US08240314B2
Described is a method for injecting fillers into the dermis. The method provides a technique for arcing the needle to create a lasting support structure within a patient's dermal tissue. Described is an act of inserting a needle attached to a syringe filled with a dermal filler into a patient's facial dermis at a strategic insertion point. Once inserted, pressure is applied to hub of the needle to cause it to arc within the dermis and create pockets of space within the dermis. The needle is used to dissect the tissue in the subepidermal plane that is creating the depression showing on the epidermis. The syringe is used to release the filler into the dermis while simultaneously applying pressure to the hub of the needle while withdrawing the needle from the patient's dermis. Filler is injected strategically within the patient's dermis to raise a facial depression, wrinkle, or fold.
US08240313B2
Disclosed is a physiological approach of a penile venous stripping surgical procedure for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED), which mainly contains a revolutionary surgical solution of treating leakage veins for restoring erectile function based on a template of penile tunical and venous anatomy. The method entails a thorough penile venous stripping and then being ligated of one deep dorsal vein and a pair of cavernosal veins whereas two pairs of para-arterial veins are rendered for segmental ligation rather than being stripped closest to the tunica albuginea by using a set of specific instruments under an acupuncture-aided local anesthesia on an ambulatory basis. Although the techniques for handling venous tissues with stripping and then ligation is extraordinarily challenging, this innovative method turns the venous treatment for ED from one that has been abandoned to a curable option.
US08240302B1
A breathing mask with debris deflector features small debris deflectors that close the gaps between the bottom profile of the eyewear worn by the user and the mask face-contacting perimeter. The debris deflectors are positioned, oriented and profiled to prevent fine debris from reaching and harming the eyes of the mask wearer without interfering with the field of vision of the wearer or causing visual glare.
US08240296B2
Providing a gas engine in which the drain oil in the blow-by gas as a lubricant is mixed into the air fuel-gas mixture, the lubricant actively lubricating the bearing surfaces of the wear parts such as the valve seats and valve guides as to the intake-air valve and the exhaust gas valve, so that the lubricating device improves the engine lubricating conditions. A lubrication device for a gas engine thereby a valve gear room 6 is formed on a cylinder head, including: a blow-by gas discharge pipe 3 through which the blow-by gas flowing into the valve gear room 6 is discharged; whereby, an oil mist separator 4 is arranged at the downstream side of the blow-by gas discharge pipe, the oil mist separator separating the drain oil and the air in the blow-by gas; the outlet regarding the drain oil from the oil mist separator communicates with an oil discharge device 1 through an oil pipe 3s, the an oil discharge device being arranged at an upstream side of a gas mixer 110 mixing the fuel gas with the intake air for the engine, the upstream being in relation to the intake air; the outlet regarding the air from the oil mist separator communicates with an air inlet of the air cleaner 25 for the engine intake air, through a breathing pipe 5.
US08240292B1
A method, fuel system, and components for facilitating the delivery of liquid fuel from a fuel tank in fluid communication with a float bowl carburetor of an internal combustion engine, wherein evaporative emissions of the fuel from the fuel tank and float bowl carburetor are mitigated. During operation of the engine, fluid communication is permitted between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and fuel vapors at a predetermined threshold superatmospheric pressure are permitted to vent outwardly from the fuel tank. During inoperation of the engine, fluid communication is prevented between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and fuel vapors at a predetermined threshold superatmospheric pressure are permitted to vent outwardly from the fuel tank.
US08240291B2
A pressure relief valve is disclosed. The pressure relief valve comprises a body, a valve member, and a resilient member. The body includes a guide bore, a seat surface, an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The valve member is received within a portion of the body and includes a guide portion received within the guide bore, a valve seat configured to sealingly engage the seat surface, and an internal passage. The resilient member biases the valve seat into engagement with the seat surface. The valve member is moveable between a first position in which the inlet is fluidly blocked from the first outlet and the second outlet, a second position in which inlet is fluidly coupled to the first outlet but not to the second outlet, and a third position in which the inlet is fluidly coupled to the first outlet and the second outlet.
US08240289B2
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine. It is an object of the present invention to prevent an excessive reaction of a throttle valve when the throttle valve is driven on the basis of a throttle opening calculated from a plurality of required torques. Step 100 is performed to consolidate the plurality of required torques. Step 102 is then performed to judge whether the sensitivity of throttle opening variation corresponding to torque variation is high. When the sensitivity is judged to be high, step 106 is performed to convert only a fluctuating required torque to a throttle opening. Step 108 is then performed to consolidate the remaining required torques and convert the resulting consolidated required torque to a throttle opening. Next, the required throttle opening calculated in step 106 and the required throttle opening calculated in step 108 are consolidated to calculate a final throttle opening.
US08240283B1
Described is a method of making and using an adherent guide strip on a damper wheel of a piston engine to adjust engine valves. The method includes cutting the strip to a length sufficient to exactly encircle the damper wheel; placing midpoint marks onto a visible outside surface of the strip; engaging the strip with a peripheral edge of the crankshaft pulley while aligning the strip for corresponding rotational positions of the damper wheel; and guiding rotation and positioning of the crankshaft and camshaft by the midpoint marks on the guide strip in order to more easily and accurately adjust the engine's valves.
US08240281B2
A height of an upper end of an oil outflow prevention wall 25 with respect to the fastening plane 15 is greater in a lower side of the inclination of the fastening plane 15 than in a higher side of the inclination of the fastening plane 15.
US08240280B2
A device for camshaft adjustment in an internal combustion engine which has an inner rotor rotationally fixed to a camshaft. The inner rotor is rotationally adjustable relative to an outer rotor that is driveably connected to a crankshaft. At least one hydraulic chamber limited by side walls is introduced into the outer rotor and is divided into two partial chambers by an element extending radially outward from the inner rotor. To lock relative movement between the inner and outer rotor, two locking pins penetrating the inner rotor axially engage in two recesses of one of the side walls designed as a locking cover. To adjust the play of the locking pins in the recesses, at least one of the recesses has a stop surface for the locking pin, the position of which changes as viewed circumferentially with the radial distance from the axis of the inner rotor.
US08240264B2
A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. The catamaran hull arrangement provides longitudinal flexibility in a quartering sea state due to the unique universal joint and hinge placement between the frames or trusses and the hulls or barges.
US08240252B2
An ammunition article is provided which comprises a casing and a cap wherein the casing is formed from a polymeric material that has a room temperature notched Izod impact value greater than about 10 ft lbs/in and then has a ratio of notched Izod impact value at room temperature to notch Izod impact value at about −40° C. of less than about 4.
US08240247B2
Compacting apparatus (10) for waste material defines a feed space (14), in which material (16) for compacting is received in use, and a pressing chamber (16). The apparatus includes a moving assembly (40) for moving material from the feed space into the pressing chamber, a pressing member (20) movable within the pressing chamber to move material in use out of the pressing chamber, and a shearing arrangement (70, 72) for shearing the material as it moves out of the pressing chamber.
US08240246B2
A removable toaster basket assembly to be removably received in a toasting slot of an electric pop-up toaster facilitates inserting and removing food articles in the toasting slot for toasting of the food article. The removable toaster basket assembly includes an elongate substantially planar frame for resting on an upper surface of the toaster and defines a rectangular slot therethrough. A handle extends from one end of the frame. An elongate basket is slidably received in the slot, the basket having ends and sides which define an open top for receiving a food article. A stop on the basket limits translation of the basket with respect to said frame to maintain the basket captive within the frame.
US08240244B2
The invention provides a tool (10) for use in controlling quantity of congregatable particulates, such as coffee, contained in a receptacle. The tool (10) includes support means (20) and a blade (18). The support means (20) are adapted to be supported by a wall of the receptacle. The blade (18) is for contacting an upper surface of the congregated particulates. The tool (10) is movable relative to the receptacle wall.
US08240242B2
According to one embodiment, a rotary actuator comprises a chamber within a housing. A piston within the chamber is operable to rotate about a fixed point. A primary inlet is disposed within the housing. The primary inlet allows fluid to pass between the chamber and a primary fluid source.
US08240240B2
A device for detecting the absolute position of a cylinder rod is provided. A cylinder assembly has a cylinder body with a gland member positioned thereof. The gland member has a rod opening extending therethrough. An adjustable sensor is mounted on the gland member, the adjustable sensor being operable to read one or more detectable features of the cylinder rod. The adjustable sensor can be incrementally adjusted relative to the cylinder rod to optimize the gap provided between the adjustable sensor and the cylinder rod, allowing the sensor to detect the motion and absolute position of the cylinder rod. The detectable features may be three tracks of data including first timing data and position data.
US08240238B2
A system and apparatus for detecting and neutralizing remotely activated explosive devices in a combat zone, especially one of relatively limited geographic area such as an urban setting. The apparatus is configured for mounting on or within an airborne drone and includes both transmitting and receiving circuits and antennas. The apparatus detects radio transmissions by analyzing received signals using standard RF direction finding techniques and a spectrum analyzer or other signal processing circuitry. Signals may be classified as threats using predetermined criteria, and the direction of threat signals may be assessed to allow for a determination of an enemy position from which an explosive is to be detonated. The apparatus also transmits a jamming signal which may serve to detonate devices within the dynamic RF footprint of the transmitting antenna. The drone also includes a highly directional low frequency audio device which is periodically directed randomly and at suspected enemy positions.
US08240237B2
A guide fence assembly for use with a work table of a table-based device, where the assembly includes an elongated fence body that extends in a longitudinal direction between front and rear ends thereof, and a front glide member that is attached to the elongated fence body. The front glide member is configured and arranged to glide along a front rail of the table-based device. Preferably, there is at least one magnetic element attached to the elongated fence body at a position between the front glide member and the front end of the elongated fence body. The at least one magnetic element is configured and arranged to apply a magnetic attraction force directed in the longitudinal direction toward the rear end of the elongated fence body. Preferably, there is also a locking mechanism for locking the guide fence assembly into a locked position with respect to the work table.
US08240235B2
Method of minimal quantity lubrication cutting/grinding processing and oil composition used therefor
The present invention provides a method of minimal quantity lubrication cutting and grinding that can improve cutting and grinding properties and extend the life of tools. The minimal quantity lubrication cutting and grinding method of the present invention comprises supplying a compressed fluid containing 0.1 to 15 percent by volume of oxygen together with a cutting and grinding oil (particularly preferably an oil composition comprising an ester) to processing spots of a workpiece.
US08240230B2
An electronic pedal assembly including a treadle, a pedal arm connected to the treadle, and a rotor assembly about which the pedal arm rotates. The assembly also includes one or more Hall sensors positioned within a cavity in the rotor assembly and one or more magnets that fixedly attached to the rotor assembly. The Hall sensors detect the position of the treadle by monitoring the positions of the magnets. Also, a method of monitoring an electronic pedal assembly using one or more magnets and one or more Hall sensors.
US08240227B2
An injection-molded resin face gear is provided that can suppress deterioration of gear accuracy caused by shrinkage of resin material after injection-molding, and allow accurate and smooth rotation transmission.An injection-molded resin face gear 1 includes a boss 3, a disk-shaped web 4, and a teeth section 5. The boss 3 has an axis hole 2. The web 4 is formed on an outer circumferential side of the boss 3 in an outward radial direction. The teeth section 5 is formed on an outer circumferential edge of the web 4. The teeth section 5 includes a cylindrical section 13, a disk-shaped section 14, and a plurality of teeth 15. The cylindrical section 13 is connected to the outer circumferential edge of the web 4. The disk-shaped section 14 is formed on one end side of the cylindrical section 13 in the outward radial direction. The teeth 15 are formed evenly spaced on an outer circumferential side of the cylindrical section 13 such that one side surface of the disk-shaped section 14 is a bottom land 16. The web 4 and the disk-shaped section 14 have the same thicknesses. The thickness of the cylindrical section 13 is thinner than the thickness of the disk-shaped section 14.
US08240219B2
An apparatus for testing strength of a corner portion of an object includes a support platform, an installation mechanism having a slidable plate mounted on the platform, a force gauge fixed to the slidable plate, a drive mechanism connected to the slidable plate to move the slidable plate, and a push-pull mechanism. The push-pull mechanism is connected to the force gauge to be pushed or pulled by the force gauge and exerts push or pull force on the corner portion of the object.
US08240217B2
Described herein is a housing comprising an inside and at least one sidewall, wherein the at least one sidewall comprises inner and outer surfaces. An etch stop deposit is disposed over at least a portion of the housing, and a diaphragm material deposit is disposed over at least a portion of the etch stop deposit.
US08240215B2
A technique for measuring pressure of a material directs one or more laser beams at the material (e.g., a pressurized fluid) to create a distribution of electromagnetic field intensity which varies over an intensity range and induces dielectric breakdown in the material. An emission pattern of broadband light from the dielectric breakdown is detected, and a value of a characteristic of the emission pattern (e.g., location of a threshold intensity or of a peak intensity) is processed (e.g., by a computer or similar electronic processor) to generate a pressure measurement signal representing a pressure of the material. Processing typically employs a pre-established calibration function which associates a set of stored values of the characteristic with corresponding known pressures of the material, obtained for example by preceding similar measurements of the same material under conditions of known pressures.
US08240213B2
A system for ultrasonic sample preparation includes a sample container having a wall defining an outer surface and an inner volume for containing a sample material, a converter which converts AC electricity to mechanical vibrations in the ultrasonic range, and an ultrasonic probe in contact with the outer surface of the sample container. The ultrasonic probe is in communication with the converter and transmits the mechanical vibrations in the ultrasonic range to the wall of the sample container and thereby to the inner volume, thereby mixing the sample material.
US08240212B2
An induction sensor measures vibrations of a turbo-machine fan blade. The induction sensor comprises a magnet and an induction coil wound upon the magnet parallel to the lines of the magnetic field generated by the magnet.
US08240210B2
A method for integrating a measurement device for use in measuring a machine component includes providing a coordinate measuring device, such as a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), and integrating with a plurality of nondestructive examination (NDE) capabilities with a plurality of coordinate measuring device capabilities to form an inspection probe. The method further includes integrating the NDE inspection probe with the coordinate measuring device such that the inspection probe substantially simultaneously measures a plurality of NDE measurements and external/internal geometry and defects of machine component, which are linked to actual component dimensional information provided by CMM. The inspection data can be simultaneously linked to and/or displayed together with a CAD model to enable a direct comparison between the inspection data and the nominal requirements carried on the CAD model.
US08240208B2
A monolithic guiding blade for a mobile proof mass in a monolithic electromechanical system micro-machined in a plate having thickness H and defining plane O,x,y, the system including a base and a measurement cell including the proof mass connected to the base by the guiding blade and capable of translation displacement along axis Oy, the blade extending along axis Ox and connected to a fixed portion of the base, the blade limiting movement of the proof mass along axis Ox, comprising: a first hinge section shaped as a parallelepiped having thickness h long axis Oz, length I1 along axis Ox and width L along axis Oy; a central section essentially shaped as a parallelepiped having thickness h long axis Oz, length It along axis Ox and width Lt along axis Oy; and a second hinge section essentially in the shape of a parallelepiped having thickness h long axis Oz, length I2 along axis Ox and width L along axis Oy.
US08240199B2
The present invention provides a subsea apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature which has a fluid supply, a first pressure line coupled to the fluid supply, a second pressure line coupled to the fluid supply; and a pressure recording device operatively coupled to both the first pressure line and the second pressure line. A pressure recording device is capable of storing pre-determined pressure data representative of said pressure lines. The first pressure line functions at a lower pressure than the second pressure line while a pressure recording device records data to allow comparison of actual pressure data on the first and second pressure lines with said stored data.
US08240198B2
A method used for determining a profile depth or wear on a tread of a tire of a vehicle, and/or a tire characteristic, a magnetic field being detected by a magnetic field sensor disposed in the interior of the tire, particularly in the area of the tread on the tire interior, or at a distance from the tire, particularly in the area of a wheel housing or a wheel well of the vehicle, the magnetic field being transmitted or changed by at least one indicator element disposed in the tread on the tire exterior. The current wear state of the tread and/or the tire characteristic, particularly a tire type and/or permissible top speed, is determined based on output signals of the magnetic field sensor. The invention further relates to tires.
US08240187B2
There is provided a breath sampling tube including an inner conduit, wherein at least a portion of the inner conduit is non-cylindrical and adapted to store liquids. There is also provided a breath sampling system including a gas analyzer and a breath sampling tube may include an inner conduit, wherein at least a portion of the inner conduit is non-cylindrical and adapted to store liquids. Also provided is a method of breath sampling including channeling breath through a tube having an inner conduit, wherein at least a portion of the inner conduit is non-cylindrical and adapted to store liquids.
US08240178B2
The present invention provides for a lock assembly for selectively locking and unlocking a door using a key. The lock assembly includes a housing with a core removably disposed in the housing. A first actuator is coupled to the housing for defining a first lock configuration with a second actuator coupled to the housing independently from the first actuator for defining a second lock configuration. The core includes a keyway for receiving the key and is rotatable within the core between a locked position and an unlocked position. A universal drive member is coupled to the keyway and movable with the keyway between the locked and unlocked positions with the universal drive member interchangeably receiving the first actuator and the second actuator while the keyway remains in the core for interchanging the lock assembly between the first lock configuration and the second lock configuration.
US08240176B2
A steering lock device includes a pin protruded from a side surface of an arm of a slider, a guide groove disposed on a housing to accommodate the slider slidably, and a cover wall the pin when the slider positions at its lock end within the guide groove. According to the steering lock device, it can be made difficult to unlock a steering shaft through an improper act, and thereby superior antitheft performance can be brought.
US08240162B2
A fuel-powered engine is provided to drive a mobile air conditioning or refrigeration unit such as a portable chiller, a container refrigeration unit, a portable packaged system, a transport tractor-trailer or truck refrigeration unit, etc. A control rapidly changes the engine speed between the predefined set of discreet engine speeds to precisely adjust the capacity of the refrigerant system. If the engine operates only at a single speed, then the control cycles the engine between this operating speed and a zero speed (the engine is shut off). If the engine can operate at multiple discreet speeds, then the control can cycle the engine between any of these speeds (including a zero speed). When a lower capacity is desirable, the engine operates for a longer time interval at a lower speed, and when a higher capacity is desirable, the engine operates for a longer period of time at a higher speed. The cycle rate is selected to control the comfort (e.g. temperature and/or humidity) of the conditioned environment within the specified tolerance band, while conforming to the reliability requirements.
US08240159B2
An in-door fluid drainage system for a refrigerator is disclosed. The drain fluid transfer system is described as extending from the door of a refrigerator to the lower compartment for transfer of drain fluid from the door to a drain fluid removal system. Also described is a drain fluid transfer system which comprises one or both of a transfer tube at least partially enclosed in a hinge assembly, and a valve assembly positioned at the lower portion of the door.
US08240157B2
A climatic chamber for rapidly reaching and maintaining a predetermined air humidity and/or a predetermined temperature.The air in a sample space is conveyable by at least one fan from an outlet of sample space at least partially via a bypass branch and/or at least partially via a drying branch back to an inlet of sample space.The air is circulated continuously by the fans in a substantially self-contained circuit. The air is guided by guide elements through the bypass branch and/or drying branch.
US08240153B2
A method for controlling the generation of turbine cooling air from air extracted from a compressor of a gas turbine including: extracting compressed air from a low pressure and a high pressure stage of the compressor; adding in an ejector the compressed air from the low pressure stage to the air from the high pressure stage and discharging the combined air as turbine cooling air; bypassing the ejector with a bypass portion of the extracted compressed air from the high pressure stage; in response to turning on the flow of extracted compressed air from the low pressure stage, changing a set point for an actual pressure ratio that includes a pressure of the turbine cooling air, and adjusting the bypass flow in response to the changed set point to cause the actual pressure ratio to approach the changed set point.
US08240149B2
An ORC system configured to limit temperature of a working fluid below a threshold temperature is provided. The ORC system includes a heat source configured to convey a waste heat fluid. The ORC system also includes a heat exchanger coupled to the heat source. The heat exchanger includes an evaporator configured to receive the waste heat fluid from the heat source and vaporize the working fluid, wherein the evaporator is further configured to allow heat exchange between the waste heat fluid and the vaporized working fluid at an elevated temperature and further produce an evaporator outlet flow including a lower temperature waste heat fluid. The heat exchanger also includes a superheater configured to receive the lower temperature waste heat fluid from the evaporator, wherein the superheater is further configured to allow heat exchange between the lower temperature waste heat fluid and a relatively higher temperature working fluid contained in the superheater and further produce a superheater outlet flow comprising an elevated temperature waste heat fluid. The heat exchanger further includes a preheater configured to receive the elevated temperature waste heat fluid from the superheater and allow heat exchange with a relatively lower temperature working fluid in a liquid state contained in the preheater.
US08240126B2
A valve system intermediate a secondary flow path and a primary flow path to selectively communicate secondary airflow into the primary gas flow path and control airflow injected from a higher pressure plenum into a lower pressure flowpath.
US08240122B2
The amount of water to be injected in an intercooler is controlled to cool the compressed gas to the saturation temperature. It is difficult to adjust the amount of the water to be injected, however, since the temperature of the compressed gas at an intercooler outlet is actually higher than the saturation temperature. An intercooling system is configured so as to cool a gas to the saturation temperature without controlling the amount of water injection and thereby maintain the reliability of the compressor while improving the cooling efficiency. The intercooling system is located between a plurality of compression stages of a gas compressor to cool the gas that has been in the compressor. A desired amount of liquid is sprinkled to cool the compressed gas while restraining inflow of the liquid into the compression stages.
US08240115B2
A sugar cane harvester (1) with cab (23), a chassis (5), a tip cutting device (2), a cane line dividing device (3), a base cutting device (14), a set of rollers (6) for conveying the sugar cane, a sugar cane chopping device (15), a cane cleaning device (8), an engine, an elevator (9) located in its central portion and comprising a 180 degree turning mechanism and an engine (12) located in its rear portion, independent of the chassis. Each of the rollers (6) is powered by at least one hydraulic motor housed inside the roller, with an aperture being provided in the chassis through which the motor can be removed.
US08240108B2
A block for use in a building panel includes a plurality of layer components. Each of the layer components is separately formed from the others. Each of the layer components provides a load-bearing support function, an environmental protection function, and/or a utility function. The constructive material used to form each of the layer components and a configuration of each of the layer components are selected so as to allow the building panel to meet at least one predetermined criteria when the block is disposed in the building panel and coupled to other blocks.
US08240102B2
A roofing shingle (74) includes an asphalt-coated sheet (18) having a tab portion (78) normally exposed on a roof and a headlap portion (76) normally covered-up on a roof. The headlap portion has a lower zone (76A) that extends longitudinally between a first end (74A) and a second end (74B) of the roofing shingle adjacent the tab portion, and an upper zone (76B) adjacent the lower zone. At least a portion of the asphalt-coated sheet has granules adhered thereto. A reinforcement member (19) is adhered to the lower zone of the headlap portion.
US08240099B2
An architectural panel system including a plurality of architectural panels, a first mounting extrusion attached to a first architectural panel, and a second mounting extrusion attached to a second architectural panel, as well as a first anchor clip including a first attachment configuration that enables the first mounting extrusion to be slidably attached thereto, and a second anchor clip including a second attachment configuration that enables the second mounting extrusion to be slidably attached thereto. The system also includes a panel joint filler strip. The first mounting extrusion includes a first pocket portion, and the second mounting extrusion includes a second pocket portion that is shallower than the first pocket portion. The first and second pocket portions cooperate with each other to seat the panel joint filler strip. Also disclosed are methods of installing the panel system and of replacing a damaged panel of an installed array of panels.
US08240098B2
A molding profile assembly has a first and second molding profile. The first molding profile, whose upper surface is to form the upper surface of the molding profile assembly, has a groove formed into an under-surface of a first arm and a groove formed into a foot perpendicular to the arm. The second molding profile has first and second tabs which fit snugly into the first and second grooves of the first molding profile, respectively, interlocking the first and second molding profiles together. The molding profiles do not require scraping, stripping or other permanent alteration in order to be assembled together.
US08240094B1
A bird defense system for a dock system. The bird defense system consists of a series of support arms that are mounted to the stringers of the dock. The support arms are manually attached to the stringer and have an adjustable height support rod that allows the user to set the height of the bird defense system. At the end of the support rods are hollow tubes that accommodate a cord that is threaded through each support arm creating a perimeter around the dock preventing birds from landing or hoping on the top surface of the dock.
US08240084B2
A method and apparatus for containing, protecting, isolating, and individually identifying sets of one or more articles in a plurality of compartments such that information related to the sets can be easily and efficiently linked to the set. In an example of the apparatus, the apparatus has a compartment layer, a sealant layer, and indicia which may individually identify compartments. In another example, a method includes taking a compartment layer and sealant layer, loading compartments with sets of one or more articles, closing the compartment layer with the sealant layer, and identifying each compartment for each seed or portion thereof with a positionally-addressable ordered array of indicia on at least one of the layers of the package.
US08240083B2
The invention relates to a plant aid for surrounding a young plant. The plant aid comprises a tube at least partly sideways surrounding a young plant placeable in the plant aid. The plant aid further comprises a water collection sheet for collecting moisture present in the atmosphere. The water collection sheet comprises a water collection surface comprising a receiving surface, which receiving surface operatively makes a first angle with respect to the orientation of gravity. The water collection sheet further comprises a collecting surface adjoining a lower edge of the receiving surface, which collecting surface operatively makes a second angle with respect to the orientation of gravity. The first angle is smaller than the second angle.
US08240072B2
A groove-mount fabric display system with two-part frame comprises an outer frame element, an insert frame element and one or two flexible display panels. The two-part frame is quickly assembled by inserting and deploying the insert frame element within the rigid outer frame element. The frame elements can be manufactured from flat stock materials which are relatively inexpensive to purchase and shape. The interface of the frame elements forms one or more grooves near the perimeter of the resulting two-part frame. The grooves accept mounting gaskets connected at the peripheries of each display panel. Embodiments may include one or more internally-positioned compression tubes to help maintain internal structural rigidity and the integrity of the grooves. What results is a more cost-effective, robust, three-dimensional display capable of supporting fabric display panels in tension over extended periods of use.
US08240069B2
The manually powered wheeled-levered shovel/launcher device for the purpose of snow removal, which has a handle, and shovel shaft pivoted to the handle at one end and a snow shovel head at the other end of the shovel shaft. A collapsible foldable wheel assembly acts as a fulcrum is attached to the device for easy handling a snow load. The shovel head is able to tilt downward against a spring-loaded mechanism for the purpose of altering the launch direction from upward direction due to centrifugal force around the wheel resting on the ground to forward direction when a sudden force downward is applied on the handle.
US08240066B2
This device elevates the midsection of the foot when shoeless, addressing congenital flatness, or lapsing or pronation in the arch. The device, which can be constructed of various materials, does not support the metatarsus or heel, and is attached to the foot by lateral straps or equivalents. The device may be worn inside or over stockings. The device can also serve as an orthotic for barefoot runners or dancers by means of longitudinal extension, with openings under the metatarsus and heel so these areas may touch the ground or floor. This device may be contraindicated as a diagnostic or therapeutic aid, without the intent of medical application.
US08240065B2
A freeze-dryer and method of controlling the same is provided. The disclosed freeze-dryer includes a chamber adapted to hold material or product to be freeze-dried; one or more depressurization orifices; a gas pressurization circuit having a source of gas to pressurize the chamber to a prescribed pressure; a depressurization circuit coupled to the chamber via the one or more orifices and having a depressurizing control valve; and a control unit adapted to pressurize the chamber with the source of gas and actuate the depressurizing control valve to depressurize the chamber upon command. The ratio of total depressurization orifice area to the chamber volume is preferably between about 6×10−2 and about 4×10−4 m2/m3.
US08240064B2
A dryer includes a drying chamber for the articles to be dried, a supply air duct, a process air duct, a heater in the process air duct for heating process air, a blower that guides the heated process air over the articles to be dried, an exhaust air duct that directs exhaust air to an exhaust air outlet, and an internally and/or externally cleanable lint filter in a recirculated air duct that splits at a branching-off point from the process air duct to the heater and the exhaust air duct which leads to the exhaust air outlet, and wherein the recirculated air duct joins the supply air duct upstream of the heater.
US08240057B2
A method of manufacturing a self-aligned stylus with high sphericity includes the steps of: forming a polymeric layer on a substrate; placing a sphere on the polymeric layer; softening the polymeric layer to make a portion of the sphere sink into the polymeric layer; forming a specific light absorbing layer on the polymeric layer; illuminating the sphere and the specific light absorbing layer with specific light such that the specific light is focused by the sphere to expose the polymeric layer to form an exposed portion and an unexposed portion; removing the specific light absorbing layer; and baking the polymeric layer and then removing the unexposed portion. A self-aligned stylus with high sphericity is also disclosed.
US08240051B2
An erection method for a solar receiver and support tower provides a climbing assembly on the support tower to raise the solar receiver to its final elevation by progressively jacking and installing support tower sections to erect the tower and support the solar receiver.
US08240047B2
Assembling method for metal honeycomb-shaped catalyzer carrier and assembling apparatus for the same
A method for assembling a metal honeycomb catalyzer carrier includes the steps of winding corrugated belt plate materials into a substantially cylindrical shape, forming a wound structure into a predetermined cylindrical shape with a die 101 and pushing out a wound honeycomb body 12 obtained through the forming from the die and inserting the wound honeycomb body 12 into the interior of a tubular member 13. An assembling apparatus 31 includes a winding unit 42 which includes, in turn, a rotational holding shaft 167 and a press roller unit 38, a die unit 39 for forming a wound structure wound round the rotational holding shaft 167 into a wound honeycomb body 12 of a predetermined cylindrical shape (of an outside diameter Dp), a tube support unit 132 for setting a tubular member 13 at an edge of a die surface 126, and a honeycomb push-out and insertion unit 34 for pushing out a formed structure from a die 101 and inserting the formed structure so pushed out into the tubular member 13.
US08240045B2
An apparatus is provided for coupling a first portion of a gas turbine transition duct to a second portion of a gas turbine transition duct to reduce vibratory deflection. The apparatus may comprise: at least one first support structure attached to the gas turbine transition duct first portion; at least one second support structure attached to the gas turbine transition duct second portion; and at least one coupling mechanism configured to couple the at least one first support structure to the at least one second support structure so as to allow sliding movement between the at least one first support structure and the at least one second support structure when a movement force of the at least one first support structure and the at least one second support structure exceeds a predefined frictional force threshold value.
US08240042B2
Methods of to maintaining turbine discs prone to cracks in bucket attachment dovetails are disclosed. In one embodiment, wherein a turbine disc comprises a plurality of bucket attachment dovetail regions, one or more of the bucket attachment dovetail regions comprises a cooling slot, and each cooling slot comprises edges and adjacent surfaces, a method comprises inspecting the one or more of the bucket attachment dovetail regions comprising a cooling slot to confirm that each bucket attachment dovetail region meets predetermined minimum standards. The method further comprises blending the edges of the at least one of the cooling slots. The method further comprises polishing the edges of the at least one of the cooling slots. The method further comprises peening the edges of the at least one of the cooling slots. The method further comprises coating the edges and adjacent surfaces of at least one of the cooling slots.
US08240041B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, apparatus, and methods to remove a pin from a hole including a rotor blade pin from a rotor turbine.
US08240024B2
In one general embodiment, a method for fabricating magnetic structures using post-deposition tilting includes forming a thin film magnetic transducer structure on a substantially planar portion of a substrate such that a plane of deposition of the thin film transducer structure is substantially parallel to a plane of the substrate. Additionally, the thin film transducer structure is caused to tilt at an angle relative to the plane of the substrate. The thin film transducer is fixed at the angle after being tilted.
US08240018B2
The invention relates to a device for pulling out a terminal clamp with a fastening section for fastening the device to the terminal clamp and a grip section. The fastening section and the grip section are connected by a pivotable connection. A second fastening device for detachable fastening of the grip section to the terminal clamp is provided on this grip section.
US08240013B2
A casket and burial system for human remains includes a casket fabricated from plastics and polymer composites, such as glass-fiber reinforced plastic. The casket includes a base member, a cover member fitting atop the base, and top and bottom closure panels having one or more ports for use in replacing the ambient atmosphere within the sealed casket with a selected gas or fluid such as nitrogen, or to inject a plastic foam into the free space remaining in the casket. The casket is preferably interred in a vertical attitude as that arrangement allows up to four caskets to fit within a standard grave plot.
US08240012B2
A buckle assembly for a vehicle includes a seat belt tongue, a seat belt buckle with a blocking mechanism and a manual release button, and a remote buckle release mechanism. The blocking mechanism is configured to latch the tongue in the buckle. The remote buckle release mechanism includes a buckle release cable and a motor module configured to pull the cable to release the blocking mechanism to thereby release the seat belt tongue from the buckle. The buckle assembly is also configured to be actuated by an occupant via the manual release button on the buckle. The remote buckle release mechanism does not interfere with the operation of the manual release button. The remote buckle release mechanism may also be configured to automatically release the buckle a predetermined time after an airbag deployment.
US08240009B2
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a non-woven fiber assembly comprising one or more fibers wherein each fiber contains: a hydrophilic component; and an elastomeric component, and wherein the non-woven fiber assembly further comprises an adhesive component. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to a non-woven fiber assembly comprising one or more fibers wherein each fiber contains: a hydrophilic component; an elastomeric component; and an adhesive component, wherein the hydrophilic component, the elastomeric component and the adhesive component are all contained within each fiber. Also disclosed is a method of making the afore-mentioned non-woven fiber assemblies. Additionally, a medical dressing made from the non-woven fiber assemblies of the present invention is disclosed.
US08240007B2
A hinge assembly includes a shaft, a cam, a follower, and an resilient member. The cam, the follower, and the resilient member are mounted with the shaft in turn. One end of the cam has a first outer cam portion and a first inner cam portion. One end of the follower has a second outer cam portion and a second inner cam portion respectively engaging with the first outer and inner cam portions. The resilient member is contained in such a manner that the cam portions of the follower resist the cam portions of the cam due to the decompression of the resilient member, and when the follower is manually rotated relative to the cam about a small original angle, the follower is automatically rotated relative to the cam due to the decompression of the resilient member.
US08240001B2
A vacuum cleaner includes a dust collector that compresses dust stored inside a dust container to minimize the volume of the dust. The dust collector would include one or more pressing plates that are used to compress the dust stored in dust collector. Various methods are used to control movements of the movable pressing plates to facilitate the compression operations. Also, various methods are used to determine when the dust collector is full and needs to be emptied.
US08239995B2
An oral hygiene device includes a head, a first bristle field, and a second bristle field. The head includes a first head portion and a second head portion. The first bristle field extends from the first head portion. The second bristle field extends from the second head portion. The first bristle field and second bristle field are controllably movable between a first configuration for providing a first cleaning operation and a second configuration for providing a second cleaning operation.
US08239992B2
An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis having forward and rearward portions and a drive system carried by the chassis. The forward portion of the chassis defines a substantially rectangular shape. The robot includes a cleaning assembly mounted on the forward portion of the chassis and a bin disposed adjacent the cleaning assembly and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly. A bin cover is pivotally attached to a lower portion of the chassis and configured to rotate between a first, closed position providing closure of an opening defined by the bin and a second, open position providing access to the bin opening. The robot includes a body attached to the chassis and a handle disposed on an upper portion of the body. A bin cover release is actuatable from substantially near the handle.
US08239991B2
An electric-electronic toothbrush carries a brush driven to vibrate, and arranged to flow an electric current into a user's oral cavity for promoting removal of tooth plaque. The electric-electronic toothbrush has a shaft driven to vibrate along and/or about an axis of the shaft, and a battery supplying the electric current. The shaft is electrically conductive to flow the electric current into a brush electrode of a brush head. The shaft is electrically connected to the battery by way of an extendible electrically conductive coupler within the handle. The electrically conductive coupler has its one end secured to the shaft, and the other end to an electrically conductive member connected to one of poles of the battery, so as to absorb the vibration of the shaft. The handle is provided on its outer peripheral surface with a touch electrode. The electric-electronic toothbrush is arranged to give predetermined electric potentials respectively to the brush electrode and the touch electrode, so as to flow a microelectric current onto the tooth surface for removal of tooth plaque during user's tooth brushing due to vibration of a brush.
US08239987B2
An improved neck cushion device with associated eye mask and headrest cushion for improved comfort while sleeping in an upright position. The device comprises a standard neck pillow having a general C-shape and internal cushioning, attached to an upstanding headrest and deployable eye mask. The headrest secures to the neck pillow via a closed loop, wherein the neck pillow is inserted therethrough. The neck pillow is secured around the neck of a user, while the headrest is positioned between the back of a user's head and a seat to provide upright support. The eye mask is deployable from a pouch along the back of the headrest, and is attached via a band of fabric to prevent its misplacement. The user is provided comfort by properly supporting their head along the neck and behind the head, while the eye mask provides a blind for darkened sleeping.
US08239983B2
Embodiments of a patient transport cot comprise a height adjustment component coupled to the patient transport cot and configured to raise or lower the cot to a plurality of heights. The patient transport cot further comprises an electronic height indicator coupled to the patient transport cot and comprising at least one height sensor, wherein each height sensor represents a target cot height. The electronic height indicator further comprises at least one visual display component coupled to the sensor, wherein the height sensor is triggered when the cot is adjusted to the target cot height setting represented by the height sensor. The triggering of the height sensor actuates the visual display component.
US08239978B2
Photodynamic therapy of conditions of the eye, especially those conditions characterized by unwanted neovasculature, such as age-related macular degeneration, results in enhanced visual acuity for treated subjects.
US08239976B2
In one embodiment of the present system invention, there is provided a dividing module positioned in the holding tank of a toilet to separate the holding tank into a main portion and a reserve portion. The dividing module has a height lower than the full water level in the holding tank. The dividing module includes the ability to selectively connect the main portion and the reserve portion in fluid communication of each other. The embodiment allows an operator to press the handle arm an initial time to maintain the main portion and the reserve portion in substantially fluid separation of each other, such that water in the main portion is utilized to flush the toilet and wherein when the operator presses the handle a second time in the same manner as the initial time, the dividing module connects the main portion and the reserve portion in substantially fluid communication with each other, such that water in the reserve portion and the main portion is utilized to flush the toilet.
US08239974B2
Elongated drain assemblies suitable for use in tiled shower stalls are described. Because the elongated drain is typically located at one edge of the shower stall proximate a stall wall and extends substantially the entire length of the wall, the installation of the associated shower pan is made much simpler. Specifically, the pan need only be sloped substantially in a single direction instead of four towards a prior art circular drain located at the center of a stall. The time and cost of creating a pan having a single slope is reduced over a more complex multi-sloped pan. Several different means for adjusting the height of the drain assemblies' top surfaces relative to the height of the tile floor are provided to adjust for tile floors of differing thicknesses.
US08239972B2
A disposal system is provided. In an embodiment, by way of example, the disposal system can include a first tank adapted to be at least partially filled with waste fluid. The disposal system can also include a waste processing device adapted to receive waste fluid and adjust one or more properties of the waste fluid. Additionally, the waste disposal system can include a jet engine comprising a first chamber adapted to contain a fluid undergoing compression. The jet engine can be in fluid communication with the waste processing device to receive the waste fluid from the waste processing device.
US08245309B2
Disclosed herein is a content viewing system including a content viewing apparatus, and a viewing approval apparatus used by a viewing approval party to perform an approval process. The content viewing apparatus includes: a viewing approval requesting section that transmits a viewing approval request to the viewing approval apparatus when it has been determined that approval for viewing of a content is necessary; and a content viewing control section that receives, from the viewing approval apparatus, an approval/disapproval response, and, if the approval/disapproval response indicates that the viewing of the content has been approved, enables the viewing of the content. The viewing approval apparatus includes: an output section that outputs information concerning the viewing approval request; an input section that accepts input of the approval/disapproval response; and an approval/disapproval response notification section that notifies the content viewing apparatus of the approval/disapproval response.
US08245307B1
Methods, devices, and systems of protecting a secret are provided. Access to the secret is designed to be restricted to a code with a specific signature, or fingerprint. The signature of that code is used in the encryption of the secret, and other codes are prevented from using this signature to decrypt the secret. This restricted access to the secret prevents the secret from being easily compromised, for example, by preventing a change in the code.
US08245305B2
A file processor which couples a plurality of files to create one coupled file including: a file selector that designates a plurality of files to be coupled; a security setting information extracting part that extracts security setting information which includes a setting item which is relevant to security being set to each of the files to be coupled; a coupled file creating part that couples the plurality of files to be coupled to create newly one coupled file; and, a security setup part that creates new security setting information based on the extracted security setting information and add new security setting to the coupled file.
US08245300B2
A system and method that provides for copying ARP replies, and generating data packets which include the ARP reply, and other information such as an identification of the port on the ARP reply was received. These data packets are then transmitted to an ARP collector which stores the ARP reply and port information. The ARP collector then uses this stored information, and analyzes future data packets relative to the stored information to detect occurrences of ARP spoofing. The ARP collector further provides for generating alerts and taking security actions when ARP reply spoofing is detected.
US08245296B2
An exemplary malware detection device includes a data pathway provided between a first data transfer device and a second data transfer device and a processor attached to the data pathway. A memory accessible by the processor contains at least one malware signature and instructions for controlling the processor to interconnect the first and second data transfer devices, direct at least a portion of a data transfer across the data pathway to the processor for analysis, independently analyze the portion of the data transfer using the malware signature, identify malware contained in the portion of the data transfer, and interrupt the data transfer based on the identification of malware.
US08245289B2
A security payload is attached to a received binary executable file. The security payload is adapted to intercept application programming interface (API) calls to system resources from the binary executable file via export address redirection back to the security payload. Upon execution of the binary executable file, the security payload replaces system library export addresses within a process address space for the binary executable file with security monitoring stub addresses to the security payload. Upon the binary executable computer file issuing a call to a given API, the process address space directs the call to the given API back to the security payload via one of the security monitoring stub addresses that is associated with the given API. The security payload then can assess whether the call to the given API is a security breach.
US08245280B2
A method of unifying the different, device-specific and platform-specific access control lists (ACL) for different users and user groups in a home network. The home network has networked heterogeneous devices and hosting where a user is presented with a consistent, single view of ACL on home-wide users and user groups. Users in the home network, therefore, do not need to control ACL for device-specific users and user groups on each individual device. Instead, a user controls the home-wide ACL for home-wide users and user groups. The changes to home-wide ACL for home-wide users and user groups are propagated to individual devices. Further, changes on individual devices can be made to device-specific ACL for device-specific users and user groups. Such changes are subsequently propagated to the home-wide ACL for home-wide users and user groups.
US08245278B2
Client adapter and method simplify security deployment in an EPN, including the shared services electrical power lines of a premises. With direct coupling, piggybacked adapter receives network signals and electrical from EPN-connected first adapter through a shared medium port. An authenticating adapter exchanges security management services and information with supplicant adapter. Two or more adapters may be piggybacked. Piggybacked adapters exchange security management service information without rogue intrusion. Exchanged information, stored, is later used to communicate securely. Defined adjacency (neighborhood) information can be exchanged, and a neighborhood established on an EPN, where one authorized neighbors securely communicate.
US08245273B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for sharing referenced content through collaborative business applications. The method includes detecting referenced content in an electronic communication. The referenced content references content stored in an external repository. The referenced content identifies a registered external repository connector. The method also includes determining that an Access Control List (“ACL”) for the referenced content lacks an entry for a recipient of the electronic communication. The method includes generating an ACL entry for the recipient in response to the recipient lacking an entry in the ACL for the referenced content. The ACL entry controls access to the referenced content for the recipient. The ACL entry is defined based on a security policy associated with the recipient.
US08245267B2
Methods, devices, and products are disclosed for recording media. A network command message is received that identifies media to be recorded by a user's device. The network command message was sent on behalf of a provider and comprises the provider's instruction to have the user's device record the media. An entry is created in a recording schedule to record the media. The media is received and recorded such that the provider schedules recording of the media.
US08245265B2
A method and apparatus for converting digital content metadata received external to a network into digital content metadata peculiar to the network and a network system using the same. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for converting TV-Anytime metadata into UPnP CDS metadata and a network system using the same. The apparatus for converting digital content metadata according to the present invention includes a mapping module for converting the received external digital content metadata into the digital content metadata peculiar to the network, and a search module for locating a method of accessing a program in a predetermined manner using the unique identifier assigned to each program in the received external digital content metadata.
US08245263B2
A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer configure blackout event data indicating at least one event criterion data for selecting client devices subject to the blackout event for restricted content data; configure client devices into a client device group subject to the blackout event in accordance with the event criterion data; configure at least one substitution event data table for the client device group; and send restricted content and the substitution event data table embedded in the restricted content data to each client device in the client device group.
US08245248B2
There are provided a disk motor arranged on a chassis, an optical pickup that performs recording and reproducing of a signal from an information recorded surface of an optical disk, a pair of guide shafts arranged on the optical pickup to guide the optical pickup radially of the optical disk, adjustment screw that move at least one ends of the guide shafts in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the chassis, a leaf spring arranged on a frame body to bias the one end of the guide shaft toward the surface of the chassis, and the leaf spring includes a support surface that supports the one end of the guide shaft, and a stopper portion projecting from the support surface to define a clearance between the support surface and the surface of the chassis.
US08245246B2
A method for using WebServices as a basis for implementing an application programming interface (API) of a high-level programming language between a service application and a client application is disclosed. Function parameters of an API function call represent a complex object structure (COS). The method includes serializing the COS into serialized payload data, encoding the serialized payload data to form a payload string that does not contain any XML-specific characters, and specifying the parameters of the API call in parts of an input message of a corresponding operation in a WSDL document. The method also includes transporting the payload string within the input message to the service application, decoding the payload string to yield the serialized payload data, and deserializing the serialized payload data to restore the COS representing the parameters of the API call. A system and computer program product for implementing the API on the basis of Web Services are also disclosed.
US08245241B2
In one embodiment, a method for interaction between a web browser and virtual environment applications is disclosed. The method can include creating an attribute file or a cookie file in a virtual universe application and in browser applications, then sharing such files between these applications to enhance a user experience. Both the browser applications and the virtual universe applications can search for the attribute files in numerous locations including local memory, web based memory and even a third party service provider via the Internet.
US08245231B2
A driver is provided to manage launching of tasks at different levels of priority and within the parameters of the firmware interface. The driver includes two anchors for managing the tasks, a dispatcher and an agent. The dispatcher operates at a medium priority level and manages communication from a remote administrator. The agent functions to receive communications from the dispatcher by way of a shared data structure and to launch lower priority level tasks in respond to the communication. The shared data structure stores communications received from the dispatcher. Upon placing the communication in the shared data structure, the dispatcher sends a signal to the agent indicating that a communication is in the data structure for reading by the agent. Following reading of the communication in the data structure, the agent launches the lower priority level task and sends a signal to the data structure indicating the status of the task. Accordingly, a higher level task maintains its level of operation and spawns lower level tasks through the dispatcher in conjunction with the agent.
US08245217B2
Disclosed are techniques for using known update technologies to automatically identify the updates installed on a physical machine prior to facsimile creation, to locate the update packages from an update server, and to download them to the machine performing the facsimile creation. The use of update technologies enables precise identification of the updates that affect the defined set of files requiring replacement, and thus minimizes the number of updates that need to be downloaded. In addition, the desired set of replacement files are extracted and cached to allow for their reuse during subsequent facsimile creations using either the same or different physical or virtual machine as the source. Downloading the minimal set of updates and caching them for reuse eliminates the redundant downloads of updates and results in a shorter time for facsimile creation.
US08245209B2
Dangling pointers and memory leak locations within software are detected. As the software allocates and deallocates memory, lists of pointers referencing the memory, and pointer status, are maintained. As the software writes new addresses within pointers and reads addresses referenced by the pointers, the pointer lists are maintained to determine whether the pointers are dangling and to detect memory leak locations. A balanced binary tree having a number of nodes can be maintained. The nodes represent heap or stack records. Each heap record corresponds to heap memory that has been allocated and has a list of pointers referencing the heap memory. Each stack record corresponds to a stack within which a stack frame is allocated each time a function is entered. The stack record has frame records corresponding to the stack frames. Each frame record has a list of pointers referencing the corresponding stack frame.
US08245187B2
To update a firmware without stopping an operation of a disk array apparatus. The disk array apparatus includes a plurality of disk devices providing redundancy, a disk array control device, and a disk controller for controlling the disk devices individually in response to a command issued from the disk array control device. The disk array control device designates a disk device to be updated based on contents of the firmware update command for the disk device, controls firmware update for the designated disk device, disconnects the designated disk device from the host computer temporarily, sets the disk device as being in a temporary degenerate state, and, when a data write or read command is issued from a host computer for the disk device being in the temporary degenerate state, designating a different disk device to execute the command issued from the host computer by using redundancy of the disk devices.
US08245184B2
A system and method are disclosed for graphically building business rule conditions. The method of graphically building business rule conditions comprises displaying a menu of function icons for the user, and a menu of business rule attribute icons for the user. The method allows the user to freely drag and drop functions and attributes onto a staging canvas, and relate the functions and attributes to build a graphical depiction of the desired business rule condition. The method generates source code directly from the graphical depiction such that the user does not have to understand the specific syntax and nuances of the development environment or runtime environment for the business rule.
US08245181B2
A printed circuit board layout system and a method thereof are provided. The method includes the following steps: obtaining corresponding outlines of selected component and unselected components in response to a user selecting one component; obtaining the range value; generating a reference outline according to the obtained range value and outline of the selected component; performing an intersection operation according to the reference outline and outlines of the unselected components, and determining whether one component is associated within the reference outline; marking and displaying the outlines of the corresponding unselected components when the unselected components are associated within the reference outline.
US08245178B2
An apparatus includes a multi-cycle clock gater and a circuit design updater. The multi-cycle clock gater generates multi-cycle gating groups of data latching devices of a circuit design. The circuit design updater updates the circuit design with selected multi-cycle gating groups. Each gating group is associated with a single gating function. For each gating group, data latching devices of 0th level of the gating group are gated with the gating function and ith level data latching devices of the gating function are gated with ith latched versions of the gating function.
US08245177B2
Embodiments provide crossbar structures, and reconfigurable circuits that contain crossbar structures, that include n inputs and an output, where n is an integer, chains of transistors coupled to the n inputs and the output, a plurality of control signal elements—each coupled to one or more transistors of the plurality of chains of transistors to selectively couple said n inputs to the output—and an additional chain of transistors coupled to at least some of the plurality of control signal elements and the output to selectively couple a constant output voltage to the output. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.
US08245163B1
Partial compilation of circuit design with new software version to obtain a complete compiled design
Methods, computer programs and systems for using two software programs to generate a compiled design for an integrated circuit (IC) are provided. The method compiles a first IC design using a first design program and then migrates the first IC design to a second IC design, still using the first design program. Additionally, the method performs synthesis and analysis on the second IC design, still using the first design program. A second design program is used to import compile information associated with the compiling of the first IC design and the synthesis and analysis of the second IC design. The second design program is also used to create a compiled design for the second IC based on the imported compile information.
US08245160B2
A system and a method for creating a focus-exposure model of a lithography process are disclosed. The system and the method utilize calibration data along multiple dimensions of parameter variations, in particular within an exposure-defocus process window space. The system and the method provide a unified set of model parameter values that result in better accuracy and robustness of simulations at nominal process conditions, as well as the ability to predict lithographic performance at any point continuously throughout a complete process window area without a need for recalibration at different settings. With a smaller number of measurements required than the prior-art multiple-model calibration, the focus-exposure model provides more predictive and more robust model parameter values that can be used at any location in the process window.
US08245158B1
A system and method for providing an interface for an electronic or computing device. In one embodiment, the invention includes a keyboard positioned adjacent to the posterior side of the computing device in such a way that the user can operate the device in an easy and convenient manner, while at the same time maximizing the amount of available display space to the user viewing the anterior side of the device. In this embodiment the user operates the keyboard while it is hidden from view behind the display. The invention also provides several mechanisms that allow the user to become familiar with this approach to operating the device, some of which are applicable to the improvement of standard keyboards for many common purposes and uses. These mechanisms include, but are not limited to, appropriately spaced keys, chorded keyboards, tactile feedback mechanisms, and key indication, selection and verification methods.
US08245153B2
A graphical user interface for a Gantt chart map display (100) includes a list of projects (214), a corresponding activity timeline reflecting activity for each project, and a control (210) at a side or bottom area of the Gantt chart map display for manipulating date ranges viewable in the viewable area. The GUI further includes a selected date range control (204) providing a high level view (202) of the corresponding activity timeline displayed in the viewable area (212) above and can provide a high level view of corresponding activity beyond the scrollable view. A dynamic set of controls (205 and 206) enables preset filtered views of the Gantt chart with preset time frames such as days, weeks, months and years or predetermined date ranges entered by a user. The preset filtered view can also automatically re-sort and scale content on the Gantt chart into a viewable area to reduce scrolling.
US08245150B2
A parts catalog system is provided. The system may include a processor and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor and including a memory in which is stored a database configured to catalog collections of data associated with and identifying hardware items. The system may also include a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display at least some of the data associated with and identifying a hardware item including. The displayed data may include a graphical representation of the hardware item. The displayed data may also include a data field integrated with the graphical representation illustrating the physical significance of the data within the data field with regard to the hardware item illustrated by the graphical representation. The data field may also be configured to accept input to designate a desired value for the data within the data field.
US08245135B2
A method and system of producing a visual text summarization. According to the method, a plurality of topics may be extracted from a collection of text documents, where each of the topics comprises a distribution of topic keywords. An importance ranking for each of the topics may be determined, and an importance ranking for each of the topic keywords of a topic may also be determined. A graph may be displayed having a plurality of stacked layers representing a group of topics selected from the plurality of topics based on the importance ranking of the topics. A keyword cloud within each layer of the graph may also be displayed, where the one keyword cloud is a group of topic keywords selected from the extracted topic keywords based on the importance ranking of the extracted topic keywords.
US08245123B2
Methods, apparatus, computer program products and systems are provided for editing an image in a browser. One method includes receiving crop data at a server including information defining a crop size and location associated with a cropping operation to be applied to an image in accordance with user instructions received at a client device and transmitting from the server to the client device a modified image, the modified image having a uniform resource locator (URL) and being cropped in accordance with the crop data.
US08245121B2
A signal control circuit and a signal control apparatus that can reduce processing time and can send or receive correct data with reliability. When a data generation block outputs data, a data judgment block judges the number of changed bits by comparing each bit of the data output in the preceding session with the corresponding bit of the data to be sent in the current session and outputs position information indicating the position of each changed bit and the number of changed bits when the number of changed bits has reached a predetermined level. An output control block keeps a time period for stabilizing the change in value of the bit corresponding to the position information when the data is output, and directs a data storage block to send the value of the bit corresponding to the position information to an external circuit after the kept period has passed.
US08245120B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a variable iteration data processing system is disclosed that includes a first detector, a second detector, a decoder and a unified memory buffer. An input data set is received by the first detector that performs a data detection and provides a first detected data set. The decoder receives a derivative of the first detected data set and performs a decoding operation that yields a decoded data set. In some cases, the derivative of the first detected data set is an interleaved version of the first detected data set. The decoded data set is written to a unified memory buffer. The first decoded data set is retrievable from the unified memory buffer and a derivative thereof is provided to the second detector. In some cases, the derivative of the decoded is a de-interleaved version of the decoded data set. The second detector is operable to perform a data detection on the derivative of the decoded data set and to provide a second detected data set that is written to the unified memory buffer.
US08245116B2
Soft decision decoding of a codeword of a Reed-Muller (RM) code by selecting an optimal decomposition variable i using a likelihood calculation. A code RM(r, m) is expressed as {(u, uv)|uεRM(r, m−1) and vεRM(r−1, m−1)}, where uv denotes a component-wise multiplication of u and v, and (u, uv)=(r1, r2). A receive codeword is separated into r1=u and r2=uv based on the optimal decomposition variable, and r2 is decoded according to the optimal decomposition variable, using a RM(r−1, m−1) decoder to obtain a decoded v and a first set of decoded bits. The decoded v is combined with r1 using (r1+r2v)/2, and (r1+r2v)/2 is decoded using a RM(r, m−1) decoder to obtain a decoded u and a second set of decoded bits.
US08245115B2
The invention relates to an iterative method by message passing for decoding of an error correction code that can be displayed in a bipartite graph comprising a plurality of variable nodes and a plurality of check nodes. For each iteration in a plurality of decoding iterations of said method: variable nodes or check nodes are classified (720) as a function of the corresponding degrees of reliability of decoding information available in the neighborhoods (Vn(d),Vm(d)) of these nodes, a node with a high degree of reliability being classified before a node with a low degree of reliability; each node thus classified (725) passes at least one message (αmn,βmn) to an adjacent node, in the order defined by said classification. The invention also relates to a computer program designed to implement said decoding method.
US08245103B2
Concatenated codes are improved, and a memory capacity and a memory diagnosis circuit are reduced. Address control used in an interleaver of related art is applied to a register included in a syndrome arithmetic circuit or a check code calculation circuit of related art, and an arithmetic operation result equivalent to that obtained by interleaving is derived.
US08245101B2
A patrol function performed in a storage controller connected to a flash memory storage module. The function causes selected areas of the flash storage to be read for purposes of detecting and correcting errors.
US08245100B2
Apparatus and methods store error recovery data in different dimensions of a memory array. For example, in one dimension, block error correction codes (ECC) are used, and in another dimension, supplemental error correction codes, such as convolutional codes, are used. By using separate dimensions, the likelihood that a defect affects both error recovery techniques is lessened, thereby increasing the probability that error recovery can be performed successfully. In one example, block error correction codes are used for data stored along rows, and this data is stored in one level of multiple-level cells of the array. Supplemental error correction codes are used for data stored along columns, such as along the cells of a string, and the supplemental error correction codes are stored in a different level than the error correction codes.
US08245099B2
Memory cells are programmed and read, at least M=3 data bits per cell, according to a valid nonserial physical bit ordering with reference to a logical bit ordering. The logical bit ordering is chosen to give a more even distribution of error probabilities of the bits, relative to the probability distributions of the data error and the cell state transition error, than would be provided by the physical bit ordering alone. Preferably, both bit orderings have 2M−1 transitions. Preferably, the logical bit ordering is evenly distributed. The translation between the bit orderings is done by software or hardware.
US08245094B2
We investigate a novel storage technology, Rank Modulation, for flash memories. In this scheme, a set of n cells stores information in the permutation induced by the different charge levels of the individual cells. The resulting scheme eliminates the need for discrete cell levels, and overshoot errors when programming cells (a serious problem that reduces the writing speed), as well as mitigate the problem of asymmetric errors. We present schemes for Gray codes, rewriting and joint coding in the rank modulation paradigm.
US08245089B2
A transmission device includes: a storage unit that holds test data used for checking occurrence/nonoccurrence of a communication abnormality; a serial conversion unit that converts image data to be transmitted and the test data stored in the storage unit into serial data; a transmission unit that transmits the serial data converted by the serial conversion unit to a reception device; and an initialization unit that, when an instruction of particular initialization is inputted, performs initialization on other circuits than the storage unit without performing initialization on the storage unit.
US08245078B1
A user interface is provided through which a user may specify a container for data recovery. In response to the specification of a container for recovery, another user interface is provided through which the user can select a consistency group or a journal file to be utilized for recovery. In response to receiving a selection of a journal file for data recovery, a user interface is provided through which a user may specify a point in time, an event, or a snapshot at which time recovery for the corresponding volume should occur. In response to receiving a selection of a consistency group for recovery, a user interface is provided through which a user may specify a snapshot performed across two or more volumes of the consistency group that should be utilized for recovery.
US08245071B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of data processing modules that process data independently and output the processed data. A method of controlling a first data processing module and a second data processing module that process data independently and synchronize and output the processed data, the method including acquiring first data output rate information representing a current data output rate of the first data processing module, acquiring second data output rate information representing a current data output rate of the second data processing module, and adjusting a data output rate of at least one of the first data processing module and the second data processing module, on the basis of the first data output rate information and the second data output rate information.
US08245069B2
Method and computer program product for supplying power in a computing system, and computer program product implementing the method. The method comprises monitoring power consumption of the computing system, supplying power to the computing system using only a first power supply over a first range of power consumption, and supplying power to the computing system using a combination of the first power supply and a second power supply over a second range of power consumption. The first power supply provides greater efficiency than the combination of the first and second power supplies over the first lower range of power consumption, the combination of the first and second power supplies provides greater efficiency than the first power supply over the second higher range of power consumption.
US08245067B2
A portable electronic device is operative to facilitate power sharing with at least a second electronic device coupled thereto. The portable electronic device includes a battery power source, a first port adapted for connection to a first network connection and a second port adapted for connection to a second network connection. An input stage in the portable electronic device is connected to the first port. The input stage is operative to supply power received from the first network connection through the first port to the battery power source for recharging the battery power source. The portable electronic device further includes an output stage connected to the second port. The output stage is operative to supply power from the battery power source to the second network connection through the second port.
US08245065B2
A method of power gating a microprocessor having an instruction scheduling unit for receiving issued instructions from an instruction decode unit; an execution unit coupled to receive and send signals from and to the instruction scheduling unit; and a state machine located within the execution unit, the method comprises: obtaining a number of instructions per cycle being issued to the instruction scheduling unit; determining, subsequent to obtaining the number of instructions per cycle, if the number of instruction per cycle being issued to the instruction scheduling unit is less than a threshold level, and then determining if at least two of the instructions being issued to the instruction scheduling unit are independent of each other only when the instructions per cycle is less than the threshold level; determining when at least two of the instructions being issued to the instruction scheduling unit are independent of each other; and power gating the microprocessor to gate off power to idle macros with a signal from the state machine when the instructions are independent of each other without incurring significant loss of performance until an issue queue in the instruction scheduling unit is filled with instruction data.
US08245063B2
A clock selector operative on two clocks operating on different domains and responsive to a SELECT input provides a transition from a first clock to a second clock, and from a second clock to a first clock with a dead zone therebetween. The delay is provided by a doublet register having a first register coupled to a second register, the two registers operative on one of the clock domains. Additionally, a clock selector is operative on two clocks which are each accompanied by a clock availability signal where the state machine provides a variety of states to create a dead zone between selections, and to bring the state machine to a known state until a clock signal is again available.
US08245058B2
A serial port connector with power output function includes a serial port having a plurality of pins. Under the existing EIA-RS-232, EIA-RS-422, and EIA-RS-485 standards for connectors, the definition of the pins of the serial port are altered, so that a pin that was originally defined as floating or for serial data communication signal is now changed to a power output specification. Thus, when the connector is connected via the same one cable to a serial port peripheral device, the connector can provide both functions of serial data communication signal transmission and power transmission to thereby largely increase the usability of the connector.
US08245057B2
A method of power management detects a workload rate of a processor, increases a power level of the processor based on a first value that is an average of the detected workload rate over an up reference time, and decreases the power level of the processor based on a second value that is an average of the detected workload rate over a down reference time. The down reference time may be longer than the up reference time. A power management apparatus includes a processor, a workload detector configured to detect a workload rate of the processor, a power management unit configured to receive the workload rate of the processor and generate a level control signal indicating a power level of the processor, a voltage control unit configured to provide the processor with a supply voltage corresponding to the level control signal, and a clock control unit configured to provide the processor with a clock signal having a frequency corresponding to the level control signal.
US08245056B2
Embodiments of a unified communication and control bus architecture for Ethernet and/or PoE systems are provided. Embodiments enable a unified communication and control bus architecture that significantly simplifies communication and control in Ethernet and/or PoE systems. Embodiments enable significant savings both in terms of cost and complexity as the number of communication and control buses is reduced down to one. Embodiments can be used in various Ethernet and/or PoE implementations, including, for example, single PCB-single PoE, single PCB-multiple PoE, chassis-based switch, and stackable-based switch configurations. Further, embodiments can be implemented using standard Ethernet as well as proprietary implementations.
US08245055B2
A method for usurping control of a computer system from an operating system using a mechanism otherwise used to enable the entry of the computer system into a lower power state.
US08245050B1
A split knowledge protocol adapted to establish an initial key for use in authenticating a first computer to a second computer. The second computer initiates the split knowledge protocol by generating a bit sequence and splitting the sequence into a predetermined number of segments. The second computer then encrypts each segment with a predetermined key associated with each segment before transmitting each encrypted segment to the first computer. In response, the first computer decrypts each encrypted segment using the associated key. The first computer then recovers the bit sequence from the decrypted segments. Accordingly, the first and second computers have knowledge of (i.e., access to) the same bit sequence, which may thus be used as the initial key.
US08245044B2
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for increasing the security of electronic payment transactions, such as eCommerce transactions conducted over the Internet. A transaction approval or authorization mechanism uses an out of band process to provide authentication or identification data that has previously been registered by a user and associated with the user's payment device or account. The out of band authentication data may be provided in response to a message sent to a user's mobile phone, where the message is generated in response to entering the user's phone number into a form that is provided when the user engages in an electronic payment transaction using a desktop computer. The data may include a digital signature and associated digital certificate that is used to authenticate the user.
US08245043B2
An audio start service method for enabling and scheduling ad hoc distributed meetings. Only a short (in some embodiments less than or equal to about 32 bits) unique device identification is needed to enable distributed meeting devices participating in the meeting to rendezvous at a common rendezvous network address. Once the participants know the unique meeting network address they can take part in the meeting, while others can join or leave the meeting. The data string is each device's unique identification that is encoded into an inaudible watermark and continuously exchanged between devices over the telephone network. A first distributed meeting device requests a network address from a distributed meeting server. This unique meeting network address then is sent to an audio start service that identifies “buddies” of the first device and sends out meeting invitations and the network address to other devices so they can join the meeting.
US08245037B1
Secure information is managed for each host or machine in an electronic environment using a series of key identifiers that each represent one or more secure keys, passwords, or other secure information. Applications and services needing access to the secure information can specify the key identifier, for example, and the secure information currently associated with that identifier can be determined without any change to the code or manual input or exposure of the secure information on the respective device. Functionality such as encryption key management and rotation are inaccessible and transparent to the user. In a networked or distributed environment, the key identifiers can be associated with host classes such that at startup any host in a class can obtain the necessary secure information. Updates and key rotation can be performed in a similar fashion by pushing updates to host classes transparent to a user, application, or service.
US08245036B2
The present invention offers a new and improved method and system to establish a trusted and decentralized peer-to-peer network for: the sharing of computer files between and among computing devices; trusted chat sessions; and for other applications of trusted peer-to-peer networks.
US08245033B1
This specification describes technologies relating to imparting real-time priority-based network communications in an encrypted session. In general, aspects of the subject matter described can be embodied in methods that include establishing, based on cryptographic information in a reserved, random-data portion of a handshake communication, a session, receiving parameter values relating to a sub media stream, included in a header of a network communication, storing the parameter values, obtaining state information and a data payload included in a second network communication, identifying, from the state information, a purpose of the second network communication, and whether a header of the second network communication includes one or more new values corresponding to one or more of the parameters, updating one or more of the stored values based on the one or more new values, and processing the data payload based on the identified purpose and the stored parameter values.
US08245032B2
An architecture for authenticating packets is provided that includes: an input 322 operable to receive a packet, the packet comprising at least one of a transport, session and presentation header portion and a transport agent 312 operable to compute a first message authentication code based on at least some of the contents of the packet and compare the first message authentication code with a second message authentication code in the at least one of a transport, session, and presentation header portion to authenticate the packet.
US08245025B2
The present invention is a computer motherboard with a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) capable of built-in configuration display, characterized in that the BIOS includes a first means and a second means. The first and second means are code internally provided in the BIOS and executable by a CPU of the computer motherboard in an execution environment preset by the BIOS. The first means enables acquisition of CPU configuration data stored on the CPU and configuration data for displaying the CPU. The second means enables acquisition of memory module configuration data stored on at least a memory module and configuration data for displaying the memory module. After the computer motherboard enters a BIOS setup utility, a user selects an option of execution of the first or second means to execute CPU and memory configuration display without using an operating system.
US08245024B2
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for booting in systems having devices coupled in a chained configuration. One or more embodiments include a host and a number of devices coupled to the host in a chained configuration, wherein at least one of the number of devices is a bootable device and the at least one bootable device is not directly coupled to the host.
US08245022B2
An information handling system includes a host including a central processing unit, a management controller enabled to communicate with the host, a network interface resource in communication with the host and operable to enable the information handling system to communicate via an external network, and a target system in communication with the host through the network interface resource. The management controller comprises an iSCSI initiator operable to generate a request to the target system for an initial OS image.
US08245014B2
The present invention provides a network multithreaded processor, such as a network processor, including a thread interleaver that implements fine-grained thread decisions to avoid underutilization of instruction execution resources in spite of large communication latencies. In an upper pipeline, an instruction unit determines an-instruction fetch sequence responsive to an instruction queue depth on a per thread basis. In a lower pipeline, a thread interleaver determines a thread interleave sequence responsive to thread conditions including thread latency conditions. The thread interleaver selects threads using a two-level round robin arbitration. Thread latency signals are active responsive to thread latencies such as thread stalls, cache misses, and interlocks. During the subsequent one or more clock cycles, the thread is ineligible for arbitration. In one embodiment, other thread conditions affect selection decisions such as local priority, global stalls, and late stalls.
US08245006B2
A data storage device for storing and managing data includes a data memory, an input unit, a data writer, and a data deleter. The data memory stores data. The data memory includes a preferential deletion area for storing data which needs to be preferentially deleted. The input unit accepts input data. The data writer stores the input data in the data memory. The data deleter deletes data stored in the data memory. The data deleter starts to delete data stored in the preferential deletion area before starting to delete data stored in the data memory other than the preferential deletion area when a predefined condition is satisfied.
US08245005B2
Object relocation often involves a multi-word copy of the object from a source memory to a destination memory, followed by updating the references (e.g., pointers) to the object. However, during the relocation, other threads may write to portions of the object that have already been relocated, and the updates may be lost when the references are updated to point to the destination memory. The object relocation may therefore mark the words of the object during relocation with a relocation value to indicate transfer to the destination memory without locking the threads. The threads may be configured to check the value the source memory during object access, and to access the corresponding word of the destination memory if the source memory word comprises the relocation value. While the probability of a large (e.g., 64-bit) relocation value appearing in the object is small, safety measures are provided to detect and mitigate conflicts.
US08244999B1
Techniques for maintaining mirrored storage cluster data consistency on systems with write back cache can employ write-intent logging and periodic log clearing. The techniques can track any outstanding I/Os, data in caches, and data that has gone out of sync between mirrored nodes due to link failures. The techniques can ensure that a power failure on any of the storage nodes does not result in inconsistent data among the storage nodes. The techniques can use gate bitmaps to log outstanding I/Os. The gate bitmaps may be periodically cleared. The clearing period may be selected as to allow enough time for all caches to be flushed and for all synchronizing I/Os to complete. Efficient queuing of I/O requests in conjunction with the efficient operation of multiple gate bitmaps can reduce performance impacts of the gating or logging operations.
US08244997B2
A storage controller of the present invention can specify an updated file based on an updated block detected when a differential backup is carried out for a plurality of generations, and can carry out a virus scan for the updated file only. Difference data generated between a primary volume and a backup volume is managed in difference volumes of different generations. A file updated by the host is specified based on an updated block in which the difference data is stored. A virus scan, which makes use of the latest virus pattern file, is executed for this updated file. Furthermore, search information related to the updated file can be created, and this search information can also be saved.
US08244990B2
We introduce obstruction-freedom—a new non-blocking condition for shared data structures that weakens the progress requirements of traditional nonblocking conditions, and as a result admits solutions that are significantly simpler and more efficient in the typical case of low contention. We demonstrate the merits of obstruction-freedom by showing how to implement an obstruction-free double-ended queue that has better properties than any previous nonblocking deque implementation of which we are aware. The beauty of obstruction-freedom is that we can modify and experiment with the contention management mechanisms without needing to modify (and therefore reverify) the underlying non-blocking algorithm. In contrast, work on different mechanisms for guaranteeing progress in the context of lock-free and wait-free algorithms has been hampered by the fact that modifications to the “helping” mechanisms has generally required the proofs for the entire algorithm to be done again.
US08244984B1
In one embodiment, a method for managing information related to dirty data stored in an intermediate cache coupled to one or more clients and to an external memory includes receiving a dirty data notification related to dirty data residing in the intermediate cache, the dirty data notification including a memory address indicating a location in the external memory where the dirty data should be stored and a data type associated with the dirty data, and extracting a bank page number from the memory address that identifies a bank page within the external memory where the dirty data should be stored. The embodiment also includes incrementing a first count associated with a first entry in a notification sorter that is affirmatively associated with the bank page, determining that the dirty data has a first data type, and incrementing a second count associated with the first entry.
US08244981B2
In one embodiment, a memory that is delineated into transparent and non-transparent portions. The transparent portion may be controlled by a control unit coupled to the memory, along with a corresponding tag memory. The non-transparent portion may be software controlled by directly accessing the non-transparent portion via an input address. In an embodiment, the memory may include a decoder configured to decode the address and select a location in either the transparent or non-transparent portion. Each request may include a non-transparent attribute identifying the request as either transparent or non-transparent. In an embodiment, the size of the transparent portion may be programmable. Based on the non-transparent attribute indicating transparent, the decoder may selectively mask bits of the address based on the size to ensure that the decoder only selects a location in the transparent portion.
US08244978B2
Embodiments allow a smaller, simpler hardware implementation of an input/output memory management unit (IOMMU) having improved translation behavior that is independent of page table structures and formats. Embodiments also provide device-independent structures and methods of implementation, allowing greater generality of software (fewer specific software versions, in turn reducing development costs).
US08244976B2
A performance monitor reports SAN performance so that issues within the SAN are not masked from the client. Accesses to the SAN may be grouped into the categories of SAN logical or SAN physical. In one specific embodiment, the ranges of service times for accesses to the SAN are determined by monitoring service times of accesses to the SAN from the client perspective. In another specific embodiment, the ranges of service times for the SAN are determined by the SAN returning data with each request that indicates the service time from the SAN perspective. This allows reporting not only SAN logical and SAN physical accesses, but also allows reporting SAN service time. By specifying SAN service time, the client is able to better determine network delays. In yet another embodiment, information is returned by the SAN to indicate whether the access is SAN logical or SAN physical.
US08244964B2
Systems and/or methods are provided that facilitate data capture optimization for devices accessing memories via a bus. In an aspect, a memory can output a read preamble prior to pushing data onto a bus. The read preamble can be a known sequence of one or more bits. A host device accessing the memory via the bus can analyze the read preamble and, particularly, timing characteristics of the read preamble. The timing characteristics can be utilized to identify an optimal capture point within a window of data validity.
US08244962B2
An apparatus for queuing and ordering commands for a data storage device may include a slot tracker module that is arranged and configured to track available slots for commands from a host, a command transfer module that is operably coupled to the slot tracker module and that is arranged and configured to retrieve commands from the host based on a number of the available slots, a pending command module that is operably coupled to the command transfer module and that is arranged and configured to queue and order the commands from the host for processing using an ordered list that is based on an age of the commands and a task dispatch module that is operably coupled to the pending command module and that is arranged and configured to dispatch the commands for processing using the ordered list from the pending command module and an availability of storage locations.
US08244959B2
A subset of software objects stored in a first segment of non-volatile memory are identified as requiring frequent write operations or otherwise associated with a high endurance requirement. The subset of software objects are move to a second segment of non-volatile memory with a high endurance capacity, due to the application of wear leveling techniques to the second segment of non-volatile memory. The first and second segments of memory can be located in the same memory device or different memory devices.
US08244958B2
Methods, systems and computer-readable code for maintaining flash data structures in accordance with events of a flash memory system are disclosed. Both an events log as well as at least one flash management table are maintained in flash memory. For at least one point in time, a most recently stored flash memory table is indicative of an earlier state of the flash memory system, while at least one event that is more recent than the earlier state is stored in the events log. During power-up, the flash management table is retrieved from flash memory. If the most recent event of the flash memory table is earlier than the most recent event of the events log, events are retrieved from the events log in order to update the flash memory table. Optionally, the updated flash memory table is saved to flash memory.
US08244946B2
A technique for interrupt moderation allows coalescing interrupts from a device into groups to be processed as a batch by a host processor. Receive and send completions may be processed differently. When the host is interrupted for receive completions, it may check for send completions, reducing the need for interrupts related to send completions. Timers and a counter allow coalescing interrupts into a single interrupt that can be used to signal the host to process multiple completions. The technique is suitable for both dedicated interrupt line and message-signaled interrupts.
US08244933B1
Method and apparatus for inter-IC communication are described. In some examples, an integrated circuit (IC) includes core circuitry configured to process input data and provide output data; input/output (IO) circuitry configured to receive the input data, and transmit the output data; a control circuit configured to provide a selection signal; and an inter-IC communication port coupled between the core circuitry and the IO circuitry and configured to pass the input data and the output data, the inter-IC communication port having a memory interface and a memory controller, the inter-IC communication port configured to selectively couple either the memory interface or the memory controller between the core circuitry and the IO circuitry responsive to the selection signal.
US08244932B2
Disclosed are a method, upstream processing node, and computer readable medium for dynamically stabilizing a stream processing system. The method includes receiving at least one computing resource allocation target. The method further includes determining that an input data flow rate of at least one upstream processing element varies. The computing resource is dynamically allocated to the upstream processing element in response to the input rate of the upstream processing element varying. Data flow is dynamically controlled between the upstream processing element and at least one downstream processing element.
US08244924B2
A computer program product for processing communications between a host processor and a plurality of devices includes a tangible storage medium for performing a method comprising: receiving, by the host processor, physical configuration information including identification of a location of each physical endpoint connected to the host processor and a plurality of communication paths associated with each physical endpoint; sending at least one message to each physical endpoint on each of the plurality of communication paths, the at least one message requesting identification of a logical entity at the endpoint, and receiving logical configuration information identifying the logical entity; and generating a data collection accessible by the host processor, the data collection including the physical configuration information and the logical configuration information for each logical entity, and identification of a location of each physical endpoint connected to the host processor and a plurality of communication paths to each logical entity.
US08244923B2
An application setting management apparatus provided therein is capable of managing settings that differ in accordance with the device groups even when a plurality of device groups differing in function and option from each other are included. The management apparatus is connected to a plurality of devices through a communication line, and includes a reception unit configured to receive information in regard to setting for a certain application from each of the plurality of devices through the communication line, a group processing component configured to group the plurality of devices on the basis of the received information in regard to the setting for the certain application, and a transmission unit configured to transmit information used for configuring the common setting in relation to the certain application through the communication line to a plurality of grouped devices.
US08244920B2
A method of facilitating communications between a computer device and a smart card reader having an associated smart card, the computer device including a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service, the smart card reader service acting as a relay for commands between the smart card resource manager and the smart card reader, the method comprising: receiving from the smart card resource manager a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card; and responding, prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, to the smart card resource manager with a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command.
US08244917B2
A communication system, a communication apparatus, and a communication method as well as to a program for acquiring the advantages of a plurality of communication protocols are provided. An NFC communication is executed between an NFC communication unit 51 of a communication apparatus 1 and an NFC communication unit 61 of a communication apparatus 2, thereby it is recognized that a communication (BT communication) by Bluetooth (registered trademark) is possible, and further the BD addresses of a BT communication units 52 and 62 are exchanged as communication information necessary to the BT communication. Then, in the communication apparatuses 1 and 2, the NFC communication between the NFC communication units 51 and 61 is switched (overhanded) to the BT communication between BT communication units 52 and 62, and the BT communication is executed based on the BD addresses of the BT communication units 52 and 62.
US08244916B1
An apparatus capable of communicating data with a second apparatus using one of multiple networks comprising first and second networks comprises a host specifying a preferred one of the multiple networks; a first physical layer device arranged to communicate the data over the first network, wherein the first physical layer device determines a first status of the first network; a second physical layer device arranged to communicate the data over the second network; a first media access controller to facilitate communication of the data from the host over the first network using a single media access controller address via the first physical layer device; and a second media access controller to facilitate communication of the data from the host over the second network using the single media access controller address via the second physical layer device; and a controller in communication with the first and second physical layer devices and the host to provide the first and second status to the host, wherein the host controls the controller to communicate the data using the first media access controller if the first network is the preferred one and the first status is available.
US08244906B2
Certain aspects of a method and system for transparent TCP offload with a user space library are disclosed. Aspects of a method may include collecting TCP segments in a network interface card (NIC) without transferring state information to a host system. When an event occurs that terminates the collection of TCP segments, a single aggregated TCP segment based on the collected TCP segments may be generated. The aggregated TCP segment may be posted directly to a user space library, bypassing kernel processing of the aggregated TCP segment.
US08244905B2
Exemplary method and apparatuses for routing messaging traffic from a calling party in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network to a server in a destination network that serves a called party via the most direct route are provided. A telephone number mapping (ENUM)/Domain Name System (DNS) database, pre-provisioned to receive and respond to query messages based on an identifier of the called party and an application specific service type, e.g., short message service (SMS) or instant messaging (IM), may be accessed by a node in the calling party's IMS network to determine an address of the server in the destination network. Messaging traffic may be routed to the destination network or server based on content type or destination digits when ENUM/DNS database based routing mechanisms fail. Furthermore, routing of messaging traffic originating in an enterprise network and routing through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) is enabled.
US08244903B2
Permitting multiple concurrent read operations upon a file system enhances small file performance. A respective instance of a thread routine stores the data from each file into a series of buffers for the file. Each instance is identified by a Process Identifier (PID) used for streaming the data from the buffers in the order in which the files are opened instead of the order in which the file data are returned by the read operations. In order to conserve buffer memory, read operations upon a file are suspended once a certain amount of data have been read from the file unless data from the file are being streamed from the buffers.
US08244901B2
A disclosed example method for managing media content includes retrieving metadata for a plurality of encodings of the media content, wherein the metadata includes a first uniform resource locator (URL) and a first set of byte offsets for a first portion of the media content having a first encoding and a second URL and a second set of byte offsets for a second portion of the media content having a second encoding. The example method also includes requesting the first portion of the media content utilizing the first URL and the first set of byte offsets.
US08244890B2
Systems and methods that handle transport protocol segments (TPSes) are provided. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a receiver that may receive an incoming TPS. The incoming TPS may include, for example, an aligned upper layer protocol (ULP) header and a complete ULP data unit (ULPDU). The receiver may directly place the complete ULPDU into a host memory.
US08244880B2
The invention provides a method, system, and program product for managing a connection. In particular, the invention manages connection information in memory based on an expected usage of the corresponding connection. Connection information can be stored in faster memory, such as cache memory, when the connection is expected to have numerous additional messages. Similarly, the connection information for a connection not expected to have many additional messages can be swapped out of the cache memory and stored in relatively slower memory. As a result, the connection information that is more frequently used is more likely to be available in a faster memory.
US08244874B1
Aspects of the present invention include distributing new resources closer to end-users which are making increased demands by spinning-up additional virtualized instances (as part of a cloud provisioning) within servers that are physically near to the network equipment (i.e., web servers, switches, routers, load balancers) that are receiving the requests.
US08244862B2
A method of measuring, for communication paths between a networked computer and at least one other networked computer connected via a network performance, network information to detect network performance degradation and diagnose source(s) of the performance degradation. The diagnosis may be performed by a progressive elimination of possible sources. Network performance degradation may be attributed to problems at a local network or the Internet. The problem sources on the Internet may comprise, for example, an internet server provider (ISP) or a single remote server in communication with the networked computer. A network performance baseline established and maintained for each path may be employed in diagnosing the network performance degradation.
US08244860B2
A communication method between service modules in a system in which service modules operating on a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected with a network operate in collaboration with each other, the system includes a monitoring apparatus that is provided with a monitor module monitoring a connection between service modules in the system and that has connection management information including identifier information for uniquely identifying an information processing apparatus in which a service module is operating in the system, and connection information including external connection information for the service module to perform communication using an external network between the information processing apparatuses and internal connection information for the service module to perform communication using an internal network of the information processing apparatus.
US08244854B1
Method and system for gathering and propagating statistical information about resources in a distributed computing grid. Data relating to a resource in the first group of resources on the distributed computing grid is received by a gatherer. The received data is provided to other resources in the first group, and a statistical model is determined or generated for each resource in the first group based on the received data. A second group of resources on the grid is called, and the statistical information from the first group is propagated to the second group.
US08244848B1
In one embodiment, a system includes one or more computing systems that implement a social networking environment and are operable to access stored information including a plurality of nodes including a first set of user nodes that each correspond to a respective user and a second set of concept nodes that each correspond to a respective concept. The stored information further includes a plurality of edges that each define a connection between a corresponding pair of nodes including a first set and a second set of edges. Each edge from the first set defining a connection between a pair of user nodes and representing a social relationship between the users corresponding to the user nodes. Each edge from the second set defining a connection between a user node and a concept node and representing an interest of the user of the user node with respect to the corresponding concept node.
US08244842B1
A management adapter is provided for a computer management system. A data acquisition layer provides a mapping between platform-specific instrumentation interface and platform-specific component tables. A management model transformation layer provides a mapping between the platform-specific component tables and generic component tables. A presentation mapping layer provides a mapping between the generic component tables and a management protocol schema.
US08244841B2
A system and method for performing various operations on group policy objects, by manipulating group policy objects as a single entity to perform backup, restore, import and copy operations. The backup operation transfers the various subparts of a selected group policy object to a file system. A restore operation restores a backed-up group policy object to its domain, in the same state as when the backup was performed. An import operation transfers the settings within a backed-up source group policy object to a destination group policy object, erasing its previous settings. A copy operation transfers the settings from a source group policy object to a new group policy object. Copy and import operations can be cross-domain, and a migration table can be used to convert security group and UNC pathnames as appropriate for the destination domain. Backup management, rollback of incomplete operations, and support for application deployment are also provided.
US08244830B2
A system and method that uses interne content and/or content metadata as a means to establish social networks. Examples include linking internet users, searchers, viewers and/or listeners of the same and/or similar internet content to each other via a platform that enables any of the following in n-dimensional environments: social networking, communications, sharing, e-commerce, advertising, search, hosting and registry services, push and pull applications, anonymous communications, and rich presence.
US08244828B2
A Digital Guide System (DGS) assembles and delivers contextual, narrative content information to an end-user requiring a guided or self-guided tour of a physical space. DGS consists of a Content Management System application (CMS), a Channel Administration application (CA), a Content Repository (CR) and a Channel Device application (CDA). CMS allows developers to build content information in discrete narratives using a modular story-building methodology. The CMS stores all information relevant to editorial control and content development in the CR. The CA is a browser-based registration and device management application that delivers content information to devices in channels designated for that content information by the CMS. The CDA allows the user to navigate through the content information using the modular story based organization and collects usage information in a user log for transmittal to the CA.
US08244827B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for transferring a logical partition (‘LPAR’) between two of a plurality of server computing devices based on LPAR customer requirements, the plurality of server computing devices connected together through a data communications network, the LPAR installed on one of the plurality of server computing devices, each server computing device having server operating capabilities, each server computing device associated with LPAR hosting costs for supporting LPARs, that include: identifying LPAR customer requirements for the LPAR, the LPAR customer requirements specifying customer criteria for operating the LPAR; selecting, from among the plurality of server computing devices, a server computing device to which to migrate the LPAR in dependence upon the server operating capabilities and LPAR hosting costs for at least one of the server computing devices and the LPAR customer requirements for the LPAR; and migrating the LPAR to the selected server computing device.
US08244826B2
Mechanisms for providing a memory region/memory window (MR/MW) access notification on a system area network are provided. Whenever a previously allocated MR/MW is accessed, such as via a remote direct memory access (RDMA) read/write operation, a notification of the access is generated and written to a queue data structure associated with the MR/MW. In one illustrative embodiment, this queue data structure may be a MR/MW event queue (EQ) data structure that is created and used for all consumer processes and all MR/MWs. In other illustrative embodiments, the EQ is associated with a protection domain. In yet another illustrative embodiment, an event record may be posted to an asynchronous event handler in response to the accessing of the MR/MW. In another illustrative embodiment, a previously posted queue element may be used to generate a completion queue element in response to the accessing of the MR/MW.
US08244820B2
A system and method for processing messages being composed by a user of a computing device (e.g. a mobile device). Embodiments are described in which the performance of certain tasks is initiated before a direction is received from a user to send a message being composed by the user. This may involve, for example, “pre-fetching” security-related data that will be required in order to send a message that is in the process of being composed by the user securely. Such data may include security policy data, certificate data, and/or certificate status data, for example.
US08244819B2
A method to execute verb-noun cmdlets to retrieve mailbox information or receive connector information from an e-mail server includes opening an e-mail management tool and receiving and parsing at least one cmdlet having a verb-noun syntax. A get-mailbox cmdlet may retrieve mailbox information from an e-mail server and a get-receiveconnector cmdlet may retrieve receive connector information from the e-mail server. Both cmdlets may have parameters that allow the retrieval of all, one or many mailboxes or receive connectors associated with the e-mail server. One implementation of the e-mail management tool is in a WINDOWS™ computing environment where the management host executes in a POWERSHELL™ scripting environment.
US08244812B2
A system, a method and computer-readable media for initiating the hosting of email for an Internet domain name. A secure communication channel is established with an entity requesting email hosting services. After verifying that the requesting entity is authorized to control the domain name, information describing email accounts with the domain name is received, and email services are provided for the email accounts.
US08244808B2
A session manager recognizes the creation of a new collaboration session and creates a new network connection to host the collaboration session using information about the new collaboration session. More specifically, an identifier for the new host network connection is based on the name given to the collaboration session. In this way, other computing devices can discover existing collaboration sessions by scanning the identifiers of existing network connections without actually having to connect to the available networks first.
US08244802B2
The format of the Presence Information Data Format-Location Object (PIDF-LO) as defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is extended or modified to accommodate, within the standard. PIDF-LO format, an association of geospacial location to virtual content on the Internet. A filename of virtual content is associated with geospatial location information (either a specific location, zone, or direction). The filename is inserted into a
US08244801B2
An application for a system for providing a digital yearbook includes a server, a terminal device and a database. The database is interfaced to the server and a yearbook is captured at the terminal device and transferred to the server. The yearbook data is filtered based upon a user profile and delivered to the user. After initial delivery of the yearbook data, updated yearbook data is delivered to the user and integrated with the initial yearbook data originally delivered to the user.
US08244795B2
Disclosed is a method and device and computer storage medium for determining whether two pages linked on the World Wide Web are a part of the same World Wide Web site. The method involves examining and comparing the IP addresses of the Web pages, and can also be extended to finding other pages to which a given Web page is linked on the Web, and to determining whether a Web page of interest is part of a Web site with a desired characteristic, such as being part of an electronic commerce site.
US08244790B2
A multiplier circuit is disclosed including a Wallace tree block and a carry propagation adder. The Wallace tree block includes a sum calculation block adding partial products for each digit and a carry calculation block adding carries obtained in the addition by the sum calculation block. In the case of multiplication over an extension field (finite field GF(2n)) of two, a result of calculation by the sum calculation block is outputted. The carry propagation adder adds the result of calculation by the sum calculation block and a result of calculation by the carry calculation block. In the case of multiplication for integers (finite field GF(p)), a result of calculation by the carry propagation adder is outputted.
US08244784B2
Generating a number based on mask and range constraints. For example, a method of generating a pseudo random number satisfying a range constraint and a mask constraint may include determining a number of possible solutions satisfying the range constraint and the mask constraint; selecting an index representing a solution of the possible solutions; and generating the pseudo random number based on the index. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08244780B1
A method for performing a data store operation is provided. The method comprises invoking a command to execute on a processor in a computer that identifies an input file, determining a structure of a data table stored in a database and reading rows of data out of the data table based on the input file. For each row comparing data read out of the data table to a corresponding row of data in the input file. When the row of data read is identical to the corresponding row of data in the input file, not updating the row of data in the data table. When the row of data read is not identical to the corresponding row of data in the input file, updating the row of data stored in the corresponding row of data in the input file based on the structure of the data table.
US08244778B1
Managing stored content is disclosed. It is determined that a new or modified attribute is to be associated with future-created instances of an object type but not with at least some previously-created instances of the object type. A default intra-type customization that associates the new or modified attribute with future-created instances of the object type, in a manner that results in the new or modified attribute being stored in a database structure that is separate from a type-specific structure configured to store one or more type-based attributes common to both the at least some previously-created and future-created instances of the object type, is associated with the object type.
US08244774B2
A method for automatically generating a GUI program for displaying XML data, includes parsing the XML data to identify one or more data elements within the XML data, generating a GUI element for each data element having a primitive data type by applying a pre-programmed GUI element, generating a GUI element for each data element having a custom data type by combining two or more pre-programmed GUI elements, and combining the generated GUI elements to form the GUI program.
US08244769B2
To provide a technique for structuralizing ontology in a prescribed form to a structure to which features of data are reflected. An ontology processing device has a structuralizing device for structuralizing properties of the ontology in the prescribed form generated from a set of instance data containing a combination of a subject, a property, and an object expressed with a character string according to the features of the object, and has a ontology storage device which stores the ontology structuralized by the structuralizing device. With this structure, the properties of the ontology in the prescribed form are corrected or expressed as an ontology structure by reflecting the characteristics of a set of the objects obtained from the data.
US08244761B1
A user interface receives a request from an external entity to display a particular subset of internal data of an organization relating to a particular member thereof, determines from a located file corresponding to the external entity that a member ID of the particular member is listed therein, and thereafter retrieves the internal data of the member from a database. The user interface then culls the particular subset of the internal data to be displayed from the retrieved internal data, applies located rules corresponding to the external entity to the display of such particular subset of the internal data to result in any modifications necessary in view of such located rules, and displays such particular subset of the internal data as modified to the external entity.
US08244754B2
A system and method enabling the search for a three-dimensional virtual world object across the universe of virtual worlds by utilizing a two-step search process to first identify the object and second, to actively locate and generate a URI to all presently manifest instances of that object.
US08244749B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying query refinements from sibling queries. In one aspect, a method includes associating each of a plurality of parent queries with a respective group of one or more child queries for the parent query, identifying one or more candidate sibling queries for a particular child query, selecting one or more final sibling queries for the particular child query from the one or more candidate sibling queries, and associating the final sibling queries with the particular child query as query refinements.
US08244743B2
Aspects of the invention provide a service for data management and integration across a wide range of applications. Clustered computers may be arranged in a cloud-type configuration for storing and handling large amounts of user data under the control of a front-end management server. Communities of distributed users may collaborate on the data across multiple enterprises. Very large tabular data files are uploaded to the storage facilities. The data files are maintained as tables, and a composite table of related information is created and maintained in response to user queries. Different ways of visualizing the data are provided. Depending on the amount of information that can be displayed, features in a spatial index may the thinned for presentation. Spatial and structured queries are processing and results are intersected to obtain information for display.
US08244738B2
A display apparatus includes: a first memory to store a plurality of contents and pieces of content information including a plurality of elements; an element selector to select at least part of the plural elements correspond to a first content; a determine unit to determine whether or not the selected element matches the plural elements correspond to the contents; a generator to generate corresponding information for each of the contents based on a result of the determination; a second memory to store pieces of the corresponding information; a content selector to select a second content; a calculator to calculate degrees of association to the second content; a deciding unit to decide a arrangement positions of the plural contents except the second content according to the degrees of association calculated by the calculator; and a display unit to display the contents at the arrangement positions decided by the deciding unit.
US08244737B2
Ranking documents based on a series of web graphs collected over time is provided. A ranking system provides multiple transition probability distributions representing different snapshots or times. Each transition probability distribution represents a probability of transitioning from one document to another document within a collection of documents using a link of the document. The ranking system determines a stationary probability distribution for each snapshot based on the transition probability distributions for that snapshot and the stationary probability distribution of the previous snapshot. The stationary probability distributions represent a ranking of the documents over time.
US08244729B2
A method and system for automating electronic merchandising and product recommendation by creating a third party merchandising product database populated with data obtained directly at the point of sale. According to one embodiment, collection or direct importation of such data from an existing physical source or a product or merchandising database, which can be complex and costly, is not required. As a result, the cost of creating a usable merchandising system and database is reduced.
US08244720B2
A blog search engine may receive a search query. The blog search engine may determine scores for a group of blog documents in response to the search query, where the scores are based on a relevance of the group of blog documents to the search query and a quality of the group of blog documents. The blog search engine may also provide information regarding the group of blog documents based on the determined scores.
US08244719B2
A computer method and apparatus of social tagging computer resources is disclosed. In the invention method and apparatus, a data store holds social tagging data of previously followed tags throughout a system. In response to end-user indication of a tag candidate, the invention system retrieves from the data store social tagging data about the tag candidate. A tag previewer forms and renders a display of the retrieved social tagging data. The display indicates number of users having interest in (i.e., having followed, searched with, browsed and/or subscribed to) the candidate tag and its variants, and the type of interest. The display may further indicate identities (e.g., email addresses) of these users having such interest. The display may serve as a precommit preview to the end-user during selection of a tag (the candidate) for a given resource. Alternatively, the tag previewer may provide the invention display of social tagging data during end-user browsing as well.
US08244714B1
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for generating a custom report using outer joins in the context of an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for generating an on-demand database service custom report can enable embodiments to generate reports that reflect a relationship between at least two different objects. The ability of embodiments to provide such additional insight into database contents may lead to more efficient and effective reporting.
US08244709B2
A method and system for automatically updating searches are described. In one embodiment, a first search result may be compared with a second search result to automatically identify from the first search result at least one data item that is new or modified as compared to the second search result. The first search result may comprise a first set of data items satisfying a first set of user-specific search criteria, and the second search result may comprise a second set of data items satisfying a second set of user-specific search criteria. A notification of a result of the comparing may be sent to a user device.
US08244706B2
A computer-based method and system for just-in-time semantic information retrieval is disclosed. A user interface detects user interaction with a displayed semantic entity. In response, a search member uses semantic information about the displayed entity and automatically searches for information about the subject entity. The search employs system and/or external knowledge bases and returns highly relevant results and information with increased specificity due to the semantic basis. A sidebar unobtrusively displays to the user the search results initially obtained without user request or demand, i.e., on the user's behalf. The sidebar enables the user to dismiss the search results and to effectively copy or export the search results as desired.
US08244703B2
An information processing apparatus is disclosed which comprises: a first acquiring element for acquiring the number of times information contents are downloaded over a network; a second acquiring element for acquiring the number of times the information contents are reproduced; and a computing element for computing a pricing index for the information contents based on the number of times the information contents have been downloaded as acquired by the first acquiring element and on the number of times the information contents have been reproduced as acquired by the second acquiring element.
US08244699B2
The subject matter of this disclosure can be implemented in, among other things, a device that includes processors, a data repository, and a table version module configured to create a first version of a database within the data repository using a first version of a database schema that defines a set of tables for the database, and receive a result that is responsive to a command, such that when the result indicates a success condition, execution of the command allows access to data contained in the database and verification of the database schema version, wherein the result does not include database schema version information. The device further includes means for executing the command to access the data, wherein the command includes one or more encoded table names, and wherein each of the encoded table names included in the command is generated based on at least a database schema version identifier.
US08244698B2
The subject matter of this disclosure can be implemented in, among other things, a device that includes processors, a data repository, and a table version module configured to create a first version of a database within the data repository using a first version of a database schema that defines a set of tables for the database, and receive a result that is responsive to a command, such that when the result indicates a success condition, execution of the command allows access to data contained in the database and verification of the database schema version, wherein the result does not include database schema version information. The device further includes means for executing the command to access the data, wherein the command includes one or more encoded table names, and wherein each of the encoded table names included in the command is generated based on at least a database schema version identifier.
US08244691B1
Redundant data is removed from a volume of data by partitioning the volume of data into fixed-length input segments and, for each of the input segments, traversing nodes of a search tree in accordance with the value of a fixed-size portion of the input segment to determine if the search tree contains a pointer to a matching fixed-sized portion of a segment within a dictionary. If the search tree contains the pointer, the input segment is compared with the segment within the dictionary pointed to by the pointer, and a token representative of the segment within the dictionary is substituted for at least part of the input segment determined to match the segment within the dictionary.
US08244685B2
A restoration technique includes storing a collection of blocks having (i) a first baseline of blocks defining a file at a first time within a predefined window, (ii) older blocks, and (iii) newer blocks. The technique further includes providing a direction signal to restore the file at a particular time from the collection of blocks. The direction signal has an older direction value when the particular time is older than the first time and (ii) a newer direction value when the particular time is newer than the first time. The technique further includes forming, from the collection of blocks, a second baseline of blocks from the first baseline of blocks and additional blocks. The additional blocks are either (i) the older blocks or (ii) the newer blocks depending on the direction value. The second baseline defines the file at the particular time.
US08244683B2
A system, method and facility for manipulating registries on a computer system. The system includes a generic registry facility, which features functions classified according to the breadth of their applicability to varying types of registries. The registries may be classified as file-based and proprietary. The file-based registries may be binary or text-based. The generic registry facility provides a library of generic registry facility functions that may be included in a specific registry manipulation module through which a computer program can manipulate a specific registry. The generic registry facility functions may be customized by the developer of the registry manipulation module for a specific registry. The functions may include an action verification function that includes a commit sequence for ensuring that requested changes to a registry are made successfully. The functions may also include a trigger function for triggering events upon the occurrence of a change to a registry.
US08244682B2
A consistent snapshot of a large main memory knowledge base is saved to persistent storage without blocking the application for the duration of serializing and writing the knowledge base. Taking the snapshot comprises bringing the knowledge base to a consistent state (in a multithreaded application), using virtual memory facilities to obtain a copy-on-write copy of the knowledge base in memory, and using a separate thread or process to serialize the copy-on-write copy to persistent storage.
US08244681B2
A local host computer system creates a full backup image and one or more incremental backup images. The local host computer system transmits data from the full backup image and the one or more incremental backup images to a remote host computer system. The remote host computer system receives the data from the full backup image and the one or more incremental backup images from the local host computer system, and creates a synthetic backup image using the data from the full backup image and the one or more incremental backup images. In some embodiments, complete copies of the full backup image and the one or more incremental backup images may be transmitted to the remote host computer system. In other embodiments only the portions of the incremental backup images that are actually needed to create the synthetic backup image may be transmitted to the remote host computer system, and unneeded portions may not be transmitted.
US08244667B1
Separate subsystems are dedicated to handle fact and dimension data storage and retrieval in an optimized manner. Each subsystem acquires, processes, and stores its data separately in a manner appropriate to the characteristics of that data. A query engine combines the data from each subsystem at query time. When a user queries the system, the query engine interacts with each of the subsystems to fetch the data needed to generate a single result set.
US08244663B2
The embodiments described herein generally relate to a method and host device for enforcing a rule associated with a media file. In one embodiment, an observer module determines that a media player is attempting to play a media file. Before allowing the media player to play the media file, the observer module determines if the media file is associated with a rule that specifies an action to be taken if a playback event is detected. If it is determined that the media file is associated with a rule, the observer module observes playback of the media file to detect if the playback event specified in the rule occurred and takes the action specified in the rule if the playback event is detected.
US08244662B2
Approaches to embedding source graphs into targets graphs in a computing system are disclosed. Such may be advantageously facilitate computation with computing systems that employ one or more analog processors, for example one or more quantum processors.
US08244660B2
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate generating an inference about events that may not have yet been observed. Open-world modeling can be used to take a history of observation so as to understand trends over time in the revelation of previously unseen events, and to make inferences with subsets of data that new unseen events will be seen. Thus, inaccuracies associated with predictions generated from incomplete data sets can be mitigated. To yield such predictions, open-world submodels and closed-world submodels that do not allow for previously unseen events can be combined via a model mixture methodology, which fuses inferences from the open- and close-world models.
US08244658B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for generating a set of instructions to an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for generating a set of instructions to an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to generate instructions capable of operating on objects, without having any knowledge of the objects on which the instructions are going to operate, until runtime. The ability of embodiments to provide this instruction generation may allow generic instructions to be generated, independent of the objects on which they will operate.
US08244656B2
Systems and methods are provided for predicting rare events, such as hospitalization events. Predictor sequences may be generated by example systems and methods. Further, the fitness of those sequences may be measured. Sequences may be refined and/or combined with other sequences to produce better sequences. Related sequences may have their relationship identified and associated with the respective sequences. Finally, the sequences may be used to create a predictive model designed to determine, based on a sequence of events related to a person, if a hospitalization event is likely to occur in a given timeframe. Other models may be constructed and used to predict other rare events, based on related event sequences.
US08244652B2
A method for improving stacking schema for classification tasks, according to which predictive models are built, based on stacked-generalization meta-classifiers. Classifications are combined to build a new scheme from at least two layers and multiclass classification problems are converted into binary classification problems. One-against-all class binarization and regression learners are used for each class model and ensemble classifiers are improved using stacking. Accuracy differences, accuracy ratio, and runtime classification in multiclass datasets are also improved and the class of a value is then predicted.
US08244649B2
A method and information processing system train a control system using structured differential learning. A set of features extracted from a set of input data is analyzed by a plurality of analyzing components. An output response is generated by each analyzing component in the plurality of analyzing components for each feature regarding whether the each feature has an acceptable value associated therewith relative to a value of the parameter associated with the each analyzing component. A confidence score is associated with the each output response. Each output response and each confidence score is combined into a single final output response and single final confidence score. An analyzing component is identified from the plurality of analyzing components that is a strongest candidate for generating an incorrect final output response based at least on the confidence score.
US08244647B2
A computer receives two input documents, including a carrier product description file and a document that describes attributes of a type of mailing equipment. The computer extracts information from the documents and generates a provisioning document based at least in part on the extracted information. The provisioning document is suitable for controlling a piece of mailing equipment which belongs to the particular type of mailing equipment, in such a manner that the piece of mailing equipment generates mail pieces in compliance with the carrier product description file. The provisioning document includes a script for controlling operation of the piece of mailing equipment and data to be read by the piece of mailing equipment.
US08244643B2
An acquirer communicates with an intermediary transaction processing service to handle financial transaction requests received from multiple points of purchase. The acquirer receives an initial authorization request generated based on a transaction initiated by a customer at a point of purchase. The initial authorization request includes unique identifying information associated with the customer. The acquirer determines that the unique identifying information is associated with the intermediary service and provides at least part of the initial authorization request to the intermediary service. In response, the intermediary service provides account information to the acquirer. The acquirer then generates a modified authorization request based on the initial authorization request and the received account information and transmits the modified authorization to an issuing institution to request approval of the transaction.
US08244641B2
A system and method for data recipient invoked electronic commerce allowing data subjects to provide information over a network and data recipients to receive such information relating to the needs of s data subject such as purchases, distribution of application information and the like. The system includes a server having software which gathers the information from a data subject to complete a transaction over a network. The system has a data subject data structure that stores information for registered data subjects. The software is able to access the data subject data structure and enter the data subject's information during subsequent transactions. Having the software obtain and enter the data subject's purchasing information, the data subject does not have to enter the same information every time the data subject desires to effect a transaction over the network. In alternate embodiments, the same technology can be applied to other arenas where a user may have to enter the same repetitive information.
US08244640B2
Methods and a program of instruction provide a packet schema framework for communication between elements of a pay-as-you-go business model including a provisioning server, an adapted electronic device, and a service provider. The packet schema defines provisioning instructions and content types to support service provisioning, including electronic device configuration and state, time-metering, and other types of functional and administrative tasks as well as to provide a foundation for any future messages needed for product evolution. The schema also defines security at multiple levels to guard against malicious users who may try to hook into the system to fraudulently use and/or configure the electronic devices for their own use and gain.
US08244631B2
A data transfer system using a mobile terminal and a two-dimensional barcode, and more particularly, a processing system, server, processing terminal, and communications terminal that can be used to pay for purchases and manage membership cards and admission tickets, and other services.
US08244630B1
Disclosed are systems and methods for providing a loan having an interest rate and a loan period. The systems and methods dynamically adjust the interest rate during the loan period based on actual payment performance of a borrower, thereby resulting in an improved reward structure, greater borrower loyalty and an improved experience for the borrower.
US08244622B2
A trading process for trading securities in an electronic market includes a matching process to match a portion of a received order for a security against a security interest stored in an order book that resides in main memory of a computer system.
US08244611B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a private label promotion card as a bank product, being issued and managed by the bank and using an open payment network for purchase authorization and payments. A bank computer processes activation information for a promotion card. The bank computer then authorizes purchase requests to use one or more activated promotion cards as payment for a consumer purchase from the retailer via an open payment network and transfers funds to the open payment network to satisfy the authorized consumer purchase. Next, the bank computer receives funds on behalf of the retailer for payment responsive to consumer purchases using the one or more promotion cards as payment and payment for a value remaining on the one or more promotion cards responsive to an expiration of the one or more promotion cards, perhaps at a discount to a customer value of the promotion card.
US08244604B1
A method is disclosed that includes identifying an inventory item corresponding to a product configuration. The product configuration is defined using a feature map. The inventory item is also defined using the feature map. Each entry of the feature map corresponds to one of a number of features of a product.
US08244595B2
A processor implemented method, system and computer readable medium for performing transactions of user generated content in a centralized marketplace is provided. User generated content files usable in a game during gameplay are received from users to the centralized marketplace. A restriction on use of the user generated content files is applied. The user generated content files are presented within the centralized marketplace. A request to purchase a user generated content file in the centralized marketplace is received from a first user and a purchase transaction between the first user and a content owner of the user generated content file is completed.
US08244573B2
Provided herein are systems and methods for providing access to marketing data via a reduced-complexity marketer GUI for dynamically defining market segments for use in marketing campaigns. The systems and methods provide a searchable list of person-related and entity-related pluralities of market segmentation criteria, obtain a market segmentation definition comprising a search key corresponding to selected market segmentation criteria, and perform a series of steps to obtain a first market-segment snapshot.
US08244572B1
A legal process management system facilitates simultaneous dynamic dialogs between legal process managers and networked attorneys and contractors providing services in connection with security interest enforcement actions (SIEAs). The legal process managers submit queries and deadlines selected to timely guide the attorneys and contractors through the requirements of the SIEAs. The attorneys and contractors submit responsive answers revealing the status of their SIEAs. In some embodiments, an events based management system uses a stochastic model to calculate completion times for the milestones of the SIEA, including the “events” that make up subparts of the milestones. This provides a flexible and powerful system for managing prosecution of the SIEA and for predicting likely durations. The stochastic model incorporates the concept of both fixed-frequency events and random-frequency events, and also allows for both controlled events and managed events. A reporting system is also provided for keeping track of event and milestone completion.
US08244570B2
A series of transaction records is extracted for each case from a database storing processing results of respective performed jobs to generate, for each case, a process instance including job names and time data of the performed jobs arranged in a time series. Then, process instances satisfying a designated condition are classified among the process instances to calculate, for each classification, an average value and standard deviation of transition periods that are differences between a start time and an end time of a job section to be processed in the pertinent process instances. By identifying a process instance, which has correlation with the route before the job section and for which the reduction of the transition period is expected and/or a process instance, which has correlation with the entire route and for which the reduction of the transition period is expected, an improvement candidate is automatically shown to the user.
US08244568B2
A scheduling system includes a client calendar application that a meeting organizer employs to send a request for free time form to prospective participants of a future meeting via email. The client calendar application receives completed request for participant free time forms back from the prospective participants via email. The client calendar application parses the completed free time forms and determines a consensus free time when all prospective participants are free for the meeting.
US08244565B2
A method of tracking productivity and utilization information regarding an individual of an organization. The method including entering via an input device information regarding the individual into a database that: 1) identifies each direct task worked on by the individual during a session of work, 2) direct time applied to each of the identified direct tasks during the session of work, and 3) a number of units processed or completed for each of the identified direct tasks corresponding to each of the applied direct times. The method further including displaying on a display information regarding productivity and utilization for the individual based on the direct tasks, the direct times and the number of units that are present in the database.
US08244562B2
The claimed subject matter provides an architecture for facilitating equilibrium solutions for resource allocation markets. One particular example of such markets can be a computer network environment. The architecture can model buyers as nodes and suppliers as edges, incorporating notions of an ascending price auction in order to provide optimal equilibrium solution to Eisenberg-Gale type convex programs in strongly polynomial time.
US08244556B1
Systems and methods are provided for generating payor sheets associated with payors for healthcare transactions. Information associated with one or more healthcare transactions that have been processed by a payor may be obtained. A plurality of data fields included in the one or more healthcare transactions may be identified, and a respective usage of each of the identified data fields within the one or more healthcare transactions may be calculated. Based upon the calculated usages, one or more of the plurality of data fields may be identified as required fields. A required field may be a field required by the payor during the submission of a healthcare transaction. Based at least in part upon the identified one or more required fields, a payor sheet associated with the payor may be generated.
US08244552B2
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: providing one or more reported aspects associated with one or more source users that were originally reported by one or more sensors; and developing one or more templates designed to facilitate one or more end users to achieve one or more target outcomes when one or more emulatable aspects indicated by the one or more templates are emulated, the development of the one or more templates being based at least on a portion of the one or more reported aspects In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08244551B1
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADVANCEMENT PATH CANDIDATE CLONING (“CLONER”) provides mechanisms allowing advancement seekers to identify, map out, structure and interact with various advancement paths to the seeker's goals. In one embodiment, the seekers are career advancement seekers, and the CLONER provides mechanisms allowing the seeker to explore various career paths and opportunities. In one embodiment, the CLONER interacts with a statistical engine, which allows seekers to map their experiences to various advancement states in the statistical engines state structure. By so doing, it allows seeker to explore multiple paths based on various criteria, and allows seekers to plan their career goals. In the process, the CLONER allows interested parties (e.g., an employer) to supply a good known seeker (e.g., a great current employee) and identify other candidates that have similar and/or identical experience in an attempt to “clone” the known seeker's abilities. In other embodiments, the seekers may be students wishing to advance their academic advancements. In yet other embodiments, the seekers are financial seekers who wish to achieve their financial goals.
US08244548B2
Augmenting service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) governance maturity including receiving an evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA; identifying, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance capability, one or more predefined risks to the SOA; establishing, for each governance capability in dependence upon the predefined risks to the SOA, a risk value representing the severity of the predefined risks; selecting, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA and the predefined risk value, one or more governance work products; and communicating to predetermined stakeholders in the SOA the one or more predefined risks to the SOA identified for each governance capability, the risk value established for each governance capability, and the governance work products selected for each governance capability.
US08244546B2
There is provided a singing synthesis parameter data estimation system that automatically estimates singing synthesis parameter data for automatically synthesizing a human-like singing voice from an audio signal of input singing voice. A pitch parameter estimating section 9 estimates a pitch parameter, by which the pitch feature of an audio signal of synthesized singing voice is got closer to the pitch feature of the audio signal of input singing voice based on at least both of the pitch feature and lyric data with specified syllable boundaries of the audio signal of input singing voice. A dynamics parameter estimating section 11 converts the dynamics feature of the audio signal of input singing voice to a relative value with respect to the dynamics feature of the audio signal of synthesized singing voice, and estimates a dynamics parameter, by which the dynamics feature of the audio signal of synthesized singing voice is got close to the dynamics feature of the audio signal of input singing voice that has been converted to the relative value.
US08244544B1
A computer-implemented method of generating a voice command to perform an action includes receiving a voice request to perform the action, wherein the voice request comprises first audio information for one or more first data fields associated with the action; generating a GUI that when rendered on a display device comprises a prompt message prompting a user to speak second audio information for one or more second data fields associated with the action; and inserting into the one or more second data fields data indicative of one or more of (i) the first audio information, and (ii) the second audio information.
US08244541B2
The present invention relates to creating a web page and voice browsing of the web page, and more particularly, it improves accessibility for the voice browsing of the web page through a synthetic voice, efficiently with high reliability.A content creation system 20 of the present invention is used for creating a content which may be viewed through the synthetic voice, the system including: a database 22 for storing a structured document; and an information process section 24 for creating a speech node series 18 from the structured document, and calculating a reaching time from starting voice synthesis of the speech node series 18 until each node is outputted as the synthetic voice. The information process section 24 includes a support process section 36 to determine a graphic display corresponding to the reaching time, and to visually display the reaching time to a predetermined node by the voice synthesis on a screen of a display section 26.
US08244531B2
A method is disclosed that enables the handling of audio streams for segments in the audio that might contain private information, in a way that is more straightforward than in some techniques in the prior art. The data-processing system of the illustrative embodiment receives a media stream that comprises an audio stream, possibly in addition to other types of media such as video. The audio stream comprises audio content, some of which can be private in nature. Once it receives the data, the data-processing system then analyzes the audio stream for private audio content by using one or more techniques that involve looking for private information as well as non-private information. As a result of the analysis, the data-processing system omits the private audio content from the resulting stream that contains the processed audio.
US08244530B2
A set of documents may be stored and indexed as a compressed sequence of tokens. A set of documents are grouped into clusters. Sequences of tokens representing the clusters of documents are encoded to elide some repeating instances of tokens. A compressed sequence of tokens is generated from the compressed cluster sequences of tokens. Queries on the compressed sequence are performed by identifying cluster sequences within the compressed sequence that are likely to have documents that satisfy the query and then identifying, within these identified clusters, the documents that actually satisfies the query.
US08244527B2
A signature is extracted from the audio of a program received by a tunable receiver such that the signature characterizes the program. In order to extract the signature, blocks of the audio are converted to corresponding spectral moments. At least one of the spectral moments is then converted to the signature. Also, a test audio signal from a receiver is correlated to a reference audio signal by converting the test audio signal and the reference audio signal to corresponding test and reference spectra, determining test slopes corresponding to coefficients of the test spectrum and reference slopes corresponding to coefficients of the reference spectrum, and comparing the test slopes to the reference slopes in order to determine a match between the test audio signal and the reference audio signal.
US08244523B1
An apparatus is shown for detecting speech in an audio signal obtained from an input device, the audio including speech and noise. The apparatus includes a processing circuit which includes a filter configured to smooth the audio signal. The processing circuit is configured to control the bandwidth of the filter based on characteristics of the audio signal and to provide a smoothed signal obtained from the filter to a voice activity detector configured to determine whether the smoothed signal represents speech.
US08244516B2
Formal verification of models using concurrent model-reduction and model-checking. For example, a system for formal verification of models includes: one or more model reducers to reduce a model; one or more model checkers to check the model, wherein at least one of the model reducers is to run concurrently with at least one of the model checkers; and a model synchronizer to synchronize information between at least one of the model reducers and at least one of the model checkers.
US08244507B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying associations in a model of a structure. A number of fastener locations is identified in the model of the structure. A line segment extends through each of the number of fastener locations to form a number of line segments. The line segment extends a selected distance away from an associated fastener location in the number of fastener locations. A number of parts is identified through which the line segment extends to form a number of identified parts for a fastener for each of the number of line segments.
US08244502B2
Techniques for data center analysis are provided. In one aspect, a method for modeling thermal distributions in a data center is provided. The method includes the following steps. Vertical temperature distribution data is obtained for a plurality of locations throughout the data center. The vertical temperature distribution data for each of the locations is plotted as an s-curve, wherein the vertical temperature distribution data reflects physical conditions at each of the locations which is reflected in a shape of the s-curve. Each of the s-curves is represented with a set of parameters that characterize the shape of the s-curve, wherein the s-curve representations make up a knowledge base model of predefined s-curve types from which thermal distributions and associated physical conditions at the plurality of locations throughout the data center can be analyzed.
US08244498B2
A method and system for partitioning (clustering) large amounts of data in a relatively short processing time. The method involves providing a first data matrix and a second data matrix where each of the first and second data matrices includes one or more variables, and a plurality of data points. The method also involves determining a first score from the first data matrix using a partial least squares (PLS) analysis or orthogonal PLS (OPLS) analysis and partitioning the first and second data matrices (e.g., row-wise) into a first group and a second group based on the sorted first score, the variance of the first data matrix, and a variance of the first and second groups relative to the variances of the first and second data matrices.
US08244495B2
A method for adjusting parameters of a calibration model in a position sensing system including a sensor for obtaining a measurement indicative of a location of an object, the method including: a) providing an initial set of model parameters for determining a relationship between a sensor measurement and a location value within a predetermined volume of location values; b) selecting a plurality of sub-segments of location values within the range of location values; c) providing for each of the selected plurality of sub-segments of location values a local set of model parameters for determining a relationship between a sensor measurement and a location value within the selected sub-segment of location values; d) obtaining a measurement from the sensor; e) determining an estimate of the location of the object from the sensor measurement and the initial set of model parameters; and f) identifying at least one of the selected sub-segments of location values related to the estimate of the location of the object.
US08244491B1
A method is provided to evaluate crosstalk effect of aggressor switching upon victim net signal transition time within an integrated circuit comprising: combining a first probability density function (PDF) of first aggressor switching time in response to a first input signal to an aggressor net driver and a second aggressor switching time in response to a second input signal to the aggressor net driver; determining a delay change curve that represents a relationship between delay change of arrival time of a victim net signal transition and relative alignment of the aggressor net driver switching time and a victim net driver switching time; and determining a third PDF of delay change of a transition of the victim net signal based upon the combination and the delay change curve.
US08244488B2
A thermal inspection system includes a fluid source configured to supply a warm flow and a cool flow, indirectly or directly, to internal passage(s) of a component. The system includes an imager configured to capture a time series of images corresponding to a transient thermal response of the component to the warm and cool flows. The system further includes at least one flow meter configured to measure the warm and cool flows supplied to the component and a processor operably connected to the imager. The processor determines the transient thermal response of the component around a transition time. The flow supplied to the component switches from the warm flow to the cool flow at the transition time. The processor compares the transient thermal response around the transition time with one or more baseline values or with an acceptable range of values to determine if the component meets a desired specification.
US08244481B2
Methods for predicting the performance risk of a paint component are disclosed. The methods include providing a proposed paint formulation, wherein the proposed paint formulation comprises at least one paint component, and identifying previous paint formulations comprising the paint component. The methods further include evaluating formulation similarities between the previous paint formulations and the proposed paint formulation, assigning formulation similarity scores based on the formulation similarities, and determining a paint component risk score for the paint component based on the formulation similarity scores. The proposed paint formulation may be utilized in a manufacturing application when the paint component risk score satisfies a manufacturing threshold value.
US08244472B2
A system and method enable testing of a plurality of well-logging tools on a common, realistic earth model. To enable this testing, a model of a synthetic virtual geologic volume of interest is generated. From the synthetic virtual geologic volume of interest, a plurality of test properties are determined as a function of position within the virtual geologic volume of interest, wherein the test properties are measurable in actual geologic volumes of interest by a well-logging instruments. The individual test properties are then distributed to well-logging instrument developers with the model of the synthetic virtual geologic volume of interest to enable modeling and/or benchmarking of different well-logging instruments on the synthetic virtual geologic volume of interest and the ability to derive the original formation properties regardless of the method used (inversion, analytical solution, etc.).
US08244466B2
A method and system for a required time of arrival (RTA) performance graphic display is provided. The system includes a processor programmed to receive a required time of arrival and a first visual display communicatively coupled to the processor. The first visual display includes an RTA graphic having a dial substantially symmetric about an axis, a first marker indicative of a current estimated time of arrival (ETA) at a predetermined waypoint, a second marker indicative of a value of the RTA relative to the current ETA value and a selected RTA time tolerance value, a first indication representing a first time the vehicle can attain the predetermined waypoint, a second indication representing a last time the vehicle can attain the predetermined waypoint, a third indication representing the uncertainty of the ETA in an early arrival direction, and a fourth indication representing the uncertainty of the ETA in a late arrival direction.
US08244465B2
A control section 1, according to a map scale designated by a user via an input section 2, draws on its internal drawing memory, roads including its own-vehicle position obtained by a position information acquiring section 4 and display elements including city centers (display elements representing a city and indicating the representative position of the city each) or facilities. If the own-vehicle position and the display elements including the city centers or facilities are displayed in isolation on the display section 7, the control section calculates the route from the own-vehicle position to the display elements under the condition recommended by the navigation or under the condition the user designates, and draws the route produced as a result of the route calculation on the drawing memory.
US08244458B1
A method of quantifying a host vehicle's collision risk with a foreign object includes the steps of collecting and preserving a short-term history of range and azimuth data on the object and identifying leading edges of the foreign object. The leading edges are linked to previous detected leading edges in the short term history storage data to define a trajectory for the object, and to calculate range and azimuth velocities and accelerations of leading edges of the foreign object based on the leading edge trajectory. A collision risk P is then calculated for the foreign object using the range and azimuth velocities and accelerations according to a predetermined formula. If the collision risk P falls below a pre-set value, the methods of the present invention calculate an evasive maneuver for the host vehicle based on a vector sum of high risk leading edge risks and locations.
US08244454B2
This invention relates to a navigation device (200) comprising: an input interface (220, 240) configured to enable a user to select a destination; a processor (210); and a display (240) controllable by the processor; characterized in that the navigation device (200) further comprises: a store (230) for building data, said building data being representative of the shape of buildings at each of a plurality of destinations, and a destination view generation module (490) for generating, from building data stored in said store (230) for said user selected destination, a three-dimensional representation of a building at said user selected destination, said processor (210) being responsive to said destination view generation module (490) to control said display (240) to display said three-dimensional representation to said user.
US08244451B2
When receiving a traffic information providing request, a traffic information providing apparatus analyzes which area's traffic information is requested based on the received request information. Traffic information of road links located in the requested area is read from the traffic information, and it is determined whether the road links' traffic information is similar or not. Similar links configure a link group, and traffic information corresponding to the link group is created. Traffic information of the configured link group is delivered to an in-vehicle information apparatus.
US08244437B2
A safety system for a motor vehicle has a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and impact sensors for detecting a side impact. A control module calculates a lateral kinetic energy of the vehicle if the yaw rate exceeds a threshold value, and an occupant restraint is activated based upon the lateral kinetic energy and signals from the side impact sensors. The disclosed system and method provide for improved restraint deployment decisions when a vehicle has a lateral velocity associated with a high yaw rate, as may be the case during a spin or a skid.
US08244436B2
An occupant detection apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The occupant detection apparatus includes a buckle switch, a seat position sensor and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit includes a first active element and a second active element that respectively control energization of the buckle switch and the seat position sensor. The electric control unit performs on-off control on the first active element in such manner that: the first active element is held on for a predetermined period; and at a time of an end of the predetermined period, the first active element is switched off and the second active element is switched on. The occupant detection apparatus can reduce radio noise generated due to the energization of the buckle switch and the seat position sensor, and can minimize an influence of the radio noise on another electronic apparatus mounted in the vehicle.
US08244433B2
A steering angle detection device includes: a shaft angle detector that detects a rotation angle of a shaft that transmits a rotation operation of a steering member to a steering mechanism; a motor angle detector that detects a rotation angle of a motor that applies a steering assist force to the steering mechanism; a steering angle calculation unit that calculates a steering angle on the basis of a combination of the rotation angle detected by the motor angle detector and the rotation angle detected by the shaft angle detector, and a temperature detector that detects an ambient temperature of the steering mechanism, wherein the steering angle calculation unit corrects the rotation angle detected by the motor angle detector or the shaft angle detector on the basis of the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detector and uses the corrected rotation angle to calculate the steering angle.
US08244420B2
If an accelerator pedal is released, when a flag indicates 1, a vehicle travels in a traveling environment reflected operation mode where an engine and two motors are controlled in a manner that a required torque is output to a drive shaft while the engine is operated by the motor. If a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a threshold at the time or after the flag is changed from 1 to 0, the vehicle travels in a normal operation mode where the engine and two motors are controlled in a manner that the required torque is output to the drive shaft with engine rotation stopped. If the vehicle speed is higher than the threshold when the flag is changed from 1 to 0, the vehicle travels in the traveling environment reflected operation mode until the vehicle speed becomes equal to or lower than the threshold.
US08244418B1
A weather awareness and warning system (“WAWS”) provides aircraft position data and weather data input to a weather alert (“WA”) processor from a navigation system and a datalink system. The weather data contains three-dimensional delineations of a defined weather area. The WA processor determines an aircraft alert position and a weather alert zone; if the aircraft alert position falls within or penetrates the weather alert zone, the WA processor generates an alert signal and provides a weather alert signal to an alerting system comprising of visual alert(s) displayed on a display unit such as an HDD unit or a HUD unit, or an aural alert sounded by an aural alert unit. The aircraft alert position and weather alert zone could be determined by the WA processor by executing an algorithm(s) embedded in software containing the disclosed embodiments and methods.
US08244410B2
The invention discloses an intelligent driving assistant system applied to a handheld device. The invention can detect more than one safety mode including lane departure detection, lost-cargo detection, detecting front-object under driving condition, detecting side-object under driving condition and detecting back-object under driving condition, also the invention can mention alarm according to the detection results from different modules. Finally the invention can store the real-time image according to the detection results from different modules, and then transfer the related information to other places for real-time notice with matching the information from the GPS system and the digitized map.
US08244395B2
This invention relates to a method for managing active safety for an automatically operating machine comprising a work surface and a work tool displaced according to a pre-established work program. The method consists of dividing (100) the work surface into several zones and, during the work program cycle and in response to detection (200) of an operator's intrusion into a first zone when the tool is active in a second zone, also consists of carrying out at least one of the following actions: keeping (210) the tool's programmed displacement at the normal speed if the tool's displacement is programmed in a zone not adjacent to the first one, keeping (220) the tool's programmed displacement at reduced speed if the tool's displacement is programmed in a zone adjacent to the first one and modifying (230) the work program if the tool's displacement is programmed in the first zone so that the tool's work can be continued in a zone other than the first one.
US08244394B2
A glass production line comprising a cutting table, a tempering furnace having a loading station that includes a changeable set of uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations adjacent the loading station with each storage loading location receiving a work-piece therein for subsequent furnace processing, wherein a subset of the uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations is moved away from the loading station when it is emptied of furnace work-pieces and a new sub-set of uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations is moveable adjacent the loading station to provide the changeable set of uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations adjacent the loading station, and a dynamic optimizer coupled to the furnace for dynamically scheduling furnace layouts for glass work-pieces to be tempered, wherein the dynamic furnace optimizer is adapted to schedule work-pieces from uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations not currently adjacent the unloading station based upon a minimum yield gain.
US08244391B2
Tools and/or resources which newly become available to a re-entrant flow manufacturing line, data processing pipeline or the like are allocated in substantially real time to processing operations independent of and consistent with a scheduling segment previously generated by dispatching items such as workpieces or data to tools and/or resources of a manufacturing line until the newly available tool or resource can be conveniently included in a subsequently generated schedule segment in order to avoid productivity loss due to schedule latency. Items can be dispatched in a priority order to accelerate completion of processing. A schedule segment including the newly available tool or resource can be facilitated by merging allocations of a real time dispatch list with allocations of a dispatch list corresponding to a previously generated schedule segment.
US08244378B2
A medical electrical lead for transvascularly stimulating a nerve, muscle or other tissue from an adjacent vessel is described. The lead includes an expandable distal portion having one or more spirals for securing and stabilizing the lead within the vessel.
US08244359B2
An implantable medical device for treating breathing disorders such as central sleep apnea wherein stimulation is provided to the phrenic never through a transvenous lead system with the stimulation beginning after inspiration to extend the duration of a breath and to hold the diaphragm in a contracted condition.
US08244357B2
An electrical contact for use in the header assembly of an implantable tissue stimulator includes a metal housing having a base and a sidewall where the opening in the base is adapted to receive the terminal of a medical lead therethrough. An electrical contact support member is welded to the edge of the sidewall and affixed to the support member are a plurality of spring members that are tangent to an imaginary circle whose diameter is slightly less than the outside diameter of the lead terminal contact rings. When the contacts are axially aligned in the device header, the terminal of an electrical lead may be longitudinally inserted into the header to establish electrical contact with device feedthrough wires that are joined to the electrical contacts in the header.
US08244356B2
EMI shields for use in implantable medical devices that include inner and outer metal layers separated by a dielectric layer. When assembled as medical devices, the outer metal layer of an illustrative EMI shield is placed into electrical contact with a conductive inner surface of an associated canister for an implantable medical device.
US08244350B2
A system and method can sense a tachyarrhythmia, compare the sensed tachyarrhythmia with a ventricular tachyarrhythmia criterion, provide a ventricular tachyarrhythmia therapy when the sensed tachyarrhythmia satisfies the ventricular tachyarrhythmia criterion, provide a neural stimulation when the sensed tachyarrhythmia does not satisfy the ventricular tachyarrhythmia criterion, determine whether the tachyarrhythmia continues during or after the neural stimulation when the tachyarrhythmia is sustained, compare the tachyarrhythmia sensed during or after the neural stimulation with a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) criterion, and provide a ventricular tachyarrhythmia therapy when the sensed tachyarrhythmia does not satisfy the SVT criterion.
US08244346B2
Implantable medical leads with magnetic shielding and methods of shielding implantable leads from magnetic fields during medical procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are disclosed. An exemplary implantable medical lead includes a helically coiled inner electrode conductor wire, a helically coiled outer electrode conductor wire disposed radially about the inner electrode conductor wire, and at least one layer of insulation that electrically isolates the inner and outer electrode conductor wires. The inner electrode conductor wire can have a hollowed, multifilar configuration including six or more co-radially wound wire filars. The outer electrode conductor wire is electrically isolated from the inner electrode conductor wire, and may have either a single or double filar configuration.
US08244344B2
The invention relates to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. In certain embodiments, the additive has a hydrophilic part and a drug affinity part, wherein the drug affinity part is at least one of a hydrophobic part, a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by hydrogen bonding, and a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by van der Waals interactions. In embodiments, the additive is water-soluble. In further embodiments, the additive is at least one of a surfactant and a chemical compound, and the chemical compound has a molecular weight of from 80 to 750 or has more than four hydroxyl groups.
US08244338B2
A system for cardiac event detection over varying time scales includes implanted electrical leads forming a portion of an implanted cardiotracker and external equipment including external alarm mechanisms and a physicians programmer. The cardiac event detection system monitors the degradation of a patient's cardiovascular condition from one or more causes. A processor computes the electrical signals of a heart signal parameter's average value over a time period for a multiplicity of heart rate ranges. The electrical signals are stored and information transmitted to external equipment.
US08244337B2
In a method and an apparatus for creating hemodynamic sensor signal templates using an implantable medical device connectable to a patient heart activity of the patient is sensed in order to identify a paste or sensed sequence of events of a heart cycle. Hemodynamic sensor signals for consecutive heart cycles are sensed and the sensed hemodynamic sensor signals for consecutive heart cycles are stored. The sensed sensor signals are classified dependent on at least one predetermined heart event sequence condition. A template may be created using the classified sensor signals.
US08244327B2
The end-effector (150) includes a sheath (152) and a medical device or needle carrier (154) that is disposed within the interior compartment (160) of the sheath. Aperture (162) is located in a portion of the sheath proximal a distal end of the sheath that is inserted into a natural or artificial cavity. This device is guided by a real-time imager.
US08244326B2
A probe device for optically measuring a condition of an object includes a light emitter for emitting a light to proceed into the object through a surface of the object, a light sensor for measuring an optical condition of the light proceeding from the surface through the object and subsequently emitted from the surface to reach the light sensor, and a body holding thereon at least one of the light emitter and the light sensor. The body includes at least one main protrusion protruding so as to face to the surface, and at least two sub-protrusions arranged around the at least one main protrusion and protruding so as to face to the surface.
US08244323B2
A method of manufacturing a superconducting tape wire, wherein a reduction in critical current in the superconducting tape wire and the effective AC loss are suppressed. To manufacture the superconducting tape wire, the filaments filled with superconducting material powder and having a flat elliptic or rectangular cross section are disposed in a pipe having a shape whose sides in a pressing direction have a smaller length than adjacent sides, and then the pipe is compressed in the short-side direction to form the pipe in a tape shape.
US08244321B2
A mobile communication terminal comprises a case having internal and external surfaces. The mobile communication device further comprises a first layer formed over the external surface of the case, the first layer comprising conductors for allowing plating on the outer surface of the case; a second layer formed over the first layer, the second layer comprising an antenna pattern for transmitting and receiving radio signals corresponding to one or more frequency bands; a third layer formed over the second layer to protect the case; a circuit board configured to process signals conformable to the radio signals, wherein the circuit board is disposed within an inner surface of the case; and a connection unit formed through the case and configured to electrically connect the second layer to the circuit board.
US08244318B2
A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a first body forming the external appearance of the mobile terminal, a second body rotatably coupled to the first body, the second body forming the external appearance of the mobile terminal, and a coupling unit for rotatably coupling the first body and the second body to each other. The coupling unit includes a hinge housing fixedly coupled to the first body, an outer head fixedly coupled to the second body, an inner head disposed between the hinge housing and the outer head so as to generate a collision sound during rotation of the inner head, a cam mounted in the hinge housing such that the cam contacts the inner head, and an elastic spring mounted in the hinge housing for providing elastic force to the cam.
US08244314B2
Method and system for reducing the power consumption in mobile networks, wherein the communication between a mobile terminal and a base station is QAM modulated. The method comprises: making the base station a dynamic real time analysis of the QAM symbols used in the communication between said mobile terminal and the base station, detecting the most frequently used QAM symbols; obtaining the base station a new assignation of the QAM symbols for the downlink communication; sending the base station the new assignation of the QAM symbols to the mobile terminal; using the mobile terminal and the base station said new assignation of the QAM symbols for the demodulation process and modulation process, respectively, in their subsequent communication.
US08244313B2
A method and an electronic device capable of saving power are disclosed. The electronic device includes a power save system, a media player application and an audio interface. The audio interface includes an audio driver module, and an audio processor. The power save system includes a monitor unit, and a control unit. The monitor unit monitors the current mode of the media player application. If the media player application is in the mute mode, the control unit transmits a power-save signal to switch off the audio processor to save power of the electronic device.
US08244309B2
A driving recorder of the present invention is provided with: a data collecting portion that collects driving condition data of a vehicle; a storage portion that stores the driving condition data in a non-volatile manner; a communications portion that performs mutual communications with a mobile telephone terminal, using a cable or wirelessly; and a control portion that comprehensively controls these portions each provided as a functional part, wherein the control portion controls the communications portion to thereby permit the communications portion to transmit and receive the driving condition data to and from the mobile telephone terminal.
US08244305B2
Secure, digital, packet-switched, voice telephony calls are wirelessly transmitted in an efficient manner that reduces air interface bandwidth consumption by encrypting only vocoder data frames containing encoded speech, and not encrypting vocoder data frames that do not contain speech, such as those containing silence parameters. The collective reduced bandwidth consumption across a large number of voice telephony calls may allow for the admission of one or more new calls during times of voice telephony congestion. Not encrypting the silence parameters does not compromise call privacy or security, since the silence data frames do not carry any speech. The classification of encoded data frames as containing speech or not may be performed in a variety of ways.
US08244300B1
The communication device comprising the voice communicating implementer, the sound caller ID implementer, the auto time adjusting implementer, the calculation implementer, the word processing implementer, the stereo audio data output implementer, the digital camera implementer, the multiple language displaying implementer, the caller's information displaying implementer, the icon software implementer, the voice recognition implementer, the email implementer, the video phone implementer, the navigation implementer, the audiovisual playback implementer, and the simultaneous implementer.
US08244298B2
Systems are described that reduce or obviate the impact of limited processing resources and/or limit the power consumption in a receiver having signal processing functions at least partially implemented in software. A wireless receiver includes reception means for receiving a signal over a wireless channel in a wireless external environment. The receiver includes storage means, and a processor configured to perform a plurality of signal processing functions for extracting processed data from said signal, each of said signal processing functions having a plurality of alternative software implementations requiring different levels of usage of a processing resource. The processor estimates at least one parameter relating to the external environment and selects and executes one of the software alternatives for each of the respective signal processing functions to apply a set of implementations adapted to a required quality of said processed data. Related methods and computer program products are described.
US08244297B2
In a wireless device that includes two different radio transceivers that communicate in two different wireless networks, wireless transmissions from one radio in the first network may be timed so that they do not coincide with wireless receptions by the other radio in the second network. A non-wireless interface between the two radios may be used to convey information about the scheduled reception times so that the transmission will not be scheduled during those reception times. This may be particularly useful when the receiving radio is operating in a centralized and highly scheduled network, while the transmitting radio is operating in a more decentralized network.
US08244295B2
A media transfer and control system that includes a handheld device and an audio/visual system. The media transfer and control system provides for: (i) the transfer of media files between the handheld device and the audio/visual system, (ii) the transmission of control commands from the handheld device to the audio/visual system for controlling the function and operation of the audio/visual system through a user interface provided on the handheld device, and (iii) the unsolicited transfer of media descriptive data between the handheld device and the audio/visual system to create a synchronized global view on the handheld electronic device and/or the audio/visual system of all of the media content currently stored on and/or available through both the handheld device and the audio/visual system.
US08244294B2
A method for effectively inputting characters in an ultra-compact mobile terminal is disclosed. When the mobile terminal enters a character input mode, one of a plurality of key groups having at least one key block is displayed by manipulation a scroll key in an up or down direction, and characters of the key blocks are displayed. Characters of the displayed key blocks and one character is selected using one of two selection keys or the scroll key operated in a push direction. Several characters are displayed in each of the key blocks and a character is selected by manipulating one of the two selection keys or pushing the scroll key a number of times. The selected character is displayed on a display unit.
US08244293B2
A dual mode mobile communication terminal and a method of selecting a mode therein that can minimize a call cost are provided. The method of selecting a mode in a dual mode mobile communication terminal into which at least two cards are inserted includes: requesting mode selection; selecting a card and a mode that can minimize a call cost according to a provider network to connect to based on previously stored call cost information for each provider and the at least two cards; and connecting to a corresponding provider network using the selected mode.
US08244292B2
An apparatus and method for power distribution by Frequency Allocation (FA) in a multi-band broadband wireless communication system are provided. The method includes detecting at least one of a loading value and a performance efficiency value by band, calculating a power distribution value by band using the detected value and calculating a power value by band using the calculated band power distribution value. The method and apparatus provide a scheme that can vary a power distribution of each band according to need and cope with subscriber capacity more flexibly when a plurality of diverse systems coexist.
US08244291B2
A method of automatic creation of a talk group in a wireless radio communication system comprising a plurality of mobile stations, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting by a first mobile station an emergency message containing at least its ID and localization data; transmitting by other mobile stations their IDs and localization data in response to said emergency message; creating said talk group by selecting those mobile stations which transmitted their IDs and localization data.
US08244283B1
User controlled temporary mobile phone service device swapping systems and methods including particular implementations and embodiments comprising a plurality of mobile phone user control accounts at least a first telephone number registered with each of the plurality of mobile phone user control accounts, and at least two different mobile phone devices registered with each of the plurality of mobile phone user control accounts, and a mobile phone user interface configured to receive input from the mobile phone user to indicate which of the at least two different mobile phone devices associated with the mobile phone user control account is to be associated and to transmit data indicating the association to a phone number registry.
US08244282B2
A method, system, and computer program for routing an incoming voice call in real time is presented. A call is received from a caller to an intended receiving wireless telecommunication device. In response to the call failing to connect to the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device, a short range wireless query signal is transmitted to determine if another wireless communication device is within a predefined proximity to the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device. If the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device receives a response from the other wireless telecommunication device indicating that the other wireless telecommunication device is within the predefined proximity to the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device, then the call is rerouted to the other wireless telecommunication device based on preferences internal to the intended receiving wireless device. These preferences may be stored on the intended receiving wireless device or remotely stored on the host carrier network.
US08244280B2
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating paging of access terminals by way of a quick page message. A partial identity comparison scheme is utilized. Identifiers of access terminals that are to be paged in the quick page message are determined and compared. In the event that the identifiers are of redundant values, the redundant values are removed, thereby to provide additional locations in the quick page message that are not redundant for use better to page the access terminals that are to be paged.
US08244269B2
Transmitting information using a preamble of a Random Access Channel (RACH) in an Evolved Universal mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) is provided. A preamble transmission is used to inform a base station of specific information when a terminal uses a RACH and the base station efficiently allocates radio resources for data transmission to the terminal according to the specific information. Delay time before the terminal transmits data is reduced and unnecessary consumption of radio resources is minimized.
US08244268B2
A communication system and method provides data and voice communication from a base unit to a plurality of mobile command units and a plurality of remote units located at different locations across a geographical area.
US08244253B2
A method and apparatus for supporting a fast mobility Internet Protocol (IP) with a link identifier prefix (LinkID prefix) in a wireless communication system are provided. According to a method for performing a handoff from a first access router to a second access router, a Layer 2 (L2) beacon containing a link identifier prefix is sent to a mobile node in the second access router. The first access router establishes a tunneling with the second router, as the mobile node sends a Fast Binding Update (FBU) message including a care-of address (CoA) which the mobile node dynamically constructs using the link identifier prefix, to the first access router.
US08244249B1
Methods and systems for a mesh-network takeover are provided. In one embodiment, a first controller having a first attribute and a first group of nodes in its network receives a message from a node in the first group. The message indicates that the node in the first group received a signal from a node that is in a second group and associated with a second controller having a second attribute. Further, the message includes the second attribute. Responsive to receiving the message, the first controller compares the first attribute with the second attribute. As a result of comparing the first attribute with the second attribute, the first controller makes a determination that it has a lower priority than the second controller. Responsive to making the determination, the first controller no longer communicates with the first group, resulting in at least one node in the first group joining the second network.
US08244248B2
A vertical handover decision to perform a seamless vertical handover of a wireless apparatus from a current access network to a target access network is established. When deciding to perform the vertical handover from the current access network to the target access network it can be considered whether an intermediate access network could be used. It can be decided that first a seamless vertical handover is performed from the current access network to an intermediate access network, and subsequently a seamless vertical handover from the intermediate access network to the target access network is performed.
US08244244B1
The invention discloses an arrangement for triggering a user equipment, wherein the user equipment is not connected to the network. In the machine type communications there is a need for reducing network activity, however, at the same time there is a need for being able to wake up a device. In the arrangement the network detaches the user equipment locally and is then triggered when needed.
US08244241B2
A WLAN client device maintains a history of profile-location associations. An association links a profile stored in the client device with a location in the vicinity of which the client device was connected to a wireless local area network matching the profile. While in a vicinity of a certain location, the client device may scan for wireless local area networks in a manner that takes into account records of the history that include the certain location.
US08244239B2
A communication apparatus is provided including a display unit, a storage unit capable of storing therein display condition information in which a display instruction for causing the display unit to perform display processing or a non-display instruction for not allowing the display unit to perform the display processing is set, and a short distance wireless communication control unit for controlling a connection establishment communication with a communication party by a communication system based on electric field coupling or magnetic field coupling and data communication with the communication party by the communication system. The short distance wireless communication control unit judges whether the non-display instruction is set in the display condition information stored in the storage unit, and does not make the data communication with the communication party when judging that the non-display instruction is set, the communication control unit.
US08244238B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus are presented for enabling unlimited roaming service on a roaming partner switch. In one aspect, a method includes configuring a billing system corresponding to a home wireless service provider to authorize a subscriber device to receive unlimited roaming service on a roaming partner switch; receiving, by the home wireless service provider, a registration request from the roaming partner switch identifying the subscriber device; registering the subscriber device in the billing system as an unlimited roaming service subscriber device; and providing unlimited roaming service to the subscriber device. Further, a call request associated with the subscriber device can be received from the roaming partner switch and billing associated with the call request can be suspended.
US08244228B1
A first cellular phone having mobility, the first cellular phone including an access point configured to control access of a plurality of second cellular phones to a wireless local area network. The wireless local area network complies with a wireless local area network protocol. A conference controller is configured to control a flow of communication in a communication link between the plurality of second cellular phones accessing the wireless local area network. The flow of communication in the communication link between the plurality of second cellular phones is compatible with the wireless local area network protocol. The communication link between the plurality of second cellular phones is mobile in accordance with the mobility of the first cellular phone. The plurality of second cellular phones establish the communication link through the access point to form a teleconference.
US08244219B2
A system and method are provided that utilize a set of heuristics to more intelligently determine when to utilize an audible tone associated with a notification profile or other mechanism used to alert a user of events such as an incoming instant message. The heuristics employed consider the layering of the message screens for the corresponding conversations, in combination with one or more device usage indicators such as the status of the backlight, the idle timer, and the orientation of the mobile device 10A itself as indicated by the orientation sensor.
US08244217B2
A technique in a wireless mobile device for use in enabling service sessions with a host service via a wireless network is described. The device receives a host login credential from the host service, and saves it in memory. The device detects a logoff trigger for logging off from an enabled service session with the host service. In response to detecting the logoff trigger, the device performing the following actions. The device prompts with, in a display, an entry screen having a field for entry of a device login credential for use in logging on to a subsequent service session with the host service. The device receives, via a user I/O subsystem, the device login credential in response to the prompting, and saves it in memory. After receiving and saving the device login credential, the device logs off from the enabled service session with the host service. After the logging off from the enabled service session, the device detects a login trigger for logging on to the subsequent service session with the host service. In response to detecting the login trigger, the device authenticates the saved device login credential with the saved host login credential.
US08244205B2
A mobile device initiates an RRC connection reestablishment procedure or a cell update procedure for an emergency call after experiencing a failure condition in an LTE network environment. The mobile device establishes an RRC connection with an acceptable cell to originate an emergency call. The mobile device detects a failure condition, such as a radio link failure, which disrupts the RRC connection. The mobile device searches for available cells that it may reestablish the RRC connection with, but can only find acceptable cells. The mobile device may initiate an RRC connection reestablishment procedure with an acceptable cell. The mobile device may also only attempt to reestablish the RRC connection with a cell that is part of a PLMN that the original acceptable cell was also a part of. The mobile device may also enter an RRC_IDLE mode upon detecting a failure condition.
US08244204B1
A mechanism is provided to suspend or modify incoming call restrictions for a subscriber station for some time period when it is detected that an emergency call was made by that subscriber station, so as to disable the restriction that would otherwise block completion of an incoming call to that station. This allows a call placed by emergency personnel in response to the emergency call from the subscriber station (i.e. when the emergency personnel calls back the user that is involved in the emergency) to bypass any restrictions setup by the subscriber or by the network that would otherwise block the callback and allows the emergency callback to potentially reach the caller. This approach results in a systematic solution to blocking of emergency callbacks that applies to various kinds of restriction services yet is relatively simple to administer.
US08244202B2
A multiband receiver is disclosed for receiving a multiband RF signal having first and second RF bands. The first RF band contains a first service RF range, and the second RF band contains a second service RF range. The receiver includes a mixer for converting the RF signal into an IF signal, using a single local oscillator frequency “f,” and an IF bandpass filter for canceling out some of frequencies of the IF signal outside of a predetermined passband. The local oscillator frequency “f” is determined to allow the first and second service IF ranges to lie outside of the predetermined passband, and to allow a frequency portion of the first IF band exclusive of the first service IF range and a frequency portion of the second IF band exclusive of the second service IF range to lie within the predetermined passband.
US08244200B2
The disclosure provides a system, circuit and method for activating an electronic device from a low power state. The circuit comprises: a microprocessor; a first accelerometer; a second accelerometer which is activated upon receiving a movement signal from the first accelerometer, indicating a movement of the electronic device; a threshold circuit connected to an output of the second accelerometer to allow only signals generated by the second accelerometer that exceed a threshold to pass; an input device; and a monitoring circuit connected to the input device and an output of the threshold circuit. The monitoring circuit comprises a latch circuit utilizing signals from the threshold circuit and a reset signal from the microprocessor to generate a trigger signal to activate the input device. The monitoring circuit selectively generates an activation signal to activate the electronic device to a higher power state utilizing a notable signal received from the input device.
US08244196B2
A method is provided for estimating a Noise and Interference (NI) power in a ranging code reception apparatus in a communication system. The method includes generating S correlation values by calculating correlations between L ranging subcarriers received at a ranging code reception apparatus and L elements included in each of S ranging codes available in the ranging code reception apparatus, detecting N reception-desired ranging codes that the ranging code reception apparatus desires to receive, among the S ranging codes, using the S correlation values, and selecting M remaining ranging codes among (S-N) ranging codes obtained by removing the N reception-desired ranging codes from the S ranging codes, and estimating a first NI power using correlation values for the M remaining ranging codes.
US08244194B2
Narrow band tunable radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers (PAs) and related methods are disclosed that provide narrow band tunable gain responses, such as linear gain responses, that can be selected for different frequency bands. The narrow band tunable PAs thereby provide out-of-band rejection for different selectable frequency bands so that narrow band filters are not required in the transmit input path for communication devices. The pass band location and/or bandwidth for the narrow band gain response can be tuned using different techniques, as desired. The narrow band tunable PAs can also be fabricated using CMOS processing, if desired, so that a CMOS PA integrated circuit is provided.
US08244192B2
In one embodiment, a method of wirelessly transmitting magnetic resonance (MR) data is provided. The method comprises steps of obtaining at least one MR signal having a Larmor frequency from a radio frequency (RF) channel in an RF coil, the RF coil comprising multiple RF channels, each RF channel associated with a single imaging element, generating a modulation signal based on the MR signal, generating a carrier signal with a predetermined frequency, the predetermined frequency being associated with the RF channel and using the modulation signal to phase modulate the carrier signal to form a phase-modulated signal.
US08244191B2
A push-button assembly for a handheld radio (100) is provided which permits off-axis actuation by a gloved user amongst a crowded radio control environment. The push-button (108) includes first and second guide posts (202, 204) of different length, one guide post also serving as a switch actuator. An alignment guide (206) receives the two guide posts (202, 204). The alignment guide (206) with the first and second guide posts (202, 204) are coupled within a recessed portion (216) of a housing (102) to provide tactile feedback, even during gloved usage. The alignment guide (206) may further provide a light guide (110) which can operate as a third guide post for the radio (100).
US08244190B2
A wireless relay node (100) comprises a receiving side (110) and a transmitting side (120) adapted for concurrent reception and transmission of an information stream, and at least one of the two sides has multiple antennas for multi-antenna operation. In the internal design, the wireless relay node is further configured (130) for cancelling signal feedback from a multi-antenna dependent feedback channel from the transmitting side to the receiving side based on an N×M dimensional filter matrix (135) dependent on the multi-antenna dependent feedback channel, where at least one of N and M is greater than 1. In this way, self-interference cancellation of a multi-antenna dependent feedback signal from the output to the input of the wireless relay node is effectively obtained.
US08244174B1
Mobile station positioning is implemented using various methods and devices. According to one example embodiment of the present invention, an azimuth angle estimation of the location of a mobile station is accomplished using a radio-signal processing apparatus. The azimuth angle is estimated with respect to a nearby base station that covers a service area using common sectorization via multiple directional antennas respectively transmitting at different azimuth angles. The apparatus has a memory for storing information that associates directional sector antennas of the nearby base station and expected antenna radiation gains in the common sectorization service area corresponding to locations relative to the nearby base station. The apparatus also includes a processor arrangement that determines received signal strengths of respective signals received from different ones of the directional sector antennas of the nearby base station and that determines estimated azimuth angles by comparing the stored information with the received signal strengths.
US08244169B1
A system for impeding reception of confidential information is disclosed. The system comprises a point-of-sale transceiver configured to receive confidential information transmitted by a mobile device incorporating an electronic wallet and a signal generator in communication with the point-of-sale transceiver and configured to broadcast a jamming signal substantially concurrently with the point-of-sale transceiver receiving the confidential information.
US08244167B2
An image forming apparatus that includes an image reading part, an image forming part, a sheet discharge part, and a sheet stack part. The image reading part has a front surface located on a downstream side in a discharge direction of a sheet relative to a front of the sheet stack part. The sheet stack part includes a first stacker surface provided on an upstream side in the discharge direction and including a surface having a slope extending upward in the discharge direction and a second stacker surface formed adjacent to the first stacker surface and sloping less steeply upward in the discharge direction than the slope of the first stacker surface with a boundary between the first stacker surface and the second stacker surface located at a rear of the front surface of the image reading part.
US08244165B2
An image forming apparatus has a function for adjusting the position at which a toner image is formed on a printing material, based upon amount of light reflected from a toner image that has been formed on an image carrier. The light-emitting unit emits light that irradiates the image carrier, and the detecting unit detects an amount of substrate-light reflected from the substrate of the image carrier. The determining unit determines whether the difference between the amount of substrate-light detected at a first point in time and the amount of substrate-light detected at a second point in time later than the first point in time is greater than a predetermined threshold value. The light-power control unit increases the amount of light in the light-emitting unit if the difference is greater than the predetermined threshold value.
US08244164B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a supplying section for supplying developer; a first developing roller including plural magnetic poles and a first sleeve arranged rotatable to the first developing roller; a second developing roller including plural magnetic poles and a second sleeve arranged rotatable to the second developing roller, the second developing roller arranged adjacent to the first developing roller and parallel to the same; an electrode arranged between the first and second developing rollers; and a voltage applying unit for applying bias voltages each having different electric potential corresponding to the first developing roller, the second developing roller and the electrode, wherein an absolute value of the bias voltage to be applied to the electrode is larger than that of the bias voltage to be applied to the first developing roller and smaller than that of the bias voltage to be applied to the second developing roller.
US08244160B2
A developing device includes: plural developing units; a rotary body, where the plural developing units are attached, that rotates so as to place one of the plural developing units in a developing position to develop a subject of development; a first driving unit that drives the rotary body; a second driving unit that drives at least one of the plural developing units; and a regulatory mechanism that regulates a position of the rotary body using a rotational force caused in the rotary body in accordance with driving by the second driving unit.
US08244154B2
A method is provided for recycling a toner container including a casing configured to house a toner, a sleeve protruding from the casing, and one cap with a brim to be bonded with a distal edge of the sleeve to be closed comprising: removing an area including an interface between the brim and the distal edge to form a new distal edge on the sleeve; removing a part of the one cap remaining in the sleeve; filling a toner in the casing; fitting another cap into the sleeve so that the brim of the another cap comes in contact with the new distal edge; and bonding the new distal edge and the brim of the another cap.
US08244143B2
A system and method are provided for calibrating orthogonal polarity in a multichannel optical transport network (OTN) receiver. The method accepts a composite signal and separates the polarization of the signal into a pair of 2n-phase shift keying (2n-PSK) modulated input signals via Ix and Qx optical signal paths, where n≧1. Likewise, a pair of 2p-PSK modulated input signals are accepted via Iy and Qy optical signal paths where p≧1. Polarization-adjusted I′x, Q′x, I′y, and Q′y signals are generated. An average magnitude is compared to either 2× the absolute magnitude of (I′x and Q′x), or 2× the absolute magnitude of (I′y and Q′y). The average magnitude value can be used that is either 2× (a predetermined peak signal amplitude), or the sum of the absolute magnitudes of (I′x and Q′x) and (I′y and Q′y). The polarization-adjusted I′x, Q′x, I′y, and Q′y signals are modified until the magnitude comparison is about zero.
US08244140B2
Communication from a component in an optical communication system may be effected by modulating a system power voltage across the component to generate voltage signals representing the information to be communicated. The voltage signals generated by the component are detectable in the power feed equipment (PFE) in the optical communication system. Signature analysis may be performed on the system voltage data to identify the voltage signals and determine the information being communicated.
US08244138B2
By using low-frequency signals, an optical transmitting unit modulates one of a wavelength, a transmission timing, and an intensity of light as a carrier wave. A polarization multiplexer synthesizes the output light signals, modulated by the optical transmitting unit, in polarization states orthogonal to each other and generates polarization-multiplexing signals. A polarization splitter splits by extracting two orthogonal polarization components from the polarization-multiplexing signals. The polarization states of the polarization-multiplexing signals are controlled by a polarization controller in an optical receiving unit. A band-pass filter extracts components transmitting through passbands from output signals of the optical receiving unit and outputs an intensity of the components. Based on the intensity output from the filter, a controlling circuit generates feedback control signals for maximizing a ratio of the components of the low-frequency signals and by using the feedback control signals, the polarization controller controls the polarization states of the optical multiplexing signals.
US08244135B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for increasing an upstream optical coding gain in a passive optical network (PON). In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the system may include a memory structured to store Optical Network Terminator (ONT) burst timing values, and provide a previous burst timing value of the burst timing values to a translator. Further, an upstream burst grant timing scheduler may provide a scheduled timing value to the translator, wherein the translator may be structured to translate the previous burst timing value to a new expected timing value per an ONT upstream burst in association with the scheduled timing value. Also, a delimiter match and search block may be structured to use the new expected timing value to check a bit stream for a delimiter pattern match. An alarm counter may be provided in the system that is structured to provide an alarm when the delimiter pattern match is not found.
US08244133B2
A simple optical waveband multiplexer/demultiplexer operable to separate a wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM consisting of a plurality of wavebands WB each including a plurality of optical channels, into a predetermined plurality of wavebands WB, and output the separated plurality of wavebands WB from a plurality of output ports, wherein the wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM is transmitted through two array waveguides each capable of performing a demultiplexing function with a resolution corresponding to wavelengths of the optical channels, and a characteristic of sequentially shifting the output ports by one position with shifting of input ports by one position, whereby the wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM is separated into a plurality of wavebands WB each including the mutually different optical channels selected from the optical channels included in the wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM, and the separated wavebands WB are outputted from the plurality of output ports, respectively.
US08244130B2
An optical line terminal connecting with numbers of optical network units comprises a control unit which controls each optical network unit to make it operate in a first mode in which transmission and reception of control messages and data are possible or in a second mode in which the transmission and reception of control messages are possible but the transmission of data is impossible, according to a communication permission request transmitted from an optical network unit and based on a preset maximum number of optical network units permitted to execute upstream communication from the optical network unit to the optical line terminal.
US08244122B2
The electronic device according to the present invention comprises a body having an opening part defined therein, a cover member for opening and closing the opening part of the body, a pivotally supporting mechanism for pivotally supporting a base end part of the cover member at a position adjacent to the opening part of the body, and a cam mechanism provided to opposed parts of the body and the cover member. The cam mechanism comprises a slidable contact surface and a sliding part relatively sliding on the slidable contact surface along a predetermined cam curve as the cover member is opened and closed, and the predetermined cam curve is defined about a pivot of the pivotally supporting mechanism and so as to make the cover member move in either direction of two opposite directions along the pivot of the pivotally supporting mechanism in a process of closing the cover member.
US08244121B2
A collapsible softbox for use with a photographic flash. The softbox includes a collapsible body made of connected, moveable first and second side panels. The body includes a distal opening and a proximal opening. The softbox also includes a front panel which is detachably engageable to the distal end of the body.
US08244119B2
An image capturing apparatus including an image capturing unit configured to obtain an image by image capturing includes a first storage unit configured to store face information of an owner of the image capturing apparatus, an estimation unit configured to estimate a photographer of the image capturing apparatus based on a relationship between an object included in the image obtained by the image capturing unit and the face information of the owner stored in the first storage unit, and a change unit configured to change a photographing mode to a simple photographing mode according to the estimated photographer.
US08244114B2
The present invention relates to a recoding apparatus and a recording method, a playback apparatus and a playback method, a recording/playback apparatus and a recording/playback method, and a program, whereby processing relating to a file can be readily performed. With a video camera wherein with regard to H.264/AVC for example, which is a coding method arranged to encode or decode data, a codec class arranged to classify the performance of a codec configured to encode or decode data, and a codec level serving as a group of said one or more codec classes whose upper compatibility is ensured, are based on stipulated specifications, data is encoded into, for example, coded data of a codec class #2, for example, within a codec level AVC_A by H.264/AVC. The coded data is recorded in a recording medium, for example, as a file “AVCA0001.MP4” whose file name represents the codec level AVC_A of the coded data. The present invention can be applied to, for example, a video camera from which a recording medium can be detachable.
US08244109B2
An electronic device includes a communication block configured to execute communication with an external device; a storage block configured to store content; a compression block configured to compress the stored content; a reproduction block configured to reproduce one of the content before compression by the compression block and the content after compression by the compression block; an operation input block configured to enter an operation signal corresponding to a user operation done for the reproduction; and control block configured to control the communication block to transmit the content before compression to the external device for storage therein and, if the operation signal for reproducing the content after compression is entered, receive, the content before compression stored in the external device corresponding to the content after compression from the external device.
US08244099B2
To facilitate implementing a user operation control in a picture reproducing apparatus for reproducing contents recorded on a disk or the like. A picture reproducing apparatus selects and reproduces a plurality of prerecorded picture streams in the disk. A reproduction control unit is configured to reproduce the picture streams in either of two reproduction modes, i.e., a normal mode for accepting particular key inputs pertaining to picture reproduction and a menu mode for not accepting the particular key inputs. The mode in which the picture streams are reproduced may be written by contents creators in a script file which is recorded on the disk.
US08244098B2
A recording apparatus contains a timer that measures the current time based on a time zone. When writing a VOB onto a DVD, the recording apparatus refers to TM_ZONE recorded on the DVD, and judges whether the time zone which the timer is based on matches the time zone that the TM_ZONE specifies. If the two time zones do not match, the recording apparatus operates as follows. First, the recording apparatus obtains VOB_REC_TM that indicates the recording date/time of the VOB based on TM_ZONE. The recording apparatus then writes the VOB onto the DVD together with VOBI that is information of the VOB and contains (a) the obtained VOB_REC_TM; (b) LOCAL_TZ_TY indicating that the two time zones do not match and (c) LOCAL_TZ specifying the time zone which the timer is based on.
US08244095B2
A digital broadcast receiver and data broadcast content processing method for the same are disclosed. The method includes receiving and displaying contents of a broadcast web site (BWS); selecting a displayed content for storage; storing the content selected for storage in a state existing at the time of selection; selecting a stored content for reproduction; and reproducing the content selected for reproduction. As a result, the user can store desired broadcast content in a memory unit during viewing of BWS contents, and reproduce desired content stored in the memory unit on a screen when necessary.
US08244085B2
Systems and devices using diffractive and optionally refractive elements to launch an optical signal with a controlled amplitude and phase distribution into a multimode optical fiber for improved modal dispersion are provided. More particularly, optical ports, transmitter optical subassemblies (TOSAs), and transceivers use integrated diffractive and optionally refractive elements to launch a helically propagating light distribution, also known as a vortex launch. One embodiment includes a monolithic transparent port that generally includes: a lens on a first surface for receiving and collimating or focusing an optical signal; and a diffractive surface pattern for receiving the optical signal from the lens and launching the optical signal into a multimode optical fiber with a controlled intensity and phase distribution. Alternatively, the lens can be added as a separated component or omitted altogether while the diffractive surface pattern is formed on either the laser or fiber receptacle sides of the port.
US08244076B2
A tuneable electro-optic modulator (1) comprising first and second spaced apart output optical waveguides (2, 3), each output optical waveguide comprising a coupled portion (12) optically coupled to a corresponding coupled portion (13) of the other output optical waveguide, the coupled portions defining a coupling region (14) therebetween; an optical source adapted to symmetrically provide an optical signal to the first and second output optical waveguides; a portion of each of the output optical waveguides having a signal electrode (6, 7) thereon; the modulator further comprising a central optical waveguide (15), at least a portion of which is arranged in the coupling region, the central optical waveguide having a tuning electrode (16) thereon.
US08244061B1
Method and apparatus for detecting source-based artifacts in a compressed video data set formed by outputting a baseband video data set from a source device and applying a codec algorithm thereto to generate the compressed video data set. In some embodiments, the compressed video data set is decompressed to provide a decoded video data set, and at least one source-based artifact in the decoded video set is detected responsive to a luminance value of at least one pixel in the decoded video data set, the at least one source-based artifact induced by the source prior to the compression encoding of the input video frame and detected independently of the input video frame.
US08244060B2
A noise suppression method for a digital image is described, which utilizes an adjacent area of a target pixel in the digital image to conduct a denoising process on the target pixel. The noise suppression method includes the following steps. A feature-weighted processing procedure is performed on each original pixel in the digital image to convert the original pixel into a feature-weighted pixel. According to a position of the target pixel in the digital image, a reference pixel is selected from a corresponding position in the feature-weighted image. Similarities of the reference pixel relative to the other feature-weighted pixels are respectively computed. Through the computed similarities, a feature-weighted pixel for compensation is selected from the feature-weighted pixels other than the reference pixel. Finally, noise suppression is performed on the reference pixel by using the feature-weighted pixel for compensation.
US08244051B2
Embodiments provide for efficient encoding and rendering of remote graphic displays by applying one or more of the following: (1) field encoding for identifying fields of a graphics set such that commonalities of various fields across different graphics languages are identified; (2) resource caching, which treats heterogeneous resources in a homogeneous way when it comes to storing them; (3) determining the type of encoding for remoting items within a graphics set based upon the types of compression mechanisms supported by a remote device; (4) improving responsiveness by rendering with partially sent resources; (5) a mechanism for determining what portions (if any) of a graphics set should be sent to a remote device and in what order; and (6) use of dedicated resources already on a remote device in order to eliminate the transfer of a resource between a local device and the remote device when rendering such resource.
US08244044B2
Image feature selection and extraction (e.g., for image classifier training) is accomplished in an integrated manner, such that higher-order features are merely developed from first-order features selected for image classification. That is, first-order image features are selected for image classification from an image feature pool, initially populated with pre-extracted first-order image features. The selected first-order classifying features are paired with previously selected first-order classifying features to generate higher-order features. The higher-order features are placed into the image feature pool as they are developed or “on-the-fly” (e.g., for use in image classifier training).
US08244042B2
A pattern matching method which is capable of selecting a suitable measurement object pattern, even on a sample containing a periodic structure, and a computer program for making a computer execute the pattern matching. In a pattern matching method which executes matching between the design data-based first image of an object sample, and a second image, whether or not a periodic structure is included in a region to execute the matching is determined, so as to select a pattern, based on distance between an original point which is set in said image, and the pattern configuring said periodic structure, in the case where the periodic structure is included in said region, and to select a pattern based on coincidence of the pattern in said image, in the case where the periodic structure is not included in said region, and a computer program product.
US08244039B2
A first combination of feature and processing content of image data is stored in a storing unit in a first period, and a second combination of feature and processing content of image data is stored in the storing unit in a second period that is later in terms of time. When a change in processing content is detected between the first period and the second period, an updating unit updates the first combination to the second combination. An acquiring unit acquires a processing content for target image data based on a combination of feature and processing content stored in the storing unit. An output unit outputs the processing content acquired by the acquiring unit.
US08244031B2
A system and method of identifying and classifying regions of a digital image. The method includes an initial step of inputting an image as a color digital image. Subsequently, information that identifies color regions of the color digital image is obtained. Finally, color and non-color regions of the color digital image are classified based upon the identifying information.
US08244029B1
A computer-implemented method for generating depth-of-field effects includes receiving information specifying an input image rendered using a pinhole camera. A first set of circles of confusion associated with portions of the input image are determined based a set of parameters associated with the pinhole camera. The first set of circles of confusion are then associated with heat conductivity of a medium. The portions of the input image are blurred according to heat diffusion in the medium to generate a first output image having a first depth-of-field effect.
US08244015B2
Methods and apparatus for detecting aneurysm in vasculatures are provided. The method includes removing bone structures from three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) angiography image data and extracting spherical shapes from the bone removed 3D CT angiography image data. The method further includes displaying the extracted spherical shapes on an image of the 3D CT angiography image data.
US08244014B2
For certain medical images, it is important and/or required that a user view all of a medical image at full resolution so that minute, but important, indicia in the medical image are not missed. A computing systems monitor the portions of the medical image that are displayed on the display device, notates those portions that have been displayed at full resolution (or other user-defined display parameters), and provides the user with information indicating portions that have not been viewed at full resolution and/or provides information indicating for which images of a multiple image examination full pixel display has been accomplished. The process reduces the possibility of missing an abnormality in a medical image due to the viewer not viewing a portion of the image at full resolution or using other user-defined display parameters.
US08244013B2
A system processes pixel representative image data of medical images of patient anatomy to automatically identify an interventional instrument. The system includes an acquisition processor that receives pixel luminance data comprising multiple sequential medical images of a patient anatomical portion and luminance data of an individual image comprises multiple pixel luminance representative values of multiple individual pixels of the individual image. An image data processor detects and subtracts background image data from the pixel luminance data comprising the multiple sequential medical images to provide processed pixel luminance data comprising multiple processed sequential medical images. The image data processor computes gradient components of individual pixels of the processed pixel luminance data. The image data processor modifies the computed gradient component data by suppressing computed gradient components lacking symmetry about an interventional instrument width dimension and filters the modified computed gradient component data for use in providing image representative data showing the interventional instrument.
US08244002B2
A system and a method for performing rapid facial recognition are provided. The rapid facial recognition system includes an image capture device, a broadcasting feature computing unit and several response recognition computing units scattered on the network. Each of the broadcasting feature computing unit and the response recognition computing units includes a feature recognition module, wherein the broadcasting feature computing unit further includes a feature extraction module and an identification module. The image capture device captures a facial image, and the feature extraction module extracts features of the facial image to generate a set of feature data that is broadcasted to the response recognition computing units. The feature recognition modules, in accordance with the set of the feature data and their classes allocated, perform distributed facial recognition for generating recognition results as a response. The identification module identifies the recognition results to accomplish the recognition of an individual's identity.
US08243995B2
A center location of an eye pattern generated by superimposing waveform signal pieces cut out from a waveform signal generated by a simulator is calculated, and an arrangement of a mask as a quality evaluation criterion of the eye pattern on the center location is envisaged to calculate time coordinate values and voltage coordinate values of feature points included in the mask. First feature points not on a time axis is set as processing objects, and a margin in the voltage axis direction is calculated based on the voltage coordinate values of the first feature points and the voltage coordinate values of waveform signal piece parts associated with the first feature points. Second feature points on the time axis is set as processing objects, and a margin in the time axis direction is calculated based on the time coordinate values of the second feature points and the time coordinate values of waveform signal piece parts associated with the second feature points.
US08243991B2
A system and method for detecting a target in imagery is disclosed. At least one image region exhibiting changes in at least intensity is detected from among at least a pair of aligned images. A distribution of changes in at least intensity inside the at least one image region is determined using an unsupervised learning method. The distribution of changes in at least intensity is used to identify pixels experiencing changes of interest. At least one target from the identified pixels is identified using a supervised learning method. The distribution of changes in at least intensity is a joint hue and intensity histogram when the pair of images pertain to color imagery. The distribution of changes in at least intensity is an intensity histogram when the pair of images pertain to grey-level imagery.
US08243984B1
In one embodiment, video from a security camera is overlaid with small but visible indicators in each corner of the frame. The indicators may comprise an encoded value that can be decoded upon visual inspection by a user without the use of a computer. The encoded value may identify the camera such that a user knowledgeable about the format and sequence of the indicators can view the images and readily understand the identity of the security camera. In some embodiments, the indicators identify other information associated with the video such as the persons, objects, locations, conditions, times, or other data that is associated with the video.
US08243982B2
A method for embedding coded information in a document border includes encoding information as a plurality of data carrying dot pair patterns where each dot is too small to be visually noticeable. For each page of a document to be rendered, the method includes determining whether the border area is blank. If found not blank the border area is cleared. Each of the plurality of data carrying dot patterns is embedded in the blank border area of the document page. The document page with the embedded data carrying dot patterns is then rendered, where each data carrying dot is too small to be visually noticeable.
US08243981B2
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for embedding and/or extracting data from images. In embodiments, an image may be segmented into regions, and characters or other image groups within a segmented region may be determined to be embedding sites. A data vector may be embedded into a set of corresponding ordered embedding sites by representing each data element as different intensity values assigned to the pixels within one portion of an embedding site relative to the pixels in another portion of the embedding site. In embodiments, embedded data may be extracted from an image by extracting and decoding a set of bit values from a set of identified and ordered embedding sites.
US08243979B2
A sound device includes a full-gamut single-body sound membrane, a voice coil, a dust cover, and an assembly structure. Materials of different kinds of beating degrees are applied at different positions of the sound membrane. A structural intensity of materials is changed radiantly, radially and gradually, from an innermost rim of the sound membrane toward an outermost rim of the sound membrane, such that the structural intensity gradually decreases from the innermost rim toward the outermost rim, to satisfy requirements of sounding for the full-gamut of audible frequency.
US08243966B2
An assembly structure of flat speaker including at least two speaker units and one connecting structure is provided. Each speaker unit includes a first electrode, a vibrating film, and a second electrode. The connecting structure includes two conductive layers, and a first insulating layer. A first conductive layer is connected the first electrode through a contact area, and each has a first length and a third length parallel to the contact area. A second conductive layer is connected the second electrode through a contact area, and each has a second length and a fourth, a fifth length parallel to the contact area. The third length is less than or equal to a sum of the first lengths of the speaker units. A sum of the third, the fourth, and the fifth length is less than or equal to a sum of the first and second lengths.
US08243951B2
It is possible to provide a sound emission and collection device having a compact configuration and being capable of suppressing a wraparound sound from a speaker to a microphone and improving the S/N ratio. In the sound emission and collection device, a plurality of speakers (11) have a sound emission surface arranged on the side surface of a case (1) so that a sound can be emitted in all circumferential directions of the sound emission and collection device. Each of the microphones (12) is arranged with the sound collection direction set in the center direction of the case (1). The microphone (12) and the speaker (11) have directivities opposing to each other. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize a wraparound sound from the speaker (11) to the microphone (12). Moreover, since the speaker (11) and the microphone (12) are arranged on circumferences of concentric circles, it is possible to obtain a compact configuration.
US08243950B2
A teleconferencing apparatus includes the functions of a transmitting unit and a receiving unit and the transmitting unit transmits a sound signal formed from sound pick-up signals of a microphone array made up of microphones Mi (i=1 to N) and position information. The position information is provided by forming a plurality of sound pick-up beams directed in a specific direction and selecting the sound pick-up beam with the largest volume. In the receiving unit, a parameter calculation section sets a virtual sound source based on data of a reception signal and sets a delay parameter. A virtual sound source generation signal processing section forms a sound emission beam based on the parameters and outputs the beam to a loudspeaker SPi.
US08243936B2
The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described.
US08243935B2
Provided is a sound image localization control apparatus allowing, when sound is reproduced so as to perform sound image localization for a plurality of users, each of the plurality of users to variably adjust an acoustical effect individually without diminishing a sound image localization effect. The sound image localization control apparatus includes a processing characteristic setting means (13; 14) setting a processing characteristic in a controlling means (12), such that each of acoustic transfer functions, for at least two predetermined positions, represents a desired characteristic. Further, the controlling means (12) of sound image localization control apparatus receives an acoustic signal and the processing characteristic which is set by the processing characteristic setting means and performs signal processing. Additionally, the sound image localization control apparatus includes a sound reproducing means (3) receiving an output from the controlling means.
US08243933B2
A method and system for distributing a secret to a plurality of computing systems. In one embodiment, the method determines the number (n) of shares to generate and a threshold number (k) of the shares from which the secret can be reconstructed. The method further chooses n coprime random bit strings in any one of general rings as moduli, the general rings including one or more non-integer rings. The secret is then embedded in a bit string which is at least one bit longer than the product of any k−1 moduli and at least one bit shorter than the product of any k moduli. The method further computes shares of the bit string for distribution to n computing systems, each share including one of the moduli and a corresponding remainder.
US08243930B2
A first portion of a label is formed using a chaotic process that cannot be controlled and forms a portion of the label using the chaotic information. A prospective counterfeiter cannot control the first portion of the label, and hence can only form a different random portion. A private encryption key is used to encrypt information indicative of the random portion. That encrypted information is placed on the same label. That encrypted information can be decrypted by a user using a public key, and compared with the random portion. If they agree, then the label is genuine, and the product has not been counterfeited. Since the random information cannot be replicated exactly, there is no way to copy this label and its encrypted portion exactly onto another product or label.
US08243920B2
A method for transforming data with a secret parameter in an elliptic curve cryptosystem based on an elliptic curve defined over an underlying binary polynomial field, includes multiplying a point of the elliptic curve, and representing the data to be transformed by a scalar representing the secret parameter, wherein the multiplying includes performing at least one point addition operation and at least one point doubling operation on points of the elliptic curve. The point addition operation includes a first sequence of elementary field operations, and the point doubling operation includes a second sequence of elementary field operations, both the first and the second sequences of elementary field operations including a field inversion of coordinates of the elliptic curve points. A representation of the elliptic curve points in affine coordinates is provided and the first and second sequences of elementary field operations are balanced. The field inversion of coordinates is performed by the extended Euclidean algorithm and the balancing includes balancing the extended Euclidean algorithm by adding at least one dummy operation.
US08243914B2
A method and system for hierarchical prioritization and execution of call completion services are provided. When a caller applies for a call completion service, the caller is identified and assigned a priority from among different priorities such as high priority or regular priority. Thereafter, attempts to execute call completion services are performed hierarchically by launching call completion services for callers having a higher priority before similar attempts are performed for callers of a lower priority. Hence, call completion services are handled according to the priority assigned to the callers rather than the order in which each caller applied for a call completion service.
US08243912B1
A method and apparatus for providing transaction data in a packet network is described. In one embodiment, at least one routed call is received. Transaction data is subsequently obtained from the at least one routed call. In turn, the transaction data is provided to an entity (e.g., a business or store) associated locally to the at least one routed call.
US08243907B1
A system is provided for handset customer care. The system includes a handset, which includes a processor, a display, a dialer component, and a care component. The dialer component, when executed by the processor, intercepts a connection request associated with an entered number, and determines whether the entered number is associated with a specified service. The care component, when executed by the processor, provides service options to the display in response to a determination that the entered number is associated with the specified service. The care component also receives selection of at least one of the service options, and communicates with a server based on the selection. The handset connects to the entered number in response to a determination that the entered number is not associated with the specified service.
US08243901B2
A Single-Use Passcode Generator (SUPG) gives an existing teleconference management software the capability to generate a unique, single-use passcode for each of a plurality of invited participants to a teleconference. When a host sets up a teleconference, a unique passcode is generated for each invited participant. The unique passcode is sent with a teleconference invitation. The unique passcode expires once the invited participants access the teleconference.
US08243891B2
Disclosed is a voice message exchange system and method for improving communication between an inmate and a third party by enabling the inmate to leave a message when a call is not answered and further allowing the third party who receives the message to reply with a message to the inmate. Additionally, outside parties that meet the institution's requirements can leave messages for inmates at any time. The present invention can be used as an add-on to legacy inmate call management systems or incorporated internally into an inmate call management system. The system also provides monitoring, controlling, recording, and billing means.
US08243889B2
A telephony application such as an interactive voice response (“IVR”) needs to identify quickly the nature of the call (e.g., whether it is a person or machine answering a call) in order to initiate an appropriate voice application. Conventionally, the call stream is sent to a call-progress analyzer (“CPA”) for analysis. Once a result is reached, the call stream is redirected to a call processing unit running the IVR according to the analyzed result. The present scheme feeds the call stream simultaneous to both the CPA and the IVR. The CPA is allowed to continue analyzing and outputting a series of analysis results until a predetermined result appears. In the meantime, the IVR can dynamically adapt itself to the latest analysis results and interact with the call with a minimum of delay.
US08243876B2
The present application discloses an X-ray scanner having an X-ray source arranged to emit X-rays from source points through an imaging volume. The scanner may further include an array of X-ray detectors which may be arranged around the imaging volume and may be arranged to output detector signals in response to the detection of X-rays. The scanner may further include a conveyor arranged to convey an object through the imaging volume in a scan direction, and may also include at least one processor arranged to process the detector signals to produce an image data set defining an image of the object. The image may have a resolution in the scan direction that is at least 90% as high as in one direction, and in some cases two directions, orthogonal to the scan direction.
US08243875B2
An imaging method for imaging a region of investigation of an object, comprises the step of irradiating the region of investigation with at least one energy input beam along a plurality of projection directions, wherein the at least one energy input beam comprises a plurality of individual energy input beam components, wherein the energy input beam is shaped such that at least two of the energy input beam components have different cross-sections and groups of parallel energy input beam components being parallel to one of the projection directions provide a continuous irradiation of the region of investigation. Furthermore, a device for imaging the object is described.
US08243866B2
An analog baud rate clock and data recovery apparatus includes a first track and hold circuit that delays a received signal by one unit interval to create an odd signal; a second track and hold circuit that delays the received signal by one unit interval to create an even signal; a first comparator circuit; and a second comparator circuit. The first track and hold circuit outputs the odd signal to the first comparator circuit and the second comparator circuit. The second track and hold circuit outputs the even signal to the first comparator circuit and the second comparator circuit. The first comparator adds the odd signal to the even signal and outputs a first potential timing error. The second comparator subtracts the odd signal and the even signal and outputs a second potential timing error signal. A desired timing error signal is derived from the first and second potential timing error signals. The desired timing error signal is used to determine whether signal sampling is early or late.
US08243864B2
A technique for noise reduction in a wireless communication system uses controllable bandwidth filters (120) to filter a received signal. In a typical implementation, the filters (120) are used at baseband frequencies. A measurement (RSSI) is indicative of the strength of the received signal. A control circuit (144) generates a control signal (146) to control the bandwidth of the filters (120). If the received signal strength is above a first threshold, a wider bandwidth may be used for the filters (120). If the received signal is below a second threshold, the control circuit (144) generates the control signal (146) to set the filters (120) to a more narrow bandwidth. The system (100) may also be used with digital filters (150, 152) following digitization by analog to digital converters (ADCs) (130, 132). The system (100) is particularly well-suited for operation with noise-shaped ADCs (130, 132), such as Delta-Sigma converters.
US08243863B2
To provide a semiconductor device which can transmit/receive data to/from a reader/writer without interruption of operation by the reader/writer or the like. A semiconductor device capable of wireless communication includes an antenna circuit, a first demodulation signal generation circuit which demodulates a signal whose modulation factor is from 95% to 100%, both inclusive, a second demodulation signal generation circuit which demodulates a signal whose modulation factor is from 95% and 100%, both inclusive and from 10% and 30%, both inclusive and a logic circuit which selects one of a demodulation signal from the first circuit and a demodulation signal from the second circuit. When the antenna circuit receives an electromagnetic wave, the logic circuit selects the demodulation signal from the second circuit, and when the antenna circuit transmits an electromagnetic wave, the logic circuit selects the demodulation signal from the first circuit.
US08243861B2
A system and method for interference cancellation is provided to cancel/greatly reduce the interference of a wireless network. The interferers are separated from a desired signal using independent component analysis by hypothesizing the transmitting sequence. An optional whitening filter is used after the signal separation to improve the signal conditioning. The separated signal is processed by a second pass channel estimation to improve the signal channel estimation and is fed to a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) algorithm, such as a Viterbi algorithm, for signal detection.
US08243860B1
Apparatus and methods are provided for computing soft information at a receiver having a plurality of receive antennas. The receiver may be a mobile station or a base station, and can receive a signal vector that includes an intended signal from a first source as well as interfering signals from one or more other, interfering sources. The receiver can determine modulation information, such as the modulation scheme, used by each of the interfering sources. The mobile station can also estimate channel information, such as channel gain information, associated with each interfering source. Using the modulation and channel information, the receiver can compute soft information, such as a log-likelihood ratio. In some embodiments, the receiver can adaptively determine which interference sources and which receive antennas to use when computing the soft information.
US08243859B2
Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described for joint detection of frequency and unique word (UW) location(s) for burst transmissions. Embodiments receive a wireless signal. Frequency detection is performed, resulting in multiple possible frequency correlation peaks. A subset of the correlation peaks are each used to perform trial frequency corrections, thereby generating a set of trial sequences. A UW correlation is performed on each of the trial sequences to generate a maximum UW correlation value for each trial sequence. The UW correlation value and the frequency correlation peak value are weighted and combined to generate a joint detection correlation value. The trial sequence having largest joint detection correlation value may indicate the correct transmission frequency and UW location. The jointly detected information may then be used to identify the frequency and start time of the burst transmission, which may then be demodulated, decoded, etc. to recover its payload data.
US08243857B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that include selecting a sampling frequency and a tuning resolution frequency. These systems and methods may further include determining a wordlength of the phase accumulator, a numeric representation of the phase range, and a reduced representable value of a phase accumulator. In addition, these systems and methods may include operating the phase accumulator, where the phase accumulator creates an output phase accumulator signal. These systems and methods may further includes adjusting the angle of the output phase accumulator signal, where the output phase accumulator signal is adjusted based upon the operation of the phase accumulator, where adjusting the angle of the output phase accumulator signal creates an adjusted output phase accumulator signal and operating a CORDIC module, and where the CORDIC module performs operations upon the output phase accumulator signal based upon the parameters of the phase accumulator.
US08243855B2
An integrated receiver circuit includes a phase locked loop circuit (21) with a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) (25) and a quadrature generator circuit (29) which uses hybrid-branch line coupler circuits (27, 28) coupled to buffered VCO outputs, where the hybrid-branch line coupler circuits (27, 28) are tuned by same control voltage (25a) that controls the VCO (25). By replicating the VCO core circuitry in each hybrid-branch line coupler circuit (27, 28) under common control of a control voltage, calibrated quadrature signals are generated that have the same frequency as the phase locked loop circuit (21).
US08243854B2
The amplitude control circuit of the present invention can reduce output noise and suppress a decrease in reception sensitivity. An amplitude control section (120), which is an amplitude control circuit, is provided with: a DA converter (121) that converts amplitude data into differential amplitude signals and outputs the differential amplitude signals; a level control section (122) that controls the levels of the differential amplitude signals according to transmission power information P; and an offset calculating section (123) that assigns the DC voltage based upon transmission power information P to the differential amplitude signals subjected to level control in the level control section (122).
US08243852B1
A circuit for receiving a sample of an input signal to be used to calculate parameters for a predistortion circuit in an integrated circuit is described. The circuit comprises a power measurement circuit coupled to receive the input signal; a first port of a dual port random access memory for receiving data associated with power of the input signal over a predetermined period of time; and a second port of a dual port random access memory for generating the data associated with the power of the input signal stored over the predetermined period of time. A method of receiving a sample of an input signal to be used to calculate parameters for a predistortion circuit in an integrated circuit is also described.
US08243851B2
The present invention provides a radio system and a method for relaying radio signals. The radio system comprises at least one transmit path, a digital predistortion unit, a calibration unit and a feedback path. The feedback path is commonly used by the digital predistortion unit and the calibration unit with the present invention. The calibration signal is adapted to update at least one of phase and amplitude changes and the digital predistortion. The present invention further relates to a method for relaying radio signals. The method comprises updating the digital predistortion as well as an updating of the phase and amplitude changes. The updating of the digital predistortion and the updating of the phase and amplitude changes is implemented using a feedback signal. The present invention further relates to a computer program product for the manufacture of the radio system according to the invention. The present invention further relates to a computer program product for the execution of the method according to the present invention.
US08243847B2
An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer.
US08243844B2
An apparatus comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a low power mode Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) signal using a plurality of DMT tones, wherein a subset of the DMT tones are used for transmitting data, and wherein at least some of the remaining DMT tones are used for a Peak-to-Average Ratio (PAR) reduction is disclosed. Included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting transmission of a plurality of data streams using a plurality of first digital tones, and promoting transmission of at least one second digital tone that reduces a peak of a signal generated by at least one of the first digital tones.
US08243835B2
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for measurement report for the decision of transmission mode transition that obtain a threshold value of reporting CQI_difference of all frequency sub-bands; measure a CQI value at each CQI reporting frequency sub-band of whole frequency band in each measure time interval; determine a CQI_difference value based on the measured CQI value of each CQI reporting frequency sub-band; and compare the determined CQI_difference value with the threshold value, if a condition is satisfied, then the UE sends the determined CQI_difference value to the BS. After the UE has reported this measurement report to the BS, the BS may choose a more suitable data transmission mode for the UE based on this measurement report to make data transmission more effective.
US08243833B2
A method is provided for transmitting a multi-carrier signal formed of a temporal succession of symbols comprised of a set of data elements. The method includes: calculating an interference affecting a set of at least two data elements which are to be protected and are spaced out two by two from no more than one time carrier and no more than one frequency carrier, the interference taking into account the value of the data elements to be protected and values of the data elements of a contour ring consisting of carriers immediately adjacent to data elements to be protected, and; determining at least one value to be attributed to at least one data element of the contour ring for reducing, upon reception, the calculated interference.
US08243830B2
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain quantization information of a first block, and determine a filtering coefficient based on values obtained by using the quantization information. A filtered pixel value included in a second block is obtained by the decoder based on the filtering coefficient. The second block is adjacent to the first block.
US08243822B2
A data transfer scheme includes at least one decoding unit that receives encoded video data as input, generates frame data by decoding the video data, stores the frame data and updates the stored frame data in response to newly input video data, at least one frame processing unit that stores the frame data decoded by the decoding unit and manipulates the frame data, and a frame synchronization unit that transfers the frame data stored in the decoding unit to the frame processing unit and transfers update data to be used for update of the frame data stored in the frame processing unit to the frame processing unit in response to update of the frame data stored in the decoding unit.
US08243817B2
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining quantization information of a first block, obtaining a block type of the first block, and comparing the quantization information and a threshold value. Loop-filtering is performed on four successive pixels by using at least three successive pixels in a horizontal direction firstly if the quantization information is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first block is intra-coded block type, and loop-filtering is performed on four successive pixels by using at least three successive pixels in a vertical direction secondly if the quantization information is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first block is intra-coded block type.
US08243816B2
An entropy decoding method includes retrieving video data corresponding to an microcode, operating an entropy decoding operation on the video data to acquire a result, and retrieving video data corresponding to a subsequent microcode according to a MPS synchronously. The method further includes determining if the MPS matches the result, and operating an entropy decoding operation according to the subsequent microcode on the video data corresponding to the subsequent microcode if the MPS matches the result.
US08243808B2
In an image information encoder (10) supplied with an interlaced image in a 4:2:0 format, a color-difference signal phase correction unit (22) shifts, for motion estimation and compensation, the phase of the color-difference signal in a reference image block adaptively to a selected motion estimate mode and the value mv of vertical component in motion vector information so that the reference image block will coincide in phase of the color-difference signal with an input image block.
US08243793B2
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain quantization information of a first block including the pixel to be filtered, and obtain a block type of the first block and a second block. The second block is adjacent to the first block. The quantization information is compared to a threshold value by the decoder, and loop-filtering is performed by the decoder on the pixel to be filtered by using at least three successive pixels if the quantization information is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first and second block is an intra-coded block type. The at least three successive pixels include the pixel to be filtered.
US08243791B2
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining quantization information of a first block. The first block includes a pixel to be filtered. The method further includes determining a filtering coefficient based on a value obtained from a table using the quantization information, and obtaining four successive filtered pixel values based on the filtering coefficient. Two of the four successive filtered pixels are included in the first block and two of the four successive filtered pixels are included in a second block adjacent the first block.
US08243782B2
In described embodiments, adaptive equalization of a signal in, for example, Serializer/De-serializer transceivers by a) monitoring a data eye in a data path with an eye detector for signal amplitude and/or transition; b) setting the equalizer response of at least one equalizer in the signal path while the signal is present for statistical calibration of the data eye; c) monitoring the data eye and setting the equalizer during periods in which received data is allowed to contain errors (such as link initiation and training periods) and periods in which receive data integrity is to be maintained (such as normal data communication).
US08243781B2
The present invention discloses an effective apparatus and method to measure the received signal quality for a GFSK modulated signal with (or without) an unknown modulation index. The signal quality measurements are based on the decoded (unknown or known) bits and the trellis of the frequency discriminator output. This trellis is pre-calibrated with a reference Rx. The transmitted modulation index is also accurately estimated in this invention.
US08243778B1
A receiver has a plurality of antennas for receiving a signal. The signal includes a data packet. The receiver includes a correlator to correlate a spreading code with a preamble of the data packet. A first processor determines a signal quality value of the signal at each of the plurality of antennas. The signal quality value at each of the plurality of antennas is determined during the correlation of the spreading code with the preamble of the data packet. A decision unit selects a first antenna of the plurality of antennas for reception of the signal based on the signal quality value determined at each of the plurality of antennas.
US08243764B2
The invention relates to a laser system including a nonlinear crystal having a first length portion and a second length portion. The nonlinear crystal disposed to receive input light from the laser for converting the input light into frequency converted light; wherein the nonlinear crystal is configured so that the first length portion of the nonlinear crystal is phase matching for the input light and the frequency converted light, and the second length portion of the nonlinear crystal is phase mismatching for the input light and the frequency converted light. Phase mismatching means may include a temperature controlling board, a clamp, or electrodes.
US08243763B2
A compressively-encoding-resultant video signal resulting from compressively encoding a video signal, a first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal resulting from compressively encoding a first audio signal having a synchronized relation with the video signal, a reference clock information signal relating to synchronization between the compressively-encoding-resultant video signal and the first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal, and an indication timing information signal designating an indication timing of the video signal are multiplexed to get an AV multiplexing-resultant signal. A second audio signal is compressively encoded to get a second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal. A sound-production-timing information signal is added to the second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal to get a substitution playback audio signal. During playback, the substitution playback audio signal can be reproduced instead of the first audio signal while being synchronous with the video signal. The sound-production-timing information signal responds to the reference clock information signal, and relates to synchronization with the video signal.
US08243762B2
A compressively-encoding-resultant video signal resulting from compressively encoding a video signal, a first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal resulting from compressively encoding a first audio signal having a synchronized relation with the video signal, a reference clock information signal relating to synchronization between the compressively-encoding-resultant video signal and the first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal, and an indication timing information signal designating an indication timing of the video signal are multiplexed to get an AV multiplexing-resultant signal. A second audio signal is compressively encoded to get a second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal. A sound-production-timing information signal is added to the second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal to get a substitution playback audio signal. During playback, the substitution playback audio signal can be reproduced instead of the first audio signal while being synchronous with the video signal. The sound-production-timing information signal responds to the reference clock information signal, and relates to synchronization with the video signal.
US08243761B2
A device is disclosed that makes packetized and encoded speech data audible to a listener, as is a method for operating the device. The device includes a unit for generating a synchronization request for reducing an amount of synchronization delay, and further includes a speech decoder that is responsive to the synchronization delay adjustment request for executing a time-warping operation for one of lengthening or shortening a duration of a speech frame. In one embodiment the speech decoder comprises a code excited linear prediction (CELP) speech decoder, and the CELP decoder time-warping operation is applied to a reconstructed excitation signal u(k) to derive a time-warped reconstructed signal uw(k). The time-warped reconstructed signal uw(k) is input to a Linear Predictor (LP) synthesis filter to derive a CELP decoder time-warped output signal y^w(k) In another embodiment the speech decoder comprises a parametric speech decoder, and where an adaptation of the frame length N in the parametric speech decoder results in the use of a modified frame length Nw.
US08243752B2
A physical-layer device (PHY) having corresponding methods comprises: a data rate module to select a data rate divisor N, where N is at least one of a positive integer, or a real number greater than, or equal to, 1; and a PHY core comprising a PHY transmit module to transmit first signals a data rate of M/N Gbps, and a PHY receive module to receive second signals at the data rate of M/N Gbps; wherein the first and second signals conform to at least one of 1000BASE-T, wherein M=1, and 10GBASE-T, wherein M=10.
US08243743B2
A method and system provide in-band protection switch signaling in a communication system arranged as a point-to-multipoint tree. The point-to-multipoint tree includes a root node communicatively coupled to a plurality of leaf nodes through both a working link and a protection link. Data is transferred through a current link of the point-to-multipoint tree. The current link is either the working link or the protection link. A fault is detected in the current link in the point-to-multipoint tree. Each leaf node in the point-to-multipoint tree is notified of the fault using the current link. Upon receiving the notification, the root node and each leaf node switch to the other link of the working link and the protection link.
US08243734B1
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a packet that is part of a flow, and identifying parameters within the packet for mapping the packet to a selected endpoint amongst a plurality of endpoints. The method further includes generating a first binding table that reflects the packet being associated with the selected endpoint, and identifying that the selected endpoint has changed state. An update message is communicated to a peer network element, the update message directing the peer network element to rebuild a peer binding table to reflect the changed state. In more specific embodiments, the binding tables include matching entries for the selected endpoint and the flow. One of the parameters can be a Signaling System Number 7 (SS7) parameter within the packet.
US08243726B2
A system and method for enabling operation of an Ethernet device over an extended distance. In a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) a customer premises equipment (CPE) can be coupled to a network unit via a broad reach Ethernet link that is greater than 100 meters (e.g., 500 meters). In this example, a CPE having a conventional Ethernet port can be operated over the broad reach Ethernet link using a converter device.
US08243714B1
An apparatus includes a global synchronization interface and multiple modules. The global synchronization interface includes a global synchronization driver for driving a global synchronization signal. The modules include corresponding local synchronization interfaces, each local synchronization interface having a local synchronization driver for driving a local synchronization signal. In a local mode, the modules ignore the global synchronization signal and synchronize corresponding operations according to the local synchronization signal and a global reference signal. In a global mode, the modules ignore the local synchronization signal and synchronize the corresponding operations according to the global synchronization signal and the global reference signal.
US08243707B2
The present invention relates to a method of forming a random beam, and a beam forming apparatus. A quantization preprocessor and a random unitary matrix having a predetermined pattern are used to form a beam on a mobile terminal. A base station forms a beam using a codeword index of a quantization codebook received from a mobile terminal and channel quality information corresponding to the codeword index, and the mobile terminal generates the codeword index and the channel quality information using pilot signals generated by the base station. The number of pilot signals is equal to the number of transmitting antennas. Therefore, a codebook that has been known to both the mobile terminal and the base station is used, and the mobile terminal can select the codeword index for quantization, which makes it possible to selectively give diversity and thus improve the system efficiency.
US08243703B2
A management apparatus transmits a registration message to a base station when executing a wireless parameter setting sequence. The base station registers the management apparatus upon the detection of the message. This makes it possible to decrease unwanted communication traffic, and to reduce the time taken to perform the wireless parameter setting processing.
US08243696B2
This invention concerns multiplexing in Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) in Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) wireless telephony. Joint processing down link coordinated multi-point reference signaling includes combining resource signal types at a user equipment, determining conflicts between resource signals of plural user equipment, puncturing resource signals of other cell upon determining conflicts between resource signals of plural user equipment and transmitting non-punctured combined resource signals from a user equipment.
US08243683B2
A method and network element to control use of a transition indication message by a user equipment, the method including an inhibit transition indication in a configuration message; and sending the configuration message with the inhibit transition indication to the user equipment. Also, a method and user equipment for sending a transition indication, the method setting a timer according to an inhibit transition indication received from a network element; detecting that a data transfer is complete; and sending the transition indication upon detecting that the timer is not running.
US08243682B2
The described technology generally relates to method(s) and arrangement(s) for access control during relocation of a user equipment (UE) into a femto base station (FBS) and dynamic triggering of the relocation into the FBS. A white list is maintained in the UE. The white list includes information on a list of FBSs that the UE is allowed to relocate. The UE detects a target FBS and reports target FBS to a source macro base station (MBS). The source MBS makes a relocation request to a mobility controller. The mobility controller grants or denies the requests or allows the target FBS to make the decision. Upon grant, the UE is relocated to the target FBS. Otherwise, the white list is updated in the UE.
US08243675B2
Method and system for setting up a bearer are disclosed. The bearer setup method includes these steps: a packet data network gateway (PGW) obtains first quality of service (QoS) information and a first bearer identifier (ID), and sets up a bearer between the PGW and a radio access network (RAN) according to the first QoS information, where the bearer is associated with the first bearer ID; the RAN sets up a radio bearer (RB) with a user equipment (UE) according to second QoS information associated with the first QoS information, where the RB is associated with a second bearer ID associated with the first bearer ID. According to the technical solution of the present invention, when the UE is connected to a serving gateway (SGW) through a serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN), the SGSN and the SGW set up a bearer between the UE and the PGW. Thus, resources of each network entity in a network are fully utilized.
US08243666B2
The present invention relates to a method and arrangement in a wireless communication system for efficient reporting of scheduling information processed in a unit of said system. The method comprises the steps of adaptively selecting a buffer status report format that is most efficient for the momentary buffer content for indicating the buffer fill levels of the scheduler, and encoding said buffer fill levels such as to minimize the number of bits needed to encode the information.
US08243659B2
The invention is directed to efficient transfer of low bit rate services in a communication system. A synchronization symbol which has known characteristics may be included as a first symbol of digital broadcast frames. The synchronization symbol, which can be decoded without having to resort to trial and error methods, contains parameters for the rest of the signal. Low bit rate services are allocated to time slots following the pilot symbol used for synchronization allowing for fast access times with maximum power saving capabilities. A user terminal wakes up just before the synchronization symbol and received the data allocated for the low bit rate services. The user terminal may power off for the remaining time slots which are allocated for higher bit services to conserve power.
US08243649B2
A method transmits an L bit packet in a relay network including a source node, a relay node and a destination node. The source node partitions the packet into first fragment of βL bits and a second fragment of (1−β) bits. The first fragment is transmitted from the source node to the relay node at a first data rate during a first phase. The second fragment is transmitted from the source node to the destination node at a second data rate during a second phase while the first fragment is retransmitted from the relay node to the destination node at a third data rate.
US08243647B2
A radio access network apparatus includes: a discontinuous reception management unit configured to manage a reception state (a discontinuous reception state or a continuous reception state) for each of one or more mobile stations; a determination and announcement unit configured to determine and announce a correspondence relationship between a discontinuous reception channel and a shared data channel for each mobile station; and a scheduling unit configured to perform scheduling of a downlink shared data channel, wherein, when a paging signal to the mobile station in the discontinuous reception state occurs, the radio access network apparatus transmits the paging signal to the mobile station using the shared data channel determined based on the correspondence relationship.
US08243645B2
A method for enhancing transmission efficiency in a wireless communications system includes a first protocol entity of the wireless communications system always performing a duplication avoidance and reordering, called DAR hereinafter, function on a logic channel, without referring to a configuration of the DAR function by an upper-layer protocol entity.
US08243643B2
In the disclosed active multicast information protocol, a first edge router of a network receives a data packet from a source, wherein the data packet comprises data to be sent to receivers of a multicast group. The first edge router may rout the data packet to a first core router within the network. The first edge router also generates a message in response to receiving the data packet. This message is transmitted to the first core router within a network. The message includes an address of the source, but the message lacks data to be transmitted to the receivers of the multicast group. Another edge router stores the first multicast group and source addresses in an entry of a look-up table (LUT) in response to the edge router receiving a first message directly or indirectly from the first edge router.
US08243641B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal in a wireless communication system are provided in which, when a relay request message is received from a transmitter, a first receiver transmits a relay response message including a relay possible information to the transmitter, the relay possible information including information indicating whether the first receiver can perform a relay function, and relays a signal between the transmitter and a second receiver, when a relay confirm message is received from the transmitter after transmitting the relay response message. Herein, the first receiver is different from the second receiver.
US08243637B2
A base station transmitter for a broadcast/multicast single frequency network may include a base station component configured to randomize a phase of the signal for the base station transmitter to transmit, wherein the base station transmitter is configured to transmit a signal having a frequency common to a frequency of a signal sent by another base station component in the network. A method for improving performance of single frequency networks may include transmitting single frequency signals from base stations with pseudo-random phases including in the signals, data that permits a receiver compatible with the network to synchronously replicate the pseudo-random phases used in the transmission of the single frequency signals.
US08243635B2
An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit including plural memory banks, a wireless communication unit for executing the wireless communication process, a communication quality information storage unit for storing the communication quality information indicating the communication quality of the wireless communication unit in the case where one of the plural memory banks is used, a memory bank selection unit for selecting the memory bank based on the communication quality information stored in the communication quality information storage unit in the case where the wireless communication process is executed by the wireless communication unit, and a memory bank switching unit for switching to the memory bank selected by the memory bank selection unit.
US08243627B2
Supporting virtual private networks by using a new layer 3 address to encapsulate a network-bound packet so that its context information, from which a layer 2 (e.g., MAC) address can be derived, is preserved. If this encapsulation was not done, the layer 2 address would change over each segment of the network. Thus, the encapsulation preserves the concept of group identification, using at least a part of the context, over the entire network and not just at the edge of the network. If a packet is received from the network (to be forwarded to a customer), the layer 3 address that was added in the encapsulation is stripped off. The original layer 3 destination address may be used with a client device addressing table to determine a new context information, and a layer 2 (e.g., MAC) address of a destination client device.
US08243625B2
System and method for support multiple topology in Label Distribution Protocol of Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network are disclosed. The system includes a number of network elements and a communication mechanism used to connect the network elements. The network elements discover LDP peers within the network topology, and create and maintain LDP sessions for each of the network topologies. The network elements further establish LSPs by mapping network layer routing information within each network topology to data link layer switches paths. Furthermore, the communication mechanism enables the network elements to advertise the multi-topology capability and exchange the mapping information of label and FECs within each network topology.
US08243622B2
A wireless communication system for interconnecting an ad-hoc network and an IS network, and a wireless terminal and communication method therefor are disclosed. The communication method includes transmitting a discovery signal including terminal information of the wireless terminal to a radio network, receiving a response signal including information for network access from a base station or another wireless terminal, which has received the discovery signal, selecting an operation mode for access to a network through the base station or the other wireless terminal, based on the response signal, communicating with the base station and accessing the IS network when the selected operation mode corresponds to a first mode and accessing a network, to which the other wireless terminal belongs, through a licensed frequency band of the IS network when the selected operation mode corresponds to a second mode. Accordingly, it is possible to support communication through an existing infrastructure and support communication of an ad-hoc network scheme, through use of a licensed frequency band assigned to the provider of an existing IS network.
US08243614B2
A communication device comprises first and second circuits to implement a plurality of ports via which the communicative device is operable to communicate over a plurality of communication channels. For each of the plurality of ports, the communication device comprises: command hardware that includes a first transmitter to transmit data over a respective one of the plurality of channels and a first receiver to receive data from the respective one of the plurality of channels; and monitor hardware that includes a second receiver coupled to the first transmitter and a third receiver coupled to the respective one of the plurality of channels. The first circuit comprises the command hardware for a first subset of the plurality of ports. The second circuit comprises the monitor hardware for the first subset of the plurality of ports and the command hardware for a second subset of the plurality of ports.
US08243610B2
A system and method for wireless communications with codebook adaptation with low feedback overhead are provided. A method for controller operations includes receiving a first channel information from a communications device, estimating channel statistics based on the first channel information, adapting a codebook using the channel statistics, and receiving a second channel information from the communications device. The method also includes constructing a precoding matrix from the second channel information and the adapted codebook, and transmitting information precoded by the precoding matrix to the communications device.
US08243604B2
A method for communication includes simultaneously computing a shortest path and a backup path through a network between a pair of nodes. Packets are routed through the network using at least one path selected from among the shortest path and the backup path.
US08243599B2
A method includes receiving a first capture time corresponding to a first time that a data packet is received at a first probe and a second capture time corresponding to a second time that the data packet is received at a second probe. The data packet is from existing network traffic transmitted over a data network. The first and second probes can be configured to capture the data packet in response to a capture instruction. The first capture time and second capture time are different and are used to calculate the latency of at least a portion of a data network.
US08243598B2
A method, system and/or computer program product route IP packet flows. An Ethernet switch is coupled to a load balancing control engine, which contains load balancing logic that is logically isolated from the Ethernet switch. The Ethernet switch, which routes IP packet flows to servers, receives an IP packet flow. The load balancing control engine determines if the servers are balanced in their workloads. In response to the load balancing control engine determining that the servers are balanced, the Ethernet switch routes the IP packet flow to the servers without the Ethernet switch directly receiving any feedback from the servers regarding their workloads. In response to the load balancing control engine determining that the servers are unbalanced, the load balancing control engine instructs the Ethernet switch to redirect the IP packet flow to a server that is relatively less busy than other servers.
US08243587B2
A method may include determining that a label distribution protocol (LDP) session is not associated with an interface of a network device, wherein the interface of the network device is included in a targeted LDP session. Interior gateway protocol (IGP) metric information for both a physical interface associated with the network device and a forwarding adjacency label switched path (FA-LSP) associated with the targeted LDP (tLDP) session may be configured to each indicate a high cost. The configured metric information may be transmitted to other network devices in a network that includes the LSP and the targeted LDP session to inhibit selection of the targeted LDP session by the other network devices when routing data through the network.
US08243582B2
Channel state information for closed-loop transmit precoding in MIMO networks is fed back from the MSs to the BSs. The feedback is quantized using codebooks shared by the MSs and BSs to reduce overhead. The codebooks can be full-rank or rank-one. The quantized feedback is applicable to any definitions of MIMO channel covariance matrix as well as MIMO channel matrix. Since these codebooks are designed for closed-loop MIMO precoded transmissions, no additional memory is needed to store the codebooks at the BS and the MS only for the quantized feedback purposes.
US08243577B2
In an optical information recording medium (1), a light-transmitting layer (10) or a transparent substrate, an information recording layer (20), and a substrate (30) are stacked in this order from a side from which reproducing light (2) enters. The information recording layer (20) includes at least a reproducing film (21) whose complex refractive index at a light source wavelength (λ) of the reproducing light (2) is changed by heat. The relationship of 0.67×(λ/NA)>TP>0.04×(λ/NA) is satisfied, where TP is a track pitch of prepits (31) formed on the substrate (30), and NA is a numerical aperture of an objective lens (55) for converging the reproducing light (2) on the optical information recording medium.
US08243567B2
Provided is an optical disc having main information to be decrypted using sub information recorded thereon by arranging concave or convex recording marks in a spiral track wherein a reflective film is formed on the recording marks. First sub information is recorded and superimposed on the main information by shifting/deforming the recording marks or altering a pattern of the recording marks. Second sub information is recorded and superimposed on the main information by changing a reflectivity of the reflective film. The first and second sub information are recorded in an area from which the first and second sub information are to be read simultaneously. The second sub information is recorded in a manner to be associated with the first sub information. The first and second sub information are associated with each other and are recorded in the same area.
US08243566B2
There is a need to provide correction of a temperature characteristic of an optical pickup of an optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus, in which items of the optical pickup including spherical aberration may be improved in temperature characteristic. To achieve the need, an optical disk drive is characterized by correcting a spherical aberration correction element when variation of a signal from the control circuit to the driver and/or a tracking or focusing error signal supplied to the controller has a value equal to or more than a predetermined value.
US08243564B2
Disclosed herein is a misjudgment correction circuit, including, an edge detection section configured to detect, in a binarized full addition signal obtained by adding first and second signals of the same or opposite polarity, edges at which the logic value of the binarized signal changes, a push-pull signal acquisition section configured to acquire a binarized push-pull signal obtained by subtracting the second signal from the first signal, a majority decision calculation section configured to acquire, in chronologic order, a plurality of logic values of the push-pull signal between the two adjacent edges so as to determine, by a majority decision, the more numerous of the two logic values, and a wave correction section configured to correct the push-pull signal between the edges to the more numerous logic value determined by the majority decision calculation section.
US08243559B2
There is provided a near-field-light (NFL) generating optical system in which the point where near-field (NF) light is generated can be provided sufficiently close to the end surface of a magnetic pole that generates write field. The optical system comprises: a waveguide through which a light for exciting surface plasmon propagates; and a NF-optical device configured to be coupled with the light in a surface plasmon mode. The NF-optical device comprises: a contact-to-waveguide surface having a contact to the waveguide; and a propagation edge provided on the side opposite to the contact-to-waveguide surface, extending to the NFL-generating end surface of the device, and configured to propagate thereon the surface plasmon excited by the light. In this optical system, the point, where NF-light is generated, of the NFL-generating end surface is reliably located on the side opposite to the waveguide.
US08243557B2
Methods and devices for optimized ridge near field apertures for thermally assisted magnetic recording are disclosed. The aperture dimensions and supporting dielectric materials are optimized for maximum energy absorption at the magnetic recording layer for a light source having a wavelength of 780 nm, which can be produced by low cost laser diodes.
US08243556B2
A display plate for a solar cell device provided with a solar cell on the bottom surface side includes a light transmission substrate, a light transmission reflecting plate that is disposed on the bottom surface side of the light transmission substrate, and a decorative member that is disposed on the top surface side of the display plate. The light transmission substrate is provided with a reflecting surface on the bottom surface side or on the top and bottom surface sides of the light transmission substrate. The reflecting surface of the light transmission substrate is made of a prism reflecting surface.
US08243553B2
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device (1) comprising at least two analog display elements (16, 17) to display the current time in a first operating mode, the time mode, the electronic device (1) additionally comprising a sensor (23) for a physical magnitude to measure the value of this physical magnitude as a function of time in a second operating mode and memory elements (25, 26) intended to store at least a portion of the measured values with a given period. The display elements can be controlled in the second operating mode to respectively display a value representative of the measured physical magnitude and a calculated value representative of the variation in time of the physical magnitude. The electronic device (1) has a third operating mode, the history mode, in which the analog display elements (17, 16) are actuated to respectively display, chronologically and with a time interval of predefined duration, values representative of the physical magnitude on the basis of the stored values and values representative of the variation in time of the physical magnitude calculated on the basis of the stored values. The invention also relates to a method of displaying a history.
US08243551B2
A computer based system and method for determining if a change detection sonar contact in change detection side scan sonar imagery matches a historical contact of the same geospatial location.
US08243546B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and circuits for power management and/or EMI reduction. As one example, a method for memory system access is disclosed that includes providing a first bank of memory; providing a second bank of memory; receiving a memory access request that includes assertion of a reference memory clock; accessing the first bank of memory using a first sub memory clock asserted relative to the reference memory clock; delaying a phase offset; and accessing the second bank of memory using a second sub memory clock asserted the phase offset after assertion of the first sub memory clock.
US08243535B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell configured to output data to a pair of bitlines, a variable delay circuit configured to receive a sense amplifier enable signal, adjust a delay of the sense amplifier enable signal by changing a slope of a delay based on a variable external power supply voltage, and output a delayed sense amplifier enable signal, and a bitline sense amplifier configured to amplify a voltage difference between the pair of bitlines in response to the delayed sense amplifier enable signal and output the amplified voltage difference to a pair of input/output lines.
US08243534B2
To provide a semiconductor device including a skew detecting circuit activated in a write leveling mode, and an ODT control circuit that activates a terminating resistance circuit connected to a data strobe terminal by using an ODT signal. The ODT control circuit selects a first resistance mode when a dynamic ODT is in an unused state in the write leveling mode, and selects a second resistance mode when the dynamic ODT is in a used state in the write leveling mode. With this configuration, a resistance in a used state of the dynamic ODT and that in an unused state of the dynamic ODT can be reproduced in an actual write operation. Consequently, a more accurate write leveling operation can be performed.
US08243528B2
In an erase method of a flash device, including a page buffer configured to transfer a virtual voltage in response to a discharge signal and further comprising strings each including memory cells and coupled to the page buffer via a respective bit line, applying a ground voltage to a gate of each of the memory cells and erasing the memory cells coupled to a selected bit line by supplying the virtual voltage wherein the virtual voltage is applied to the selected bit line and a unselected bit line.
US08243517B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes: a memory cell unit including a plurality of memory cells having an electric charge accumulation layer and a control electrode, said memory cells being electrically connected in series; a plurality of word lines, each of which is electrically connected to said control electrode of said plurality of memory cells; a source line electrically connected to said memory cells at one end of said memory cell unit; a bit line electrically connected to said memory cells at the other end of said memory cell unit; and a control signal generation circuit, which during a data readout operation staggers a timing for selecting the word line connected to said memory cells of said memory cell unit from a timing for selecting a non-selected word line connected to a non-selected memory.
US08243510B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a memory cell in a semiconductor chip includes a non-volatile memory transistor, a control gate, and a floating gate. The control gate is capacitively coupled to the floating gate of the non-volatile memory transistor by a metal capacitor. The metal capacitor can be formed in one or more metal levels and in one embodiment is in a shape of a comb with multiple fingers. In one embodiment, the non-volatile memory transistor is an NMOS non-volatile memory transistor.
US08243505B2
Phase change memory device having write driving control signal corresponding to set/reset write time
A phase change memory device includes a phase change resistance cell configured to sense a crystallization state that changes in response to a current so that data corresponding to the crystallization state can be stored in the phase change resistance cell. A write driving control signal generating unit outputs a write enable signal and a precharge enable signal in response to a write control signal that corresponds to a heating period and a quenching period of the write data. A write driving unit is configured to supply a driving voltage corresponding to the write data to the phase change resistance cell in response to the write enable signal and the precharge enable signal.
US08243503B2
The present invention relates to a memory cell including a first reference layer having a first magnetization with a first magnetization direction and a second reference layer having a second magnetization with a second magnetization direction substantially perpendicular to the first magnetization direction. A storage layer is disposed between the first reference layer and second reference layer and has a third magnetization direction about 45° from the first magnetization direction and about 135° from the second magnetization direction when the memory cell is in a first data state, and a fourth magnetization direction opposite the third magnetization direction when the memory cell is in a second data state.
US08243498B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes first and second inverters, a first transistor which has a gate connected to a word line, a source connected to a first bit line, and a drain connected to an input terminal of the second inverter, a second transistor which has a gate connected to the word line, a source connected to a second bit line, and a drain connected to an input terminal of the first inverter, a first variable resistive element which has a first terminal connected to the drain of the first transistor, and a second terminal connected to an output terminal of the first inverter, and a second variable resistive element which has a first terminal connected to the drain of the second transistor, and a second terminal connected to an output terminal of the second inverter.
US08243489B2
A memory array including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, a dummy word line, at least a first conductive region and at least a first plug is provided. Each word line is coupled to corresponding memory cells. A dummy word line is directly adjacent to an outmost word line of the plurality of word lines. The first conductive region is disposed only between the dummy word line and the outmost word line. The first plug is located between the dummy word line and the outmost word line.
US08243487B2
A three dimensional memory module and system are formed with at least one slave chip stacked over a master chip. Through semiconductor vias (TSVs) are formed through at least one of the master and slave chips. The master chip includes a memory core for increased capacity of the memory module/system. In addition, capacity organizations of the three dimensional memory module/system resulting in efficient wiring is disclosed for forming multiple memory banks, multiple bank groups, and/or multiple ranks of the three dimensional memory module/system.
US08243484B2
A memory system comprises a circuit board 40 including N data signal lines 60, 65 and at least two strobe signal lines 70, 75, and first and second memory devices 50, 55 secured to opposing surfaces 40a, 40b of the circuit board. Each memory device is coupled to a portion of the N data signal lines and to a portion of the at least two strobe signal lines such that the devices do not share any of the N data signal lines and such that the devices do not share any of the strobe signal lines. The memory system further includes a controller 45 to communicate in parallel with the first and second memory devices through the N data signal lines and the at least two strobe signal lines.
US08243482B2
A control device for a matrix converter includes an input voltage detector, an output current detector, a pulse width modulator, and an input voltage command calculator. The input voltage detector is configured to detect an input voltage of the matrix converter. The output current detector is configured to detect an output current of the matrix converter. The pulse width modulator is configured to generate a PWM pulse command signal by using the input voltage, the output current, and an output line voltage command. The input voltage command calculator is configured to calculate an input voltage command of the matrix converter.
US08243479B2
A structure and method for reducing the effects of chip-package resonance in an integrated circuit assembly is described. A series RLC circuit is employed to reduce the output impedance of the power delivery system at the resonance frequency.
US08243470B2
An input/output cable port assembly and electromagnetic interference attenuation method are provided. The cable port assembly includes a cable port structure mounted to an electronics rack with an opening for input/output cables to pass therethrough, and multiple bottom ferrite inductor portions and multiple top ferrite inductor portions. The bottom and top ferrite inductor portions include first and second surfaces, respectively. The inductor portions are configured to be stacked within the cable port structure with their first and second surfaces in opposing relation to define at least one ferrite inductor with a central opening defined by the first and second surfaces for input/output cable(s) of the electronics rack to pass. The ferrite inductor attenuates electromagnetic interference resulting from transient or steady state current on the cable(s) passing therethrough.
US08243468B2
The invention relates to an electronic module comprising a stack of n packages of predetermined thickness E, which are provided on a lower surface with connection balls of predetermined thickness eb, said connection balls being connected to a printed circuit for interconnecting the package. The printed circuit is placed on the lower surface of the package level with the balls, is drilled with metallized holes, in which the balls are located and to which they are connected, and has a thickness eci less than eb so as to obtain a module with a total thickness not exceeding n (E+10% eb).
US08243465B2
A semiconductor device reduces the impedance of a wiring for supplying the circuit excluding a data output circuit with a power source voltage or a ground voltage and of speedup of data signal transmission in the data output circuit. Additional substrates 2a, 2b are on the upper surface of semiconductor chip 1. First additional wiring layer for power source 10d and first additional wiring layer for ground 10s formed on respective additional substrates 2a, 2b form prescribed conductive areas on semiconductor chip 1. First power source wiring 40C1d or first ground wiring 40C1s are interconnected through additional wiring layers 10d and 10s. Second power source wiring 40C2d and second ground wiring 40C2s, which is extended in the same direction as with DQ system signal wiring 40CDQ, forms a feedback current path. Second power source wiring 40C2d and second ground wiring 40C2s are disposed adjacent to DQ system signal wiring 40CDQ.
US08243461B2
The electronic device, which allows inhibiting the breaking-away of the element from the frame member, even if the temperature change of the electronic device is repeated, and the process for manufacturing the electronic device, are achieved. An electronic device includes a photo-sensitive element formed in a wafer, a frame member installed on the wafer to surround a functional unit, and an encapsulating resin layer filling a circumference of the frame member.
US08243459B2
An electronic apparatus includes a rectangular-parallelepiped first casing, a rectangular-parallelepiped second casing, and a first connecting apparatus. The first connecting apparatus connects the first casing and the second casing such that the first casing and the second casing are capable of being rotated relatively in one of a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction orthogonal to each other between a first state and a second state. The first state is a state where a first main surface of the first casing comes to be faced with a third main surface of the second casing. The second state is a state where a second main surface of the first casing comes to be faced with a fourth main surface of the second casing.
US08243457B2
An electronic component mounting structure includes: a casing provided with an accommodating portion, an insertion opening formed at outside of the accommodating portion, and a threaded hole to which a screw is fastened; an electronic component including a contact terminal having elasticity; a printed circuit board having a conductor layer electrically connectable to the contact terminal; and a fixing plate provided with a fitting portion configured to fit into the insertion opening, and a screw insertion hole through which the screw is inserted, and configured to fix the printed circuit board. In the accommodating portion, the fixing plate is disposed on the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board is disposed on the electronic component. The fixing plate is fixed to the casing by the screw inserted through the screw insertion hole in a state where the fitting portion is fitted into the insertion opening.
US08243453B2
Cooling arrangement for an electrically conductive element in an electrical installation. A casting body (3) is provided for electrically isolating the electrically conductive element (2). The casting body has an outer wall, part of which forms a contact surface 5 (5) for contact with a heat conducting surface (1) of the electrical installation. The outer wall of the casting body (3) is provided with an electrically conductive layer (4; 7) at its outer surface.
US08243452B2
A fixing mechanism for fixing an object to a base plate is provided. The object defines a hole and includes a ring extending from an edge of the hole. The ring includes a threaded hole. The base plate includes a post on its top surface and respectively opposing to the hole. The fixing mechanism includes an elastic element, a first hollow bolt and a second bolt. The first hollow bolt passes through the hole and the elastic element, and includes an externally threaded portion engaging with the threaded hole of the ring. The second bolt is inserted into the first hollow bolt, and engages with the post of the base plate.
US08243450B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a circuit board in the housing, a first back plate on the circuit board, a second back plate on the circuit board, and a connecting portion connecting the first back plate with the second back plate.
US08243446B2
A DC to AC inverter used in a solar cell power system can include an improved control scheme for cooling itself and optimizing power output.
US08243438B2
An electronic apparatus (10) includes a main body (30), a lid (20) pivotably connected with a side of the main body, a magnetic detecting unit (40) and a magnetic shield member (28). The detecting unit includes a magnetic body (42) mounted on one of the main body or the lid and a magnetic detector (44) mounted on the other one of the main body or the lid, respectively. The magnetic body has a facing side (421) to face the magnetic detector. The magnetic detector detects a position of the lid according to a magnetic field intensity of the magnetic body. The magnetic shield member is disposed at a distance from the facing side and adjacent to a second side (422) of the magnetic body, to prevent the magnetic field from extending in the direction of the second side of the magnetic body.
US08243437B2
An electronic device includes a chassis having a bottom wall. A motherboard is disposed on the bottom wall. A riser card is perpendicularly connected to the motherboard. An airflow duct is located on the bottom wall of the chassis. A securing member is mounted to the airflow duct. The securing member includes a supporting piece secured to the airflow duct, and a securing piece is pivotally mounted to the supporting piece. The securing piece is engaged with the supporting piece to clamp an expansion card between the supporting piece and the securing piece.
US08243424B1
Presentation by a display is enhanced by placing the active elements of the display at or substantially proximate to the surface of an electronic device. Such placement improves image quality, reduces shadow on the display, improves spill resistance, and minimizes the overall profile of the device.
US08243418B2
A capacitive touch screen suitable for use in an interactive information display includes a first transparent glass substrate having first and second surfaces and a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.3 millimeters, and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces and a transparent conductive thin film disposed at the third surface thereof. The second surface of the first transparent glass substrate is laminated to the third surface of the second substrate in order to form a capacitive touch screen having enhanced durability. The transparent conductive thin film of the second substrate opposes the second surface of the first transparent glass substrate when the second surface of the first transparent glass substrate is laminated to the third surface of the second substrate.
US08243417B2
Disclosed is a variable capacitor that includes signal electrodes configured to sandwich a dielectric layer so as to generate a signal electric field, and control electrodes configured to sandwich the dielectric layer so as to generate a control electric field in a direction intersecting with the signal electric field generated between the signal electrodes.
US08243415B2
An ignition plug having a center electrode, an insulator holding the center electrode in an axial bore, and a ground electrode disposed in contact with a front end portion of the insulator and having a through-hole whose center coincides with the axis of the center electrode. A semiconductor layer in contact with the center electrode and the ground electrode is formed in a portion of the surface of the insulator.
US08243413B2
A polymer surge arrester has: internal elements including a plurality of disc-shaped nonlinear resistors disposed in a stacked manner, electrodes disposed at both ends of the nonlinear resistors, and a plurality of insulating rods coupling the electrodes; an insulating outer skin formed outside the internal elements by casting an insulating resin; and disc-shaped porous metal plates interposed between at least parts of the nonlinear resistors.
US08243409B2
A protective device is disclosed for combination with an electrical switching device including a main current line or for integration in such a switching device. In at least one embodiment, the protective device includes a switching element and a switching apparatus, which is provided for the actuation of the switching element and is influenced by a current flow through the main current line. In at least one embodiment, in order to influence the switching apparatus, a current transformer is integrated in the main current line and an electrical resistance of a secondary winding surrounded by the current transformer can be measured. A method for operating a protective device is also disclosed wherein the switching apparatus is triggered so as to actuate the switching element if the measured resistance reaches or exceeds a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.
US08243403B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) clamp circuit is provided. The ESD clamp circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor. A clamp device of the ESD clamp circuit is implemented by the third transistor. A parasitic capacitor of the third transistor forms a detection scheme along with the second resistor to detect the ESD. The first resistor, the second resistor, the first transistor, and the second transistor form a feedback scheme to control the third transistor for discharging the ESD current.
US08243395B2
A method of utilizing a solder reflow channel in the formation of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method provides a first hard disk drive component having at least one solder reflow channel, the at least one solder reflow channel for retaining a predeposited solder material. The solder reflow channel is utilized to provide a solder location for coupling the first hard disk drive component and a second hard disk drive component to the predeposited solder material.
US08243392B2
A magnetic head slider locking apparatus includes a fixed portion having a distal-side engage portion engaged with a slider's distal end and fixed to a flexure part, an endless spring portion surrounding the fixed portion in a plan view, a connection portion connecting the fixed portion to the spring portion, and a proximal-side engage portion provided to the spring portion so as to be engaged with a slider's proximal end. The spring portion takes an initial posture where no external operational force is applied thereto so that the proximal-side engage portion is located closer to a distal end side in the suspension longitudinal direction than the slider's proximal end, and also takes an elastically deformed posture where an external operational force is applied thereto so that the proximal-side engage portion is located closer to a proximal end side in the suspension longitudinal direction than the slider's proximal end.
US08243383B2
A sleeve supports a shaft. A housing member is arranged so as to surround the sleeve and make the end of the sleeve protrude. A base member holds the housing member and fixes a stator core so as to surround the housing member. A hub drives a recording disk by being rotated integrally with the shaft, with a magnet being fixed to an annular portion concentric with the shaft so as to face the stator core fixed to the base member. A thrust member is rotated integrally with the hub, and a descender portion and a ring portion.
US08243379B2
A camera module includes a barrel, a holder, a focus ring and an elastic element. The barrel includes a bottom surface opposing the holder. The holder includes an end surface facing the bottom surface of the barrel. At least one of the bottom surface and the end surface defines a first curved cutout and a second curved cutout. The depth of the first curved cutout is different from that of the second curved cutout. The focus ring is positioned between the bottom surface and the end surface. The focus ring includes a bump. An end of the elastic element is fixed to the barrel and the other end is fixed to the holder. The elastic element pulls the barrel to position the focus ring between the barrel and the holder. When rotating the focus ring, the bump can be received in the first curved cutout or the second curved cutout.
US08243376B2
A lens module includes a base, and first and second lens units. The base defines a receiving space, and has two spaced-apart through holes for fluid communication of the receiving space with an area external to the base. The first lens unit is disposed within the receiving space, and defines a first light communicating path that corresponds in position to one of the through holes. The second lens unit is disposed within the receiving space in a side-by-side manner with the first lens unit, and defines a second light communicating path that corresponds in position to the other one of the through holes.
US08243374B2
An optical lens includes a central optical portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the optical portion. The peripheral portion includes a first step surface, a second step surface, and a first connecting surface interconnecting the first step surface and the second step surface. The first step surface is adjacent to the optical portion. The second step surface has a circular groove formed therein, and the circular groove is adjacent to the first connecting surface. A lens assembly including the optical lens is also provided.
US08243371B2
A high zoom-ratio zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group, in that order from the object side, wherein upon zooming from the short to the long focal length extremities, the first through fourth lens groups are moved along the optical axis direction, wherein an amount of movement of the first lens group is greater than that of the third lens group. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 1.4
US08243370B2
The zoom lens which is compact and has high optical performance over the entire zoom range includes in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit having a positive refractive power. Distances between the first to third lens units are varied during zooming. The second lens unit includes a lens element whose image side surface has a concave shape, a most object side positive lens element and a most image side positive lens element. Conditions of 0.4
US08243369B2
Methods and apparatus for sampling techniques can constantly monitor a spectral output from a broadband source in order to control a central wavelength of interrogation light supplied by the source for input to a sensor. A first portion of light output from the broadband source passes through a controller module for spectral analysis and referencing to provide measurements that can be used as feedback to actively modify a second portion of the light from the source. This modified second portion thereby controls the central wavelength to ensure accurate determination of sensor response signals received at a receiver.
US08243368B2
An optical element including a first layer (011) made of a medium having optical anisotropy, wherein a difference between refractive indexes nh and nl (nh>nl) at a central wavelength λ for first and second polarized lights which enter the optical element and whose polarization directions are different from each other is at least 0.1, and wherein conditions (nt1−nl)·(nl−nt2)≦0 and nt1
US08243367B2
A manufacturing method of a three-dimensional image display apparatus including an image display section and a retarder is provided. The manufacturing method includes attaching an adhesion sheet containing a curable resin to at least one of an exit surface of the image display section and an entrance surface of the retarder, layering the retarder on the image display section such that the entrance surface of the retarder faces the exit surface of the image display section, applying a resin onto a periphery portion of the image display section and onto a periphery portion of the retarder, adhering together the periphery portions by curing the resin applied to the periphery portions, and adhering together the image display section and the retarder by curing the resin between the image display section and the retarder, after adhering together the periphery portions.
US08243356B2
The authenticity of a security document, such as a bank note, is verified by use of a security feature arranged in or on the document, which security feature comprises an antenna arranged to receive EM-radiation from an external energy source; a rectifier arranged to receive electric energy from the antenna and convert it into a rectified current; and an electrochromic display arranged to alter its electrochromic state in response to said rectified current. Hence, a security feature able alter its appearance in response to EM-radiation is provided, which comprises a display that can be given a large variety of two dimensional shapes.
US08243354B2
A control apparatus for an external modulator that modulates light emitted from a light source based on an input signal, the control apparatus comprises: a low-frequency signal generating device that generates and outputs a low-frequency signal having a predetermined frequency; a signal superimposing device that superimposes a first modulation signal, which is the input signal on the low-frequency signal, to make a second modulation signal, and applies this second modulation signal to the external modulator; a low-frequency signal detecting device that detects the low-frequency signal component from an optical output of the external modulator, compares a phase of this detected low-frequency signal with a phase of a low-frequency signal output from the low-frequency signal generating device, and outputs a signal according to a phase difference; an operating point control device that controls based on an output signal of the low-frequency signal detecting device, so as to compensate for operating point drift of the external modulator; an optical power level detecting device that detects an average value of an optical output of the external modulator; and a variable gain amplifying device configured so as to set a gain based on a detection output of the optical power level detecting device, that amplifies an output of the low-frequency signal detecting device, and outputs this to the operating point control device, wherein gain of the variable gain amplifying device is set so that a closed-loop gain of a loop from an output side of the external modulator through the operating point control device and back to the external modulator, becomes constant.
US08243349B2
There is provided a method of reading an image by reading reflected light from a document that is illuminated. The method includes illuminating the document with light from a light source, changing a degree of diffusion of the light applied from the light source to the document, and reading reflected light from the document. The degree of diffusion is changed in accordance with a type of the document.
US08243348B2
A scanner-characteristic correcting unit converts read image data into normalized image data. A first image processing unit applies a first image processing on the normalized image data. A color determining unit performs a color determination of the normalized image data. A controller image processing unit that applies a second image processing on the normalized image data is provided in a removable manner. When a B&W plotter unit is connected to an image processing apparatus without the controller image processing unit, the first image processing unit generates binary image data of the image data before a result of the color determination is output.
US08243333B2
A problem of the present invention is to prevent showthrough of a rear side image to a front side image without using any complicated processing at a time of reading out both sides of a document. To solve the problem, an image processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention reads out image information on the front side and rear side of a document; calculates a first background level from the image information on the front side; calculates a second background level by adjusting the first background level according to the first background level calculated and the density of the image information on the rear side; and removes the background of the front side using the second background level.
US08243326B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for editing color profiles. In particular, input data (such as reference image data) are received, and then are converted to first output data using a first color profile and to second output data using a second color profile, wherein the second color profile is an edited version of the first color profile. Soft proof data corresponding to the input data, first output data and second output data are calculated and then displayed on a display device. The soft proof data corresponding to the input data, first output data and second output data may be simultaneously or selectively displayed on the display device.
US08243323B2
An image forming apparatus includes a scanning unit which scans a light beam on a photosensitive member in accordance with image data, and a smoothing unit which performs a smoothing for a jaggy of a scan line of a light beam scanned on the photosensitive member by the scanning unit. The smoothing unit does not perform the smoothing when the scanning unit scans a light beam in accordance with image data representing a halftone image.
US08243321B2
A data acquisition unit that acquires data from a server, a generation unit that generates a first document that has been laid out by merging the data into a template that describes layout information, a rendering unit that renders the first document that has been laid out to obtain a document for output, and a document association unit that associates a document set, the first document that has been laid out and the document for output are comprised. The rendering unit renders a second document that has been laid out obtained by editing the first document that has been laid out to obtain a second document for output, and the document association unit associates the document set, the second document that has been laid out and the second document for output.
US08243318B2
An imaging apparatus includes an image capturing system. A controller is communicatively coupled to the image capturing system. A scanner body has a scanner opening. The image capturing system is located adjacent the scanner opening. A document planar member is positioned across the scanner opening. The document planar member is communicatively coupled to the controller. The document planar member has an input operating state wherein the document planar member receives at least one input from a user input object and supplies the at least one input to the controller for further processing.
US08243317B2
A hierarchical spooling data structure includes a plurality of nodes. In accordance with certain aspects, the plurality of nodes include at least four nodes: a first node representing a fixed page of the job; a second node representing a fixed document of the job, the second node including a reference to the first node; a third node containing data representing a fixed sequence of documents of the job, the third node including a reference to the second node; and a fourth node containing data representing a root of the job, the fourth node including a reference to the third node.
US08243316B2
Disclosed herein is a method of preparing production tickets that involves selecting order data from at least a first data field in an ordering system, feeding the selected order data to a workflow management system, and generating a production ticket for a print production job using at least a portion of the selected order data to name the print production job. One embodiment employs a join identifier to include several related files on the same production ticket. Corresponding configuration tools and workflow management systems also are disclosed.
US08243314B2
A system and a method including allowing a transmitting facsimile device and a receiving facsimile device to select a preferable communications network by enabling the receiving facsimile device to advertise both communication network capability data associated with the receiving facsimile device and addressing identifiers associated with the communication network capability data and the receiving facsimile device, enabling the transmitting facsimile device to read the advertised communication network capability data and the advertised addressing identifiers associated with the communication network capability data and the receiving facsimile device, and enabling a selection logic to preferentially select a communication network chosen from the advertised communication network capability data that is also compatible with the transmitting facsimile device's capabilities.
US08243306B2
An image processing apparatus and a host apparatus are connected to a network. Before the host apparatus uses the image processing apparatus for the first time, a communication program and information describing the image processing apparatus and its network address are transferred from the image processing apparatus to the host apparatus, and the host apparatus runs the communication program. On the basis of the transferred information, the communication program accesses a driver server through the network, downloads an image processing apparatus control program, installs the image processing apparatus control program in the host apparatus, and makes necessary settings. An up-to-date version of the control program for the image processing apparatus is thereby installed in the host apparatus without the need for input from the user.
US08243305B2
A system automatically processes current capacity and optimal capacity for at least one printing system for use in deterring current billing, optimal billing and operating cost. A data-processing apparatus (CPU) associated with a printer and an optimization module operable together to optimize current capacity and optimal capacity, and determine current billing, optimal billing and operating cost information. Information is optimized for use at a client (local or remote) and for display in a single graphical user interface. Data is used to optimize print system usage.
