automatic balancing of counterweight and improve stability of the crane during a conveyance process.
US08893892B2
An apparatus and a method for removing unburned carbon from fly ash capable of suppressing facility cost and stably conducting performance adjustment depending on property of the fly ash. The method comprises the steps of: adding water to fly ash to produce slurry; adding collector to the slurry, feeding the slurry and the collector to a static-type mixer 4, a venturi pipe 24 or the like to add shearing force to them; adding frother to them to generate air bubbles; and adhering unburned carbon of the fly ash to the air bubbles to raise the unburned carbon. The frother and air can be fed to the static-type mixer or the like together with the slurry and the collector. Depending on the change in property of the fly ash, the number of the static-type mixers or the like used in series can be increased or decreased, and depending on required capacity, the number of the static-type mixers or the like used in parallel may be increased or decreased. The static-type mixer may comprise a guide vane chamber 4b with plurality of guide vanes 4d for converting the slurry and the like, which are fed to the chamber, to spiral flow, and a current cutter chamber 4c with plurality of mushroom-shaped projections 4e for adding shearing force to the slurry and the like.
US08893889B2
A shipping container system comprises a bottom panel, a plurality of side panels, and a top panel, each with interlocking features. The side panels interlock with the bottom panel to assemble a self-supporting shipping container. A plurality of horizontally oriented slots are formed in an opposing pair of the side panels, and arranged at different heights between the bottom panel and a top edge of the side panels. A cross member is positioned at a selected height by insertion into an opposing pair of the slots, in order to restrain one or more shipping units against vertical motion inside the shipping container. The top panel interlocks with the side panels to cover the shipping container, and is spaced above the plurality of shipping units at a clearance maintained by the cross member.
US08893869B2
A clutch actuator for vehicles may include a lever lift engaged to a power generation unit so that the lever lift may be linearly moved by power generated from the power generation unit, wherein the lever lift includes an inclined surface provided on each of first and second ends thereof, and a lever provided between the lever lift and an actuating member that operates a diaphragm spring, wherein the lever includes lift protrusions formed at positions corresponding to respective inclined surfaces and contacting thereto, and wherein the lever may be configured such that when the lever lift linearly moves in a predetermined direction, the lift protrusions move along corresponding inclined surfaces, so that opposite ends of the lever pivotally rotate, whereby one of the opposite ends of the lever moves towards the actuating member.
US08893864B2
A frequency unit valve is provided. In the frequency valve, a free piston reciprocates within a housing where a sub-valve is mounted in a lower portion. Variable frequency units installed above and under the free piston provide a damping characteristic by selectively opening or closing a passage when a frequency of a piston rod is in a high-frequency region and a low-frequency region. Accordingly, the vehicle ride comfort is maximally improved.
US08893863B2
A vehicle braking system reduces particulate emissions resulting from wear of the brake pad and rotor during stopping or slowing of a vehicle. The rotor includes at least one friction surface, that has an outer coating of a corrosion and wear-resistant material. This outer coating can optionally include a first layer comprising a crystalline material and a second layer overlaying and contacting the first layer and comprising an amorphous material. The first layer and the second layer can optionally have an inter-layer period of less than 10 nm such that the structure of the outer coating is that of a superlattice. A brake member that includes a friction material is mounted to a caliper on the vehicle with the friction material disposed opposite the at least one friction surface so that the friction material reversibly engages with the outer coating of the corrosion and wear-resistant material when the braking system is operated to stop or slow the vehicle. Contact between the friction material and the outer coating results in substantially reduced conversion of the friction material to dust while producing an improved coefficient of friction relative to standard braking systems. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US08893856B2
A generator having an integral oil tank for an auxiliary power unit (APU) is provided. A gas turbine engine has a turbine shaft extending from an aft portion to a forward portion where it is in communication with a gear box mounted thereto. The gearbox advantageously has at least one oil gravity drain passage in flow communication with a lower portion thereof and is suitable for reducing the speed of the turbine shaft by gear reduction to power an oil cooled generator attached thereto. The oil cooled generator has at least one oil gravity drain passage therein. An engine oil tank is integral with and advantageously removable from the generator and is in flow communication with each oil gravity drain passage making is suitable for gravity scavenging oil from the generator and advantageously the gearbox.
US08893835B2
An engine room layout using a wind flux concentration guiding device, may include an intake system having an air intake, a turbocharger, and an intercooler, and may be disposed in an engine room, a cooling module having a condenser and a radiator, a main duct that introduces wind passing through a front end part forming the front of the engine room and discharges the wind to the air intake and the intercooler, a sub-duct that introduces the wind passing through the front end part from different positions and discharges the wind to the intercooler, and a diverging duct that may be connected to a wind channel of the main duct to diverge some of the wind introduced into the main duct before the wind passes out of the main duct, and send the wind to the air intake.
US08893834B2
The present disclosure concerns an airflow baffle system and sealing system which effectively seals an articulating hood, such as for a wheel loader, for more efficient routing of cooling air and exhaust air. The articulating hood may have multiple hinges connecting the hood to the motor vehicle. For example, a rear hinge or set of hinges may allow upward and rearward rotation of the entire hood, while a second set of hinges atop the hood may allow for upward and forward rotation of only a portion of the hood when quicker access to only a portion of the engine compartment is required.
US08893831B2
A swather tractor has a pair of driven ground wheels at one end where a header is supported and a pair of steerable wheels at the other end for supporting the tractor. The driven ground wheels are hydraulically driven so that an operator controlled steering control is arranged to control a differential in rate of supply of hydraulic fluid to control a relative speed of rotation of the driven wheels and thus a turning direction of the tractor. The steerable wheels have a steering system that is operable in response to the steering control to positively steer the steerable wheels and there is provided an arrangement to deactivate the steering system at large turns so that the steerable wheels are free to castor.
US08893819B2
The invention relates to a hand-held power tool with a drive shaft embodied in the form of a spindle shaft, which is connected to a tool-clamping device. The drive shaft, which is coupled to a drive motor, cooperates with a torque clutch. The torque clutch is provided with a clutch-adjusting ring that is coupled to a transmission element that cooperates with at least one clutch-adjusting device in order to adjust a torque. The transmission element is situated in an axially and/or radially movable fashion on the outer circumference of a housing component. According to the invention, in at least one position of the clutch-adjusting ring, the transmission element protrudes axially beyond the housing component in the direction toward the tool-clamping device.
US08893809B2
An apparatus and associated method for controlling a flow of a fluid between a wellbore tubular and a formation may utilize a particulate control device positioned external to the wellbore tubular and a flow control device having a retrievable flow restriction element that controls a flow parameter of a fluid flowing between the particulate control device and a bore of the wellbore tubular. The flow control device may be re-configured in the wellbore and/or be used to inject a fluid into the formation.
US08893785B2
A method of determining an azimuthal orientation of a well tool relative to a line in a well can include connecting at least one acoustic source to the well tool, the acoustic source having a known azimuthal orientation relative to the well tool, and detecting at least one acoustic signal transmitted from the acoustic source to an acoustic sensor, the acoustic sensor having a known azimuthal orientation relative to the line. A system for determining an azimuthal orientation of one or more lines relative to a well tool in a wellbore can include at least one acoustic source having a known azimuthal orientation relative to the well tool, and an optical waveguide connected to a distributed acoustic sensing instrumentation, the waveguide having a known azimuthal orientation relative to the lines, and in which the distributed acoustic sensing instrumentation detects acoustic signals transmitted from the acoustic source to the waveguide.
US08893782B2
A fluid sensor (and method) for determining at least one parameter of a fluid of a wellbore is provided. The fluid sensor has a base positionable in the wellbore, a base electrode operatively positionable in the insulation, and a raised electrode having at least one base portion and at least one raised portion. The base comprises insulation. The base portion is operatively positionable in the insulation. The at least one raised portion is positionable a distance above the base electrode such that a space is defined therebetween for the passage of the wellbore fluid therethrough. A voltage is applied across the base electrode and the raised electrode to generate a current therebetween whereby at least one parameter of the wellbore fluid may be determined. The fluid sensor is deployable into the wellbore via the downhole tool.
US08893777B1
A chemical deployment plunger includes a reservoir body that has a top and a bottom and an internal chemical reservoir. The chemical reservoir includes one or more channels extending along the inside of the reservoir. The chemical deployment plunger includes a neck attached to the top of the reservoir body and the neck includes one or more ejection ports connected to the chemical reservoir. A plunger is movably connected to the bottom of the reservoir body and is configured for retraction and deployment from the reservoir body. The retraction of the plunger causes the treatment chemicals within the chemical reservoir to be expelled through the ejection ports. The plunger may include intake ports that allow the flow of fluid from below the plunger through the reservoir body and out the ejection ports. This permits the gradual release of treatment chemicals as fluids pass through the chemical deployment plunger.
US08893771B2
An inexpensive heat exchanger is disclosed, wherein the heat exchanger is made up of a plurality of plates and each plate has at least one channel defined in the plate. The plates are stacked and bonded together to form a block having conduits for carrying at least one fluid and where the exchanger includes an expansion device enclosed within the unit. The plates include construction to thermally insulate the expansion region from the heat exchange region to improve efficiency of the heat exchanger.
US08893770B2
One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a heat sink assembly for dissipating heat from an electronic component. The heat sink assembly includes a heat sink having a base and at least one fin extending from the base. The at least one fin has an opening formed therein that is configured to receive a fastener. The heat sink assembly also includes a clip. The clip has a first portion configured to receive the fastener and at least one second portion flexibly coupled to the first portion. The at least one second portion is configured to secure the heat sink to the electronic component proximate to the base in response to a force being applied to the first portion by the fastener.
US08893765B2
A sectional garage door has a roller track and a plurality of sections pivotally coupled together for movement along the roller track to and between open and closed positions relative to a door opening. A first one of the sections is heavier than other sections. The sectional garage also includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled to the sections to assist an operator in moving the sections along the roller tracks to and between the open and closed positions. The sectional garage door also has a weight assist mechanism coupled to the door and engaged with at least one of the sections to assist at least one of the sections to assist in the movement of the first one of the sections during movement along at least a portion of the roller track due to the weight of the first section relative to the other sections.
US08893764B2
Overhead door decelerator assemblies and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a door assembly includes a door, an elongated door track, and a brush proximate the door track. The door includes a guide member extending outwardly from a side edge portion of the door. The brush is positioned such that moving the door between open and closed positions causes the guide member to deflect a resilient portion (e.g., a plurality of bristles, a plurality of flaps, or a blade) of the brush at regions of the resilient portion consecutively positioned along the length of the brush. The brush can be positioned away from the door when the door is in the closed position and in contact with a portion of the door when the door is in the open position.
US08893761B2
In one aspect, a device includes a first portion having a length substantially the same as a length of a gap of a slot of a free link of a reel feeder. The device is configured to be placed in the gap to limit movement of a take-up arm along the slot. In another aspect, a method includes placing a device in a gap of a slot of a free link of a reel feeder to limit movement of a take-up arm along the slot.
US08893760B2
An apparatus for use in activating or re-activating adhesive and sealant compositions that have been pre-applied to a bonding surface prior to mating said bonding surface, said apparatus having a plurality of features for directly acting upon the pre-applied composition.
US08893752B2
The invention relates to a method for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid product at a filling position, using a filling element for the controlled delivery of the product into the respective container, the foam formation of the product inside the respective container already being reduced and/or suppressed during the formation stage by a treatment or by influencing the product.
US08893747B2
The invention refers to a valve, in particular a pneumatic valve with a tappet or nipple provided on an actuator member that opens or closes a passage opening for a medium depending on the position of the actuator. A tappet is provided the spring of that presses the tappet or nipple on the passage opening in the closed position.
US08893734B2
A cleaning apparatus for a power driven buffing pad includes a wash plate mounted in a cleaning solution reservoir that provides agitating and cleaning contact with the pad mounted on an operating driver. The wash plate can be reciprocated vertically by the operator against a biasing arrangement to operate a pump to deliver cleaning solution from the reservoir to the face of the pad in contact with the wash plate.
US08893731B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a container system. More particularly the invention relates to the container system for storing at least two products of same or different type/color, and at least one applicator. The container system of the present invention is configured to comprise at least two receptacles for storing the products, and substantially abutting each other and at least one applicator configured to pick up the products stored in the receptacles simultaneously. The invention also relates to the container system for holding consumer products such as cosmetic or care products and is aimed at providing single or multiple makeup effects on the skin, face, lips, eyes and the like.
US08893730B2
A case includes a base, a cover and a mirror. The base defines a space for accommodating objects and an opening communicating the space with the outside. The cover is hinged onto the base for sealing the opening of the base. The mirror is detachably mounted in the cover with a back side thereof facing the cover.
US08893728B2
A quick and convenient method for coloring hair is disclosed. According to an embodiment, a hair dye applicator is provided. The hair dye applicator includes two containers that can be locked together prior to use. Each container can include at least one hair dye component. In one embodiment, a first container can include a hair color component while the second container can include a developer.
US08893725B2
The invention provides a polymer prepared from a substituted 1,3-butadiene (such as neophytadiene) derived from a plant of the Nicotiana species. The invention also provides smoking articles and smokeless tobacco compositions that include the polymers described herein. Further, the invention provides a method of polymerizing a substituted 1,3-butadiene derived from a plant of the Nicotiana species, the method including reacting a substituted 1,3-butadiene derived from a plant of the Nicotiana species with one or more reagents selected from the group consisting of an anionic initiator, a radical initiator, and a Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
US08893722B2
A surgical endoscopic cutting device includes cutting elements fitted in a protective tube. The device has an inlet for fluid, a discharge outlet for tissue and fluid, and a further outlet that discharges most of the fluid.
US08893721B2
The present invention relates to surgical safety drapes that are provided with a mechanism for removing fuel sources, trapped under the surgical drape covering the patient during surgery, which support the generation of operating room fires. The drape contains a plenum layer that is sandwiched between a liquid impervious layer and a porous layer. The plenum layer contains hollow members for providing a path way for evacuating vapors there through via the porous layer.
US08893718B2
A valve is provided for relieving a gaseous pressure of a branching unit in flow communication with lungs of a subject. The valve comprises an inlet port in flow communication with the branching unit, an outlet port configured to release pressure by discharging a gas flow from the inlet port, and a valve seat in flow communication with the inlet port. The valve further comprises a valve member configured to close a gas discharge between the inlet port and the outlet port when forced against the valve seat, and to facilitate gas discharge between the inlet port and the outlet port when not forced against the valve seat. The valve further comprises a closing spring configured to direct a predetermined closing force to the valve member and an actuator configured to increase and decrease the closing force directed to the valve member.
US08893711B2
Improved solar collectors (40) comprising glass tubing (42) attached to bellows (44) by airtight seals (56) enclose solar absorber tubes (50) inside an annular evacuated space (54. The exterior surfaces of the solar absorber tubes (50) are coated with improved solar selective coatings {48} which provide higher absorbance, lower emittance and resistance to atmospheric oxidation at elevated temperatures. The coatings are multilayered structures comprising solar absorbent layers (26) applied to the meta surface of the absorber tubes (50), typically stainless steel, topped with antireflective Savers (28) comprising at least two layers 30, 32) of refractory metal or metalloid oxides (such as titania and silica) with substantially differing indices of refraction in adjacent layers. Optionally, at least one layer of a noble metal such as platinum can be included between some of the layers. The absorbent layers cars include cermet materials comprising particles of metal compounds is a matrix, which can contain oxides of refractory metals or metalloids such as silicon. Reflective layers within the coating layers can comprise refractory metal silicides and related compounds characterized by the formulas TiSi. Ti3SiC2, TiAlSi, TiAN and similar compounds for Zr and Hf. The titania can be characterized by the formulas TiO2, Ti3O5. TiOx or TiOxN1-x with x 0 to 1. The silica can be at least one of SiO2, SiO2x or SiO2xN1-x with x=0 to 1.
US08893709B2
The present invention provides a kitchen ventilation hood for ventilating the area above a cooking area and for exhausting air containing cooking by-products from a cooking station to an external environment through an exhaust duct while using a reduced airflow. The kitchen ventilation hood of the present invention is designed to minimize the required airflow through the hood in order to thoroughly evacuate the cooking by-products. The kitchen ventilation hood of the current invention has a structure incorporating an arched interior hood surface that directs the air to be ventilated through the air intake gap and the grease filter. The more efficient airflow resulting from the arched interior hood surface allows for removal of cooking by-products with a lower airflow than that required by currently available ventilation hoods. As such, the kitchen ventilation hood of the present invention represents a significant improvement over prior ventilation hoods.
US08893706B2
A heating device may comprise a control assembly having a self-contained, on board power supply. A control unit may control the operation of the heater and the power supply may comprise a first power source in electrical communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the first power source to selectively supply electrical power to at least a portion of the heating device; and, a second power source in electrical communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the second power source to selectively supply electrical power to at least a portion of the heating device.
US08893698B2
A system and method for pitching balls, particularly round balls such as soccer balls. The system and method are flexibly designed to simulate different types of pitches including but not limited to kicks, throws, and headers. A main frame has a frame with a front panel, a rear panel and a top panel. A tubular chute is rotatably mounted in the interior portion of the main frame with a set of bearings. A pair of opposing ball throwing wheels are fitted to the rotatable tubular chute for launching the ball from the chute. Each wheel is driven by a variable speed motor that is controlled by a variable switch mounted to the main frame. A pair of caddy wheels is attached to the main frame for portability of the apparatus, along with a rear support having an adjustable extension to vary the height and angle of the rotatable tubular chute to adjust the trajectory of the ball. A ball feed chute is mounted to the main frame onto which balls are loaded to be pitched.
US08893694B1
A draw extending archery system enables a user to draw a draw string multiple times to store energy. Embodiments of the system include a transmission that operatively engages the draw string and a flexible limb. From an initial rest position, the user initiates a charging stroke on the draw string. During a first charging stroke, the transmission engages to store energy during the draw. At the end of the charging stroke, the transmission engages to prevent release of stored energy. The transmission also disengages the draw string to enable a subsequent charging stroke from an intermediate rest position. From a final rest position, the user initiates a firing stroke on the draw string. At the end of the firing stroke, the transmission couples the draw string and the flexible limb to release stored energy through the draw string.
US08893685B2
A method is provided for estimating a hydraulic dwell time between a first injection pulse and a second injection pulse performed by a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to determining a value of an electric dwell time between the first injection pulse and the second injection pulse, estimating a value of an injector closing delay between an instant in which an electric closing command of the first injection pulse is generated and an instant in which the fuel injector closes, estimating a value of an injector opening delay between an instant in which an electric opening command of the second injection pulse is generated and an instant in which the fuel injector opens, and calculating a value of the hydraulic dwell time as a function of the electric dwell time value, of the injector closing delay value and of the injector opening delay value.
US08893682B2
A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes a one-side crank chamber and an other-side crank chamber formed by partitioning a lower crankcase by a plurality of lower support walls which are provided integrally with the lower crankcase and support a crankshaft. A plurality of oil outflow holes respectively communicate with the one-side crank chamber and the other-side crank chamber through which oil is discharged from the one-side crank chamber and the other-side crank chamber. An oil discharge port is provided along a lower support wall of the one-side crank chamber and the other-side crank chamber. A suction port of a scavenging pump for discharging the oil present in the one-side crank chamber and the other-side crank chamber is provided in an outer wall in the manner of straddling the lower support wall.
US08893681B2
A valve stem seal assembly for an internal combustion engine includes an annular rigid case disposed around a valve guide and a valve stem. An annular elastomeric body is press fit within the annular rigid case and including a radially inwardly extending seal lip in sealing contact with the valve stem. The annular elastomeric body includes a first axial end facing the valve guide and a second axial end facing away from the valve guide. The annular rigid case includes a radially inwardly extending end wall opposing the second axial end of the annular elastomeric body and including a lip support extending axially from an inner portion of the radially inwardly extending end wall and opposing a radially inner surface of the radially inwardly extending seal lip.
US08893675B2
The present invention provides a variable valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine which includes an input arm, an output arm, a switching pin, and a displacing device. The displacing device includes a pressing device that presses the switching pin from any one of the coupling position and the non-coupling position to the other one of them, a return spring, and a stopper mechanism. The return spring is provided outside of the input arm and the output arm so as to act on one end of the switching pin, which is exposed from the input arm and the output arm. The stopper mechanism includes a displacement restricting groove that is provided on an outer periphery of the switching pin, and a lock member that is engaged with the displacement restricting groove and contacts one end of the displacement restricting groove when the switching pin is stopped at the non-coupling position.
US08893672B2
A method and apparatus for pumping an intake charge into an engine is disclosed herein. The fuel-powered engine utilizes a barrier between an intake manifold and a crankcase of the engine to substantially protect the intake charge from contamination by engine crankcase oil, while using the natural pumping action of a reciprocating engine piston to pump the intake charge into the combustion chamber.
US08893662B2
A raptor perch apparatus for use at the top of a power pole for raptors to perch and nest without contacting the power lines supported by the power pole. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hub bracket having a center member received over the top of the power pole and a plurality of socket-like lateral brackets extending outwardly from the center member to support a plurality of lateral support members extending outwardly from the pole, preferably at a slight upward angle. The proximal end of the lateral support members is received in the lateral brackets. A guy wire or the like is received through a ring member on an end cap at the distal end of each lateral support member to circumvent the distal ends thereof. If needed, a pole top extension can be used to raise the apparatus above the top of the power pole.
US08893659B1
A feeding apparatus for use in dispensing feed formula to hummingbirds or other animals. This may be accomplished by providing a feeder having a reservoir for holding ready to consume and preservative free nectar formula for hummingbirds. The feeder may have an opening that is configured to couple to a dispensing member for delivering the formula to hummingbirds. The feeder may be adapted to be supported by a support holding device or to be free-standing for maintaining the feeder in an orientation for dispensing formula.
US08893653B2
An improved automated animal feeder or feeding apparatus comprises a substantially water-resistant housing having at least one closable port. A feed distributor is located in the housing and configured to distribute feed to the exterior of the housing through the port. An opening in an upper end of the housing is configured to admit feed to the housing and to the feed distributor through gravity. A drive arrangement is disposed in the housing and coupled to the feed distributor and to the closeable port to selectively actuate the feed distributor and selectively open and close the closeable port.
US08893652B2
Animal bedding having one or more solvents and a lignocellulosic fiber, wherein the lignocellulosic fiber has been processed by ruminant digestion and anaerobic digestion. A method for preparing pelletized animal bedding is also disclosed including the steps of providing excrement from a cow which has undergone ruminant digestion, introducing the cow excrement into an anaerobic digester, modifying the cow excrement to a first wet product, drying the first wet product to generate a first dry product, and densifying the first dry product to, in turn, generate pelletized animal bedding.
US08893650B2
A substrate treatment apparatus configured such that substrates in a same lot are distributed by a delivery mechanism into a plurality of unit blocks, each unit block including a solution treatment module, an ultraviolet irradiation module, and a substrate carrying mechanism, the apparatus includes: an illuminance detection part that detects an illuminance of a light source of the ultraviolet irradiation module; and a control part that controls, when an illuminance detection value of the ultraviolet irradiation module in one unit block among the plurality of unit blocks becomes a set value or less, the delivery mechanism to stop delivery of a substrate to the one unit block and deliver subsequent substrates to another unit block, and the ultraviolet irradiation module to perform irradiation on substrates which have already been delivered to the one unit block with an irradiation time adjusted to a length according to the illuminance detection value.
US08893649B2
The imprint apparatus of the present invention includes a holding unit configured to hold a mold; a particle inspection unit configured to inspect whether or not particle is present on an imprint area, in which the resin pattern is formed, of the substrate; a dispenser configured to apply an uncured resin to the imprint area; a movable unit configured to move the imprint area with respect to the holding unit; and a controller. The movable unit is capable of moving the imprint area to each of an inspection position by means of the inspection unit, an application position by means of the dispenser, and a contacting position by means of the holding unit. Also, the controller causes the inspection unit to perform inspection of the imprint area in association with the movement of the imprint area by means of the movable unit.
US08893644B2
A wide slit nozzle having a slit as a discharge opening. The thickness of a lateral end part is set smaller than the thickness at a lateral center part. The thickness of the lateral center part is fixed. The thickness of the lateral end part changes linearly from opposite lateral ends of the lateral center part to the opposite lateral ends of the slit. Coating material is discharged from the slit while applied with pressure, so that the coating material is coated while expanded wider than the width of the slit. The coating material is discharged at 7 liter per minute, and a coating width of a first example is 100 mm, for example. A thickness increase of the overlapped part is +25% even when a width or an overlapped margin z of the overlapped part is 10 mm or 20 mm.
US08893635B2
The present invention entails a canting sailboat sail rig. Mast support struts are attached at one end to the outer edges or railings of the hull(s), to the stern of the mast, and the mast struts attach at the other end to the lower sections of the mast. The mast foot base is attached to a circular track that runs from the centerline of the sailboat outward, toward the edges of the hulls, and upward the bow(s). When the mast foot move outward and upward toward the railing and bow(s) the upper section of the sail tilts or cants in the opposite direction from the mast foot outward direction, creating forward thrust, lift and reduced heeling. A jib can be attached to the head of the mast and the combination canting mainsail and jib can create force, lift and less heeling.
US08893626B2
A railway car truck incorporating an interconnection between the side frame and bearing adapter is characterized by a low lateral spring constant relative to the longitudinal spring constant. The interconnection provides a proportional restoring force with minimal internal friction and hysteresis. In embodiments, the interconnection comprises compressed elastomeric members positioned between the thrust lug of the side frame and the bearing adapter in the longitudinal direction and a low friction interface between the roof of the pedestal jaw and the top of the bearing adapter.
US08893622B2
An igniter for a passenger vehicle safety airbag module includes a housing with apertured walls, gas-generating tablets filling the housing, and, in direct contact with gas-generating tablets, an initiator containing combustible material. A plurality of four malleable flaps of substantially identical shape and size are secured about the squib in an upstanding circumscribing array with spaced-apart, opposed lateral edges between adjacent of the flaps interconnected by fluid seals in the form of webbing that is structurally less robust than the flaps. The ends of the flaps remote from the squib curl radially inwardly into a spaced-apart edge-to-edge disposition beyond the combustible material. The webbing and the flaps together enclose an interior space and the combustible material. Pressure from the ignition of the combustible material causes the fluid seals to burst and the flaps to pivot outwardly crushing the gas-generating tablets in the housing.
US08893619B2
A method for printing on a curved surface and a printed curved surface body using the method. The method includes the steps of: applying printing ink having a viscosity of 5-500 PaS, preferably 5-250 PaS, to a protrusion portion of a relief printing master plate 3 which is a flat plate with the protrusion portion 0.1-50 μm high, preferably 0.1-25 μm high in height h; pressing a rubber or rubbery roll-like elastic blanket 2 having an elastic portion whose thickness T has a relation of 2H≦T≦8H with respect to a level difference H of a to-be-printed curved surface body 10 and which has a hardness (JIS A-scale) of 3-40, preferably 3-20, onto the relief printing master plate 3 supplied with the printing ink while applying constant pressure to the roll-like elastic blanket 2 and smoothly rotating the roll-like elastic blanket 2, so as to transfer the printing ink to an outer circumferential surface of the roll-like elastic blanket 2; and moving the roll-like elastic blanket 2 having the printing ink transferred thereto, and bringing the roll-like elastic blanket 2 into rotational pressure contact with a surface of the to-be-printed curved surface body 10 so as to perform printing thereon.
US08893618B2
A patterning method and a method for manufacturing an LCD device using the same are disclosed. The patterning method includes preparing a printing plate having concave and convex portions; coating a pattern material in the concave portion of the printing plate; rolling a printing roller on the printing plate to print the pattern material of the concave portion on the printing roller; and rolling the printing roller on a substrate to print the pattern material of the printing roller on the substrate.
US08893617B2
A printing method includes a step of dividing the to-be-printed surface 10 of a to-be-printed object 100 into a plurality of small to-be-printed surfaces 1a, 1b, . . . (a, b, . . . will be omitted below) and dividing a picture 20 to be printed on the to-be-printed surface 10 into small pictures 2 to be printed on the small to-be-printed surfaces 1, a step of a creating small developed picture 3 by developing each of the small pictures 2 into a plane, a step of putting ink on small printing original plate 30 corresponding to the small to-be-printed surface 1 according to the small developed picture 2, a step of a pressing small printing blanket 40 corresponding to each of the small to-be-printed surfaces 1 against the corresponding small printing original plate 30 and transferring the ink, and a step of printing the picture 20 on the to-be-printed surface 1 by pressing the small printing blanket 30 grasped by the arm of a multi-axis robot against the small to-be-printed surface 1 to print the small picture 2.
US08893611B2
The invention concerns a center arm for holding an upper contact grilling or roasting plate, the center arm having a substantially vertical supporting section and a holding section which is arranged pivotably on the vertical supporting section and to which the upper contact grilling or roasting plate can be attached, which is distinguished in that a device for fixing the holding section relative to the supporting section is associated with the holding section, the fixing device comprising a control element and a latch device, and the control element being capable of being brought into engagement with the latch device for fixing the holding section in different pivot positions relative to the supporting section, and out of engagement for free pivoting of the holding section relative to the supporting section. Furthermore, the invention concerns a contact grilling or roasting device having such a center arm.
US08893608B2
A gas piston system for a firearm includes a gas block having a port in communication with the barrel port and an exhaust tube. The exhaust tube has: a head at least partially disposed in the gas block and having a port in fluid communication with the gas block port; a body extending from the head toward a muzzle of the firearm; and a channel extending from the exhaust tube port through the body. The gas piston system further includes a driver movable relative to the gas block between a forward and rearward position and having: a piston slidable along the gas block; a stinger closing the channel in the forward position and opening the channel in the rearward position, and an operating rod operable to push the bolt carrier assembly away from the barrel.
US08893605B1
Attachable/detachable segmented ordnance dispenser systems and methods are presented. A control module targets, fuses, and releases ordnance, and at least one ordnance dispenser segment comprises a rack mount ordnance assembly and a segment enclosure. The rack mount ordnance assembly mounts and releases ordnance under control of the control module, and the segment enclosure comprises a segment door that opens under control of the control module. An aerodynamic shell aerodynamically enhances and protects the ordnance dispenser segment and the control module, and can be coupled to a vehicle.
US08893604B1
The subject munitions deployment platform for an Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System munitions set provides prepositioned compartments to receive the ALICE packs of the munitions set to ensure that they are positioned and aligned for proper deployment. The pre-positioned compartments ensure that when the APOBS is deployed, the front edge of the rear ALICE pack properly engages the rear edge of the front ALICE pack providing a fulcrum aiding rotation of the rear pack allowing it to clear the engaging elements to lift the rear pack off the platform and into the air where it further functions as a drogue to assist in extending the charge line over the chosen target line. Combining the subject platform with a vehicle, or with a towed wagon, allows a Soldier to remain in a safe location while remotely positioning the munitions set to clear a minefield or other anti-personnel obstacle.
US08893599B2
A method for cutting a food strand into slices, including the steps of feeding the food strand forward to a cutting device including a rotating blade, successively cutting off slices, placing the cut off slices onto an intermediary storage device moveable transversal to the feed direction and in feed direction in order to form a portion, wherein a stacked or fish scaled slice arrangement with a total of n slices is generated and n is a natural number≧3, transferring a non-finished portion including m slices, wherein m is a natural number and m
US08893598B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal substrate cutting device used for cutting a liquid crystal substrate along a cutting line, and the liquid crystal substrate cutting device comprises a heating unit and a cutter unit. The heating unit moves along the cutting line and heats the liquid crystal substrate to soften a sealant covered on the cutting line, and the cutter unit moves along the cutting line to further cut the liquid crystal substrate. The present invention comprises the heating unit for heating the liquid crystal substrate along the cutting line to soften the sealant covered on the cutting line such that the cutter unit can precisely cut the liquid crystal substrate without abnormity of the feeding distance of the cutter unit which cause the liquid crystal substrate to break. Therefore, the scrap-rate is reduced.
US08893597B2
A sheet lifting device is provided for lifting a sheet or web of material in a press. The device can include a base portion and a resilient, bendable arm extending from the base portion. The base portion can include a merge portion that connects the resilient, bendable arm to the rest of the base portion. A system is provided that includes the sheet lifting device mounted in a slot of a support frame, for example, in a blanking press. Methods of conveying a sheet or web of material using the system are also provided.
US08893593B2
Some embodiments pertain to a tool that includes a first arm and a second arm that is rotatably connected to the first arm. The first arm includes an opening and the second arm includes a projection that engages threads on a fastener which is installed within the opening in the first arm. During operation of the tool, a fastener is inserted into the opening in the first arm. Pressure is applied to bring the first and second arms together such that the projection engages the threads of the fastener and then deforms the threads. The first arm may include a plurality of threaded openings such that each opening is adapted to receive a different diameter fastener. In addition, the second arm may include a plurality of projections such that each projection is a different size and is aligned relative to one of the openings in the first arm.
US08893588B2
A ratchet wrench includes a driving head, two retaining rings engaged in the driving head, a driving member rotatably engaged in the driving head and having a gear, and a pawl engaged in the driving head and having a lever arm extended from a shaft, and one or more teeth formed on the lever arm for engaging with the gear and for determining the driving direction of the driving member by the driving head and the handle, the shaft includes two end segments extended beyond the lever arm for forming two engaging surfaces and for engaging with the retaining rings and for allowing the retaining rings to apply a spring biasing force onto the end segments of the shaft and to force the teeth of the lever arm to engage with the gear.
US08893587B2
A wrench device includes a handle bar having a driving head, the driving head having a connection base, the connection base having a guiding wall, a pivoting jaw having a first receiving groove which corresponding to the connection base, the pivoting jaw having a sliding groove opened through the first receiving groove, a sliding jaw having a sliding portion which is movable relative to the sliding groove, a driving opening being formed between the pivoting jaw and the sliding jaw, the sliding jaw having a pushing portion which corresponding to the guiding wall. Under this arrangement, when the handle bar is rotated clockwise, the pivoting jaw is abutted against the upper portion of the driving head, so that the pivoting jaw and the sliding jaw is fixed relative to the connection base; thereby, the driving opening is attached to an object so as to lock or unlock the object.
US08893584B2
In a motor vehicle drive train device with a transmission output shaft, a main drive train driven by the transmission output shaft, which has an axle drive for driving a main drive axle, an auxiliary drive train driven by the transmission output shaft, which has an axle drive for driving an auxiliary drive axle, a clutch unit for the switchable connection of the axle drive to the transmission output shaft, the axle drive of the main drive train and the axle drive of the auxiliary drive train have different transmission ratios and a transmission gearing for adapting a drive transmission ratio of the auxiliary drive train to a drive transmission ratio of the main drive train is adapted to compensate for the different transmission ratios of the main and the auxiliary drive axles.
US08893578B2
A parallel robot includes a movable-section drive mechanism, and a wrist-section drive mechanism. The wrist section includes a first rotary member supported on the movable section and rotatable about a fourth rotation axis different from axes of the three-axis translational motion of the movable section, a second rotary member connected to the first rotary member and rotatable about a fifth rotation axis orthogonal to the fourth rotation axis, and a third rotary member connected to the second rotary member and rotatable about a sixth rotation axis orthogonal to the fifth rotation axis. The third rotary member is provided with an attachment surface to which a tool is attached. The attachment surface is inclined with respect to the sixth rotation axis at a predetermined angle.
US08893576B2
In one of a pair of supporting pillars, a clearance is formed in a side of a moving space of a side of a main robot body. Then, when the main robot body stops in the position immediately near the supporting pillar and an arm is turned, the range in which the arm can turn is expanded without contacting the supporting pillar.
US08893573B2
A ball screw device includes a screw engaged into a nut member for forming an endless ball guiding passage between the nut member and the screw and for receiving a number of ball bearing members, a ball return pipe includes a U-shaped structure having a central tubular member and two ends for engaging into two orifices of the nut member, and the nut member includes a straight fence formed between the orifice and the screw hole of the nut member for guiding the ball bearing members to move through a ball return pathway of the ball return pipe and the endless ball guiding passage of the nut member and for preventing the teeth of the nut member from being broken by the ball bearing members.
US08893570B2
A ball screw with an oil-storage unit, the oil-storage unit includes an oil tank and a connector. The connector has one end formed in the form of a convex or concave structure, and the connecting end of the oil tank is also in the form of a concave or convex structure for engaging with the connector, so as to achieve quick assembling of the connector onto the oil tank through the engagement of the convex and concave structures. Since the oil-storage unit can be quickly replaced after the oil is used up, which provides an automatic and continuous self-lubricating function to the ball screw, and consequently extending the service life of the ball screw.
US08893569B2
Disclosed is a power-transmitting apparatus. A power-transmitting apparatus of the present invention comprises: a pin gear provided with a plurality of pins capable of rolling movement; and a spur gear provided with a plurality of teeth and en-gagingly coupled to the pin gear so as to be relatively movable, wherein the spur gear teeth are formed with a cycloid tooth shape, and a polygonal tooth root space is formed at a tooth root region of the spur gear. As compared to a trochoid tooth shape, the tooth shape of the spur gear engagingly coupled to the pin gear so as to be relatively movable according to the present invention has a greater tooth size so that it can be applied as a cycloid tooth shape capable of maintaining a sufficient tooth contact ratio, and can resolve a reduction in tooth thickness and the wedging of the pins from an undercut at the tooth root region.
US08893561B2
A capacitance pressure mapping system includes a plurality of sensor cells created by the intersection of electrode columns and rows, and a solid elastomer dielectric separating the electrode columns and rows. The elastomer is at least one planar sheet having a surface comprising a pattern of projections. The pattern of projections may include two or more different types of projections, for example projections of different shapes (geometries) and/or sizes (height, width).
US08893556B2
A pressure sensor is claimed for measuring the pressure of a fluid. The pressure sensor comprises two or more half bridges, an analog-to-digital converter, a microcontroller, an output generator, and one or more redundancy circuits. Each half bridge comprises two resistive pressure sensing elements (RSPE) electrically coupled to the analog-to-digital converter. Each redundancy circuit comprises a switch and resistor electrically in series. A redundancy circuit may be disposed electrically in parallel with any or all of the RSPEs of the half bridges such that when an RSPE fails open, its corresponding redundancy circuit may be activated in order to permit the resistor of the redundancy circuit to take the place of the RSPE. This permits the analog-to-digital converter to continue to operate normally, even with a failed RSPE. The pressure sensor may then base its calculated pressure on the remaining half bridges which do not have a failed RSPE.
US08893542B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring and determining fuel vapor recovery performance is disclosed. The dispensing of liquid fuel into a tank by a conventional gas pump nozzle naturally displaces a mixture of air and fuel ullage vapor in the tank. These displaced vapors may be recovered at the dispensing point nozzle by a vapor recovery system. A properly functioning vapor recovery system recovers approximately one unit volume of vapor for every unit volume of dispensed liquid fuel. The ratio of recovered vapor to dispensed fuel is termed the A/L ratio, which should ideally be approximately equal to one (1). The A/L ratio, and thus the proper functioning of the vapor recovery system, may be determined by measuring liquid fuel flow and return vapor flow (using a vapor flow sensor) on a nozzle-by-nozzle basis. The disclosed methods and apparatus provide for the determination of A/L ratios for individual nozzles using a reduced number of vapor flow sensors. The disclosed methods and apparatus also provide for the determination of fuel dispensing system vapor containment integrity, and the differentiation of true vapor recovery failures as opposed to false failures resulting from the refueling of vehicles provided with onboard vapor recovery systems.
US08893540B2
The invention relates to a component, a method, and a tool for forming, in particular for the lateral extrusion or upsetting of thin-walled preforms to form components having a structure formed thereon, in particular having a toothing, wherein, by carrying out the method according to the invention and by using the tool according to the invention, buckling of the wall of the preform during the forming process to form the component according to the invention is prevented.
US08893537B2
Apparatus and methods to drive material conditioning machines are described. An example apparatus includes a first plurality of work rolls to process a strip material and a second plurality of work rolls to process the strip material. The example apparatus also includes a motor to drive the second plurality of work rolls. The motor is to apply a first rolling torque to the second plurality of work rolls that is different than a second rolling torque applied to the first plurality of work rolls.
US08893528B2
Cooling tube mechanism operation in a post-manufacture glass container thermal strengthening station
An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly the construction and operation of a cooling tube mechanism in an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers, with the cooling tube mechanism being used to cool the inner surfaces of the glass containers.
US08893524B1
A container assembly that is adapted to retain an amount of dry ice therein and be disposed within a cooler as a cooling source is provided. The container assembly includes a base and a lid assembly that seal together to provide an inner space to receive the dry ice. The container also includes an attached valve assembly and an outlet hose. The valve assembly is disposed on a side surface of the container to allow for an outflow of carbon dioxide gas produced by the dry ice within the container assembly. The hose is attached to the valve and fastened at its end to an inside surface of the cooler providing a flow of cold carbon dioxide gas to the interior of the cooler as the dry ice sublimates.
US08893516B2
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising a vacuum container vacuumized inside thereof, a liquid refrigerant container installed in the vacuum container to store liquid refrigerant therein, a superconducting member installed inside the liquid refrigerant container to be rendered superconductive by being impregnated in the liquid refrigerant and allow current to flow therethrough, and a cryo-cooler connected to an insertion port provided in the liquid refrigerant container to re-condense gas evaporated from the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant container. The pressure in the liquid refrigerant container is caused to be raised to prevent air from flowing into the insertion port of the liquid refrigerant container from the outside of the vacuum container, and the cryo-cooler is replaced while the pressure in the liquid refrigerant container is greater than that of the outside.
US08893509B2
A gas turbine engine has an exhaust diffuser. A first path extends radially through the outer and inner cones of the diffuser and has a radially inward end and a radially outward end, the inward end fluidly connected to the central cavity. An air supply or ejector is fluidly connected to the radially outward end of the first path, for drawing air by using the compressed air through the first path into the central cavity. A first opening is defined in the inner cone to fluidly connect between the exhaust channel and the central cavity. The first path and the first opening are so positioned that the cooling air is delivered from the air supply through the first path, the central cavity, and the first opening into the exhaust channel as it makes thermal contact with an object positioned in the central cavity to cool the object.
US08893488B2
An engine and drive train system suitable for personal or commercial transportation vehicles. The system converts the expansive energy of compressed air or gas into mechanical energy to produce motion or force. The engine of the present invention further uses the intrinsic kinetic energy of the vehicle in motion to generate and store compressed air or gas for in-situ or later use. The engine may also be used for braking by the introduction of high pressure air or gas at maximum displacement.
US08893481B2
A mixing device includes: an elbow pipe attached to an outlet pipe of a filter device; a straight pipe connected to a downstream side of the elbow pipe; and an injector attached to the elbow pipe and injecting a reductant aqueous solution into an inside of the elbow pipe toward the straight pipe. The elbow pipe is provided with an injector attachment to which the injector is attached with a bolt. An attachment face of the injector attachment is substantially flush with an end of an injection nozzle of the injector. The injector attachment is provided with a recess at which an end of the injection nozzle is exposed, the recess being enlarged toward the straight pipe. A heat-insulation layer located near an outer periphery of the recess is provided inside the injector attachment. An end of the bolt penetrates the injector from an outside to reach the heat-insulation layer.
US08893473B2
An emission control system for an engine includes an upstream sensor provided upstream of a catalyst in a flow direction of exhaust gas, a downstream sensor provided downstream of the catalyst to detect an air-fuel ratio so that the air-fuel ratio approaches a target air-fuel ratio in a sub feedback control, a constant current supply portion which changes an output characteristic of the downstream sensor by applying a constant current on a pair of electrodes thereof. A characteristic control portion controls the constant current supply portion in the sub feedback control to advance a timing of lean detection of the downstream sensor when the air-fuel ratio is richer than the target air-fuel ratio, and to advance a timing of rich detection of the downstream sensor when the air-fuel ratio is leaner than the target air-fuel ratio.
US08893465B2
A cable protection and guide device is provided, which prevents abrasion of the cable skin of a cable or the like and holds the position of a multi-joint link with high precision. The cable protection and guide device is characterized in that the multi-joint link includes a link member and a pair of holding members attached to the link member for holding the cable. A flexional inner side holding member has an inner side base part and an inner side holding part that are integrally formed. A flexional outer side holding member has an outer side base part and an outer side holding part that are integrally formed, and the outer side holding part cooperates with the inner side holding part to hold the cable.
US08893461B2
A rectangular counter knife with a larger diameter hole, the counter knife has two lateral, longitudinal, parallel, rectangular and vertical walls inferiorly forming a rectangular recess, the two rectangular, inferior and transversal guides of the rotating disk, support the rectangular knife, adjusting a hex-nut in a larger diameter hole, coincident to the hole, receiving these holes on inferior-superior direction, a hex-head screw initially by-pass one of the two holes centralized along one rectangular knife with two side cutting edges and their ends have, a constructive variant comprising a rectangular knife with a longitudinal, central and oblong opening, with two central, opposite and semi-circular projections forming a circular central opening in the middle of the knife; the rectangular knife has two side cutting edges and two cutting edges on the ends.
US08893455B2
The invention relates to apparatus 1 for releasably securing the lid 2 of a receptacle 3 for removal or replacement of the lid, the apparatus 1 comprising means 6 defining first and second vacuum chambers 5,7, the second vacuum chamber 7 being adapted to contact and secure a lid 2 when a pressure drop occurs in said second chamber 7, the arrangement being such that creating of a vacuum in the first chamber 5 acts on the defining means 6 to create a pressure drop in the second chamber 7 without fluid flow between the chambers, the pressure drop being sufficient to secure the lid 2 for removal of the lid from the receptacle.
US08893453B2
An intermediate floor for a floor that is built up from elements laid on the intermediate floor, butting together with their edges. The intermediate floor includes an intermediate floor layer including an elastic and/or resilient material. The intermediate floor layer is bonded to an adhesive layer on one side for bonding the elements thereto, which adhesive layer is provided with a protective layer, such as a release sheet, which is detachable so that the elements can be bonded to the adhesive layer. A method for producing an intermediate floor and to the use of an intermediate floor.
US08893443B2
A support structure of the type used as a truss for entertainment productions is disclosed. The support structure includes a plurality of frame segments arranged to form a truss and an implement bracket attached to the truss, the implement bracket connecting an implement to the truss. The implement bracket deploys from a stowed position within a space defined by the truss through a window of the truss formed by truss frame segments to a working position outside the space defined by the truss.
US08893439B2
A building is provided with a shutter, a stairway, and a handrail. The handrail has a connection member and a connection apparatus. The shutter opens and closes in a horizontal direction. A gap through which the shutter can pass is formed in the stairway. The handrail is provided at the stairway, and includes a handrail main body and a movable member. A gap through which the shutter can pass is formed in the handrail main body, and the movable member closes the gap in the handrail main body. The connection member connects one end portion of the movable member with the handrail main body such that the movable body is turnable relative to the handrail main body. The connection apparatus releasably connects another end portion of the movable member with the handle main body.
US08893437B2
A window lifter is provided. The window lifter having: first and second guide rails; first and second sliders for driving a window, the first and second sliders being guided in translation by the first guide rail and the second guide rail, respectively; a cable system for driving the sliders along the first and second guide rails, the cable system comprising a cable extending between the first and second guide rails for connecting to corresponding ends of the first and second guide rails, respectively, the first guide rail comprising a holder for fastening the cable between the two corresponding ends of the first and second guide rails that the cable connects.
US08893434B1
A light-control assembly including a modular beam with a plurality of adjacent circular bores separated by web portions, and a series of light-controlling members with laterally compliant edge structures mounted in the beam so that the edge structures accommodate the webs between the bores when the light-controlling members are closed to achieve enhanced, blackout or near blackout light-blocking along the edges of the light-controlling members.
US08893433B2
Provided is a water blocking board apparatus which can improve reliability of the operation of a water blocking board, the apparatus having: a water blocking board configured to ascend from a road surface to block water; a water blocking board accommodating pit formed under the road surface so as to accommodate the board; a water collecting pit configured to let water to flow thereinto upon flooding; a water collecting bucket which accumulates water having flown into the water collecting pit and is configured to descend in the water collecting pit by the weight of the accumulated water; and a transmission mechanism which connects the board and the bucket and converts a descending force of the bucket into an ascending force of the board, at least one of the mechanism and the bucket being provided with a device for inhibiting inclination of the bucket.
US08893428B2
An insect trap is described. The insect trap includes a container that has solid walls defining a substantially rectangular or spherical closed space. The container has a hole. The container has at least two parallel walls in the rectangular embodiment. The two parallel walls or the spherical walls are at least partially covered with a reflective surface on the inside of the container. A semiochemical or an odorant is situated in said container. A permeable flap covers the hole.
US08893427B2
An inexpensive fishhook and a method for manufacturing the same whereby a piece of bait can be put as far as an end part of the chimoto side. An upper part of a shank (2) of a fishhook (1) is hit to form a flat surface (3) thereon, and a hole (4) penetrating through the flat surface (3) is formed at two points with a vertical interval therebetween. A part of the shank (2) is cut transversely across an upper hole (4a) of the holes to thereby form, at the upper part of the shank (2), a hole (4b) through which a fishing line (5) is passed and tied, and two upward protrusions (7) enabling a piece of bait to be engaged therewith and being capable of preventing the fastened fish line from being displaced from the upper part of the shank.
US08893420B2
A battery-powered trigger-locking device, which is configured to be disposed on a gun with a trigger for firing, includes a data receiver, a data memory and a logic device for determining whether data received by the receiver is the same, or substantially the same, as data stored in the memory. If a data match is indicated, the logic device causes an electromagnetic device to move a trigger-locking member to an unlocked position, permitting the gun to be fired. A separate electronic gun key is provided to transmit gun unlock data to the data receiver of the trigger-locking device. This gun unlock data may be a password, a long pseudo-random number or biologic data identifying the gun owner or some other person who is licensed or otherwise authorized to fire the gun.
US08893418B1
A fashion memorabilia includes a garment and an artistic design attached to or incorporated in the garment. The design is comprised of multiple common and uncommon elements relevant to an individual. The common elements are selected from known visual items associated with or anecdotal of the individual and the uncommon elements are created based upon the individual's personal history, accomplishments and interests, among others. A swatch of material from clothing worn by the individual can be incorporated with the design. Methods for preparing a fashion memorabilia having attributes of an individual are also disclosed.
US08893417B2
A panel fastening assembly comprising a frame member securable to a beam, an advertising track, a rod mating the frame member and the track, and a carrier for retaining an advertising panel therein. The carrier is secured to the track to display the advertising panel. A method of displaying an advertising panel comprising the steps of engaging an advertising panel with a carrier, attaching a frame member to a beam, attaching a rod to the frame, coupling an advertising track to the carrier, and securing the advertising track to the rod. The frame member comprises a cylindrical base which is securable to the beam. The rod extends through an aperture in the base and into the track. Upward movement of the rod locks the track and carrier together and tensions the panel. Downward movement of the rod releases the carrier from the track and the tension in the panel.
US08893406B2
A footwear component and a method of making the footwear component are disclosed. The footwear component includes a first portion and a second portion that are joined at a transition zone. The first portion and the second portion have different flexibility characteristics. The footwear component can bend at the transition zone to accommodate the natural bending of a foot. The footwear component can also include a cushioning member that provides support and cushioning for the heel.
US08893404B2
Impact-attenuation members, e.g., for use in footwear or other foot-receiving devices, include: (a) a first body member having a base region and three (or more) leg portions extending from the base region. A second body member, with similar leg portions, may be arranged facing the first member such that the free ends of the various leg portions lie adjacent one another. A retaining member may extend between and/or at least partially around the body members to at least partially hold them in place with respect to one another. Such impact-attenuation systems may be arranged in the heel (or other portions) of an article of footwear.
US08893393B2
A power tool including a sliding member slidably received in the power tool and a pair of lock plates, each of the pair of lock plates including an opening, and the lock plates being configured such that the sliding member slides within the opening. First ends of each of the lock plates are pivotably attached to a support at a first side of the sliding member, and second ends of each of the lock plates being biased toward one another at an opposite side of the sliding member. A first contact portion of the lock plate contacts a first surface of the sliding member at the first side of the sliding member, and a second contact portion of the lock plate contacts a second surface of the sliding member at the opposite side of the sliding member, wherein the sliding member is secured with respect to the support.
US08893392B2
A double sided peeler is disclosed. The double sided peeler has two peeler blades and a slide cover for protecting the user from the peeler blade that is not in use. Each peeler blade may have a different attribute to accommodate a wide range of fruits and vegetables. The double sided peeler has a spot tool and retainer for both removing unwanted spots from a fruit or vegetable and also for retaining the slide cover in a given position. A retention web on the slide cover cooperates with the spot tool and retainer to retain the slide cover in a given position that protects both the unused peeler blade and the user.
US08893388B2
Disclosed herein is a method of making a spring core (12) for a bedding or seating product (10). The spring core (12) has coil springs (26) having unknotted end turns (72, 74) made from high tensile strength wire. In each embodiment, the end turns (72, 74) of the coil springs (26) are generally U-shaped having one arcuate leg (76) longer than the other (78), the legs (76, 78) being joined by a connector (80) having an arcuate bump (81) therein. The springs (26) are oriented in the spring core (12) such that a long leg (76) of one end turn (72) abuts a short leg (78) of the adjacent end turn (72) prior to being wrapped in helical lacing wire (32). The high tensile wire enables the coil springs (26) to be manufactured using less wire than heretofore possible.
US08893378B2
This invention relates to a method for securing a carrier by gas pressurization to inhibit warpage of the carrier. The method includes following steps: provide a carrier with an upper surface and a lower surface which are opposite to each other; providing an evacuable jig with an apertured surface on which a plurality of apertures are provided; placing and securing one of the upper and lower surfaces of the carrier on the apertured surface in a manner of facing the apertured surface, wherein the surface of the carrier faced to the apertured surface is defined as a first surface, and the other surface opposed to the first surface is defined as a second surface; and gas pressurizing a chamber and evacuating the jig positioned in the chamber, to form a pressure difference between the first surface and the second surface of the carrier, whereby the carrier is pressed on the jig, wherein the chamber is pressurized to a predetermined pressure greater than a standard atmospheric pressure.
US08893353B2
A hinge device includes a first main body and a second main body relative to the first main body. The first main body includes a raised structure. The second main body includes a first position structure, a first torsion control structure, a second position structure, and a second torsion control structure, and the first position structure and the second position structure correspond to the raised structure respectively. The first torsion control structure includes a first outer control portion and a first inner control portion. The second torsion control structure includes a second outer control portion and a second inner control portion. A height of the first inner control portion is different from a height of the second inner control portion, and a height of the first outer control portion is different from a height of the second outer control portion.
US08893348B2
The invention relates to a wiper blade for a window wiper, in particular a window wiper for a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper rubber (1) made from an elastomer material with a base section (3) and a lip section (5), wherein the elastomer material at least partially surrounds a fabric insert (13). The base section (3) and the lip section (5) are connected to each other by the fabric insert (13), wherein the fabric insert (13) serves as a joint (7), and/or a part (17) of the fabric insert (13) protrudes out of the base section (3) on the side facing away from the lip section (5). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a wiper blade, in which a fabric strip is guided through an extruder die in order to form a fabric insert (13), the fabric strip is surrounded by an elastomer material in order to produce an extruded profile, and the extruded profile is cut into individual wiper rubbers (1).
US08893346B2
An optical connector cleaner comprising a supply reel, a take-up reel, a case, an operation lever, a take-up mechanism, and a holding member. The supply reel stores a cleaning cloth member having one end side wounded thereon. The take-up reel takes up the other end side of the cleaning cloth member. The case has a connector connection portion on which the cleaning cloth member is exposed. The operation lever that has an operation portion projecting from the case and is swingably supported. The take-up mechanism rotates the take-up reel in a take-up direction by a predetermined angle when the operation lever swings. The holding member holds an optical connector on the connector connection portion in a state in which a coupling face of the optical connector is pressed against the cleaning cloth member exposed to the connector connection portion.
US08893343B2
A mop head which provides for both the reliable securement of a cleaning element to the mop head and for simple and efficient installation and removal of the cleaning element from the mop head is presented. The mop head includes a first securement member and a second securement member adapted for securing a cleaning element to the mop head, wherein the first securement member is pivotally connected to the second securement member at a pivot joint. The securement members are movable about the pivot joint into a use position and change position. The cleaning element can be mated to the securement members in the change position and movement of the securement members to use position secures cleaning element to the mop head for use. A latch locks the securement members in the use position to prevent movement of the securement members about the pivot joint.
US08893340B2
A mattress cover is disclosed for redirecting shear on a patient's skin away from the areas of the body relatively more likely to develop decubitus ulcers. The mattress cover includes an upper portion designed to cover the topside of a mattress, and at least one shear transfer zone attached to an underside of the upper portion of the mattress cover. The shear transfer zone(s) may be made of a low shear material so as to create a low friction interface between the mattress and the mattress cover to reduce shear forces exerted by the mattress. Additionally, the shear transfer zone(s) may be arranged such that a large portion of the shear forces exerted by the mattress can be redirected to areas of the body that are relatively less likely to develop decubitus ulcers.
US08893334B1
A pillow in the present invention may include a main pillow body and a neck support. The main pillow body may include three sections: a head support section and a pair of lateral support sections; and the shape of the main pillow body resembles a reverse letter “U.” In an exemplary embodiment, each lateral support section extends from the main pillow body with an enlarging rear end, and the length of lateral support sections is designed to be slightly longer than conventional pillows, so that the pillow would be long and wide enough to support the user's shoulders, no matter which rest position the user adopts. Also, the rear ends of the lateral support sections are thicker by inserting more stuffing materials inside to provide better lateral support to the user when he/she rests on the side during sleep.
US08893333B2
A surgical head support apparatus includes a headrest, a bracket, and a joint member. The headrest includes a first spherical joint and the bracket includes a second spherical joint. The joint member includes a joint lock. The joint member couples the headrest to the bracket. The joint lock moves the joint member between a locked and an unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the joint member disallows movement of the headrest relative to the bracket. In the unlocked configuration, the joint member allows movement of the headrest relative to the bracket.
US08893332B2
A purse or bag for carrying accessories and/or personal articles that converts into a pillow is provided. In a first state, the purse or bag includes at least two exterior pockets configured for carrying appropriate sized articles or accessories. In a second state, the purse or bag is turned inside out to expose first and second pillow portions which when zippered, or coupled, together form a single pillow.
US08893327B1
A baby pod is a hollowed-out circular shaped structure used to house new-born infants up to a year and a half age babies and other essential features associated with infant-to-toddler care in its interior shell. The outer and inner surface of the baby pod is smooth leaving the surface without any crevices to the outer shell or inner walls. The baby mattress is located in the cavity of a mattress box located at the bottom-center of the baby pod's interior. Baby pod has an outer solid flat base that surrounds the entire bottom to provide a secure and sturdy foundation to minimize unwanted sliding and movement and avoid tip overs. Towards the back of the baby pod just above the head of the baby mattress is a 180 degree-view viewing window. Towards the front of the baby pod just above the foot of the baby mattress is a huge entry opening that will allow for entry of an infant-to-toddler to be placed on the baby mattress. Starting from the top-center of the baby pod going towards the back in the direction of the 180 degree-view viewing window, is a ceiling window.
US08893322B2
A sofa configured to be converted into various positions, including a sofa, lounge, bed and chaise position. The sofa includes a seat deck and a backrest. Further, the sofa includes a first type of click-clack mechanisms placed between the seat deck and backrest which are used to convert the sofa to the lounge or bed position. Also, the sofa includes a second type of click-clack mechanisms placed throughout the seat deck and backrest. These are used to convert the sofa to one of two possible chaise positions. In particular, these click-clack mechanisms enable the sides of the seat deck and backrest to be raised to various levels (e.g., 20 degrees, 40 degrees). As a result, opposing sides of the seat deck and backrest can be raised at the appropriate level thereby providing two individual chaises facing one another.
US08893314B2
Disclosed is a sport goggle that includes a latching mechanism for a user to quickly release a lens from a frame without tools. The lens is released from the frame by pressing a button surface which bends a spring member in the frame unlocking the lens.
US08893313B2
A protective brim guard for a hard hat is provided which has an enclosed elastic band with an outer bead section and a skirt extending inward from the bead section. The bead section has a circular configuration forming an internal chamber which communicates with the outside atmosphere via a channel leading to the chamber. The internal chamber and channel allows the bead section to be expanded and contracted for mounting over a hard hat brim. The skirt defines an interior planar surface which is adapted to engage the exterior surface of a hard hat when the brim guard is mounted to the hard hat.
US08898802B2
The present invention provides a data management program for performing monitoring so that user data provided to the client cannot be copied and utilized for a purpose other than the intended purpose.When a storage device (8) storing user data (3) is connected to a client computer (12), a management program (4) prohibits writing to all of the external storage devices. The management program (8) makes settings prohibiting usage of a network (7). The management program (4) performs control by acquiring the file name, folder name, and attribute data of the execution file as well as the process name and process ID of the process being executed. The management program (4) has built-in driverware (50) which runs in the kernel mode (15) of an operating system (21) and serves to provide a common interface for the communication of device drivers (35, 36, 42 to 44) and an application program (20).
US08898798B2
A medical information navigation engine is useful in association with at least one electronic health record system. The engine decouples identifying information from clinical data from electronic health records. The clinical data includes clinical narrative having discrete data and textual data. The identifying information is stored. Additionally, the identifying information is associated with a token in the clinical data. The clinical data may then be indexed. The discrete data and the textual data in the clinical data may then be mined. Mining includes extracting at least one relevant event from the discrete data and the textual data. Next, the clinical data and identifying information may be reintegrated using the token. The event associated with the mined discrete data and textual data may then be exported. The system may also provide a validation tool for users, including clinicians, to search and view clinical data. The exported event may be used to alter treatment of a patient.
US08898786B1
A system is provided to restrict the ability of a spammer to freely contact an entity over a communication channel. To do so, the system reconfigures a communication channel used to contact the target entity such that the system can intercept a communication from a source contacting entity en route to the target entity. The system extracts an identifier (e.g., contacting entity's telephone number) from the communication and uses the identifier to query a database storing information about the contacting entity. The information reveals the contacting entity's industry, occupation, credibility, etc. From this information, the system automatically identifies the contacting entity as a spammer, potential spammer, or non-spammer. The system performs a default screening of the communication based on the classification. Alternatively, the target contacted entity can specify a configuration for different actions the system takes to screen the communication based on the source contacting entity classification.
US08898779B1
A method and apparatus for identifying information as protected information using a structure is described. A DLP system, incorporating a structure analyzer, monitors outbound data transfers performed by the computing system for violations of a DLP policy. The DLP system analyzes a structure of information contained in an outbound data transfer against a protected structure defined in a DLP policy. The DLP system identifies the information as protected information to be protected by the DLP policy based on the analysis, and, when the information is identified as protected, the DLP system detects a violation of the DLP policy. The protected structure may be derived from document templates, document forms, or from a set of training documents.
US08898775B2
A method and an apparatus for detecting malicious behavior of a computer program are disclosed. The method and apparatus analyze behavior characteristics of a malicious program using the concept of a monitored process set. The method comprises: monitoring an action executed by the computer program; searching for a process set associated with the monitored action within a library of monitored process sets, the process set including information of suspicious processes correlated with each other in creating relationships; and if the process set associated with the monitored action is found, judging whether the monitored action belongs to malicious behavior by correlation analysis based on information recorded in the process set found.
US08898772B2
Methods and structure are provided for implementing security features in SCSI Enclosure Services (SES) systems. The system comprises an SES device server, which includes a frontend interface, control unit, and backend interface. The frontend interface is operable to receive SES commands generated by Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) devices, and the backend interface is operable to manage operations of at least one peripheral device communicatively coupled with the SES device server based on received SES commands. The control unit is operable to determine whether a SCSI initiator that generated an SES command is an authorized device. The control unit is further operable to perform the SES command in response to determining that the SCSI initiator is an authorized device, and is further operable to reject the SES command in response to determining that the SCSI initiator is not an authorized device.
US08898771B1
One or more embodiments of an apparatus and a method prevent a dangerous user behavior with a mobile communication device with an integrated pedometer. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the integrated pedometer comprises a pedometer sensor and an associated software executed on a CPU and a memory unit of the mobile communication device, wherein the pedometer sensor is configured to detect a user's movements and vibrations to determine whether the user is walking or jogging based on a real-time determination from a sensor threshold value and an operation of the associated software. If the integrated pedometer determines that the user is currently walking or jogging, the associated software can dynamically activate a “walking lock” or a “jogging lock,” which prevents, prohibits, and/or limits the usage of certain device functions as long as the user is determined to be walking or jogging by the integrated pedometer.
US08898768B2
A computer or microchip comprising a central controller that connected by a secure control bus with the other parts of the computer or microchip, including a volatile random access memory (RAM) located in a portion of the computer or microchip that is connected to a network. The secure control bus is isolated from any input from the network and provides and ensures direct preemptive control by the central controller over the volatile random access memory (RAM). The direct preemptive control includes transmission of data and/or code to the volatile random access memory (RAM) or erasure of data and/or code in the volatile random access memory (RAM) and includes control of the connection between the central controller and the volatile random access memory (RAM) and between the volatile random access memory (RAM) and a microprocessor having a connection for the network.
US08898758B2
Technology is described for enabling passive enforcement of security at computing systems. A component of a computing system can passively authenticate or authorize a user based on observations of the user's interactions with the computing system. The technology may increase or decrease an authentication or authorization level based on the observations. The level can indicate what level of access the user should be granted. When the user or a component of the computing device initiates a request, an application or service can determine whether the level is sufficient to satisfy the request. If the level is insufficient, the application or service can prompt the user for credentials so that the user is actively authenticated. The technology may enable computing systems to “trust” authentication so that two proximate devices can share authentication levels.
US08898756B2
A method and system for password recovery in computer applications is disclosed. Passwords in the same computer application may be recovered according to different criteria. Criteria for password recovery vary according to the sensitivity of the password-protected material. Criteria for recovery of a password protecting sensitive information have more stringent criteria than criteria for recovery of passwords protecting less sensitive information. In certain embodiments, passwords may be recovered through the use of third party agents. Recovered passwords are associated with unique identifiers, such as email addresses and phone numbers that facilitate communication with a user. Recovered passwords may be transmitted to users via email, phone, and text message or by any other means associated with the unique identifier.
US08898755B2
A token or other storage device uses Internet identities to set file access attribute rights. Subsequently, requests to access a file can be controlled by confirming the Internet identity of the requestor by either validating the request with a known public key or retrieving the public key from an Internet identity provider. Files may be stored encrypted and may be re-encrypted with the public key associated with Internet identity making the request.
US08898752B2
In an embodiment, an administrative computer system receives user login credentials from a user and makes at least one of the following determinations: that the user identifier does not match any existing user account, that the user identifier matches at least one existing user account, but that the user's account is in a locked state, or that the user identifier matches at least one existing user account, but the user's password does not match the user identifier. The administrative computer system then returns to the user the same response message regardless of which determination is made. The response indicates that the user's login credentials are invalid. The response also prevents the user from determining which of the credentials was invalid, as the response message is the same for each determination and is sent to the user after a measured response time that is the same for each determination.
US08898750B2
One or more portable identification devices associated with a first smart network can be carried with a user of the first smart network to a second smart network and used to automatically identify the first smart network and allow authorized access to the smart network via the second smart network. The one or more portable identification devices are configured to automatically provision the second smart network with the information necessary for the second smart network to identify the first smart network and the authorization credentials to connect to the first smart network. In some example embodiments, the portable identification devices may be RFID tags.
US08898744B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method for implementing a presence system. According to an embodiment of the present invention, responsive to receiving a request for presence information associated with a presentity from a watcher, the presence system receives instructions indicating that an authorization instance other than the presentity shall be given an opportunity to change or verify an authorization rule associated with the request for presence information. As a consequence, the presence system notifies the authorization instance of the request for presence information, thereby enabling the authorization instance to change or verify the authorization rule. The presence system also makes a final decision on the authorization rule on the basis of the instructions and a notification indicating a change or verification of the authorization rule.
US08898740B2
A computing system includes a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to: generate a challenge response test image comprising a plurality of well-formed construct elements forming a well-formed construct and a plurality of random construct elements; and provide a plurality of masks to be placed over the image, one of the number of masks configured to reveal the well-formed construct elements when placed over the image.
US08898730B1
Systems and methods are directed to adjusting a privacy setting associated with an online computer software application. The systems and methods may provide a privacy settings layer containing privacy settings of the computer software application that is overlaid on the operating layer of the computer software application. Adjustments made to the privacy settings layer may be propagated to the online computer software application, whereupon the operating layer may be regenerated or adjusted to reflect the changes made to the privacy settings layer.
US08898720B2
A method, computer program, reception apparatus, and information providing apparatus for accessing or providing access to content. The method includes receiving a transport stream from a content provider. A virtual channel table (VCT) is extracted from the transport stream. Further, a determination is made as to whether one or more services, corresponding to an entry included in the VCT, are supported by the reception apparatus based on one or more parameterized service descriptor (PSD) instances, which are associated with a predetermined Service Type and included in the VCT.
US08898709B2
Provided herein are techniques for displaying power usage information on a television receiver. A television receiver receives power usage information regarding electrical devices and outputs the power usage information and status information regarding the electrical device for presentation by a presentation device.
US08898704B2
A display device according to the proposed embodiment includes a broadcasting signal receiving unit that receives a broadcasting signal; a broadcasting signal) separation unit that separates the broadcasting signal received through the broadcasting signal receiving unit into video, audio, and data signals; a controller that analyzes the data signal separated through the broadcasting signal separation unit to comprehend whether data broadcasting is serviced and the kind of the data broadcasting; and a memory that stores information on a channel on which the data broadcasting is serviced according to a control signal of the controller and information on the kind of the serviced data broadcasting, wherein the broadcasting receiving unit sequentially receives and outputs broadcasting signals of an entire channel according to the control signal of the controller.
US08898703B2
Provided are method and apparatus for generating a digital multimedia broadcasting application format. The apparatus includes: generating metadata for DMB contents; and combining the generated metadata and the DMB contents, wherein the metadata includes copyright information for the metadata, user information for a user who consumes the DMB contents, and package table information for describing a package related to the DMB contents.
US08898677B2
A data arrangement calculating system including a master unit and a plurality of slave units connected with said master unit. The master unit includes a data arranging section and a job allocating section. The data arranging section includes a data dividing section and an arranging section configured to arrange a first block of the blocks in a first slave unit of the plurality of slave units as an owner block, and arrange the replica block of a second block of the blocks next to the first block in the first slave unit. The first slave unit includes a data retaining section configured to retain said first block and the replica block of said second block and a job executing section. The job executing section executes the sliding window calculation by using the first block and the replica block of the second block.
US08898675B2
The method of calculating the processor utilization for each of logical processors in a computer, including the steps of: dividing the computation interval in which the processor utilization by each logical processor is to be calculated into a single task mode (ST) execution interval and a multitask mode (MT) execution interval, appropriately calculating them based on the before-and-after relation between two times; and adding the MT execution interval multiplied by a predetermined MT mode processor resource assignment ratio to the ST mode execution interval to obtain the processor utilization for the calculation-targeted logical processor in the computation interval.
US08898670B2
An information processing apparatus includes a first detector that detects a scheduled starting time of an event to be corrected and executed at the current time or thereafter; a second detector that detects in processing contents differing from that of the event detected by the first detector, a scheduled starting time of each event to be executed at the current time or thereafter; a calculator that calculates the difference between the scheduled starting time detected by the first detector and each scheduled starting time detected by the second detector; a determiner that determines a target event for the event to be corrected, based on the calculated differences; and a corrector that corrects the scheduled starting time of the event to be corrected such that an interval becomes short between the scheduled starting time of the event to be corrected and the scheduled starting time of the target event.
US08898661B2
A system capable of installing programs includes a plurality of personal computers (PCs) communicating with a network server. Each of the PCs includes a setup transmitting module, a host identification code replacing module, and a program installing module. The setup transmitting module downloads an installation package of a program from the network server to the PC. The installation package includes a linking relationship between an identification code of the program and a host identification code of a first PC which firstly installs the program thereinto, the linking relationship is used for determining if a PC is authorized to install the program thereinto. The host identification code replacing module obtain an identification code of the PC, and replaces the identification code of the PC with the identification code of the first PC, so as to enable the PC is authorized to install the program thereinto. A related method is also provided.
US08898659B2
A fixed image factory installation system which enables installation and launching of additional partitions or volumes. The fixed image factory installation system further enables customization and configuration of additional operating systems with corresponding drivers and software applications stack. The additional partitions can be hidden and do not require a visible descriptor.
US08898653B2
Updating code of a single processor in a multi-processor system includes halting transactions processed by a first processor in the system and processing of transactions by a second processor in the system are maintained. The first processor then receives new code and an operating system running on the first processor is terminated whereby all processes and threads being executed by the first processor are terminated. Execution of a self-reset of the first processor is commenced and interrupts associated with the first processor are disabled. Only those system resources exclusively associated with the first processor are reset, and memory transactions associated with the first processor are disabled. An image of the new code is copied into memory associated with the first processor, registers associated with the first processor are reset and the new code is booted by the first processor.
US08898646B2
An apparatus and method for profiling program code. In particular, an apparatus according to one embodiment comprises a filtering component identifying a first set of instructions for which profiling is desired wherein, in response to detecting that an instruction has been retired, the filtering component determines whether the instruction is within the first set of instructions for which profiling is desired; an event selection component detecting an event in response to the instruction retiring, the event selection component generating event signals in response to a designated event; and a profiling component recording the occurrence or not occurrence of the event within a first storage device responsive to signals from the filtering component and/or the event selection component.
US08898643B2
Example systems and methods for trace replay and simulation are presented. The system creates a trace entry for each one of a plurality of transactions through the server interface for a client, A message type and message data are recorded into the trace entry for each one of the plurality of transactions. A collection of trace entries for an individual one of the plurality of clients is transferred to a trace player. A client identifier is replaced in the trace entry with an identifier associated with the trace player, An interaction between the server and the clients is replayed.
US08898638B1
Methods and systems for remotely debugging a software program are provided. The methods and systems make use of a debugger application executing on a host computer and configured to communicate with a debugger module executing on a target computer via a distributed computing network, such as the Internet.
US08898622B2
A template-based supervisory process control and manufacturing information application development facility is disclosed that includes a number of time-saving application development tools that significantly enhance design productivity and allow re-using of previously developed application building blocks. The development facility includes an application object template library that stores a set of previously defined application object templates. The template library is accessed by developers through a configuration utility that facilitates specifying instances of the set of previously defined application object templates to be included in an application. Thereafter, application objects are instantiated from the selected ones of the set of previously defined application object templates in a build of the specified application.
US08898619B2
A computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable medium for determining if a software factory is ready to take on a software project is presented. In a preferred embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes the steps of: determining if an infrastructure for a software factory has been procured; determining if operational software needed to assemble work packets in an assembly line in the software factory has been installed; determining if a workflow event model for an assembly line in the software factory has been configured; determining if workload in the assembly line has been balanced; determining if communication channels between the software factory and a customer's computer system have been defined and cleared for data transmission; and in response to determining that any element described above has been determined not to have occurred, prohibiting an induction of a software project into the software factory.
US08898618B2
The interactive grouping tool offers the flexibility to simplify the schematic diagram of an integrated circuit (IC) design by grouping circuit elements that are not specified to be of interest into entities of any size. Circuit elements of various types and functionalities, including ports and pins, can be combined together into the same entity without modifying the underlying design logic and connectivity. By grouping and hiding the unnecessary details, the tool reduces clutter in a schematic diagram and greatly eases the process of traversing, debugging, and analyzing the schematic diagram. Users can choose to dynamically group the circuit elements on the schematic diagram without going through any compilation or synthesis process. Users can also choose to revert any of the entities back to the original schematic diagram with the ungrouping operation. For specific or batch manipulation of the schematic diagram, the tool provides a scripting interface for users to enter commands. The content of selected entities can be changed by using the drag-and-drop technique for certain operations including moving nodes into, removing nodes from, and adding nodes into an entity.
US08898614B2
A method includes preferentially placing fill regions adjacent to transistors of a particular conductivity type, such as p-channel transistors, for a plurality of standard cell instances of a device design. The method also includes evaluating all transistors of the first conductivity type prior to evaluating any transistors of a second conductivity type. The second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. For each transistor being evaluated, it is determined whether a criterion is me. A fill region is placed within a field isolation region adjacent to the transistor if the criterion is met.
US08898598B1
A method of layout pattern modification includes the following steps: step 1: performing an OPC process on a layout containing a plurality of square patterns to obtain a plurality of post-OPC patterns in correspondence with the plurality of square patterns; step 2: performing a manufacturing rule check on each of the plurality of post-OPC patterns to identify, from the plurality of post-OPC patterns, one or more post-OPC patterns violating the manufacturing rule; and step 3: rotating at least one of the one or more post-OPC patterns violating the manufacturing rule; and step 4: performing a manufacturing rule check on each of the rotated and non-rotated post-OPC patterns, if no post-OPC pattern violating the manufacturing rule is identified, finishing the process; otherwise, if one or more post-OPC patterns violating the manufacturing rule are identified, continuing to perform step 3 and step 4.
US08898595B2
An apparatus and method helps a user to determine parts of an electronic document that are of interest by allowing the user to define preferences for processing an electronic document, and by automatically highlighting one or more portions of the document according to the user preferences. Highlighting includes any way to enhance or alter the appearance of text, including bold, italics, underlining, change in font style, change in font size, change in color, change in background color, etc. The automatic highlighting of portions of the document attract the user's eyes to that portion of the document, which helps the user to discern whether or not the highlighted portion is relevant or interesting. The preferred embodiments also include a document generator that takes an input document and generates therefrom an output document that has one or more highlighted portions that are hard-coded into the document according to the user preferences.
US08898581B2
An information processing apparatus may include a control unit to control display of parts information of a plurality of items, to generate search information according to feedback from a user for the parts information, and to control display of a search result according to the search information.
US08898577B2
Techniques are disclosed for window sharing with occlusion removal. In an embodiment, the techniques begin with a blank composition image, to which shared windows are added. For each window of a desktop from which at least one window is shared, traversing the windows from greatest z-depth to least z-depth, the window is processed based on whether it is shared and is occluded. Shared windows are copied to the composition image. Where a part of a shared window is occluded and cannot be retrieved, an indication of this occlusion is added to the composition image. When the windows have been processed, the composition image is encoded and sent to a client computer where it is displayed to produce the window sharing between computers.
US08898571B2
A display apparatus includes means for recording numbers and display times of a series of plurality of setting screens displayed in transition, means for assigning the degrees of forgetting of the current screen which is shifted from other setting screens that are displayed in the process of transition from the previous setting screen to the current screen, means for evaluating the total degree of forgetting of the current screen in consideration of all degrees of forgetting in transition from the other setting screens displayed in the process of transition, means for determining forgetting threshold values for the individual screens on the basis of the degree of importance of the application, means for comparing total degree of forgetting with the forgetting threshold values, and means for highlighting a predetermined content of the current screen in the case where the total degree of forgetting is lower than the forgetting threshold values.
US08898559B2
The disclosure relates to a method for encoding an XML-based document (DOC), where the contents of the document correspond to an XML-schema voice definition. According to one exemplary method, an encoded binary representation (BDOC) of the document is produced by associating the contents of the document with binary structural codes (SBC) using encoding tables (CT), textual contents of a “complex type” data type being associated with the “mixed” content model structural codes (SBC).
US08898555B2
An index storing unit stores, in a page as a fixed-length storage area, a vocabulary index which associates vocabulary identifiers for identifying vocabularies included in a structured document having a layered logical structure and specific information for specifying positions where the vocabularies appear. A characteristic analyzing unit analyzes a characteristic concerning a distribution of the specific information included in the vocabulary index stored in the page. A dividing unit divides the page into a plurality of blocks including one of a plurality of the vocabulary indexes based on the characteristic analyzed by the characteristic analyzing unit, calculates a first range representing a range of the specific information of the vocabulary indexes included in the blocks, and stores the first range in each of the divided blocks in the index storing unit.
US08898546B1
Data is processed by selecting one or more bits in a codeword to replace with an erasure. The selected bits in the codeword are replaced with the erasure and error correction decoding is performed on the codeword with the erasure in place for the selected bits.
US08898540B1
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system-on-chip (SOC) that includes a plurality of processing cores; and a counter update module configured to atomically update a counter that is stored in a storage location, based on a counter update command received from a processing core of the plurality of processing cores; generate an ECC for the updated value of the counter; and write the updated value of the counter and the ECC to the storage location. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08898538B2
A device for encoding a sequence of information bits includes an LDPC-CC encoder to generate a first part of a codeword from a sequence of information bits and a set of programmable accumulators coupled to the LDPC-CC encoder to generate a second part of the codeword. The second part of the codeword is combined with the first part of the codeword to generate the codeword. The code rate of the codeword is varied by the number of accumulators being enabled to connect to the encoder. A puncturing unit is coupled to the output of the encoder for shortening the length of the first part of the codeword. A rate matching unit is coupled to the output of the encoder, to the output of the puncturing unit and to the output of the set of programmable accumulator to further adjust the code rate of the codeword.
US08898535B2
An apparatus for detecting an error within a coded binary word includes an error corrector and an error detector. The error corrector corrects a correctable bit error within a faulty subset of bits of a faulty coded binary word coded by an error correction code, so that the corrected subset of bits is equal to a corresponding subset of bits of a code word of the error correction code, if the error corrector works faultlessly. Further, the error detector determines an error detection bit sequence indicating whether or not an error detector input binary word is a code word of the error correction code. The error detector input binary word is based on a corrected coded binary word containing the corrected subset of bits and maximally a proper subset of bits of the faulty coded binary word.
US08898531B2
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test outputting a data signal and a clock signal indicating a timing at which the data signal is to be sampled, the test apparatus comprising a data acquiring section that acquires the data signal output by the device under test, at a timing corresponding to the clock signal output by the device under test; a masking section that masks the acquisition of data by the data acquiring section, while the device under test is not outputting the clock signal; and a judging section that judges pass/fail of the device under test based on a result of a comparison between the data signal acquired by the data acquiring section and an expected value.
US08898526B1
A communication link analyzer is disclosed for analyzing a communication link. The communication link analyzer may analyze bitstreams that have been FEC encoded and are transmitted according to one or more 10 Gigabit Ethernet standards, 40 Gigabit Ethernet standards, and other such standards. The communication link analyzer may maintain a running count of the errors detected for the bit positions of a 2112-bit FEC-encoded datablock. These errors may include, but are not limited to, baseline wander, deterministic jitter, and predictive-interval errors. When a given error threshold is met or exceeded for one or more received bitstreams, the communication link analyzer may then attempt a diagnosis of the communication link. Using previously provided empirical data, the communication link analyzer may provide a diagnosis of the communication link based on the error type threshold that was met or exceeded and the bit position associated with the error type threshold.
US08898522B2
A method of automating testing of a first computing system comprises identifying a plurality of system interface elements of a second computing system; determining an untested state at the first computing system of one of the identified plurality of system interface elements; determining the existence of any dependency of the one of the identified plurality of system interface elements upon another of the identified plurality of system interface elements; responsive to a finding of no the dependency, seeking in a repository a system interface element test corresponding to the one of the identified plurality of system interface elements and having an expected output according to a structure of the second computing system; and executing the system interlace element test at the first computing system.
US08898515B1
In one aspect, a method includes replicating multiple volumes synchronously across storage arrays using data protection agents, determining that a component has failed, trying to recover replication using another component and, if recovery of replication is not possible for a predetermined amount of time, stopping replication for all replicated volumes at a consistent point.
US08898511B2
Providing homogeneous recovery in a redundant memory system that includes a memory controller, a plurality of memory channels in communication with the memory controller, an error detection code mechanism configured for detecting a failing memory channel, and an error recovery mechanism. The error recovery mechanism is configured for receiving notification of the failing memory channel, for blocking off new operations from starting on the memory channels, for completing any pending operations on the memory channels, for performing a recovery operation on the memory channels and for starting the new operations on at least a first subset of the memory channels. The memory system is capable of operating with the first subset of the memory channels.
US08898507B1
Methods and apparatus for configuring disaster tolerant clusters of hypervisors as a virtualized service. In an exemplary embodiment, a system discovers WWPNs components, identifies networks zones in SANs having connectivity with at least one of the storage arrays and at least one of the journaling appliances, and creates a disaster recovery service offerings including replication in accordance with the selected service offering.
US08898504B2
A communications link includes multiple continuously calibrated parallel lines, wherein one or more lines are at least partially powered down while being continuously calibrated to reduce power consumption. In one aspect, at least N+1 lines (where N is the logical bus width) are periodically recalibrated, and at least one redundant line is powered down between calibrations. The redundant line could be either a true spare available for use as a replacement, or an extra line which carries functional data while other lines are being calibrated in turn. In another aspect, the logical bus width is variable, but does not exceed NMAX. When N
US08898502B2
A flexible and scalable bi-directional CDC interface is set forth between clock domains in a SoC device. The interface comprises a pulse sync circuit for receiving a pulse synchronized to the source clock domain and in response outputting a busy signal to the source clock domain and outputting the pulse synchronized to said destination clock domain; an input register for latching data from said source clock domain in response to a transition of said source clock in the event said busy signal is not active and preventing said data from being latched in the event said busy signal is active so as not to corrupt previously latched data; and an output register for receiving said pulse from said pulse sync circuit and in response latching said pulse from said input register on a transition of said destination clock.
US08898486B2
An apparatus and method for controlling an input power according to power management modes of a display device. In a saving mode of the power management modes, a power supply to the system is turned OFF according to an organic operation between components of the system. Thus, because the power supply to a power block within the system is turned OFF all, a consumed power is in a substantially zero state, comparable to a state in which a power plug is physically pulled out.
US08898470B2
Provided is a method of performing secured communication. In the method, a secured communication request for performing secured communication is received from the second device, a security key required for the secured communication is randomly generated and output, and a plurality of pieces of data encrypted using the security key are transmitted and received to and from the second device.
US08898469B2
A method enables selected features of a software product residing on an end user electronic device with a license delivered from a licensing provider to a service provider of the end user electronic device. The method includes requesting at least one license to authorize a first service provider. An encrypted installation key uniquely associated with the first service provider is received as well as an authorization agent module for installation on one or more authorization agent devices associated with the first service provider. The encrypted installation key and the authorization agent module are installed on the authorization agent devices. A device-unique identifier (DUID) is generated for each authorization agent device based on hardware characteristics of the respective authorization agent devices. The DUID and the encrypted installation key are sent from the authorization agent device to a licensing provider to obtain the requested license. The requested license is received by the authorization agent devices if the DUID and the encrypted installation key are validated by the licensing provider. The license on authorization agent device authorizes and enables the selected features of the software product on an end user electronic device.
US08898464B2
A secure data parser is provided that may be integrated into any suitable system for securely storing and communicating data. The secure data parser may split or share a data set into multiple portions that are stored or communicated distinctly. Encryption of the original data, the portions of data, or both may be employed for additional security. The secure data parser may be used to protect data in motion by splitting an original data set into portions of data that may be communicated using one or more communications paths. Secure workgroup communication is supported through the secure distribution and management of a workgroup key for use with the secure data parser.
US08898463B2
According to one embodiment, a device includes a cell array including an ordinary area, a hidden area, and an identification information record area in which identification information which defines a condition for accessing the hidden area is recorded. An authentication circuit performs authentication. A sensing circuit recognizes information recorded in the identification information storage area, determines the information recorded in the identification information record area when an access request selects the hidden area, validates an access to the hidden area when determined that the identification information is recorded, and invalidates an access to the hidden area when determined that the identification information is not recorded.
US08898453B2
An authentication server and method are provided for generating tokens for use by a mobile electronic device for accessing a service. Communications between the device and the authentication server are through a relay. A memory stores a secret shared with a service server from which the service is provided. A processor is configured to generate the token using the shared secret and based on a reliance on the relay to ensure that the device has authorization to access the service. One or more computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that cause the device to obtain proof of authorization to access the service is also provided. The instructions implement a method comprising: outputting via a wireless connection to a relay a request addressed to an authentication server for a token and receiving the token from the authentication server via the relay.
US08898443B2
A mobile computing device with a mobile operating system and desktop operating system running concurrently and independently on a shared kernel without virtualization. The mobile operating system provides a user experience for the mobile computing device that suits the mobile environment. The desktop operating system provides a full desktop user experience when the mobile computing device is docked to a secondary terminal environment. The mobile computing device may be a smartphone running the Android mobile OS and a full desktop Linux distribution on a modified Android kernel.
US08898441B2
A first hardware thread executes a software program instruction, which instructs the first hardware thread to initiate a second hardware thread. As such, the first hardware thread identifies one or more register values accessible by the first hardware thread. Next, the first hardware thread copies the identified register values to one or more registers accessible by the second hardware thread. In turn, the second hardware thread accesses the copied register values included in the accessible registers and executes software code accordingly.
US08898437B2
A predecode repair cache is described in a processor capable of fetching and executing variable length instructions having instructions of at least two lengths which may be mixed in a program. An instruction cache is operable to store in an instruction cache line instructions having at least a first length and a second length, the second length longer than the first length. A predecoder is operable to predecode instructions fetched from the instruction cache that have invalid predecode information to form repaired predecode information. A predecode repair cache is operable to store the repaired predecode information associated with instructions of the second length that span across two cache lines in the instruction cache. Methods for filling the predecode repair cache and for executing an instruction that spans across two cache lines are also described.
US08898430B2
A data processing apparatus having a memory configured to store tables having virtual to physical address translations, a cache configured to store a subset of the virtual to physical address translations and cache management circuitry configured to control transactions received from the processor requesting virtual address to physical address translations. The data processing apparatus identifies where a faulting transaction has occurred during execution of a context and whether the faulting transaction has a transaction stall or transaction terminate fault. The cache management circuitry is responsive to identification of the faulting transaction having a transaction terminate fault to invalidate all address translations in the cache that relate to the context of the faulting transaction such that a valid bit associated with each entry in the cache is set to invalid for the address translations.
US08898429B2
An application processor includes a system memory unit, peripheral devices, a control unit and a central processing unit (CPU). The system memory unit includes one page table. The peripheral devices share the page table and perform a DMA (Direct Memory Access) operation on the system memory unit using the page table, where each of the peripheral devices includes a memory management unit having a translation lookaside buffer. The control unit divides a total virtual address space corresponding to the page table into sub virtual address spaces, assigns the sub virtual address spaces to the peripheral devices, respectively, allocates and releases a DMA buffer in the system memory unit, and updates the page table, where at least two of the sub virtual address spaces have different sizes from each other. The CPU controls the peripheral devices and the control unit. The application processor reduces memory consumption.
US08898428B2
In one embodiment, a method for accessing host data records stored in a virtual tape storage (VTS) system includes receiving a mount request to access a host data record, determining a starting logical block ID (SLBID) corresponding to the requested host data record, determining a physical block ID (PBID) that corresponds to the SLBID, accessing a physical block on a tape medium corresponding to the PBID, and outputting the physical block corresponding to the PBID without outputting an entire logical volume that the physical block is stored to. According to another embodiment, a VTS system includes random access storage, sequential access storage, support for a virtual volume, a storage manager having logic for determining a PBID that corresponds to a SLBID, and logic for copying a portion of a logical volume from the sequential access storage to the random access storage without copying the entire logical volume.
US08898418B2
A provisioning apparatus operable with a virtualisation layer in a server, for provisioning a storage volume associated with a physical storage device to a virtual server in a storage area network. The provisioning apparatus includes a discovery component for transmitting a request to the virtual server to identify one or more storage volumes, and a receiving component for receiving a first unique identifier associated with the or each located storage volume from the virtual server. A comparing component determines from configuration data associated with the or each located storage volume a second unique identifier associated with the each of the located storage volumes. A comparing component compares the or each first unique identifier received from the virtual server with the or each of the second unique identifier associated with the configuration data to find a matching identifier.
US08898415B2
A controller for an arrangement of memory devices may issue a write command without waiting for the receipt of a previously issued read command. An addressed memory device may read data out onto the data bus according to a read command while, simultaneously, writing data according to a write command received subsequent to the read command.
US08898408B2
A method of memory controller-independent memory mirroring includes providing a mirroring association between a first memory segment and a second memory segment that is independent of a memory controller. A memory buffer receives data from the memory controller that is directed to a first memory location in the first memory segment. The memory buffer writes the data, independent of the memory controller, to both the first memory segment and the second memory segment according to the mirroring association. The memory buffer receives a plurality of read commands from the memory controller that are directed to the first memory location in the first memory segment and, in response, reads data from an alternating one of the first memory segment and the second memory segment and stores both first data from the first memory segment and second data from the second memory segment.
US08898403B2
A method for managing storage space in a storage port queue includes establishing a watermark for the storage port queue. The method further receives, at the storage port associated with the storage port queue, a command having an initiator-target-LUN (ITL) nexus associated therewith. Upon receiving the command, the method determines whether the used space in the storage port queue has reached the watermark. In the event the used space has not reached the watermark, the method processes the command. In the event the used space has reached the watermark and a specified number of commands for the ITL nexus are already present in the storage port queue, the method rejects the command. Otherwise, the method may process the command. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed herein.
US08898396B2
Memory sharing in a software pipeline on a network on chip (‘NOC’), the NOC including integrated processor (‘IP’) blocks, routers, memory communications controllers, and network interface controllers, with each IP block adapted to a router through a memory communications controller and a network interface controller, where each memory communications controller controlling communications between an IP block and memory, and each network interface controller controlling inter-IP block communications through routers, including segmenting a computer software application into stages of a software pipeline, the software pipeline comprising one or more paths of execution; allocating memory to be shared among at least two stages including creating a smart pointer, the smart pointer including data elements for determining when the shared memory can be deallocated; determining, in dependence upon the data elements for determining when the shared memory can be deallocated, that the shared memory can be deallocated; and deallocating the shared memory.
US08898395B1
Methods and systems for maintaining cache consistency are described. A group of instructions is executed. The group of instructions can include multiple memory operations, and also includes an instruction that when executed causes a cache line to be accessed. In response to execution of that instruction, an indicator associated with the group of instructions is updated to indicate that the cache line has been accessed. The cache line is indicated as having been accessed until execution of the group of instructions is ended.
US08898392B2
The invention discloses a data storage system and managing method thereof. The data storage system according to the invention includes N storage devices, a backup memory and a controller where N is a natural number. Each storage device has a respective write cache. Once the data storage system suffers from power failure, the backup memory still reserves data stored therein. The controller receives data transmitted from an application I/O request unit, executes a predetermined operation for the received data to generate data to be written, transmits the data to be written to the write caches of the storage devices, duplicates the data to be written into the backup memory, and labels the duplicated data in the backup memory as being valid in response to a writing confirm message sent from the storage devices.
US08898384B2
A computerized data storage system includes at least one storage device including a nonvolatile writable medium; a cache memory and a data management controller and a storage port. The storage port is operable to receive a request to read data, and, in response to the request to read data, to send the data stored in the data storing area of the cache memory. The storage port is further operable to receive a request to write data, and, in response to the request to write data, to send the write data to the data storing area of the cache memory. The storage system further includes a thin provisioning controller operable to provide a virtual volume, and a capacity pool. The storage system further includes a data compression controller and a data decompression controller.
US08898383B2
A storage controller calculates an access frequency of each logical disk; that is selects a first logical disk device of which the access frequency exceeds a first predetermined value, the first logical disk device being allocated to a first physical disk device; selects a second logical disk device which has the access frequency equal to or less than a second predetermined value, the second logical disk device being allocated to a second physical disk device; and reallocates the first and second logical device; and reallocates the first and second logical devices to the second and the first physical disk device, respectively.
US08898382B2
A storage system and a method of control of a storage system including plural storage media, at least one SAS expander physically connected to each of the plural storage media and to a controller via plural parallel data channels, the controller being connected to a host CPU arranged in use to execute input/output operations to transfer data to and read data from the plural storage media, the method including: at the expander, varying the available bandwidth for communication with the plural storage media by varying the available number of the plural parallel data channels thereby providing control of the number of input/output operations executed by the host CPU.
US08898379B2
A control arrangement, for example, in a digital component that forms part of a system, draws an input current for its operation and is configured for monitoring an interface for any one of a group of commands and, upon detecting an issued one of the group of commands, operates the component for executing the issued command in an operational mode, and during an idle time on the interface, the control arrangement exclusively monitors the interface for any one of the group of commands such that the input current is limited to a leakage current. The component may draw less than 1 milliamp of current during the idle mode.
US08898378B2
Retention management for data stored in data blocks on a tape is provided. A block mapping table has entries each of which include an expiration date for data blocks stored on the tape. The entries of the block mapping table may be sorted in accordance with at least one sorting criterion. Data blocks on the tape are rearranged according to the block mapping table. The block mapping table is then stored, either on the tape or in a memory associated with the tape.
US08898369B1
A method and system for code storage using volatile memory are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises providing a system on a chip (SOC) that includes at least one volatile memory. The method includes coupling a portable power source to the SOC, wherein the portable power source powers the at least one volatile memory with minimal leakage. The method includes storing updatable code on the at least one volatile memory. In a second aspect, the system comprises a system on a chip (SOC) and at least a Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM) coupled to the SOC with updatable code stored therein. The system includes a portable power source coupled to the SOC, wherein the portable power source powers the SRAM with minimal leakage.
US08898363B2
This invention relates to a method, a computer program product, an apparatus and a system for switching a first switching unit of an apparatus into a state out of a set of states, wherein said apparatus comprises a first serial interface and a second serial interface, each of this first and second serial interfaces comprises at least one data line and a power supply line, and wherein said first switching unit is coupled to the power supply line of both said first serial interface and said second serial interface, wherein said set of states comprises a first state for connecting the power supply of said first serial interface to the power supply of said second serial interface, and a second state for connecting the power supply of said first serial interface to a first further power supply line, said first further power supply line being configured to be connected to a first power supply.
US08898362B2
A lane jumper for transmitting at least one lane from a first interface to a second interface is disclosed. The at least one lane is connected with the first interface. The first interface defines a first pin group and a second pin group, and the second interface defines a third pin group connected with the second pin group. The lane jumper includes a fourth pin group and a fifth pin group, wherein the fourth pin group and the fifth pin group of the lane jumper are configured for being respectively connected with the first pin group and the second pin group. The at least one lane is transmitted from the first interface to the second interface sequentially through the first pin group, the fourth pin group, the fifth pin group, the second pin group, and the third pin group.
US08898358B2
A method, device and computer program product for providing multi-protocol communication on an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus. The method for providing multi-protocol communication on an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus can include issuing a start command by a bus management device onto the I2C bus. Thereafter, the bus management device can send an embedded differential protocol to a non-I2C device. Once communication with the non-I2C device is completed, the bus management device can issue a stop command to release the I2C bus. In one aspect of this embodiment, the method can include receiving a response from the non-I2C device.
US08898353B1
A system and method can support input/output (I/O) virtualization in a computing environment. The system comprise a free buffer pool that contains a plurality of packet buffers associated with one or more virtual host bus adaptors (vHBAs), wherein each said vHBA maintains a main linked list of buffer pointers that point to one or more packet buffers. Furthermore, a context table can be defined on an on-chip memory associated with an input/output (I/O) device, wherein the context table maintains a temporary linked list of buffer pointers that point to one or more packet buffers allocated for a disk read operation. The I/O device can open the context table when the I/O device receives disk read data from a physical host bus adaptor (HBA), update the temporary linked list of buffer pointers, and merge the temporary linked list into the main linked list when the context table is closed.
US08898348B2
Techniques for detecting connection of a host device by an accessory device are provided. The accessory device outputs a pulsed voltage/current on its power contact and measure the voltage at the power contact in response to the pulsed voltage/current. If the measured voltage reaches a certain value at or after the expiration of a predetermined time, then the accessory concludes that a host device is connected to it.
US08898342B2
Methods and structure are provided for enhancing zone configuration processes in a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) architecture. The method includes embedding, at a SAS initiator, a ZONE UNLOCK request within a Serial Management Protocol (SMP) ZONE ACTIVATE command. The method also comprises transmitting the SMP ZONE ACTIVATE command to a SAS expander, and receiving, at the SAS expander, the SMP ZONE ACTIVATE command. Further, the method includes detecting, at the SAS expander, the ZONE UNLOCK request within the SMP ZONE ACTIVATE COMMAND. Additionally, the method includes copying, at the SAS expander, shadow SAS zoning data from a memory of the expander to current SAS zoning data at the memory of the expander responsive to acquiring the SMP ZONE ACTIVATE command. The method also comprises unlocking the SAS expander responsive to extracting the ZONE UNLOCK request from the SMP ZONE ACTIVATE command.
US08898341B2
Disclosed are a method of allocating unique identifiers to slave battery managers for managing battery modules by a master battery manager and a battery management system using the same, and the method includes making a request for allocation information to the slave battery managers; receiving the allocation information from the slave battery managers; and allocating the unique identifiers to the slave battery managers based on the allocation information, wherein the allocation information contains an MAC address of a device performing a calibration between the slave battery manager and the battery module and time information on a time when the calibration is performed. According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently control and manage a plurality of battery modules by allocating unique identifiers by using allocation information set to each of the plurality of battery modules.
US08898336B2
A conversion server stores therein a combination of client information indicating the type of a client terminal and content information that is requested to be sent from the client terminal. Furthermore, the conversion server stores therein server information indicating a conversion server responsible for the format of content in such a manner that the server information is associated with the combination of the client information and the content information. If the conversion server receives, from the client terminal, a send request for content, the conversion server distinguishes between the client information on the client terminal and the content information on the content requested to be sent. The conversion server notifies a conversion server indicated by the server information associated with the combination of the distinguished client information and the distinguished content information of the distinguished client information and the distinguished content information.
US08898333B1
In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a switch fabric. The apparatus can also include a first edge device operatively coupled to an edge of the switch fabric and having a plurality of ports. The apparatus can also include a second edge device operatively coupled to the edge of the switch fabric and having a plurality of ports, the switch fabric defining a plurality of single-hop paths between the first edge device and the second edge device. The first edge device configured to send to a peripheral processing device operatively coupled to the first edge device a representation of a mapping of a portion of the plurality of ports of the first edge device and a portion of the plurality of ports of the second edge device to a plurality of ports included in a non-edge device represented within a virtual multi-hop network topology.
US08898332B2
Provided is a computer network that includes computer network devices that are grouped into severable computer network zones and that are operable to detect non-compliant network activity in another of the severable computer network zones. The computer network includes multiple intra-network communication connections that are operable to communicatively couple the severable computer network zones to one another and to be selectively disconnected responsive to the detection of non-compliant network activity in a first zone of the severable computer network zones to isolate the first zone from other of the severable computer network zones.
US08898329B1
Audio content distribution from audio sources to client terminals through a network. An audio source interface receives raw audio from an audio source, and converts it into a digital audio clip in a digital audio packet, containing a timestamp and a channel identity corresponding to the audio source. A network audio server formats the digital audio packet into a network compliant digital audio file, which is stored at a network address. The network audio server generates a directory packet including the address of the digital audio file, the channel identity, and the timestamp, and, couples the directory packet to a directory server located on the network. The directory server outputs directory packets to a client terminal on the network, which selects a directory packet and sends an audio file request through the network for the digital audio file. The audio file is then sent to the client terminal.
US08898322B2
Provided are a contents receiving apparatus for obtaining application control information and a method thereof, the method comprising: receiving application control information, including effective duration information, from a server; determining whether a current control time point is within a time period represented by the effective duration information; and selectively requesting other application control information from the server in response to the determining.
US08898320B2
A method and system of virtual multicasting content is disclosed. The method and system disclosed enable the receipt of virtual multicast content without requiring the expensive investment in the infrastructure necessary for a network to be multicast enabled. The virtual multicasting may be performed according to a method of virtual multicasting multicast content on non-multicast enabled networks, comprising the steps of determining if an attached network is multicast enabled, if the attached network is not totally multicast enabled, querying for virtual multicast requests for the multicast content from non-multicast enabled client computers, listening for virtual multicast requests, and determining, based on the virtual multicast requests, which client computers request the multicast content, from the unicast addresses, and the requested methods of delivery for the multicast content. The network includes client computers that have unicast addresses and the at least one virtual multicast request includes a unicast address identifying a client computer of the network and a requested method of delivery for the multicast content.
US08898314B2
A device receives traffic destined for a first application, and the traffic is received from a second application via a virtual machine and an indirect connection. The device determines, based on the traffic, whether the second application is a known and trusted neighbor of the first application, and establishes a direct connection between the first application and the second application, when the second application is a known and trusted neighbor of the first application. The device also applies traffic rules to the direct connection, and enables the traffic to be directly and securely communicated between the first application and the second application via the direct connection.
US08898297B1
An embodiment of the disclosed system provides the user of a computing device with information concerning the expected usefulness of an item, such as a hyperlink, within a network resource, such as a search result webpage, with the expected usefulness information based at least in part on an attribute of the user's computing device. For example, the system may provide the user with information identifying a particular website as poorly suited for the user's device, based on data that the system collected identifying an aggregate bounce-back rate from computing devices with a similar attribute to the user's computing device.
US08898286B2
A broadband gateway may be used to authorize transactions associated with one or more accounts, which may be associated with a user of the broadband gateway. The transaction may be handled by the broadband gateway. The authorizations may be performed based on information associated with the accounts, whose storage may be controlled by the broadband gateway. The broadband gateway may block and/or terminate transactions failing authentication and/or validation, which may be performed based on the stored information. The transactions may be initiated within a network serviced by the broadband gateway. The transactions may also be initiated outside the serviced network. The stored information may comprise a user profile, which may comprise a plurality of settings for controlling and/or managing authorization performed by the broadband gateway. The user profiles may be configurable by users, wherein configuration may comprise initializing and/or modifying one or more of the transaction related settings.
US08898284B2
A method for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system. A gateway node disseminates a specification request comprising a set of parameters to a set of computing devices. The gateway node may be unaware of the number and identity of individual computing devices. Each computing node receiving the request determines whether its attributes satisfy the predicates expressed in the specification request. If so, the node processes the parameters in the specification request and modifies its own behavior based on the values in the parameters of the specification request. Subsequently, the gateway node may also observe the quality of information (QoI) values communicated from the set of computing devices. The gateway node iteratively modifies the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.
US08898275B2
A monitoring system captures the behavior of distributed applications and also provides a framework for augmenting functionality of the application in response to user interactions and different states of the application and network. Network events exchanged between an application and an application server are captured and the local client events on the client device are also selectively captured. The different disparate network events and client events are then combined together during a replay operation to simulate the user experience during the previous application session.
US08898271B2
A system and method can support accurate load balancing in a transactional middleware machine environment with a plurality of transactional middleware machines. A service response time table can be maintained on each transactional middleware machine in the transactional middleware machine environment, wherein said service response time table is adaptive to be used by a client on the transactional middleware machine to make routing decisions for a service request. The transactional middleware machine environment can further include a plurality of synchronization servers, with each said synchronization server associated with a transactional middleware machine in the transactional middleware machine environment. The plurality of synchronization servers operates to periodically synchronize the service response time table on each said transactional middleware machine in the transactional middleware machine environment.
US08898265B2
Information about processes executing on a server together with network traffic and network state information such as ARP and routing tables is collected on each server in a network using a small piece of remote software running on the server. This information is sent to or gathered by a central collating and decoding program, which also obtains information from intervening network devices, such as routing tables, access control lists, load balancer maps and so on. This information is decoded to predict how the network traffic would look at all points in the network.
US08898263B2
Embodiments relate to techniques for efficiently and effectively propagating changes from a server to a client using a network filter driver configured to monitor network traffic for a signature. Techniques are presented for synchronizing settings with a remote server device. A method is provided, including (a) monitoring web-based messages exchanged between the computerized client device and the remote server device across a network, (b) detecting a pre-defined pattern within a particular message of the monitored web-based messages exchanged between the computerized client device and the remote server device, (c) in response to detecting the pre-defined pattern within the particular message, evaluating the particular message to determine whether a set of server settings has changed, and (d) in response to determining that the set of server settings has changed, updating a local version of the set of server settings. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.
US08898259B2
A server is configured to receive a request for content from a user of a user device. The server is configured further to obtain a group of bookmarks for the content, the group of bookmarks being obtained based on at least one of viewing behavior of the user or viewing behavior of another user. The server is configured further to provide the content and the group of bookmarks to the user.
US08898247B2
There is described a method and apparatus for sending data through one or more packet data networks. A reduced size packet is sent from a packet sending node towards a cache node, the reduced size packet including in its payload a pointer to a payload data segment stored in a file at the cache node. When the reduced size packet is received at the cache node, the pointer is used to identify the payload data segment from data stored at the cache node. The payload data segment is inserted into the reduced size packet in place of the pointer so as to generate a full size packet, which is sent from the cache node towards a client.
US08898246B2
A computing device having partitions, and a method of communicating between partitions, are disclosed wherein at least one partition comprises: at least one register substantially always accessible to other partitions and capable of defining an address area; at least one address area that may be accessible to other partitions and is capable of being defined by the at least one register; and address areas other than the at least one accessible address area that are not accessible to other partitions. A method of processing interrupts comprising receiving an interrupt, assessing the origin of the interrupt, accepting, rejecting, or further assessing the interrupt, depending on its origin, when further assessing the interrupt, accepting or rejecting the interrupt depending on its contents, and forwarding accepted interrupts but not rejected interrupts to a target processor, and a device carrying out that method are also disclosed.
US08898245B2
An improved download capability for mobile devices, without requiring increasing of the local memory of such devices, by providing a set of multimedia devices with the capability to create a cooperative download grid where multiple instrumented devices can be aggregated together according to predefined profiles. This capability is useful in at least two different scenarios. The first is when a SIP enabled device must download a large file having a capacity that is larger than the available memory of the SIP device. The second is when a SIP enabled device must download a file but cannot be connected for a long enough time to accomplish the download. If the SIP device is in proximity to other compatible devices such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), these devices are operable to be dynamically aggregated to provide a download grid with multiprotocol support that allows optimized downloading.
US08898244B2
A system and method for file transfer management are disclosed. An example embodiment includes: initiating a transfer of a file from a source system to a target system; deconstructing a file into logical components based on the format of the file; storing the cacheable logical components in a parent cache; generating an element list including a component identifier of the cacheable logical components; and delivering the element list to the target system. The example embodiment includes: receiving, at the target system the element list; determining if cacheable logical components are present in a child cache; fetching the cacheable logical components from the child cache; fetching other cacheable logical components and non-cacheable gap components from the source system; reconstructing the file by combining the fetched components; storing the missing cacheable logical components into the child cache; and delivering the reconstructed file to a destination.
US08898242B2
A data communication control is realized in a system in which a priority terminal is shorter than a non-priority terminal in a standby time required until the terminal starts data communication after detecting that a communication medium is idle. An apparatus operating as the priority terminal determines an amount of data to be transmitted from the apparatus, and performs control for causing another apparatus operating as the non-priority terminal according to the determined amount of data.
US08898234B2
Enabling question object owner and status tracking can include establishing one or more question objects within an email message from a sender to a set of recipients. Question objects can be maintained on the server with unique identifiers. The question object(s) can have multiple sub question objects. Each question object or sub question object can be delegated a question owner, which can be maintained in the server. Recipients (answer providers) can take responsibility for answering various parts of the question object or the whole question object or for tackling a task associated with the question object. The server can associate and record question providers with their various responsibilities or answers. The server can then dynamically update a portion or all of the originally sent email message in the question owner's email account and the recipients' (answer providers') email accounts to show the answer and the answer provider.
US08898231B2
A system for temporally associating a user with a location. The system includes a receiving component for receiving identity data from an electronic sensor, the identity data being indicative of a user's presence being detected at a location at a given time. The receiving component further receives scheduling information about the availability of the location for the given time, and an analysis component determines from the scheduling information and the user's detected presence whether the location is available for use by the user.
US08898225B2
An installer file, an application program file, and other such files are stored in image memory provided within a camera. Upon connection of the camera to a host device, programs within the installer file are read into the host device and automatically executed, and processing of user registration and installation processing of an attached application program contained within the application program file are automatically performed. After processing of program installation, the installer file and the application program file are deleted from the image memory.
US08898224B2
A technique for modifying an input/output (I/O) connection type between a client and a server includes determining, by the client, when at least partial storage access control for the client is to be migrated from a first virtualized I/O server to a second virtualized I/O server. An I/O connection type, from among multiple available I/O connection types available between the client and the second virtualized I/O server, is then selected by the client when the at least partial storage access control for the client is to be migrated. The selected I/O connection type is then communicated, by the client, to the second virtualized I/O server, which is configured to facilitate storage access for the client using the selected I/O connection type.
US08898221B2
A system, computer readable medium and method for providing to a user device (20) location information of a data device that provides a specific asset, where the user device (20) is present in a network (32) that includes at least a serving node (36) and an address of the user device (20) is indicative of a gateway node (35) that is different from the serving node (36). The method includes receiving at the serving node (36) a first message from the user device (20), the first message including a request for the specific asset; sending the first message from the serving node (36) to the gateway node (35); receiving at the serving node (36) a second message from the gateway node (35), the second message including a first location of a first data device (44) that provides the specific asset; modifying at the serving node (36) the second message to include an indication about a second location of a second data device (46) that provides the specific asset, where the first location is different from the second location; and sending the modified second message including the second location to the user device (20) for accessing the specific asset.
US08898220B2
Various embodiments of systems and methods for remote method invocation (RMI) tunneling over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) are described herein. RMI client uses HTTP client to send a protocol message in the body of an HTTP request to a special application on a server. The application dispatches the content of the message to RMI service of the server to handle remote call. RMI response may be sent in the HTTP response of the same HTTP request or some of the further requests. RMI callbacks initiated from the server back to the client are also delivered in an HTTP response of a client's HTTP request.
US08898215B2
The high-radix multiplier-divider provides a system and method utilizing an SRT digit recurrence algorithm that provides for simultaneous multiplication and division using a single recurrence relation. When A, B, D and Q are fractions (e.g., Q=0·q−1 q−2 . . . q−n), then the algorithm provides for computing S = AB D to yield a w-bit quotient Q and w-bit remainder R by: (1) determining the next quotient digit q−j using a quotient digit selection function; (2) generating the product q−jD; and (3) performing the triple addition of rRj-1, (−q−jD) and b - ( j - 1 ) ( A r ) where R0=b−1Ar−1. The recurrence relation may be implemented with carry-save adders for computation using bitwise logical operators (AND, OR, XOR).
US08898214B2
A method of subtracting floating-point numbers includes determining whether a first sign associated with a first floating-point number is unequal to a second sign associated with a second floating-point number, determining whether a first exponent associated with the first floating-point number is less than a second exponent associated with the second floating-point number, negating a first mantissa associated with the first floating-point number when the first sign is unequal to the second sign and determining that the first exponent is less than the second exponent, and adding the first mantissa to a second mantissa associated with the second floating-point number when the first sign is unequal to the second sign and determining that the first exponent is less than the second exponent. Embodiments of a corresponding computer-readable medium and device are also provided.
US08898211B2
A method of generating non-deterministic and non-periodic random bits including the steps of providing a plurality of noise generators; providing a trigger based upon an outside world input; sampling the output signal of one of the noise generators upon the provision of the trigger; generating a first random number based upon the value of the sampled signal; and wherein the identity of the noise generator to be sampled is determined based upon a previous random number generated.
US08898207B2
Mechanisms are provided for accessing a file of a physical storage device of a data processing system via an intelligent file system associated with the physical storage device. The mechanisms receive, in the intelligent file system of the data processing system, a file access command specifying a file access operation and an extended filename. The extended filename comprises a full filename and one or more options multiplexed with the full filename. The mechanisms parse the file access command to identify the file access operation, the full filename, and the one or more options. The mechanisms then execute the file access operation on a file of the physical storage device corresponding to the full filename using the one or more options specified in the extended filename.
US08898206B1
The techniques introduced herein provide an efficient mechanism for reducing remote procedure requests to storage server nodes in a cluster of the storage servers to construct a directory path for a data container. According to one aspect of the invention, a new caching technique and an efficient organization of the cache memory are provided so that a cache memory on a storage server node is populated with individual path components of a directory structure. A novel cache invalidation mechanism is provided to maintain cache consistency at the cache so that when a path component changes, such as an identifier of a data container in the directory structure, and a path component is invalidated in the cache memory, the remaining path components can be retained and later reused.
US08898204B1
System and method for controlling updates of a data structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a data structure that includes a hierarchically arranged set of nodes and branches, and each node has two or less branches, recording a total number of nodes in the data structure, determining whether to update the data structure according to one or more triggering conditions, generating an updated data structure in response to the one or more triggering conditions, and storing the updated data structure in a memory. The method of recording a total number of nodes includes incrementing a count of the total number of nodes by one when a new node is added to the data structure, and decrementing a count of the total number of nodes by one when a node is removed from the data structure.
US08898199B2
The present disclosure discloses a method for creating a distributed management monitoring system to create a distributed management monitoring system based on a distributed file system. Moreover, the present disclosure further discloses a monitoring method of the distributed management monitoring system, the method includes: updating a file of recording monitoring information regularly and correspondingly updating a device descriptor table by a sub-file system of the distributed management monitoring system; updating the device descriptor table and informing a server to update a file descriptor table by the sub-file system; and finding a device descriptor table corresponding to a designated network element through traversing the file descriptor table and reading a designated file according to the device descriptor table by the server. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a distributed management monitoring system, the system includes: a server, a file descriptor table and a sub-file system. Therefore, by utilizing the present disclosure, each network element is enabled to monitor itself independently, unnecessary communications among network elements are reduced, and the stability of the distributed management monitoring system is enhanced.
US08898197B2
A method and apparatus for generating a data structure. A plurality of entity reference relationship structures is accessed. Each entity reference relationship structure establishes a relationship between a different pair of entity structures of a plurality of entity structures. Each path from a first vertex to a second vertex that corresponds to a second entity structure is determined. For each path, all coupled sets of pairs of entity instance identifiers, wherein each coupled set comprises a pair of entity instance identifiers from each entity reference relationship structure corresponding to the path are identified. For each coupled set, a first entity instance identifier in the each coupled set that refers to the first entity structure and a second entity instance identifier in the each coupled set that refers to the second entity structure are stored in association with one another in a new entity reference relationship structure.
US08898191B2
The invention relates to a method for providing connections for application processes to a database server. Each application process is allocated a virtualizing driver. The method comprises an application process requiring a connection to a database server and a virtualizing driver providing a virtual database connection interface to the application. Furthermore, the method comprises a database connection pool server brokering a real database connection to said application process.
US08898189B2
In a system manages a plurality of pieces of sensor information in a plant, or the like, it can be reducing an amount of data stored in a database and easily a processing for searching a place of an anomaly and an anomaly cause.A database management method for use in a computer for managing a database, the database management method including: a step of analyzing a query; a step of generating a first inquiry for searching the database for compressed data; a step of generating a second inquiry for executing a search of time-series data; a step of extracting given data from the obtained time-series data, based on a response result of the second inquiry; and a step of generating an output result by extracting data to be output to a client computer from the given data.
US08898186B2
Systems and methods for performing latency-free contact searches using two-level indexed data structures having decreasing integer sets as identifiers to represent actual contact data. The indexed data structures are stored in distributed memory. Data operations such as intersection and union are performed using the indexed data structures. A binary interval reduction technique is used to quickly move through the data sets looking for common elements for the intersection set, or unique elements to add to the union set.
US08898183B2
A method and computer system including launching a dialog window for two users to communicate with one another via respective client devices relating to a particular subject. A search query is received from an additional user including a keyword associated with the particular subject. In response to the request, a backlog of a recent discussion between the two users relating to the particular subject is retrieved and provided to the additional user, wherein the backlog includes a suggested link relating to the recent discussion.
US08898174B2
A method for determining legal experience including determining a count of times each attorney of a plurality of attorneys is identified as an author of at least one document of a plurality of documents, each document of the plurality of documents has a date associated therewith; applying a weight to the count based on the date of each document used to determine the count to yield a weighted count, a more recent date corresponds to a greater weight; determining a legal experience indicator for each attorney based on the weighted count; and ranking each attorney of the plurality of attorneys according to the legal experience indicator; providing a list of the plurality of attorneys according to the ranking.
US08898170B2
Systems and methods for generating and using performance metadata associated with a media piece (e.g., music or video) are provided. An electronic device can monitor a user's workout performance while playing a particular media piece. Workout performance may include the user's rate of motion and/or one or more physiological metrics of the user. Based on the user's workout performance, the electronic device can create new or modify existing performance metadata associated with the media piece. In some embodiments, the performance metadata based on a particular user's workout performance in response to a media piece may be combined with collective performance metadata based on the workout performances of multiple users in response to the media piece. The combined performance metadata may then be stored as new collective metadata. Accordingly, the collective performance metadata can represent the average response to a media piece over multiple users.
US08898169B2
Product data for a product is received by an attribute selection module. The product data includes product image data and product text data. This product data is used to generate a plurality of probability distributions for a category. The category includes a plurality of attributes, and the probability distribution includes a plurality of probabilities indicating the likelihoods that attributes of the category are applicable to the product. The plurality of probability distributions for the category are weighted and summed to generate a combined probability distribution for the category. An attribute label is determined by selecting an attribute from the category that is indicated to be most likely applicable to the product based on the combined probability distribution for the category. The attribute label is associated with the product. The attribute label enables other services to search for and retrieve the product based on the attribute.
US08898161B2
Methods and systems for identifying and presenting information are described. Search results are received from a search engine. An entity associated with a networked site is selected using a selection criterion. A determination is made as to whether the listing includes a link to the networked site or includes the link to the networked site at a list position that fails to satisfy a first criterion. After determining that the link to the site associated with the entity is not included in the search result listing, or that the link to the site associated with the entity is not at a position in the search result listing that satisfies the first criterion, the search listing is modified by causing the link to the site associated with the entity to appear in a first position in the search listing. The modified search listing is displayed on a user terminal.
US08898157B2
Systems and methods for generating relevant search results for a user are disclosed. In one example, the method comprises receiving a search query from the user performing a communication initiation search, receiving, by the computer system, search results from a search engine based on the search query, linking, by the computer system, the search results to a communications dataset generated based on communication metadata received from a communication system, and ordering, by the computer system, the search results based on the communication dataset in order from most relevant to least relevant to the user performing the communication initiation search.
US08898156B2
Systems, methods, and devices are described for retrieving query results based at least in part on a query and one or more similar queries. Upon receiving a query, one or more similar queries may be identified and/or calculated. In one embodiment, the similar queries may be determined based at least in part on click-through data corresponding to previously submitted queries. Information associated with the query and each of the similar queries may be retrieved, ranked, and or combined. The combined query results may then be re-ranked based at least in part on a responsiveness and/or relevance to the previously submitted query. The re-ranked query results may then be output to a user that submitted the original query.
US08898155B2
The disclosure discloses a personalized meta-search method, which comprises: preestablishing an interest database; searching a keyword; extracting a use log of the keyword from the interest database; preprocessing search results returned from a search engine; calculating, by using the use log, interests of the preprocessed search results and of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) in the interest database corresponding to the searched keyword; ranking, based on calculated results, and displaying the preprocessed search results and the URLs; updating the interest database. An application terminal for personalized meta-search is also disclosed. The method and the application terminal enable users to obtain more targeted and more satisfactory search results, thereof improving user experience.
US08898138B2
Techniques for efficiently indexing and searching similar data are described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a query for one or more terms received from a client, a query index is accessed to retrieve a list of one or more super files. Each super file is associated with a group of similar files. Each super file includes terms and/or sequences of terms obtained from the associated group of similar files. Thereafter, the super files representing groups of similar files are presented to the client, where each of the super files includes at least one of the queried terms. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08898128B2
A method, apparatus, and correspondingly configured computer program, in which a querying device inputs a user an identification of desired content and sends a query request for the desired content to surrounding memory devices. The query request is adapted to cause compatible receiving memory devices to perform a search based on the request. The memory devices are configured to listen to query requests and responsively perform searches based on the queries. Any memory device that finds content according to the query request responds to the query device which, after sending the query request, monitors for the compatible receiving memory devices for information that the queried content is found. Responsive to receiving the information from a given memory device, the querying device establishes a connection with the given memory device and obtains the content.
US08898124B2
A database trigger generates a return code having the effect of inhibiting further executions of the trigger within a pre-defined scope of execution. Preferably, the pre-defined scope is a task or process executing on behalf of a particular user. Upon first encountering the applicable trigger condition, the corresponding trigger is fired normally. Internal logic within the trigger determines whether it is necessary to call the same trigger again within the same scope, and if not, generates corresponding return data. A database management system which manages the trigger and causes it to automatically fire intercepts the return data and disables further firing of the trigger for the pre-defined scope.
US08898116B2
Exemplary embodiments for partitioning management of storage resources in a computing storage environment across multiple users including an existing administrator and an existing non-administrator are provided. A method includes assigning the existing non-administrator a default user resource scope that is more limited than a user resource scope assigned to the existing administrator, associating existing storage resources with a default resource group, creating resource group objects for each new resource group, setting attributes in the resource group objects to define policies for storage resources to be associated with a corresponding new resource group, reassigning existing non-administrator from the default user resource scope to a new user resource scope, reassigning the existing storage resources from the default resource group to the new resource group, and applying the policies and access scopes allowing the existing non-administrator to create new storage resources within a scope of the corresponding new user resource scope.
US08898113B2
An approach for managing replicated data is presented. Metadata is received specifying inter-data correlation(s), inter-replica correlation(s), and data-replica correlation(s) among replicas generated for a system. A unified replication metadata model specifying the correlations is generated. Based on the inter-replica correlation(s), a proper subset of the replicas is selected. Based on the inter-replica and inter-data correlation(s), the selected proper subset of replicas is indexed to generate a unified content index. A query is received to locate a data item in at least one of the replicas. Based on the unified content index, the unified replication metadata model, and the query, candidate replica(s) and corresponding confidence score(s) are determined. The confidence score(s) indicate respective likelihood(s) that the candidate replica(s) include the data item.
US08898105B1
A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition.
US08898100B2
A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodied in a storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed on a processor, perform a method in a computer system for testing a rule-driven system, the method comprising detecting a potential read-write error or a potential write-write error in the rule-driven system, generating test results based on the detecting, and reporting the test results.
US08898099B2
In an industrial control configuration, various instances can exist that are based upon a definition. A definition can be changed and thus it can be appropriate to alter related instances in accordance with the change. However, changing an instance can cause disruption in other actions even when the change is minor. Therefore, various standards can be used to determine if a change to an instance should be propagated automatically or at another time, such as after an operation. The determination can be based on artificial intelligence techniques, user preference, a defined rule set, user instruction, as well as other standards.
US08898098B1
An artificially intelligent or rule-based system to assist teams or groups become more effective by improving the communication process between members of the team or group. The system helps members share information, negotiate more effectively and make better group decisions. The system is designed to allow users to provide feedback to the system regarding undetected emotional feelings of any one user to all users of the system.
US08898090B2
An interactive tool is described for modifying the behavior of a system, such as, but not limited to, the behavior of a classification system. The tool uses an interface mechanism to present a current global state of the system. The tool accepts one or more refinements to this global state, e.g., by accepting individual changes to parameter settings that are presented by the interface mechanism. Based on this input, the tool computes and displays the global implications of the updated parameter settings. The process of iterating over one or more cycles of user updates, followed by computation and display of the implications of the attempted refinements, has the effect of advancing the system towards a global state that exhibits desirable behavior.
US08898089B2
A method for forming a dynamic verification value. The method includes altering a first data string to form a second data string, and forming a first dynamic verification value using at least a portion of the second data string. The first dynamic verification value is used to authenticate a portable consumer device in a first transaction. The second data string is used to form a third data string. A second dynamic verification value is formed using at least a portion of the third data string. The second dynamic verification value is used to authenticate the portable consumer device in a second transaction.
US08898087B1
Method and system for preparing and managing real estate transfers and financing, including system for preparation, production and storage of relevant documentation and data contained therein; system for coordinating, reconciling and transferring funds; and system of analyzing and tracking the progress of numerous real estate transactions. A database to minimize redundancy involved in preparation of all documentation needed for real estate closings. Information input into database is used to generate documentation necessary to complete real estate transfers, including all forms required by financial institutions and government agencies. Documentation includes handwritten signatures scanned and incorporated into documents. Ancillary documentation can be scanned into system and combined with other customer data and documentation. A “closing package” can be compiled which contains electronic versions of virtually any document needed for closing real estate transaction. Scheduling features for coordinating one or many real estate transactions and management reporting for keeping track of real estate transaction.
US08898086B2
Described herein are methods and systems for securely transmitting information, including financial account information. An irreversibly encrypted account number can be transmitted to a processing party as part of a transmission packet. The processing party can extract other information from the transmission packet to determine one or more registered account numbers that may match the irreversibly encrypted account number. Using the same encryption algorithm used to create the transmission packet, the processing party can create a verification packet by encrypting the one or more registered account numbers and determine if the verification packet matches the transmission packet. As a result, financial account information can be transmitted in such a way that it cannot be intercepted and then used to perform an unauthorized transaction.
US08898080B1
There is disclosed an electronic trading system and associated methods adapted to automatically match submitted orders on the basis of price, quantity limitations, and lines of credit defined by potential counterparties. Lines of credit are divided into time based tranches relating to the maturity of an instrument to be traded, and a number of schemes are used to manage the tranches in order to improve control and use of remaining credit, which can be replenished manually or automatically. Traders are grouped into desks, and orders submitted by a trader may be matched on behalf of any of several credit centers defined per trader desk. Lines of credit may be held in various ways such as at the level of counterparty trading organizations, and at the level of counterparty credit centers. A variety of mechanisms are used to numerically interrelate lines of credit and different tradeable instruments, and a permissioned user can select how these mechanisms are used to control display of the market and matching of orders for traders in their trading organization.
US08898078B2
Scalable handling of billing events that affect one or more accounts. A computing system partitions received events into a number of channels, perhaps by account identifier. The channels receive the events, process the events, and forwards the events to an aggregator to allow the events to be aggregated by account to allow for easier computation of a bill. The aggregator also performs de-duplication of events to help reduce the risk of double billing.
US08898076B2
A system for processing transactions, having at least one mobile device having a housing having a processor, and a Wi-Fi Communication module disposed therein; a base station having a base station housing, wherein the base station housing houses an embedded system including a processor; and a Wi-Fi communication module configured to communicate with the Wi-Fi communication module of the at least one mobile device; a support stand configured to support the at least one mobile device, wherein the support stand comprises at least one arm having an adjustable position and configured to move to adjust the size of the support stand based on a size of the at least one mobile device; and at least one peripheral device connected to the base station.
US08898072B2
In one embodiment, a selection process executing in an optimizing engine is invoked as users are presented with web pages that include ad content. The selection process provides an initial population of sets of characteristics that specify an initial generation of layouts of ads for the pages. The characteristics can include anything that affects an ads appearance on the display. For example, ad type, position within a web page, color, size, text font, animation, etc. can be specified. Statistics are obtained as to each ad or page layout's performance or impact on the user, such as revenue obtained from ads in the layout, how many user's click an ad, how long users view an ad, etc. Once a large enough sample of user impacts is obtained a second population of sets of characteristics is created to improve the overall performance of the initial population. In a preferred embodiment, genetic computational procedures are used to create each population and to create new characteristic sets and remove underperforming sets.
US08898071B2
The system of the present invention is used to execute data consolidation to combine data from Google, MSN and Yahoo, at least. The user does not need anymore to combine by himself data in spreadsheets. The system allows creating consolidated campaigns that span across search providers, letting the user effortlessly build reports that previously took hours to create each month. The system of the present invention is particularly suited for agencies. A tool designed for agencies needs to allow for management at the client level as well as the agency level. The system client center gives each member of the team a summary view of the client accounts that they're responsible for, along with emerging trend indicators for every major metric.
US08898068B2
An audio decoder includes an arithmetic decoder for providing decoded spectral values on the basis of an arithmetically-encoded representation of the spectral values and a frequency-domain-to-time-domain converter for providing a time-domain audio representation using the decoded spectral values. The arithmetic decoder selects a mapping rule describing a mapping of a code value onto a symbol code in dependence on a context state described by a numeric current context value, and determines the numeric current context value in dependence on a plurality of previously-decoded spectral values. The arithmetic decoder modifies a number representation of a numeric previous context value, describing a context state associated with one or more previously decoded spectral values, in dependence on a context subregion value, to acquire a number representation of a numeric current context value describing a context state associated with one or more spectral values to be decoded. An audio encoder uses a similar concept.
US08898053B2
An encoding device, a decoding device, and related methods are provided that eliminate the loss of synchronization of the adaptive filters of a terminal at the encoding end and a terminal at the decoding end caused by transmission errors. Deterioration of the sound quality is suppressed when a multiple channel signal is encoded with high efficiency using an adaptive filter. In the terminal at the encoding end, a buffer stores updated filter coefficients. When packet loss detection information indicating whether there is any packet loss in the terminal at the decoding end indicates that there is packet loss, a switch outputs the past filter coefficients of the previous (NX+1) frames from the buffer to an adaptive filter. The adaptive filter uses the past filter coefficients of the previous (NX+1) frames to conduct filtering.
US08898050B2
A static voltage drop analyzing apparatus applied to a Multi-Threshold Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MTCMOS) transistor is provided. The static voltage drop analyzing apparatus includes a calculating module, a processing module, and a measuring module. The calculating module calculates a voltage drop tolerance according to the voltage drop characteristic of the MTCMOS transistor. The processing module selects a simulation metal layer corresponding to the voltage drop tolerance from a plurality of candidate simulation metal layers, and adds the simulation metal layer into the MTCMOS transistor. The measuring module measures the voltage drop of the simulation metal layer added into the MTCMOS transistor. The measured voltage drop of the simulation layer added into the MTCMOS is substantially the static voltage drop of the MTCMOS transistor.
US08898048B1
A method of simulating brain activity and neural pathways in a user includes providing a networked server for access by a user of the invention, using a general purpose computer. A database is provided in communication with the networked server. The general purpose computer carries out a step of detecting a movement of the user, the movement then being communicated to the networked server, which associates that movement with a certain set of data in the database relating to predetermined simulated neural activity. The simulated neural activity associated with the user's movement is communicated to the user.
US08898046B2
A method for modeling flow properties over a series of time increments of a reservoir in an earth formation having a plurality of fractures is disclosed. The method includes: building a three-dimensional stress field representing stresses in the reservoir; building a three-dimensional discrete fracture network (NFM) having fracture flow properties using information obtained from a tool or changes to the stress field; running a flow simulation of the reservoir for a time increment using the NFM to model the flow properties of the reservoir for that time increment; computing a latest change in the three-dimensional stress field from the flow simulation; and incrementing the time increment and iterating the building the NFM using the latest change in the stress field, the running of the flow simulation using the latest NFM, and the computing a latest change in the stress field from the latest running of the flow simulation.
US08898030B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for adaptively compensating a position error of a resolver. The apparatus adaptively estimating a position error contained in position information of a rotor of a motor, which is digitalized by a resolver-digital converter, and subtracting the estimated position error from the measured position information of the rotor, thereby calculating compensated position information. A regression equation and a recursive least square method applied to the regression equation are used for the adaptive estimation of the position information.
US08898023B2
A measurement result management system suited for storing biological information measured with a measuring equipment in a server is provided. The measurement result management system includes a measuring equipment for measuring and transmitting biological information, and a server for receiving the biological information from the measuring equipment and storing the same, wherein the measuring equipment performs a step of transmitting authentication related information related to authentication of the measuring equipment when transmitting the biological information with a communication unit, and the server performs a step of carrying out authentication based on the authentication related information, and steps of storing the biological information acquired through a communication unit in a storage unit regardless of whether the authentication result of the step of carrying out authentication based on authentication related information is positive or negative.
US08898022B2
A method, system and device are described for generating high-resolution flow-field data from sparse measurement data by interpolating from a reference database of pre-computed, highly-resolved fluid dynamic simulation results, to generate a highly-resolved set of flow field data which correspond to the sparse measurements. In one embodiment, the method, system and device use Principal Component Analysis techniques to interpolate the multidimensional fluid flow data. Applications of the invention are, amongst others, in the field of biomedical diagnosis involving fluid dynamic modeling of biological fluid systems such as blood flow in an artery.
US08898021B2
The present invention pertains to a process for automatically analyzing mixed DNA samples. Specifically, the process comprises the steps of obtaining a mixed DNA sample; amplifying the DNA sample to produce a product; detecting the product to produce a signal; and analyzing the signal to determine information about the composition of the mixed DNA sample. This DNA mixture analysis is useful for finding criminals and convicting them. This mixture analysis provides high quality estimates, and can determine genotypes, mixture weights, and likelihood ratios. This analysis provides confidence measures in the results it computes, and generates reports and intuitive visualizations. The process automates a tedious manual procedure, thereby reducing the cost, time, and effort involved in DNA forensic analysis. The system can greatly accelerate the rate of DNA crime analysis, and be used to exonerate innocent people.
US08898016B2
A plan through a space having a near field and a far field is determined. Using a sensor device, measurements of the far field are obtained and stored in an electronic memory. A processor uses the measurements to determine the viability of each far field plan among a plurality of candidate far field plans. The processor also determines a flexibility score for each of the candidate far field plans and selects a composite plan comprising the viable far field plan having a highest flexibility score among the viable candidate far field plans.
US08898015B2
A computer performs a path search from a first node to a second node by using nodes and links connecting two nodes and to which a cost is set. A first search method is used to search for one node from among nodes to be searched which are adjacent to the searched-for node and have not yet been searched for. Then, the distance between the searched-for node and the second node is recorded, and the searched-for node is recorded as an already-searched-for node. Next, the first search method is changed to a second search method in which a number of nodes to be searched is prevented from increasing according to distances between the second node and two or more searched-for nodes obtained as a result of performing searching and recording plural times. Then, path information is generated according to a node searched for by the second search method.
US08898012B2
The Qibla orientation device is a small, hands-free device enabling a user of the device to determine Qibla, or the proper orientation to face the Kaaba in Mecca. The device contains a GPS receiver, magnetic direction sensor, directional indicator lights, audio directional output, and a longitudinally aligned laser projector. The device determines its position on the surface of the earth by the GPS receiver, and its orientation toward the Kaaba according to the location determined and the magnetic direction sensor. Directional lights are provided to orient the user to the left or right for alignment. Audio output is also provided for the visually handicapped. The laser may be activated to project a laser line aligned with the longitudinal axis of the device for determining orientation during initial construction of a mosque or other structure.
US08898009B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a speed calculating section configured to calculates a traveling speed of a user based on a signal received from a positioning signal transmitter, a walking tempo acquiring section configured to acquire a walking tempo of the user, and an evaluating section configured to evaluate, based on the walking tempo and the traveling speed, reliability of information calculated by using the signal received from the positioning signal transmitter.
US08898003B1
Improved designs of navigation devices or systems are disclosed. A navigation device presents a digital map resembling an ambient environment with a certain level of realism, where various objects resembling major structures or signs are presented or superimposed in the map. Depending on the time of the day or the weather condition of the time, the map or the objects therein is caused to be altered correspondingly in a tone that reflects the time or weather.
US08898002B2
Systems and methods for obtaining geographical location data from multiple sources and aggregating the geographical location data are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving geo-location data from a plurality of geo-location data collectors, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with an in-vehicle geo-location data source, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with a geo-location data source in a mobile device; collecting reliability data corresponding to one or more of a plurality of geo-location data sources corresponding to the plurality of geo-location data collectors; collecting map data including information related to geographical features associated with the geo-location data; and aggregating, by use of a data processor, the geo-location data from the plurality of geo-location data collectors based on the reliability data and the map data to produce a resulting geo-location fix.
US08897998B2
A method, system, and computer program product for solving a traffic congestion problem are provided in the illustrative embodiments. Using an application executing using a processor and a memory in a data processing system, a congested route section is selected from a set of congested route sections. A set of congesting vehicles is selected, where the set of congesting vehicles cause congestion in the selected congested route sections by being positioned on the selected congested route section. A vacancy data structure corresponding to the selected congested route section is populated. A subset of the set of the congesting vehicles is selected. The subset of the set of the congesting vehicles is rerouted to a candidate route section identified in the vacancy data structure.
US08897994B2
An exhaust gas recirculation control device is provided with a feedback control unit and a feed-forward control unit, wherein the device is provided with: an adder which adds a feed-forward control command signal to a feedback control command signal; and a maximum selection function-section which compares an added value obtained by the adder with a feed-forward control command signal or a command signal from an EGR valve maximum opening map, and selects the command signal by which the valve opening of the EGR control valve is brought to a closed side, wherein the command signal by which the valve opening of the EGR control valve is brought to an opened side is not outputted.
US08897989B2
A method for improving startability of a of a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine by controlling an electric continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) may include determining whether the engine is running, calculating the phase angle of the camshaft and the difference between the position of the camshaft and the optimum position of the lobe of the high pressure pump, applying a duty to the drive motor to rotate the camshaft, calculating the difference between the current position of the camshaft after rotation and the target position of the camshaft, and comparing the difference with a predetermined value. When the difference is not smaller than a predetermined value, the duty is raised and applied to the drive motor to rotate the camshaft further until the difference is reduced and smaller than the predetermined value.
US08897974B2
A gear selector assembly for selecting a gear position of a transmission includes an internal mode switch having detent lever, a plurality of magnetic field sensors, a control module, a first power supply and a second power supply. The detent lever has a plurality of detents and a magnetized track, where the magnetized track includes a plurality of magnetized elements that are indicative a particular gear selector position. The magnetic field sensors are associated with each of the magnetized elements for sensing changes in a magnetic field of the magnetized track. The control module is in communication with each of the field sensors. Each of the field sensors sends an output current to the control module and the value of the output current is variable. The value of the output current is indicative of at least one of the following: the direction of the magnetic field from the corresponding magnetic track, a short circuit, and an open circuit.
US08897973B2
A system and method for managing the collection and processing of agricultural field data from a single location is provided. The system includes functionality to create workorders for the taking of samples at a predetermined location, transmit the sampling workorders to the equipment or operators at a job site, e.g., an agricultural field, and log the results of a completed sampling workorder. The system also includes functionality to transmit log data related to the taken samples to a laboratory and receive analysis information on the taken samples from the laboratory. The system then combines log data and analysis information on the taken samples for use in determining additional actions at the predetermined location.
US08897970B2
A point value corresponding to a load state of an electric motor is set. The load state of the electric motor is detected so as to calculate a load point value of the electric motor and accumulate the load point values (S3, S4). A wiper-device operation mode is identified (S6). A difference Ptd between the accumulated load point value for forward operations and the accumulated load point value for return operations is compared with a criterion threshold value SVb (S24). When the difference Ptd exceeds the criterion threshold value SVb, it is determined that a vehicle is in a high-speed running state. Then, an angle of rotation of the electric motor is reduced to narrow a wiping angle of the wiper blade (S25). In this manner, an upper reversal position is set closer to a return side than a given position. As a result, overrun caused by the deflection of a blade or the like due to a wind generated by running when the vehicle is running at a high speed is prevented.
US08897965B2
An assisting command value calculating unit calculates a first assisting factor on the basis of the value of a torque differential control volume added to a basic assist control volume based on a steering torque value, while increasing or decreasing, on the basis of an assisting gradient, the torque differential control volume based on a torque differential value. The pinion angle F/B control unit calculates a pinion angle command value, capable of being converted to a steering angle of the steering wheel, on the basis of the steering torque and the first assisting factor, and executes rotational angle feedback control. The assisting command value calculating unit calculates an assisting command value on the basis of the value of a second assisting factor, calculated by the pinion angle F/B control unit, added to the first assisting factor.
US08897948B2
Systems and methods for estimating local traffic flow are described. One embodiment of a method includes determining a driving habit of a user from historical data, determining a current location of a vehicle that the user is driving, and determining a current driving condition for the vehicle. Some embodiments include predicting a desired driving condition from the driving habit and the current location, comparing the desired driving condition with the current driving condition to determine a traffic congestion level, and sending a signal that indicates the traffic congestion level.
US08897944B2
Provided herein is a vehicle drive force control. When a driver requests to start the vehicle with the brake OFF and depresses the accelerator pedal, a target drive torque exceeds a gradient load. To avoid excess current being supplied to the motor, the upper limit of motor speed, which is the input speed of a second clutch, is set to a value less than a slip detectable limit value at which it becomes possible to detect slip rotation, i.e. the difference over the output side rotation speed. When the target drive torque exceeds the gradient load, the lower limit of the input speed of the second clutch (the motor speed) is set to a value equal to or greater than the slip detectable limit value so that the required driving force can be achieved by the gradient load corresponding driving force control.
US08897943B2
A hybrid drive system for a combine includes a control wherein the hybrid system control determines a battery pack state-of-charge of the battery pack, and the hybrid system control also receives the current engine load estimate and engine speed from the engine control. Depending upon these variables, the hybrid control sends a torque command to a motor/generator control to provide a desired composite speed-torque curve from the engine and the motor/generator. In cases where the battery pack can be charged, an engine fuel curve is set by engine control to provide maximum engine power at isochronous speed, and when the battery pack is fully charged, the engine fuel curve is reduced to be shaped so that battery electric assist is not engaged until engine speed falls.
US08897936B2
The invention relates to a device (10) for stabilizing the guidance of a vehicle (1), the vehicle (1) having at least one or two which is arranged in such a way that it can be turned relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (1), and steering means that interact with the at least one wheel (2) and are designed to guide the vehicle (1) by turning the at least one wheel (2). The device (10) has a detecting unit (12), which is designed to detect an at least partial transition from static friction to dynamic friction between the at least one wheel (2) and a ground covering (3), and furthermore has a control unit (11), which, when the detecting unit (12) detects the transition from static friction to dynamic friction, is designed to turn the at least one wheel (2) by means of the steering means in such a way that the dynamic friction between the wheel (2) and the ground covering (3) changes back to static friction.
US08897934B2
Described is a method of protecting an aircraft in approach by signalling against risks of collision with a terrain in steep-sided environments in order to avoid unwanted warnings emanating from clearance sensors of the on-board TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System) while protecting the aircraft when the aircraft fails to observe a published procedure which includes a landing procedure and a take-off procedure. The method, in some embodiments, includes modifying characteristics of at least one of the clearance sensors according to the position deviation of the aircraft relative to a published RNP (Required Navigation Performance) trajectory.
US08897931B2
A system for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) testing which incorporates a UAS flight control system and an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) carrying the UAS flight control system. The OPV has an OPV flight control system and a flight control interpreter (FCI) which receives input from the UAS flight control system representing control parameters for a flight profile of the UAS. The FCI provides status commands as an output to the OPV flight control system to replicate the flight profile. These status commands are selected from the group consisting of data regarding attitude, vertical navigation, lateral navigation, turn rate, velocity and engine operations. The OPV flight control system includes a pilot override for emergency, flight safety or other contingencies allowing an on board pilot to assume control of the OPV.
US08897927B2
An apparatus includes a portable device, a supporting base associable with a vehicle and connecting means to lock, or release, the device in the base. The apparatus further includes detecting means for detecting at least an operating parameter of the vehicle, interface means for setting an operating state of the device and control means, connected to the detecting means and to the interface means to command the connecting means, as a function of the operating parameter and/or of the operating state.
US08897926B2
A method for controlling a motor vehicle wherein the control is carried out with the participation of at least one driver assistance system. In order to simplify and/or differentiate the overriding of a driver assistance system, there is provision that the participation of at least part of the at least one driver assistance system in the control of the motor vehicle is switched off or changed by the driver activating an activation element which is provided in and/or on the motor vehicle and communicates with the at least one driver assistance system. A corresponding device is also described.
US08897924B2
A power management system suitable for dynamically allocating power provided by a selected power source among one or more associated loads and methods for manufacturing and using same. In a normal operation mode, the power source provides power to one or more enabled loads. The selection of loads that are enabled, and therefore the provided power, can dynamically vary over time. If an undesired power condition arises, a power limiting mode is entered, wherein at least one of the enabled loads is disabled. The resultant power provided by the power source to the remaining enabled loads is measured, and the power limit mode is maintained until the undesired power condition is resolved. As needed, further corrective action, such as disabling additional enabled loads, can be applied to resolve the undesired power condition. The power management system thereby can comprise a hierarchical system for dynamically resolving undesired power conditions.
US08897917B2
An electronic controller defining an autonomous mobile device includes a self-location estimation unit to estimate a self-location based on a local map that is created according to distance/angle information relative to an object in the vicinity and the travel distance of an omni wheel, an environmental map creation unit to create an environmental map of a mobile area based on the self-location and the local map during the guided travel with using a joystick, a registration switch to register the self-location of the autonomous mobile device as the position coordinate of the setting point when the autonomous mobile device reaches a predetermined setting point during the guided travel, a storage unit to store the environmental map and the setting point, a route planning unit to plan the travel route by using the setting point on the environmental map stored in the storage unit, and a travel control unit to control the autonomous mobile device to autonomously travel along the travel route.
US08897915B2
In one embodiment there is provided a method for storing hair dye components. The method includes providing a computer control system having at least a memory, input controls, and a display. The method provides a plurality of receptacles. Each receptacle being sized to store at least one hair dye component tube to define a storage of a colorant or dye blending material. The method further provides a locking mechanism positioned about each receptacle configured to lock and unlock the receptacle. Each locking mechanism is in communication with the control system and configured to lock or unlock upon the receipt of an unlocking or locking signal from the control system. The method further links one or more colorant(s) or dye blending material(s) to a receptacle and sends an unlocking or locking signal to one or more of the locking mechanisms.
US08897901B2
A positive & negative jerk interval parameter setting section divides an acceleration & deceleration interval of an acceleration command curve into an acceleration increasing interval, a constant acceleration interval, and an acceleration decreasing interval, and sets the length of time of each interval independently of each other. A positive & negative jerk interval trigonometric command generating section employs an acceleration command curve generated based on a trigonometric function of a ½ cycle, thereby generating a position command or a speed command.
US08897900B2
The present invention provides novel techniques for graphically modeling, displaying, and interacting with parametric hybrid models used to optimize and control components of industrial plants and enterprises. In particular, a graphical modeling tool of a control/optimization system for controlling a plant or enterprise is configured to transmit a graphical user interface to a user, wherein the graphical user interface enables a plurality of command inputs relating to a plurality of parametric hybrid models based on a security access level of the user. The parametric hybrid models may be displayed by the graphical user interface as nodes of a network with connections connecting the nodes. The user may graphically manipulate the nodes and connections associated with the parametric hybrids models to either modify optimization constraints of the model network, or actually modify the manner in which the parametric hybrid models function (e.g., inputs, outputs, parameters, and so forth, of the parametric hybrid models), depending on the access level of the user.
US08897896B2
A controlling system has a computer having a controlling interface, a PDU linking to the computer and multiple electric apparatus connected and linking to the PDU and the computer. The PDU has multiple outlets, a turn-off time for each outlet. The controlling interface of the computer presets that the turn-off time for each outlet and has a shut-down option. The shut-down option has outlet numbers, a main time axis, and multiple variable time axes. Each variable time axis has a start time and an end time. A total period of each variable time axis between the start time and the end time is determined according to the shut-down period of the corresponding electric apparatus. The start time and the end time of each variable time axis are adjustable, but the total time thereof is fixed. Once the start times and the end times are determined finally, the turn-off times for the outlet numbers are calculated and further sent to the PDU.
US08897895B2
An implant unit according to some embodiments may include a flexible carrier, at least one pair of modulation electrodes on the flexible carrier, and at least one implantable circuit in electrical communication with the at least one pair of modulation electrodes. The at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the at least one circuit may be configured for implantation through derma on an underside of a subject's chin and for location proximate to terminal fibers of the medial branch of the subject's hypoglossal nerve, such that an electric field extending from the at least one pair of modulation electrodes can modulate one or more of the terminal fibers of the medial branch of the hypoglossal nerve.
US08897886B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for electrotherapeutic treatment of the human body, which has electrodes that can be laid against the body and a device for producing a therapy current that flows through the body, by way of the electrodes, whereby the device for generating the therapy current comprises two oscillators having frequencies f1 and f2 that lie close to one another and are suitable for forming a beat, an oscillator having a frequency f3 that is less than the beat frequency fs1=f1−f2, and a mixer device for superimposition of the oscillator signals. According to the invention, the device for producing the therapy current comprises at least two additional oscillators with frequencies f4 and f5, and the mixer device is provided with frequencies f1 to f5 for superimposition of all oscillators.
US08897884B2
An implantable medical device has an electronic circuit and a telemetry circuit both connected to a common ground, and at least one RF telemetry antenna that is formed by a number of parts of the implantable device that are capable of functioning as an antenna. When implanted, these parts are in contact with tissue. For voltage protection, the RF antenna circuit is connected to the parts of the RF telemetry antenna via at least one capacitor. The capacitor is dimensioned to withstand a voltage amplitude of a pulse that would be capable of modifying the state of, or destroying, any component in the RF telemetry circuit or the electronic circuit.
US08897879B2
A system and method for controlling respiration depth or respiration rate is provided. A bipolar pair of a plurality of electrodes is selected in a location for stimulating a phrenic nerve. Electrical stimulation is delivered through a medical electrical lead electrode proximate phrenic nerve tissue. Modulating respiration is elicited in response to electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve.
US08897876B2
A connector for an implantable medical device includes an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, a length, and an outer surface. The connector housing defines a port at the second end of the connector housing that extends along the length toward the first end. The port is configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of lead or lead extension. Connector contacts disposed in the connector housing are configured and arranged for coupling to terminals disposed on the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port. At least one window is defined along the outer surface of the connector housing. The at least one window is configured and arranged for viewing at least a portion of the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port.
US08897874B2
Biventricular-triggered pacing is a pacing mode that can employ in cardiac resynchronization pacing at elevated heart rates. Described herein are methods and devices for implementing biventricular pacing in the context of multi-site left ventricular pacing.
US08897866B2
An ECG measurement approach for any multi-touch screens comprises the following steps: 1) display ECG on the screen; 2) use two fingers to touch the screen and the two touch points have two vertically projected points on the actual ECG waves; 3) draw the horizontal and vertical baselines to show the x interval in milliseconds and y interval in microvolt; 4) move any one or both of the two fingers touch points on the screen, the projected points and the horizontal/vertical baselines updated synchronously, as well as the measurements; 5) measure the different part of the ECG waves using this approach, including the wave top points, wave beginning and ending points. This approach can be used as a measurement tool to any graphs of functions over time displayed on the multi-touch screen, like EEG.
US08897854B2
Described herein are systems and methods of identifying bipolar disorder in a person. One such method includes acquiring 31P spectroscopic imaging data from a region of interest in a brain of the person and subsequently analyzing the 31P spectroscopic imaging data to obtain a signal intensity and a concentration for one or more phosphorus metabolites. A reduced concentration the one or more phosphorus metabolites, such as inorganic phosphate, in the brain can indicate bipolar disorder in the person. Frontal lobe inorganic phosphate concentration in medication-free adolescents can indicate bipolar depression.
US08897846B2
A process produces a connecting structure between two superconductors, in particular magnesium diboride superconductors embodied as a superconducting core wire surrounded by normally conducting metal. A substance which reduces the melting point of magnesium is admixed to a substance mixture including magnesium and boron, and the exposed ends of the core wires are brought into contact with the substance mixture, which is caused to react in situ at a reaction temperature corresponding to the lower melting point to give magnesium diboride.
US08897844B2
A vehicular multimode cellular/PCS phone including a chipset located in the vehicle for communicating with at least one of a plurality of wireless service provider networks; an multimode antenna in communication with the chipset for communicating with a wireless base antenna of at least one of the plurality of wireless service provider networks; at least one medium port for receiving a removable medium, the removable medium containing at least one of access numbers, access codes, and access authentication numbers of at least one of the plurality of wireless service provider networks.
US08897828B2
Power control in a wireless network is disclosed. Transmit power control (TPC) commands may be accumulated by a user equipment (UE). If accumulation is enabled, the UE may receive on a single physical channel an allocation of a scheduled uplink resource and a TPC command. The TPC command may be accumulated with other received TPC commands. A transmit power for an uplink communication based on both the path loss and the accumulated TPC commands may then be calculated by the UE. If accumulation is not enabled, the UE may receive an allocation of a scheduled uplink resource to transmit data at a calculated power level.
US08897825B2
A search part sends out a connection request signal and receives a connection response signal. A radio strength acquiring part acquires radio strength of an available device that has sent the connection response signal. A connection determining part determines whether or not the radio strength has increased, then becomes greater than or equal to a threshold value and has been constant for a period of time longer than or equal to a predetermined period of time. If it is determined that the radio strength has increased, then becomes greater than or equal to the threshold value and has been constant for a period of time longer than or equal to the predetermined period of time, an inter-device authentication part performs inter-device authentication with the available device.
US08897823B2
Improved contact information is provided to users of mobile stations such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants with wireless telephony capability. In particular, the present invention displays the types of messages that a contact listed on a contact list of the mobile station can receive. In addition, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for updating this information. In one method for updating contact information, the mobile station contacts a database which stores information concerning what types of electronic messages that users of the wireless telecommunications network can receive; requests up-to-date information concerning at least one contact listed on the contact list; receives the up-to-date information, and then updates the information stored in the memory of the mobile station.
US08897821B2
Method for providing visual effect messages and associated communication system and transmitting end
A method for providing visual effect messages on a receiving end and associated transmitting end configuration is provided. At the transmitting end, visual effect positions and visual effects of messages are determined according to an input message. The visual effect positions and visual effect information are transmitted to the receiving end, and are displayed at the visual effect positions at the receiving end according to the visual information.
US08897818B2
A method for reducing energy consumption of mobile devices using a phase-continuous early paging indicator (EPI) is provided. For each of at least one paging occasion either A) an EPI indicative that a page is present in the paging occasion is transmitted during an EPI occasion in advance of the paging occasion, the EPI comprising at least one phase-continuous tone for the EPI occasion, and a page is transmitted during the paging occasion, or B) an EPI indicative that a page is not present in the paging occasion is transmitted during an EPI occasion in advance of the paging occasion, the EPI comprising at least one phase-continuous tone for the EPI occasion. A mobile device is configured to monitor for an EPI that comprises at least one phase-continuous tone for an EPI occasion in advance of its paging occasion in order to determine if a page is potentially present.
US08897811B2
Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems and methods for aggregating data indicating one or more missed calls and adjusting mobile computing device settings. According to an implementation, a method is provided that includes defining, by a computing device, one or more missed call regions based at least in part on location data associated with one or more missed calls. The method includes receiving a request from a mobile computing device, and sending, to the mobile computing device and in response to the request, an indication of the one or more of the missed call regions. Another implementation can include the method of determining a location of a mobile computing device relative to one or more missed call regions.
US08897810B2
A method for establishing wireless communication between a service vendor and a customer accepts entry of a wireless address for a customer communications device, obtained from an electronic transaction. The entry of the stored wireless address is confirmed by transmitting a first wireless message that displays a hypertext link to a network address. Response to hypertext link selection classifies the customer communications device, identifies a network applications storage location, and transmits a second wireless message to the customer device that includes a first set of programmed instructions that display a download prompt. Response to download prompt selection transmits a third wireless message to the customer communications device, including a second set of programmed instructions associated with the service vendor, wherein the second set of programmed instructions generates and displays a user-actuable link on the customer communications device. At least customer actuation of the user-actuable link is reported on a display.
US08897806B2
A system for dynamic data publication and dissemination in a mobile node network is disclosed. The system comprises a collection module, a naming module and a publishing module. The collection module collects sensor data and detects a road event based at least in part on the sensor data. The collection module generates event data that describes the road event. The naming module converts the event data to a set of naming data that conforms to a naming structure. The naming structure includes an application identifier that identifies an application for the road event and a location that identifies a geographical scope for the road event. The naming module caches the set of naming data in a storage device. The publishing module publishes the set of naming data in the mobile node network.
US08897803B2
Methods, computer-readable media, and computer systems for finding wireless network access points. Geographic location information describing a geographic location of a computer system within a geographic area is received. From a storage medium that stores information defining multiple geographic cells and, for each cell, information defining multiple wireless network access points, a particular geographic cell within which the geographic location described by the geographic location information is located is identified. Access points within the particular geographic cell are identified, and provided in response to receiving the geographic location information.
US08897797B2
A system includes a first base station of a first vendor configuration and a second base station of a second vendor configuration. A link is between the first and second base stations. The first base station is configured to receive at least one interference indicator message from the second base station, and schedule transmission of data based on the at least one interference indicator message. Scheduling the transmission of data includes determining whether to transmit the data using a current resource or to delay transmission of the data.
US08897796B2
There is disclosed a system and method for improving wireless system capacity by reducing collisions where the Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR) is high in systems having a channel reuse of 1. By ordering the channel assignment in each of the interfering cells according to a pattern, for example, according to the distance from a base station (determined by power levels), the mobile stations will become paired on the same channel in a manner to reduce interference between them. In one embodiment, this intelligent assignment is accomplished by assigning mobile stations in one cell such that the mobile station having the strongest signal is assigned channel A while in the interfering cell the mobile station with the weakest signal is assigned to channel A. In another embodiment, certain preferred mobile stations are assigned either interference-free channels or channels paired with weak interference mobile stations.
US08897795B2
A method and apparatus for providing planning of a plurality of mobile switching centers in a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains input data, and determines a limit for at least one mobile switching center parameter in accordance with the input data. The method determines if the limit for the at least one mobile switching center parameter is exceeded and determines an optimal output for an objective function, wherein the objective function is based on a plurality of penalty factors, if the limit for the at least one mobile switching center parameter is exceeded.
US08897794B2
The location of a mobile terminal associated with a user is determined using GPS or by monitoring signals generated and received by the mobile terminal, etc. Coordinates for at least one hot spot defined by the user are accessed to determine whether the location of the mobile terminal is within the hot spot. When an incoming contact is received for the user, a determination is made as to whether there are any contact routing rules associates with the user. If so, the record of contact routing rules associated with the user is accessed and the contact is routed to at least two designated devices simultaneously, each designated device associated with a different telephone number.
US08897793B2
The location of a mobile terminal associated with a user is determined using GPS or by monitoring signals generated and received by the mobile terminal, etc. Coordinates for at least one hot spot defined by the user are accessed to determine whether the location of the mobile terminal is within the hot spot. When an incoming contact is received for the user, a determination is made as to whether there are any contact routing rules associates with the user. If so, the record of contact routing rules associated with the user is accessed. If the record of contact routing rules includes at least one contact routing rule assigned to a hot spot, the contact is routed according to the at least one contact routing rule, based on whether or not the mobile terminal is determined to be within the hot spot.
US08897788B2
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to techniques to provide neighbor information in wireless networks and/or techniques to provide measurement pilot transmission information in wireless networks. According to an example embodiment, a neighbor report may be received from a first wireless node, the neighbor report including at least measurement pilot transmission information for one or more other wireless nodes. According to an example embodiment, a signal measurement technique for measuring signals from at least one of the one or more other wireless nodes may be determined based, at least in part, upon the neighbor report. According to another example embodiment, a message may be received from a first wireless node, the message including measurement pilot transmission information for the first wireless node. A signal measurement technique for measuring signals from the first wireless node may be determined based, at least in part, upon the received message.
US08897785B2
Disclosed is a multi-mode multi-band mobile communication terminal and a mode switching method thereof wherein a mode switching can be performed between an asynchronous network and a synchronous network by minimizing interruption in communication. According to the switching method of a multi-mode multi-band mobile communication terminal, the power of a signal received from an asynchronous network or a synchronous network is measured and the measured power of the received signal drives a modem portion, thereby switching the mode of the mobile communication terminal.
US08897766B2
The present invention is a method and system that reduces the amount of data traffic across communication links in a cellular network. In this system, the cellular device of a user receives and stores state information about a byte of data. During the implementation of the method of this invention, when a user desires to retrieve data from the Network Core, tokens containing a description of the state information for the requested data are sent to the cellular device. The cellular device can then have these tokens resolved by a Node B cell site that has stored the requested data. This approach reduces the need to resend the data from the Network Core over communications links. Further, the cellular devices can freely move from cell site to cell site with little interruption or loss of information.
US08897761B2
Methods and systems for mobile communications are provided, which provide a hands-free mobile communication when one is driving, particularly without the driver having to take out the mobile terminal and place it in the holder of a hands-free system and connect a cord. The methods and systems for mobile communications can support a plurality of users. The automobile mobile terminal is also used to perform other useful functions.
US08897756B2
A method for call-tracking, call-tracking systems, an HTTP proxy server computer program, web server hosts, web server computer programs and computer program products are disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: forwarding a request for a web page; receiving a reply message comprising a second telephone number; retrieving and storing a first telephone number, the second telephone number, a time associated with the forwarding of the reply message, and a service provider indicator; receiving a trigger message comprising two telephone numbers; determining whether the two telephone numbers correspond to the first telephone number and the second telephone number; and, if the two telephone numbers correspond, determining, based on a time difference, whether the call has been made within a predetermined time or predetermined time interval; and, if the call has been made within the predetermined time or predetermined time interval, store information related to the call.
US08897749B1
A policy and charging rules function node of a network may receive from the network an indication of an element of user equipment connecting to the network, query a subscription profile repository to receive a subscriber profile associated with the user equipment, the subscriber profile including indicators used in the selection of subscriber policies associated with the subscriber, and create a spending limit session based on the subscriber profile without waiting to receive a request from the user equipment for data services. The node may receive the request for data services from the element of user equipment, identify the spending limit session specifically corresponding to the user equipment, and respond to the request according to spending limit rules of the spending limit session associated with the element of user equipment. The node may also respond to the request according to default spending limit rules without waiting for creation of the spending limit session.
US08897735B2
Disclosed is a self-correlation receiver of a transceiver in which a transmitter shares an antenna with a receiver. The self-correlation receiver includes: a clamper which receives a received signal, limits the magnitude of the received signal within a predetermined range and outputs a clamping signal; and a mixer which receives the received signal and the clamping signal and outputs a signal having a difference frequency between the received signal and the clamping signal.
US08897731B2
Apparatus and methods for implementing “intelligent” receive diversity management in e.g., a mobile device. In one implementation, the mobile device includes an LTE-enabled UE, and the intelligent diversity management includes selectively disabling receive diversity (RxD) in that device upon meeting a plurality of criteria including (i) a capacity criterion, and (ii) a connectivity criterion. In one variant, the capacity criterion includes ensuring that an achievable data rate associated with a single Rx (receive) chain is comparable to that with RxD.
US08897722B2
Embodiments of a four-port isolation module are presented herein. In an embodiment, the isolation module includes a step-up autotransformer comprising a first and second winding that are electrically coupled in series at a center node. The first port of the isolation module is configured to couple an antenna to a first end node of the series coupled windings. The second port of the isolation module is configured to couple a balancing network to a second end node of the series coupled windings. The third port is configured to couple a transmit path to the center node. The fourth port is configured to couple a differential receive path across the first end node and the second end node. The isolation module effectively isolates the third port from the fourth port to prevent strong outbound signals received at the third port from saturating an LNA coupled to the fourth port.
US08897720B2
A wireless transceiver includes at least one RF transceiver section that generates an outbound RF signal based on outbound data and that generates inbound data based on an inbound RF signal. A configuration controller configures the wireless transceiver, by configuring the wireless transceiver to identify a plurality of communication paths to a remote station, the plurality of communication paths including at least one indirect communication path through at least one intermediate station; configuring the wireless transceiver to communicate with the remote station based on a first path of the plurality of communication paths; and configuring the wireless transceiver to communicate with the remote station based on a second path of the plurality of communication paths.
US08897719B2
A method and apparatus for initializing a transceiver in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment, a method for initializing a transceiver that is part of an apparatus for use in a wireless communication system for communicating with WirelessHD devices in a wireless network, where the apparatus comprises a host processor; a transceiver; a physical interface coupling the host processor and the transceiver; and a memory accessible by the host processor and the transceiver to exchange information between the host processor and the transceiver, the initialization method comprising resetting the transceiver by initializing internal hardware and software subsystems of the transceiver; after resetting the transceiver, the transceiver entering a configuration state to configure the transceiver; configuring the transceiver, such that the transceiver is configured as part of initialization; and after configuration, the transceiver entering a wait enable state during which the transceiver waits for its wireless interface to be enabled before wireless operation of the transceiver becomes active.
US08897718B2
A method of provisioning a communications link between remote terminals within a hub-spoke network comprising receiving, by a first remote terminal, information about a second remote terminal from a hub, selecting, by the first remote terminal, a modulation factor, coding rate, symbol rate, center frequency, and power level based on the information received about the second remote terminal, transmitting, by the first remote terminal, a signal using at least one of the selected modulation factor, coding rate, symbol rate, center frequency, and power level, to the second remote terminal such that a communications link is created, and adjusting the modulation factor, coding rate, symbol rate, center frequency, or power level of the transmitted signal such that performance of the link is increased while maintaining a presence of the link.
US08897717B2
A two-element array antenna system includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element. A transmitting, receiving, and processing (TRP) system is coupled to the first and second antenna elements via, respectively, a single first transmission element and a single second transmission element. The first and second transmission elements have respective transmit-path and receive-path functionality. The TRP system is configured to determine an amplitude offset and phase offset associated with the transmit-path functionality of the first and second transmission elements, and, based on data obtained during the determination of amplitude offset and phase offset associated with the transmit-path functionality of the first and second transmission elements, determine an amplitude offset and phase offset associated with the receive-path functionality of the first and second transmission elements.
US08897716B2
Implementations and techniques for measuring quality of experience associated with a mobile device are generally disclosed.
US08897715B2
An apparatus configured to operate under cognitive radio principles. The apparatus includes a processor configured to perform spectrum sensing in the apparatus to produce spectrum sensing data; and first circuitry configured to share the spectrum sensing data with other apparata.
US08897714B2
A method of estimating path loss for a channel between a user equipment and a base station of a wireless communication system, the method performed at the base station and comprising the steps of: measuring (302) a signal power PSDrx for a received signal transmitted from the user equipment to the base station on the channel; and estimating (304) a path loss PL*, based on the measured signal power PSDrx and a path loss compensation value α associated with the base station. A base station and a computer readable medium is also described.
US08897710B2
A terminal configured to receive data from a broadcast station that may simultaneously participate in a wireless network via transmissions to a wireless base station. The terminal determines time periods when data of interest to the terminal will be broadcast and schedules transmissions to the base station to avoid these time periods, thereby avoiding the transmissions preventing reception of the data of interest. The time periods may be determined amongst other means from scheduling information transmitted by the broadcast station.
US08897708B2
A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard.
US08897707B2
Methods, devices, and systems are described for bumping a mobile device, such as a smart phone, against a fixed poster board display at a store to initiate a download of coupons, advertisements, or other benefits to the mobile device. Products can be rated by a user's up/down bump or other bump patterns. Using accelerometer-based inertial measurements, multiple users can control multiple mouse cursors on a large display with their mobile devices in order to select information to be downloaded to their mobile devices. The multiple users can bump the display in order to select their items simultaneously.
US08897705B2
A data transmitting system, comprising: a processor; a first transmitting interface; a first transmitting apparatus; a second transmitting interface; a second transmitting apparatus and a signal transmitting line. The processor enters a power down mode when the first transmitting apparatus does not output data. The first transmitting generates a data transmitting indication signal when the processor is operated in the power down mode and the first transmitting apparatus has data to be output. The second transmitting apparatus generates a recovery signal according to the data transmitting indication signal, and transmits the recovery signal to the processor via the second transmitting interface. Thereby the processor goes back to a normal mode to control the first transmitting apparatus to output data.
US08897696B2
A method uses a relay station to assist processing of requests from user ends. The relay station acquires and monitors channel resource information received from a base station. Upon receiving a request from the UEs via the channel resource, the relay station sends the request received to the base station if it detects no response from the base station to the request. An apparatus uses a relay station to assist processing of requests from UEs. A channel resource acquisition unit acquires channel resource information from the base station. A user monitoring unit monitors the channel resource acquired by the channel resource acquisition unit and for receiving requests sent from the UEs. A base station monitoring unit monitors response from the base station to the requests upon receiving the requests sent from the UEs. A transmitting unit sends the request to the base station when no response from the base station to the request is detected.
US08897695B2
The design and use of a simplified, highly efficient, waveguide-based wireless distribution system are provided. A low-loss waveguide is used to transport wireless signals from a signal source or sources to one or more receiver locations. One or more adjustable signal coupling devices partially insert into the waveguide at predetermined locations along the length of the system to provide variable, controlled extraction of one or more wireless signals. Low-loss impedance matching circuitry is provided between the waveguide coupling devices and output connectors to maintain high system efficiency and the capability of supplying signals of high strength and quality to a large number of receivers in a wide wireless coverage area via a plurality of signal radiators. Some embodiments of the system are adaptable for wireless distribution service in HVAC plenum spaces while others disclose the combined functions of fire extinguishing and waveguide wireless distribution.
US08897693B1
A karaoke device is housed within an enclosure. A voice pickup element is integrated into the enclosure. The voice pickup element converts sound waves into an electrical signal. The karaoke device has an audio input and an audio output. An amplifier housed within the enclosure variably amplifies the electrical signal from the voice pickup element. A mixer, also within the enclosure, has a first input connected to an output of the amplifier and a second input connected to the audio input. A switch is include and has at least two positions. A first position of the switch connects the audio input to the audio output and a second position of the switch connects an output of the mixer to the audio output.
US08897688B2
A fixing device includes a nip formation pad contacting a part of an outer circumferential surface of an interior rotary body sliding thereover and a fixing belt looped over the interior rotary body and the nip formation pad. A pressing rotary body is pressed against the nip formation pad via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressing rotary body and the fixing belt. A lubricant applicator is mounted on the nip formation pad to apply a lubricant to the outer circumferential surface of the interior rotary body. The pressing rotary body, the fixing belt, the nip formation pad, and the interior rotary body are aligned in this order in a pressurization direction in which the pressing rotary body exerts pressure to the interior rotary body via the fixing belt and the nip formation pad to form the fixing nip.
US08897686B2
A fixing device includes a heat assembly including an endless belt, a heat source, an attachment member having an attachment surface and first and second side surfaces, and a slide sheet having first and second end portions that are respectively fixed to a first fixing portion at the first side surface and a second fixing portion at the second side surface, the slide sheet having a larger length from the first end portion to the second end portion than a length of a path of the attachment member extending from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion through the first side surface, the attachment surface, and the second side surface; and a pressure roller that presses the outer surface of the endless belt to the attachment surface.
US08897684B2
An apparatus, system and method are provided for controlling a nip pressure profile at a fusing nip and a strip radius in a fuser. The fuser has a first pressure member configured to be inflatable comprising one or more radial webs configured to extend between an external portion of the first pressure member and an internal member of the first pressure member. The fuser also has a second pressure member that having a surface that faces a surface of the first pressure member at a region defining a fusing nip. The second pressure member is configured to cause a deformation of the first pressure member to cause, at least in part, a selectable strip radius.
US08897681B2
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier to carry a latent image, a developing device having a toner carrier with first and second electrodes to develop the latent image by transferring the toner to a developing region between the toner carrier and the latent image carrier while causing the toner to hop between the first and second electrodes and attaching the hopping toner to the latent image, a pulsed power supply to output a first periodic pulse voltage having a mean potential the same as a normal toner charge and a second periodic pulse voltage, a smoothing circuit to make the first periodic pulse voltage smooth to generate a direct voltage, and a toner layer thickness regulator member to regulate, on receiving the direct voltage, a thickness of the toner layer in a region between a toner supply position at which toner is supplied and the developing region.
US08897673B2
A photosensitive drum assembly and a process cartridge and a process cartridge having an improved structure in which a protrusion for receiving a driving force transmitted from a main body of an image forming apparatus may not be easily worn or damaged. The photosensitive drum assembly that is capable of being combined with a driving shaft including a twisted hole with a non-circular cross-section having a plurality of corners, includes: a support disposed at one side of the photosensitive drum; and an insertion body disposed at one side of the support and including a plurality of protrusions that are capable of being inserted in the twisted hole, wherein at least portions of each of the plurality of protrusions based on a cross-section of each protrusion that is perpendicular to the driving shaft, closely contacts two side surfaces of the twisted hole that constitute one of the plurality of corners of the twisted hole, respectively.
US08897672B2
An image forming apparatus includes a belt stretched and wound around a driving roller and multiple driven rollers; multiple image formation units arranged in a running direction of the belt including photoconductors to form toner images of different colors; multiple transfer rollers opposed to the photoconductors via the belt; an engagement/disengagement device to bring at least one of the multiple transfer rollers in contact with and separate from the belt in accordance with an image formation mode; a steering controller to correct displacement of the belt in a widthwise direction by inclining one of the multiple driven rollers in a prescribed direction as a steering roller not to change a perimeter of the belt at least in a first image formation mode in which all of the multiple transfer rollers contact the belt; at least one position adjustment roller; and a belt position adjuster.
US08897671B2
An image formation apparatus includes a driving source configured to supply a rotational driving force in a predetermined direction, a particular developing unit having a developing roller and accommodating particular color developer, a first gear configured to receive the driving force of the driving source, a second gear configured to transmit the driving force to the developing roller, a particular intermediate gear configured to be engaged with the first and the second gears. A rotational center of the particular intermediate gear is arranged on an upstream side in a moving direction of teeth of the second gear, and a translation member is configured to linearly move between a first position where the particular intermediate gear engages with the first and second gears, and a second position where the particular intermediate gear disengages from the particular intermediate gear.
US08897668B2
A cleaning device includes first to third cleaning members that clean a surface of an endless belt that is looped over rollers including a driving roller. The first cleaning member is brought into contact with and separated from the surface at a predetermined timing. The second cleaning member is disposed upstream of the first cleaning member and downstream of the driving roller in a movement direction of the endless belt. The second cleaning member is in contact with the endless belt so as to prevent a tension variation of the endless belt caused by the first cleaning member from affecting the driving roller. The third cleaning member is disposed downstream of the first cleaning member. A contact state in which the third cleaning member is in contact with the endless belt is switched from a first contact state to a second contact state so as to reduce the tension variation.
US08897662B2
An image forming apparatus includes an engine configured to perform image formation; an engine control unit configured to control the engine; an apparatus control unit configured to control the whole of the apparatus; a storage unit; and a state management unit configured to set the apparatus to a power-saving mode in which the apparatus control unit and the storage unit are supplied with power while the engine, and the engine control unit are not supplied with power when a main power supply is turned on. When the apparatus is set to the power-saving mode, the apparatus control unit reads out second engine information that represents a configuration of the engine from the storage unit and performs a start-up process on the apparatus control unit on the basis of the second engine information.
US08897659B2
The apparatus includes a heating roller that generates heat for melting toner attached to a printing medium; a first induction coil that is disposed outside the heating roller and heats the heating roller by using induced current generated according to current flowing through the first induction coil; two second induction coils that are disposed at upper portions of both ends of the first induction coil and heat the heating roller by using induced current generated according to current flowing through the two second induction coils; a power supply unit that supplies current to the first induction coil and the two second induction coils; and a control unit that controls the power supply unit to supply current flowing in the same direction or different directions to the first induction coil and the second induction coils according to the size of paper fed into the heating roller.
US08897653B2
A subscriber-side optical network unit (ONU) includes a control LSI for outputting a data signal and a pre-bias signal at fixed intervals, an optical transmitter-receiver for producing optical output in response to these signals, and a light-emission error preventing circuit for preventing light-emission error. First and second light-emission error detecting circuits output an abnormality detection alarm signal when no rising edge occurs in the data signal and pre-bias signal for a prescribed period of time. An OR element, when receiving the abnormality detection alarm signal from at least one of the first and second light-emission error detecting circuits, supplies the optical transmitter-receiver with a shutdown signal and halts the optical output.
US08897648B2
Systems and methods are provided for network communication using wireless base stations and an optical orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signal generated on an optical wavelength, with the optical OFDMA signal being composed of a plurality of OFDMA subcarriers. A multi-level modulator modulates each of the plurality of OFDMA subcarriers. A single optical wavelength propagates each of the plurality of OFDMA subcarriers to different base stations; a passive optical splitter delivers the optical OFDMA signal to different base stations; and an OFDMA subcarrier de-multiplexer delivers and extracts traffic for each of the base stations in an electronic-domain, wherein the extracted traffic is remodulated in a wireless signal format. Antennas at each of the base stations transmit wireless signals, and the wireless signals are recovered and processed from the base stations.
US08897647B2
A communication link can be established by way of a radio interface between a first mobile communication facility and a second mobile or permanently stationary communication facility. In at least one embodiment, an item of identification information is made available by one of the communication facilities as an optical signal for receipt at the cited sensor; the communication facility, to which the sensor receiving the optical signal belongs, accepts the identification information and transfers the accepted identification information as a request to set up a communication link via the radio interface with the communication facility, which makes or has made the optical signal available. The requested communication facility implements a comparison between the accepted identification information and its own identification information and permits the setup of the communication link as a function of the comparison result.
US08897643B2
A node (260, 50) for a multi-token optical communications network has optical channels between the node and other nodes, each channel having a token (T1, T2, T3), passed between nodes, to indicate that a corresponding optical channel is available for transmission during a token holding time. The node has a transmitter (280) for transmitting packets over the optical channels, a buffer (170, 270) for queuing packets before transmission, and a transmit controller (170, 290) configured to control the buffer to forward an initial packet or packets from the buffer to the transmitter once a token has been received. The transmit controller determines how much of the token holding time remains after the transmission of the initial packet or packets, and then controls the buffer to forward a further packet according to the remaining token holding time. A maximum packet delay can be reduced where there is asymmetric traffic. A token holding time can be different for different nodes.
US08897640B2
The present invention provides reduced power dissipation and other benefits at the optical transport network layer by utilizing a digital subcarrier optical network comprising multiple digital subcarrier cross-connect switches. This offers several advantages for optical networks, including spectral efficiency and robustness against signal corruption and consumption of less energy than traditional TDM-based electric switches (OTN/SONET/SDH).
US08897635B2
A signal is conducted from a controller module onto a network via a first coupling. The signal is transmitted across the network and received at one or more receiver modules via one or more second couplings. At the one or more receiver modules, the received signal is analyzed and based upon the analysis, a determination is made as to whether a fault has occurred in the network and/or where the occurrence occurred.
US08897633B2
An in-vehicle camera unit has a body to which a lens is attached and prevention members that prevent water drops from falling on the lens. Specifically the body has a top surface where the lens is arranged, a front surface of the lens being exposed to an outside of the body. The prevention member is provided in or on the top surface across the front-back direction of the body.
US08897629B1
A filament may be provided having enhanced solderability and/or heating characteristics configured for heating a substance to release an airborne scent. In exemplary implementations, the ends of a high-temperature compatible filament may be coated with a metal film having greater solderability and/or conductivity relative to the filament. The coated ends may allow the filament to be incorporated into a heating circuit using low-temperature solder, rather than by using high-temperature solder or clamping. The coated ends may have a lower resistance relative to uncoated portions of the filament such that, when electrical current is passed through the filament, most of the current will flow through the coating at the end portions of the filament concentrating heat emitted by the filament to the uncoated portions.
US08897628B2
An electronic vaporizer is provided. The electronic vaporizer includes a cartridge that facilitates provision of a vaporized solution to an individual. The cartridge includes a housing that includes an interior, wherein the housing is one of a polymer housing or a ceramic housing. The cartridge also includes a heating element located in the interior of the housing, wherein the heating element is configured to vaporize a solution for oral provision to the individual. The vaporizer may also include a power harvesting device operative to acquire energy from the environment for use with powering the heating element.
US08897627B2
Provided is a vaporizer that can efficiently cool a carrier gas, improve the effect of preventing a material from being clogged near the outlet port of a gas passage, contribute to prolonging the timing of maintenance and improving operating efficiency, and exert more uniform dispersing effect. A vaporizer includes: a center rod inserted into a carrier gas introduction hole formed in a disperser to form the gas passage in cooperation with the inner wall of the carrier gas introduction hole; a cooling part disposed on the outer circumferential side of the carrier gas introduction hole in the disperser to cool the inside of the gas passage; a cooling member insertion hole formed across almost the entire length of the center rod along the axial direction of the center rod; and a cooling member disposed in the inside of the cooling member insertion hole to cool the center rod.
US08897620B2
A terminal device determines whether a clock is a secure clock or a self-running clock. If the clock is the self-running clock, the device stores a clocking time of the clock as a timestamp file in a memory card in recording content. In playing back the content, the device determines validity of a clocking time using the timestamp file to play back the content and also updates the stored time of the stored time as the timestamp file to a content playback start time. In contrast, if the clock is the secure clock, the device stores the timestamp file indicating a recording time of the content in the memory card only in recording the content and omits updating the stored time as the timestamp file in playing back the content.
US08897613B2
An example fiber optic cable includes an outer jacket having an elongated transverse cross-sectional profile defining a major axis and a minor axis. The transverse cross-sectional profile has a maximum width that extends along the major axis and a maximum thickness that extends along the minor axis. The maximum width of the transverse cross-sectional profile is longer than the maximum thickness of the transverse cross-sectional profile. The outer jacket also defines first and second separate passages that extend through the outer jacket along a lengthwise axis of the outer jacket. The second passage has a transverse cross-sectional profile that is elongated in an orientation extending along the major axis of the outer jacket. The fiber optic cable also includes a plurality of optical fibers positioned within the first passage a tensile strength member positioned within the second passage.
US08897609B1
A frequency selective infrared (IR) photodetector having a predetermined frequency band. The exemplary frequency selective photodetector includes: a dielectric IR absorber having a first surface and a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface; an electrode electrically coupled to the first surface of the dielectric IR absorber; and a frequency selective surface plasmonic (FSSP) structure formed on the second surface of the dielectric IR absorber. The FSSP structure is designed to selectively transmit radiation in the predetermined frequency band that is incident on the FSSP structure substantially independent of the angle of incidence of the incident radiation on the FSSP structure.
US08897602B2
An electronic device may have a camera module and a host subsystem. The camera module may include a camera sensor and associated image processing and data formatting circuitry. The image processing and data formatting circuitry may include an image processor that produces unscaled images frames using data from the camera sensor. Unscaled image frames may be processed in multiple paths between the image processor and the host subsystem such as a path that includes an image compression circuit block, a parallel path that includes a preview scaler, and a parallel path that includes a multiframe scaler and a frame buffer and multiframe image processor circuitry. The multiframe scaler may scale unscaled frames for buffering and processing by the frame buffer and multiframe image processor circuitry to produce analysis results. The analysis results may be appended to compressed unscaled image frames sent to the host subsystem.
US08897581B2
A visual dynamic range (VDR) coding system creates a sequence of VDR prediction images using corresponding standard dynamic range (SDR) images and a prediction function. For each prediction image, an encoder identifies one or more areas within the prediction image suitable for post-prediction filtering. For each identified post-prediction area, a post-prediction filtering mode is selected among one or more post-prediction filtering modes. The selected post-prediction filtering mode is applied to output a filtered prediction image. Information related to the post-prediction filtering areas and the selected corresponding post-prediction filtering modes may be communicated to a receiver (e.g., as metadata) for guided post-prediction filtering. Example post-prediction filtering modes that use low-pass averaging filtering or adaptive linear interpolation are also described.
US08897576B2
Candidate points belonging to a predetermined structure are extracted from image data DV. A shape model which represents a known shape of the predetermined structure and is formed by model labels having a predetermined connection relationship is obtained. Corresponding points corresponding to the model labels are selected from the extracted candidate points under the following constraints: (a) each model label is mapped with only one of the candidate points or none of the candidate points; (b) each candidate point is mapped with only one of the model labels or none of the model labels; and (c) when a path between two candidate points which are mapped with each pair of the model labels connected with each other is determined, each candidate point which is mapped with none of the model labels is included in only one of the determined paths or none of the determined paths.
US08897568B2
A first normalizing means generates a first normalized image by performing a normalizing process with fixed aspect ratios on given facial images. A feature extracting means generates feature images including features to be used for comparing faces, from the first normalized image. A second normalizing means generates a second normalized image by performing a normalizing process with variable aspect ratios on the feature images. A first comparing means calculates a first comparing result as an index as to whether or not faces in two images belong to one person, using the feature images. A second comparing means calculates a second comparing result as an index as to whether or not the faces in the two images belong to one person, using the second normalized image. A judging means judges whether or not the faces in the two images belong to one person, based on the first and second comparing result.
US08897557B2
A method of auto-determination a three-dimensional image format includes a processor receiving an image signal; the processor capturing a plurality of frames from the image signal; the processor determining whether a red sub-pixel gray-level, a green sub-pixel gray-level, and a blue sub-pixel gray-level of each pixel of a right half side of each frame of the plurality of frames are the same; and the processor determining that the image signal has a two-dimensional image plus depth information three-dimensional image format when the red sub-pixel gray-level, the green sub-pixel gray-level, and the blue sub-pixel gray-level of the pixel are the same.
US08897551B2
There are provided horizontal interpolation unit which creates interpolation data for each of pixels forming a horizontal line and performs interpolation in order for each of the pixels to have two color data of the interpolation data and original pixel data, for each horizontal line of Bayer data output from an imaging section; and data size reducing unit which creates data having reduced data amount (data size) for each horizontal line by using the two color data of each of the pixels and outputs Bayer data being formed with the data being created.
US08897546B2
A method for disparity cost computation for a stereoscopic image is provided that includes computing path matching costs for external paths of at least some boundary pixels of a tile of a base image of the stereoscopic image, wherein a boundary pixel is a pixel at a boundary between the tile and a neighboring tile in the base image, storing the path matching costs for the external paths, computing path matching costs for pixels in the tile, wherein the stored path matching costs for the external paths of the boundary pixels are used in computing some of the path matching costs of some of the pixels in the tile, and computing aggregated disparity costs for the pixels in the tile, wherein the path matching costs computed for each pixel are used to compute the aggregated disparity costs for the pixel.
US08897545B2
A method and an apparatus for determining a confidence value of a disparity estimate for a pixel or a group of pixels of a selected image of at least two stereo images are described, the confidence value being a measure for an improved reliability value of the disparity estimate for the pixel or the group of pixels. First an initial reliability value of the disparity estimate for the pixel or the group of pixels is determined, wherein the reliability is one of at least reliable and unreliable. Then a distance of the pixel or the group of pixels to a nearest pixel or group of pixels with an unreliable disparity estimate is determined. Finally, the confidence value of the disparity estimate for the pixel or the group of pixels is obtained from the determined distance.
US08897541B2
A method of implementing accurate digitization from a georeferenced image is described. In one embodiment, at least one set of coordinates which have been measured at a point of interest is received. A correction is then determined which describes a difference between the at least one set of coordinates and a set of georeferenced coordinates from a georeferenced image of the point of interest which describes the position of the point of interest.
US08897534B2
In a method and an evaluation device for determining the position of a structure located in an object to be investigated by means of X-ray computer tomography, a cutting data record, which images the object in a cutting plane, is determined from a volume data record of the object. The cutting data record is binarized to form a binary data record, in which the structure voxels imaging the structure and the surface voxels imaging an object surface are determined. To determine the position, a distance data record is produced in such a way that a distance value, which characterizes the smallest distance of the respective distance voxel from the surface voxels, is assigned to each distance voxel of the distance data record. The distance voxels corresponding to the structure voxels are then determined and the associated distance values evaluated.
US08897527B2
In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, a process for enhancing a motion-blurred image is presented. The process may include receiving a plurality of projections, wherein the plurality of projections contain computed tomography (CT) data obtained in multiple motion phases. The process may include generating an enhanced multi-phase image by performing an enhancement operation based on the plurality of projections. The process may further include generating a plurality of phase-correlated images based on the plurality of projections and the enhanced multi-phase image.
US08897522B2
What is disclosed is a non-contact system and method for determining cardiac function parameters from a vascular pattern identified from RGB and IR video signals captured simultaneously of a region of exposed skin of a subject of interest. In one embodiment, a video of a region of exposed skin is captured using a video camera that captures color values for pixels over visible channels and an IR camera that measures pixel intensity values in wavelength ranges of interest. Pixel intensity values are processed to generate a vascular binary mask that indicates pixel locations corresponding to the vascular pathways. The IR images are registered with corresponding data from the camera's visible channels such that pixels that correspond to the vascular pattern can be isolated in each frame of the video of visible color data. Once processed, pixels associated with the isolated vascular patterns are analyzed to determine desired cardiac function parameters.
US08897521B2
The disclosure provides an ultrasound image registration apparatus and a method thereof suitable for registering two ultrasound images partially overlapped with each other. The apparatus comprises: a first-stage image-developing processing module, a second-stage image-developing processing module and a registration module. The first-stage image-developing processing module performs beam-forming processing on two ultrasound images so as to generate two raw images. The second-stage image-developing processing module connects the first-stage module for performing envelope detection processing and compression processing on the raw images so as to generate two developed ultrasound images. The registration module connects the two image-developing processing modules for respectively obtaining coordinate information of at least one feature point of the raw images as the initial values of an image registration procedure, and for performing speckles-reducing processing on the developed ultrasound images and using the speckles-reduced ultrasound images to perform the image registration procedure.
US08897517B2
A data acquisition method performed by one or more controllers includes receiving information related to a sequence of a plurality of images. The method further includes receiving, from an ultrasonic probe, image information corresponding to a current image of the plurality of images in the sequence. The method still further includes determining whether a caliper input has been received, and when it is determined that a caliper input has been received: obtaining coordinate information corresponding to one or more locations in the current image, selecting an other image which is different from, and associated with, the current image, and obtaining one or more coordinates corresponding to one or more locations in the other image. The method further includes saving a report including the image information and the coordinate information corresponding to each image of the plurality of images of the sequence.
US08897508B2
A method and apparatus for creating and updating a facial image database from a collection of digital images is disclosed. A set of detected faces from a digital image collection is stored in a facial image database, along with data pertaining to them. At least one facial recognition template for each face in the first set is computed, and the images in the set are grouped according to the facial recognition template into similarity groups. Another embodiment is a naming tool for assigning names to a plurality of faces detected in a digital image collection. A facial image database stores data pertaining to facial images detected in images of a digital image collection. In addition, the naming tool may include a graphical user interface, a face detection module that detects faces in images of the digital image collection and stores data pertaining to the detected faces in the facial image database, a face recognition module that computes at least one facial recognition template for each facial image in the facial image database, and a similarity grouping module that groups facial images in the facial image database according to the respective templates such that similar facial images belong to one similarity group.
US08897506B2
A method and system for matching an unknown facial image of an individual with an image of a celebrity using facial recognition techniques and human perception is disclosed herein. The invention provides a internet hosted system to find, compare, contrast and identify similar characteristics among two or more individuals using a digital camera, cellular telephone camera, wireless device for the purpose of returning information regarding similar faces to the user The system features classification of unknown facial images from a variety of internet accessible sources, including mobile phones, wireless camera-enabled devices, images obtained from digital cameras or scanners that are uploaded from PCs, third-party applications and databases. Once classified, the matching person's name, image and associated meta-data is sent back to the user. The method and system uses human perception techniques to weight the feature vectors.
US08897505B2
An embodiment provides for enabling retrieval of a collection of captured images that form at least a portion of a library of images. For each image in the collection, a captured image may be analyzed to recognize information from image data contained in the captured image, and an index may be generated, where the index data is based on the recognized information. Using the index, functionality such as search and retrieval is enabled. Various recognition techniques, including those that use the face, clothing, apparel, and combinations of characteristics may be utilized. Recognition may be performed on, among other things, persons and text carried on objects.
US08897504B2
A processor-based system operating according to digitally-embedded programming instructions performs a method including identifying a group of pixels corresponding to a face region within digital image data acquired by an image acquisition device. A set of face analysis parameter values is extracted from said face region, including a faceprint associated with the face region. First and second reference faceprints are determined for a person using reference images captured respectively in predetermined face-portrait conditions and using ambient conditions. The faceprints are analyzed to determine a baseline faceprint and a range of variability from the baseline associated with the person. Results of the analyzing are stored and used in subsequent recognition of the person in a subsequent image acquired under ambient conditions.
US08897503B2
A representation framework is determined in a face recognition method for a first collection of facial images including at least principle component analysis (PCA) features. A representation of said first collection is stored using the representation framework. A modified representation framework is determined based on statistical properties of original facial image samples of a second collection of facial images and the stored representation of the first collection. The first and second collections are combined without using original facial image samples. A representation of the combined image collection (super-collection) is stored using the modified representation framework.
US08897502B2
Apparatus and a method for generating a rectified image. First pixel information corresponding to a first image is received from a first imager. Second pixel information corresponding to a second image is received from a second imager. A plurality of facial feature points of a portrait in each of the first and second images are identified. A fundamental matrix is generated based on the detected facial features. An essential matrix is generated based on the fundamental matrix. Rotational and translational information corresponding to the first and second imagers are generated based on the essential matrix. The rotational and translational information are applied to at least one of the first and second images to generate at least one rectified image.
US08897490B2
A vision-based user interface includes an image input unit for capturing frame images, an image processor for recognizing a posture in at least one of the captured frame images, and generating a recognized gesture according to the posture, and a control unit for generating a control command corresponding to the recognized gesture.
US08897488B2
A body gesture control system for operating electrical and electronic devices includes an image sensor device and an image processor device to process body gesture images captured by the image sensor device for recognizing the body gesture. The image processor device includes an image calculation unit and a gesture change detection unit electrically connected therewith. The image calculation unit is used to calculate gesture regions of the captured body gesture images and the gesture change detection unit is operated to detect changes of the captured body gesture images and to thereby determine a body gesture recognition signal.
US08897486B1
Character identity recognition is applied to identify text strings corresponding to character identities in a written work. The textual strings are grouped according to character identity and, from each group, a primary name is selected. A significance value may be calculated for each of the character identities. The character identities including the primary names are presented in a catalog based on the calculated significance values.
US08897481B2
A grille attachment for a loudspeaker is disclosed. A grille retainer is defined by a retention lip portion, a radial rim interface portion, and a hinge portion. The radial rim interface portion is in an abutting relationship with a flange radial mounting surface of the loudspeaker basket. The hinge portion connects the retention lip portion and the radial rim interface portion. The retention lip portion extends toward a flanged rim of the speaker basket, and defines an inner retention surface that is opposed to a flange circumferential surface. A grille extends across the griller retainer and is defined by a grille body and a grille rim that is circumferentially disposed and extending from the grille body. The grille rim is interposed between the flange circumferential surface and the inner retention surface, with the retention lip portion exerting a radial compressive force against the grille rim.
US08897480B2
There is provided an in-ear earphone having a housing (50) for receiving an electroacoustic transducer and an expansion adaptor unit (20) which is coupled to the housing (50) of the in-ear earphone. The expansion adaptor unit (20) has an expansion unit (20) with an upper portion (26) having a curvature for fitting into a crus inferius anthelicis, an anti-helix and/or a concha of an ear of a user. The expansion adaptor unit further has at least one coupling element for coupling the upper portion (26) to the housing (50) of the in-ear earphone, wherein the expansion unit (20) has at least two flexible legs (22, 25) as coupling elements, wherein one leg (22) is coupled to a first end (28) of the upper portion (26) and a second leg (25) is coupled to a second end (29) of the upper portion (26).
US08897479B2
A headset for voice communication is provided, the headset has a first earphone housing being rotatable about a first rotational axis, and a pickup unit comprising at least one microphone arranged on the earphone housing. The earphone housing comprises an earphone housing circuit, a first speaker for receiving a speaker signal from the earphone housing circuit, and at least a first ring of electrically conductive material formed annularly about the first rotational axis and mounted in electrical contact with the earphone housing circuit. An earphone housing connector part comprises at least a first set of contact members mounted in the earphone housing connector part so as to provide electrical connection between the at least first set of contact members and the at least first ring, to thereby connect the at least first set of contact members to a second speaker and/or an electronic circuit for processing signals.
US08897473B2
Provided is an acoustic generator which has a high sound pressure at ultrahigh frequencies and which can suppress occurrence of large peak dips. An acoustic generator includes a film, a frame member disposed on an outer peripheral edge of the film, a piezoelectric element disposed on the film and inside the frame member, and a resin layer filled inside the frame member so as to cover the piezoelectric element.
US08897471B2
The invention concerns a mobile terminal with at least two transducers (LSm, LSs1, LSS2) used simultaneously as loudspeakers for stereophonic effect. According to the invention, one of said transducers is a main transducer (LSm) with a main working frequency band (Bm) corresponding to at least the phone frequency band, while the other transducer is a secondary transducer (LSs1; LSs2) with a secondary working frequency band (Bs1; Bs2) band different from said main frequency band, the lowest frequencies of said secondary working frequency band (Bs1; Bs2) being greater than the lowest frequencies of said main working frequency band.
US08897465B2
A micro-speaker. The micro-speaker includes a first plate, a second plate, and a diaphragm. The first plate is biased to a first voltage. The second plate is biased to a second voltage. The diaphragm is positioned between the first plate and the second plate and is configured to receive a digital signal. The digital signal causes the diaphragm to cycle between fully displaced toward the first plate and fully displaced toward the second plate, creating air pressure pulses that mimic the digital signal.
US08897462B2
A sound processing apparatus includes a sound input unit configured to input a sound signal, a signal processor having a band-limiting filter for limiting a passing band of the sound signal, and being configured to apply a predetermined signal processing on a sound signal output from the band-limiting filter, and a controller configured to control a band width of the passing band of the band-limiting filter. The controller changes the band width of the passing band according to a level of the sound signal, and makes a speed at the time of expanding the band width faster than a speed at the time of narrowing the band width.
US08897460B2
A microphone amplifier comprises an input terminal (E100) for applying an input signal (IN), an output terminal (A100a) for outputting an output signal (OUT), and an additional output terminal (A100b) for outputting an additional output signal (VBIAS). The microphone amplifier also contains an amplifying circuit (10) for generating the output signal (OUT) by amplifying the input signal (IN), wherein the amplifying circuit (10) is connected between the input terminal (E100) and the output terminal (A100a), and a voltage generator (30) for generating the additional output signal (VBIAS). A supply voltage terminal (V30) of the voltage generator (30) is connected to the output terminal (A100a) of the microphone amplifier. Since the amplifying circuit (10) makes available a supply voltage (V) for the voltage generator (30), the microphone amplifier can be operated without a separate supply voltage terminal.
US08897459B2
An audio communication system includes a headset with a microphone having two electrical outputs and a first electro-acoustic driver. The system includes first and second differential amplifiers, and a first electrical conductor for electrically connecting an output of the first differential amplifier with a first audio source device. A second electrical conductor is provided for electrically connecting an input of the driver with the first audio source device. A third electrical conductor is provided for electrically connecting an output of the second differential amplifier with a second audio source device. A fourth electrical conductor is provided for electrically connecting an input of the driver with the second audio source device. One electrical output from the microphone is electrically connected to a positive input of each of the differential amplifiers. The other electrical output from the microphone is electrically connected to a negative input of each of the differential amplifiers.
US08897454B2
A sound zooming technique synchronized with a moving picture zooming function is disclosed. A signal to control ambient noise and a signal to control a long distance sound are extracted from an audio signal input through a plurality of microphones. A front directivity-emphasized signal is masked using the two signals and a weighted value to control volume.
US08897445B2
A combination-based broadcast encryption method includes: assigning by a server a base group of different combinations to each user; producing and sending secret information for each user by using as a base the base group allocated to each user; producing and sending an inverse-base parameter value through calculations with integers used to produce the base group and key value information of one or more privileged users; and deriving a group key by using the key value information of the privileged users, encrypting a session key by using the derived group key, and sending the encrypted session key to each user. Accordingly, each user is assigned a different base through a combination, thereby having security against collusion attacks.
US08897434B2
A method may include identifying information stored in an application on a user device. The information may be associated with an appointment-related call. The method may also include forwarding a link to the user device via which a communication session with another party can be established, or automatically dialing a telephone number associated with the appointment-related call.
US08897431B2
Power is supplied to telecom equipment in DSLAM outdoor/remote cabinets with relatively short distances between the subscriber and the cabinet. All of the subscriber Customer Premises Equipment connected to the DSLAM each provide a portion of the required power to the remote cabinet via the telephone line connecting the DSLAM and the subscriber CPE. The CPE at the subscriber premises is already connected to power mains in the subscriber premises so, providing power, via the telephone line to the outdoor cabinet is relatively simple. The remote cabinet includes a circuit for receiving the power input from each subscriber and then distributing the power, required by the DSLAM load, equally among the subscribers.
US08897426B2
Systems and methods that control a voice mail experience from a client side of a voice mail server system and enhance features thereof. A dynamic voice mail user interface can change based on what predetermined activity the user engages in. Moreover, a field component further enables a caller to identify characteristics of the voice mail. An XML based protocol empowers a client application to control state of the voice mail system, wherein a session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INFO request or response can carry out voicemail control command, result and event.
US08897423B2
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a geographic location of a called party based on a phone number of the called party, entered by a calling party, and prompting the calling party with at least one spoken language based on the geographic location of the called party.
US08897420B1
An x-ray tube includes a cathode adapted to emit electrons, a bearing assembly comprising a rotatable shaft having a rotor hub, a target assembly attached to the rotatable shaft and positioned to receive the emitted electrons in order to generate x-rays therefrom, a rotor attached to the rotor hub at an attachment face, wherein the attachment face comprises a first material compressed against a second material, and a first anti-wear coating attached to one of the first material and the second material and positioned between the first material and the second material.
US08897416B2
An, X-ray detector photographs an object by receiving an X-ray irradiated from an X-ray generator. The X-ray detector includes: a plurality of photo-detecting pixels, each of which includes a photodiode, which detects an X-ray and generates an electric signal corresponding to an amount of a transmitted X-ray, and a switching device which transmits the electric signal; a gate driver which supplies a gate pulse to the switching device for turning on the switching device; and a read-out integrated circuit (IC) which reads out the electric signals from the plurality of photo-detecting pixels; wherein the gate driver and the read-out IC initialize the plurality of photo-detecting pixels in response to an X-ray warm-up control signal causing warm up of the X-ray generator.
US08897415B2
Effective atomic numbers associated with pixels in a region are received. An effective atomic number is associated with each pixel in the region. X-ray data for the region is received, and an item within the region is identified from the x-ray data. Some of the pixels in the region are correlated with the item such that the item is associated with an effective atomic number. An image of the region is rendered. The pixels of the item have a display style based on the effective atomic number of the item.
US08897413B2
A medical imaging system (100) includes a radiation source (112) that rotates around an examination region about a longitudinal axis and emits radiation while translating in a direction of the longitudinal axis during a fly-by scan. A source collimator (114) collimates the emitted radiation during the fly-by scan to form a generally conical shaped radiation beam that traverses the examination region. The source collimator (114) dynamically varies collimation during the scan so as to increase and decrease a width of the radiation beam in the longitudinal axis direction during the scan. A detector array (122) detects radiation that traverses the examination region and generates signals indicative thereof. A reconstructor (126) reconstructs the signals to generate volumetric image data indicative of the examination region.
US08897403B2
A phased array antenna for providing a radiation pattern having at least one communication beam, includes a plurality of antenna elements, each with an antenna element signal having a phase relationship and an amplitude relationship to the other element signals; a digital signal processing arrangement providing a digital beamforming network; and an analog beamforming network arranged to reduce exposure of the digital signal processing arrangement to an interfering signal. Analog beamforming weights are selected to generate a null in the radiation pattern in a direction corresponding to the interfering signal.
US08897400B2
An arrangement and method for digital frequency synthesis. The arrangement includes a device for phase quantization structured and arranged to operate based on a reference clock and a phase increment value, and a device for amplitude quantization structured and arranged to operate based on a reference clock and a phase increment value. The arrangement also includes a device for noise shaping of a phase arranged in the signal path after the device for phase quantization, a device for noise shaping of an amplitude arranged in a signal path after the device for amplitude quantization, and a phase to amplitude converter.
US08897398B2
Methods and apparatus for estimating received error rates. In one embodiment, the estimation of received error rates is conducted in relation to a bus interface such as a high-speed High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interface, and the method utilizes corrupted symbols that violate TMDS symbol rules, the corrupted symbols being easily detected and counted. In one exemplary implementation, a symbol error rate (SER) can be estimated from the number of detected invalid symbols. The SER can be used to diagnose the performance of the HDMI interface, and optionally as a basis for selecting or implementing corrective action(s).
US08897392B2
A transmit diversity method applied to a transmitting system includes the steps of: receiving a serial stream, and transforming the serial stream into a plurality of parallel streams, wherein each parallel stream is carried by a corresponding sub-carrier; and in light of each sub-carrier, selecting a single transmission path from at least two transmission paths of the transmitting system so as to transmit the parallel stream carried by the sub-carrier. The transmit diversity method further includes the step of: dividing the plurality of parallel streams carried by the sub-carries into M groups, wherein the parallel streams belonging to the same group are transmitted via selecting the same transmission path.
US08897381B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining an effective channel and feedback information. The method for determining an effective channel comprises: selecting more than one basic column vectors for determining a precoding matrix; calculating products of channel row vectors and the basic column vectors; and determining the effective channel or a Hermitian matrix of the effective channel by using the products. It can be seen from above that with the calculation of products of channel row vectors and more than one basic column vectors determining a precoding matrix and determination of an effective channel or Hermitian matrixes of the effective channel by using the products, the equipment is enabled to lower the amount of calculation and the complexity of calculation, lower the power consumption of the equipment and reduce the circuit size needed in performing corresponding processing in determining an effective channel or Hermitian matrixes of the effective channel and in determining channel feedback information.
US08897380B2
A digital broadband broadcast receiver is configured to receive bits transmitted in transmission symbols, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. The reliability of the received bits is scaled with a non-linear scaling function which is in relation to the amount of interfered part of a received transmission symbol. In the scaling, a burst state information (BSI) and/or channel state information (CSI) method can be used.
US08897377B2
Transcoding multiple media elements for independent wireless delivery. Respective media or multimedia elements are selectively and respectively encoded and/or transcoded. Such respective and selective processing of different media elements provides for their unbundled and independent communication to one or more other devices. In one instance, different respective overlays of a display (e.g., a computer, TV, PDA display, etc.) are respectively and selectively transcoded and/or encoded to generate different respective streams that may each be handled differently as a function of any number of parameters (e.g., media element type, content, communication channel characteristic, source proximity, priority, etc.). Different types of media elements include photo/image, video, graphics, text, audio, picture-in-picture, two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), and/or other types of media elements as may be included within a given configuration of a display. Each respective encoding and/or transcoding may be particularly optimized or tailored for a given media element type.
US08897376B2
A video stream is encoded with a prediction mode of which a picture later than an I picture in the display order is predicted from a picture earlier than the I picture in the display order and recorded on a record medium so that the video stream reproduced from the record medium is randomly accessible. When a video stream is encoded, the prediction mode of which a picture later than an I picture in the display order is predicted from a picture earlier than the I picture in the display order is prohibited. In addition, EP_map that correlates reproduction time information of an I picture to a packet number of the I picture is created and recorded on the record medium along with a packetized encoded stream. When the video stream is reproduced, EP_map is searched for a packet number corresponding to a designated reproduction time. Corresponding to the obtained packet number, decoding of an encoded stream reproduced from the record medium is controlled. As a result, a random access reproduction designated with a reproduction time is assured.
US08897375B2
A mobile device management system including a method for monitoring a remote video camera and event scheduling, synchronization and modification using location information. Video from a remote camera is encoded by a computer and streamed in real time over a network to a mobile device for decoding and display. The computer encoder and mobile device decoder are software-based. Event calendar and schedule information is incorporated, shared and automatically updated among multiple mobile devices. Location information, such as from a locator network or a satellite-based global positioning system, is used to provide real time updates to a mobile device calendar or event schedule. A map or other indicia of the location of other mobile devices may be provided.
US08897373B2
Rendering processing is performed such that a distribution screen is rendered in rendering processing of a subsequent stage by referring to a Depth map generated by rendering processing of a preceding stage. A moving image distribution server selects the Depth map for coding determination during execution of rendering processing of the subsequent stage for a first screen, and determines for each set block whether to perform inter-frame coding by referring to a Depth map generated for a second screen rendered before the first screen. After rendering processing of the subsequent stage has ended for the first screen, the server performs coding in accordance with the determination result and sends the coded moving image data to an external device. The determination result is sent to the external device before generation of the coded moving image data of the first screen is completed.
US08897368B2
An image coding device which codes input image data includes a coding flag generation unit which determines whether or not the input image data is image data included in data of a moving picture showing a motion of a predetermined motion amount or greater, and generates coding flag information which indicates a result of the determination. A coding method determination unit determines a coding method in which the input image data references coded image data that the coded image data indicates is the input image data included in the data of the moving picture that is closer to the input image data. An image coding unit compression-codes the input image data using the coding method determined by the coding method determination unit.
US08897364B2
The invention concerns a method for decoding a video sequence encoded according to a predictive format, which video sequence includes predicted images containing encoded residual data representing differences between the respective predicted image and a respective reference image in the video sequence. The method of the invention comprises, applying to a current image which contains at least one area which is to be reconstructed, the steps of: obtaining (E605) projected residual data for said at least one area to be reconstructed, from residual data of at least one image predicted from the current image, corresponding to a temporal projection of at least part of the at least one area to be reconstructed onto said at least one image predicted from the current image; and reconstructing (E606) at least part of said at least one area using the projected residual data obtained.
US08897355B2
An apparatus having a cache and a processor. The cache may be configured to (i) buffer a first subset of reference samples of a reference picture to facilitate a motion estimation of a current block and (ii) prefetch a second subset of the reference samples while a first search pattern is being tested. The first search pattern used in the motion estimation generally defines multiple motion vectors to test. The reference samples of the second subset may be utilized by a second search pattern in the motion estimation of the current block. The prefetch of the second subset may be based on a geometry of the first search pattern and scores of the motion vectors already tested. The processor may be configured to calculate the scores of the motion vectors by a block comparison of the reference samples to the current block according to the first search pattern.
US08897353B2
An OFDM receiver receives OFDM symbols in the frequency domain and comb filters and then punctures the OFDM symbols to leave symbols with actual pilot information and with null values at the data symbols. The receiver provides the punctured OFDM symbols to an OFDM symbol queue. A virtual pilot interpolator is coupled to the punctured OFDM symbol storage to generate virtual pilot information introduced to OFDM symbols. The interpolator may be a two dimensional Wiener filter. The receiver also includes a time domain channel estimator that processes a first OFDM symbol including virtual pilot information to generate a channel impulse response for the first OFDM symbol. A frequency equalizer equalizes the OFDM symbol in response to the channel impulse response for the first OFDM symbol.
US08897346B2
A modem device includes a modulation unit 12 that generates a modulated signal, a frequency conversion unit 15 that generates an intermediate frequency signal from an external input signal, and a demodulation unit 14 that demodulates the modulated or intermediate frequency signal and generates a reception signal. In a communication mode, the modulation unit 12 outputs the modulated signal to a external device 50, the frequency conversion unit 15 generates the intermediate frequency signal, and the demodulation unit 14 demodulates the intermediate frequency signal and generates the reception signal. In an adjustment mode, the modulation unit 12 outputs the modulated signal to the demodulation unit 14, and the demodulation unit 14 generates the reception signal from the modulated signal and adjusts an amplitude of the transmission signal based on the reception signal.
US08897344B2
In particular embodiments, a broadband receiver of a wireless communications device may poll a broadband communications channel for configuration data. Once the configuration data has been received, the channel may be established, and connection information may be transmitted to a base station. The connection information may be an identifier for a user of a social-networking system. Based on the identifier, the device may be able to establish a narrowband communications channel with the base station. Using the identifier, the base station may be able to begin retrieving social-networking information for the user while establishing a communications channel using the narrowband transceiver. Once the narrowband communications channel has been established, the wireless communications device may be able to receive the social-networking information over that channel and provide social-networking functionality.
US08897314B1
Aspects of the disclosure can provide a network switch having reduced power consumption. The network switch can include a plurality of ports that are configured to receive and transmit network traffic. The plurality of ports can be configured in a power-on mode and a power-off mode. Further, at least a first port among the plurality of ports can be configured to remain in the power-on mode and to receive power control instructions. In addition, the network switch can include a power controller. The power controller can change the power modes of selected ports among the plurality of ports in response to the power control instructions received through the first port.
US08897309B2
A telecommunication system and method for controlling the establishment of payload connections through media gateways. The system receives and aggregates control orders from a plurality of telecommunication nodes such as media gateway controllers. The system uses knowledge of resources in the network to optimize the path of the payload connection. The system also sends control orders to a given media gateway in order to establish the payload connection. The system may be connected to a plurality of other instances of the same type of system in a hierarchical manner.
US08897308B2
A node according to the present invention is used in an MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) network, and the node includes an input unit which receives an OAM (Operation Administration and Maintenance) frame including TTL (Time To Live) from outside of the node and an output unit which transmits an OAM frame to outside of the node, wherein the input unit sets the TTL to a specific value and transmits the received OAM frame to the output unit in case a termination destination which an OAM frame received from outside indicates is the node and the received OAM frame is to be transmitted to the output unit and the output unit terminates an OAM frame transmitted from the input unit.
US08897295B2
An approach is provided for interworking traffic onto a composite transport group (CTG). An attribute associated with a composite transport group is determined based on a characteristic of a traffic flow associated with a label-switched network. The traffic flow is mapped to one or more component connections of the composite transport group based on the attribute.
US08897294B2
An interface switch which presents itself as switch to an enterprise fabric formed of the devices from the same manufacturer as the interface switch and that of a host or node to an enterprise fabric from a different manufacturer. This allows each enterprise fabric to remain in a higher performance operating mode. The multiplexing of multiple streams of traffic between the N_ports on the first enterprise fabric and the second enterprise fabric is accomplished by N_port Virtualization. The interface switch can be connected to multiple enterprise fabrics. All control traffic address mappings between virtual and physical addresses may be mediated and translated by the CPU of the interface switch and address mappings for data traffic performed at wire speed. Since the interface switch may preferably be a single conduit between the enterprise fabrics, it is also a good point to enforce perimeter defenses against attacks.
US08897292B2
A method is implemented by a network element to provide scalable hierarchical traffic management (HTM) over a plurality of network layers for a network and eliminate priority leaking caused by quick loopback batch scheduling that analyzes a subset of network layers to shorten processing time and resource requirements when the scalable HTM selects data packets to be forwarded. The method and system function as a low pass filter over the selected data packets to prevent low priority data packets being forwarded where higher priority data packets are available to be forwarded.
US08897288B2
A base station apparatus is provided, which includes a generator configured to generate a synchronization signal and a transmitter configured to transmit the generated synchronization signal. The generator is configured to generate a synchronization signal to be mapped on a subcarrier included in one of a plurality of frequency resource candidates that are separated by an interval, which is a common multiple of a determined frequency spacing and a subcarrier spacing between contiguous subcarriers, wherein the subcarrier spacing does not have a value that is a divisor of the determined frequency spacing.
US08897282B2
According to embodiments, a wireless communication apparatus supports at least a second wireless communication scheme between a first, wireless communication scheme and the second wireless communication scheme. The first wireless communication scheme requires that a wireless medium is determined to be busy when a reception level is equal to or greater than a minimum reception sensitivity level of physical scheme. The apparatus includes a first processing unit and a second processing unit. The first processing unit is configured to set a value lower than a maximum transmission power of the first wireless communication scheme, for a maximum transmission power of the second wireless communication scheme and set a value greater than the minimum reception sensitivity level, of the physical scheme, for a carrier sense level, when the second wireless communication scheme is used. The second processing unit is configured to carry out carrier sense using the carrier sense level.
US08897279B2
A wireless local area network (WLAN) apparatus for a WLAN system includes a first medium access protocol (MAC) entity which supports a first frequency band; and a second MAC entity which supports a second frequency band, wherein a MAC management frame for the first frequency band is encapsulated in a MAC management frame for the second frequency band, and transmitted through the second frequency band.
US08897267B2
One feature provides for an apparatus, system, and method for enabling softer handover by a user equipment in a non-dedicated channel state, such as Cell_FACH state. A user equipment communicates with a base station via a first sector of the base station, and receives a preamble signature partition list. The user equipment determines that a second sector of the base station is available for softer handover, and selects a preamble signature from the preamble signature partition list corresponding to a softer handover configuration associated with the first sector and the second sector. The user equipment may then transmit a softer handover initiation message that includes the preamble signature while in a non-dedicated channel state, such as Cell_FACH.
