US08651552B2
A support structure of a windshield of the present invention comprises a frame having an open section opening forward in a vehicle and a support member provided inside the frame and connecting an upper face portion and a lower face portion of the frame. The frame has a windshield support portion supporting a lower side portion of the windshield at part of the upper face portion. The support member includes a rear support portion attached to the upper face portion of the frame and a front support portion attached to a cowl panel at a specified location positioned in front of the rear support portion. The windshield support portion is positioned between the front and rear support portions in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
US08651551B2
A windshield device for saddle-ride vehicles includes a front wheel, a front suspension, a steering handlebar, a windshield, a windshield stay, and a connecting structure. The front suspension includes left and right front forks and top and bottom bridges. The left and right front forks pivotally support the front wheel. The top and bottom bridges connect the left front fork to the right front fork and are steerably supported by a head pipe in a front portion of a vehicle body. The steering handlebar is connected to the top bridge. The windshield is detachably provided forward of the steering handlebar. The windshield stay is attached to the windshield. The connecting structure connects the windshield stay to an upper surface of the front suspension.
US08651543B2
The grasping apparatus includes a grasping portion for grasping a workpiece. This grasping portion has i) pawl portions having squeezing portions that squeeze the workpiece, and ii) contact portions, each of which has an inner bag made of elastic material, and a granular substance that is filled in the inner bag. The contact portions are attached to portions of the squeezing portions that contact the workpiece, and harden the granular substance while keeping it in an appropriate shape by increasing a volume ratio of the granular substance to an inner volume of the inner bags. Retaining portions that have concavo-convex shapes are formed on the attaching surfaces that are portions of the squeezing portions that the contact portions attach to.
US08651537B2
A door lock apparatus includes a latch mechanism having a latch being engagable with a striker and having a pawl stopping a rotation of the latch being engaged with the striker at a half latched position and a fully latched position, a half latch detection portion, a full latch detection portion, a driving portion for rotating the latch being in the half latched position toward the fully latched position, an intermediate position detection portion and a controlling portion for controlling the driving portion to start the driving portion in order to rotate the latch being in the half latched position toward the fully latched position, to stop the drive of the driving portion when the latch is in the fully latched position and to temporally stop the driving portion when the latch is in the intermediate position.
US08651532B2
A device for connecting two pipes with different external diameters using a sleeve arrangement which bridges the butt joint between the ends of the pipe facing each other. The device contains at least a fixing sleeve which can take up the clips for the two pipes, and, if necessary, a sealing sleeve which is surrounded by the fixing sleeve. High economy and safety can be achieved by the fact that each sleeve of the sleeve arrangement has cylindrical contact sections which can be adjusted to the different external diameters of the two pipes and are connected by a central section which can take a conical form to suite the diameter difference wherein the contact sections of the sleeve next to the external circumference of the two pipes can be brought into direct contact with the two pipes, and the contact sections of the fixing sleeve contain encircling mounting channels assigned to the clips, and wherein the fixing sleeve takes the form of a closed encircling ring which is suitable for three-dimensional deformation.
US08651524B2
An example trajectory control envelope includes a trajectory control envelope configured to receive an airbag and to control deployment of the airbag.
US08651518B2
A side airbag may be smoothly deployed when there is a side collision, and damage to the side airbag at edges of a module case is prevented or suppressed. A recess portion is formed in a seat frame made of resin, and an airbag module is accommodated in the recess portion. The airbag module is provided with a module case in a substantial box shape. An upper side gap is formed between an upper wall portion and an upper end of a side airbag, and a lower side gap is formed between a lower wall portion and a lower end of the side airbag. A length of the upper wall portion is set shorter than a length of an upper wall portion of the recess portion. As a result, the side airbag is less likely to come into contact with the upper wall portion of the module case.
US08651514B2
A vehicle interior panel for use over an airbag includes a covering disposed over a substrate. The covering includes a decorative layer with an inner surface that faces the substrate and an opposite decorative surface. A non-visible tear seam is formed at the inner surface of the decorative layer. Tear seam tape is attached to the inner surface of the decorative layer along at least a portion of the tear seam to hold the decorative layer together at the tear seam. The tear seam tape can help prevent the tear seam from becoming visible at the decorative surface.
US08651511B2
A collapsible stroller has a collapsing operation in width and front/rear directions that can be performed simultaneously. The collapsible stroller has a frame including a pair of front leg tubes and a pair of rear leg tubes pivotally collapsibly coupled to the front legs; a seat unit including a pair of seat side-tubes and a pair of backrest tubes; a first collapsing auxiliary assembly horizontally collapsibly disposed between lateral sides of the frame and operably coupled to the side-tubes of the site unit and the rear leg tubes; a second collapsing auxiliary assembly disposed between the rear leg tubes; and an operation unit operably coupled to the side-tubes of the seat unit and releasibly coupled to the rear leg tubes of the frame, thereby the two dimensional collapsing operation of the stroller can be performed by one hand of the user.
US08651508B2
A portable trailer dock system features a floating dock assembly pivotally mounted atop a trailer frame to allow elevating of a free end of the floating dock assembly above the corresponding distal end of the trailer opposite the towing end thereof so that the dock can be held above the water surface when the trailer is backed into a body of water to temporarily install the dock thereat. In another embodiment, the connection between the dock and trailer is releasable to allow floating of the dock further out over the water. Another embodiment features a cover disposed over an a-frame neck of the trailer and a pair of extensions pivotally mounted to opposite sides of the neck for selective pivoting into deployed positions cooperating with the a-frame cover to form a walkway between the dock and the towing vehicle.
US08651505B2
A bicycle 10 providing increased power transfer and improved aerodynamic characteristics. The bicycle includes a seat assembly 70 that supports the anterior pelvic region so the rider extends forwardly over the bicycle instead of in an upright position. The bicycle also includes a rear mounted drive assembly 80 to increase the power transfer from the rider.
US08651496B2
A seal to seal a gap between a rotatable component (4, 18) and a non-rotatable component comprises: A fastening section adapted to be fixedly mounted in relation to the non-rotatable component, a sleeve-like section (3) adapted to be mounted around the rotatable component (4, 18), a resilient section (7) between the sleeve-like and fastening section comprising an arcuate portion (8), and in an unmounted condition, the sleeve-like section (3) has an inner diameter, DSEAL, with a predefined magnitude relative to an outer diameter of the rotating component, DSHAFT, such that 0.9≦DSEAL/DSHAFT≦1.1.
US08651494B2
A split mechanical end face seal assembly has a split gland plate assembly, a split mating seal ring assembly, a split primary seal ring assembly and a split biasing assembly. The segmented mating seal ring is axially and radially supported on the segmented mating ring adapter by resilient connector strips as pre-assembled sub-assemblies and the resilient connector strips axially non-rigidly support the mating seal ring within said mating ring adapter assembly. An axially movable primary sealing ring assembly includes a segmented primary seal ring. The biasing assembly is pre-assembled into the gland plate assembly and urges the primary seal ring into sealing relation with the mating seal ring. A method of installation includes resilient axial and radial support of the mating seal ring segments in mating ring adapter segments by the resilient connector strip for installation as a pre-assembled sub-assembly. It further includes pre-assembly of semi-circular shaped biasing ring segments into segments of the gland plate assembly.
US08651489B2
A method to implement a blackjack side wager. The player makes a side wager which buys the player a predetermined point total such as 18. The game then continues and the side wager is resolved as if the player's hand for the side wager was 18, using the same blackjack rules as main wager at the table. If the dealer busts or has a final point total less than 18 the player wins the side wager. If the dealer does not bust and has a final point total greater than 18 the player loses the side wager. If the dealer has a final point total equaling 18 then the player pushes the side wager.
US08651488B2
A three-dimensional game device may include selection units that are located at the corners, edges and sides of a body member, thereby creating strategic lines of selectable positions extending in three dimensions across the junction of at least two surfaces of the device.
US08651484B1
Selection devices are provided that comprise a sheet mechanically attached above the surface of a base such that prize or other selection references can be positioned and displayed at different selectable locations on the device. The sheet may mechanically attach above the surface of the base by interacting with the base at a plurality of locations on the base. The sheet may mechanically interact with, for example, radially-oriented, ribs projecting in wheel spoke-like locations above the surface of the base. Paper or cards placed between such ribs and also between the base and clear sheet may display information about individual selectable items that are won or otherwise selected based on a spin of the wheel.
US08651476B2
A separator assembly is disclosed herein. An example includes a base to mount to a printing device and a wall supported by the base. The example also includes a singulation assembly adjacent the wall to separate a medium from a media stack and a ramp adjacent the singulation assembly to guide the medium from the media stack to a feed assembly. The example further includes a corner relief feature on either side of and below the ramp into which corners of the medium may drop and travel below a remainder of the medium as the medium is guided from the media stack to the feed assembly and a guide adjacent each corner relief feature to lift the corners of the medium out of the corner relief features before the medium enters the feed assembly. A media handling assembly is also disclosed herein as is a method of media handling.
US08651467B2
A fluid-filled type vibration damping device including a partition member having a moveable film and a short passage interconnecting a pressure receiving chamber and an equilibrium chamber. A valve member that switches between a communicating state and a shut off state of the short passage projects from the moveable film. The valve member has a thick walled part and a thin walled part, the thin walled part being pressed on an inner wall surface of the short passage. A pressure of the pressure receiving chamber is applied through the short passage to a pressure receiving chamber side surface of the thick walled part, while an equilibrium chamber side surface thereof is supported by the partition member. The pressure of the pressure receiving chamber is applied to one side of the thin walled part and a pressure of the equilibrium chamber is applied to another side thereof through the short passage.
US08651464B2
A resilient returning device for a power operated piston tool comprises a one piece elastic bellow-shaped body including a plurality of repeating pleats, each of which has two pleat halves that cooperatively define a first elbow therebetween. Each of the pleat halves of each of the pleats cooperates with an adjacent one of the pleat halves of an adjacent one of the pleats to define a second elbow therebetween. Each of the first and second elbows has a bulging side. The bellow-shaped body is formed with a plurality of loop-shaped grooves that are indented from the bulging sides of the first elbows of the pleats or the bulging sides of the second elbows of the pleats, respectively.
US08651463B2
A balustrade and a method of manufacturing it are provided. The balustrade has a number of upright posts that are anchored in a substrate and has rails that extend between the posts. The rails are attached to the posts with attachment formations, by way of a press fit, so that the balustrade can be assembled without any welding on site.
US08651462B2
A lift construction for lifting and lowering a blade of a windmill is described herein. The lift construction for lifting and lowering a blade of a windmill to and from its mounted position at a rotatable cone of the windmill comprises a first yoke mountable at the inside of the blade and a second yoke mountable in the cone of the windmill, wherein the first yoke and the second yoke are arranged to cooperate.
US08651457B2
A float sled comprising a body with a substantially flat upper surface, a lift plate operationally associated with the body and adapted to move from a first position in proximity to the upper surface of the body to a second position above the first position and above the body, a set of pneumatic air bag lifts associated with the lift plate to raise and lower the lift plate to various horizontal orientations with differing degrees of tilt, and an air bearing adapted to raise the body above the ground.
US08651442B2
First fitting portions (9a and 9b) and second fitting portions (9c and 9d) are arranged in a hook shape on the bottom (3a) of a housing to face each other. The first fitting portions are fittingly engaged to one rail edge (2a) of a rail (2) in the width direction and the second fitting portions are fittingly engaged to the other rail edge (2b) of the rail. A linear spring (10) bent in a mountain shape is disposed on the bottom of the housing. The linear spring elastically deforms to reduce the inclination angle of the mountain by contacting the end surface of the one rail edge engaged to the first fitting portions. The urging force of the linear spring urges the rail such that the other rail edge is pressed by the second fitting portions.
US08651437B2
A pivoting assembly with a positioning function includes a base and a casing assembled with the base. The base is provided with curved elastic arms and two fixing supports. Each fixing support has a pivotal hole. One surface of the casing is formed with a curved portion for allowing the curved elastic arm to abut against and two holes for allowing the fixing support to pass through. The other surface of the casing is formed with a protrusion pivotally connected to the pivotal hole. When the curved portion slides on the curved elastic arm, elastic abutment between the curved portion and the curved elastic arm makes the casing to be positioned by friction fit with respect to the base.
US08651435B2
The present invention provides a device for mounting systems, for example an electrical or fluid-conveying line, on a structure, in particular of an aircraft or spacecraft, the device comprising: a basic holder which can be fastened to the structure; and at least a first system holder for mounting the systems; the basic holder being made up of at least a first part comprising a first interface for fastening the first system holder and a second part comprising a second interface for fastening the first or a second system holder, the interfaces being formed in an identical manner and pointing in different spatial directions.
US08651433B2
A method and an apparatus for an on-board train control device are provided, and are based on converting speed codes received from wayside cab-signaling devices into movement authority limits. The device determines the train location independent of the wayside train detection system, and generates and enforces stopping profiles based on said movement authority limits.
US08651417B2
An aircraft landing gear assembly includes a bogie beam, a landing gear strut and a stop. The landing gear strut has a first end arranged to be pivotally coupled to an aircraft and a second end pivotally coupled to the bogie beam. The stop is arranged to limit pivotal movement of the bogie beam relative to the landing gear strut The stop includes an elongate member arranged to be deflectable in bending when the bogie beam reaches a pivotal limit.
US08651408B1
A vertical auger mixer for blending feed ingredients for farm animals has a frusto-conical shaped tub having an open top, a closed bottom and a motor-driven auger journaled for rotation about a vertical axis in the closed bottom. The tub has a discharge opening in a sidewall thereof, the opening having a door movable between an open and closed position. The tub is mounted on a base frame with plural load cells operatively disposed between the base frame and the tub such that the contents of the tub can be weighed and the tub can be rotated to fit installation requirements. An L-shaped tub reinforcing band is welded about the tub surrounding its upper rim in a way that inhibits unwanted collection of feed materials.
US08651406B2
A pepper grinder has a body, a grinding mechanism, and a drive mechanism for operating the grinding mechanism by causing relative movement between two grinding members. The drive mechanism has a lever for reciprocating pivotal movement in opposite directions to produce a driving force, a first ratchet arranged to transmit the driving force from the lever, upon pivoting of the lever in the first direction, causing relative movement between the grinding members in a third direction to grind pepper, and a second ratchet arranged to transmit the driving force from the lever, upon pivoting of the lever in the second direction, causing relative movement between the grinding members in the third direction to grind pepper. Upon reciprocating pivoting of the lever in the opposite directions, the first and second ratchets alternate in transmitting the driving force from the lever to the grinding mechanism.
US08651405B2
The roller mill according to the invention substantially comprises at least one grinding roller and a grinding table, the grinding table having a grinding table inner space which is open in a downward direction, at least one grinding roller drive system for driving the grinding roller and a grinding table drive system for driving the grinding table. The grinding table drive system further has a gearless direct drive which is arranged in the grinding table inner space.
US08651404B2
A shredder includes a paper placement platform, a feeding roller assembly, and a shredding knife assembly. The paper placement platform includes four recesses. The four recesses are located adjacent to four corners of the paper placement platform, respectively. Moreover, plural clip removing bulges are discretely protruded from and arranged on a top surface of the paper placement platform beside each recess. The feeding roller assembly is arranged between the paper placement platform and the shredding knife assembly and exposed to the paper placement platform. During the paper on the paper placement platform is driven by the feeding roller assembly to be moved toward the shredding knife assembly, an edge of the paper is transferred through the plural clip removing bulges, so that a paperclip at the edge of the paper is blocked by the plural clip removing bulges to be separated from the paper.
US08651381B2
A sighting apparatus for a firearm includes a video camera capable of capturing and tracking the path of a projectile The captured images are taken generally concurrently with the firing of the first projectile, and with the projectile reaching the target. A video display includes a reticle positioned at the center of the display to permit the user to aim the firearm by positioning the reticle over the target. A processor receives captured images from the camera. An output interface delivers information to the video display to enable the video display to display images of the target area. Software and a processor determine the flight path of the projectile and the point where the projectile impacts or passes by the intended target and adjusts for the variance between the two points by moving the image on the display.
US08651379B2
The invention relates to a switchgear cabinet or rack comprising a mounting unit, the front of which has vertical mounting profiles that laterally delimit an installation space for installed user-side units, said profiles having fixing sections for attaching mounting sections of the installed units, and comprising components of a detection device for determining the presence of an installed unit in an installation position of the installation space. he components of the detection device have a vertical detector strip that is attached to a mounting profile and contains detector elements associated with the installed positions and arranged on or in said strip and code carriers that are provided on the installed units, the information from said carriers being transmitted for evaluation via the detector elements to a monitoring and control unit, either wirelessly or by wire. Clearly-represented user information is achieved for the switchgear cabinet using light elements mounted on or in the detector strip, said elements being associated with the installation positions and achieved by the fact that the light elements can be controlled in accordance with the information in the code carriers.
US08651377B2
An analysis system for analyzing biological samples, such as body fluids, methods implemented by the analysis system, and a computer program product for implementing the analysis system are disclosed. The system may include first and second lab devices, at least one of the lab devices may have a user identification component for identifying a user, a device identification component for identifying the lab device, and an interface component for sending a user identifier of the identified user and a device identifier of the lab device. The system may include a server computer having a server interface component for receiving the user identifier and the device identifier, and a processing component for determining a step of a workflow to be executed by the identified user, wherein the server interface component is operable to send a signal being indicative of a determined workflow to the lab device identified by the device identifier.
US08651375B1
A system comprising a referral acceptor; a referral coordinator coupled to the referral acceptor; a referral calculator coupled to the referral calculator; and an input/output (I/O) device coupled to the referral coordinator. The referral acceptor is configured to accept a referral card. The referral card has a referrer identifier which identifiers a referrer of a holder of the referral card.
US08651372B2
A self-service terminal includes a first cabinet, a cover rotatably secured on the first cabinet, and an adjustment device received in the first cabinet. A card slot for inputting/outputting a cash card is defined in the cover, and a positioning member is attached to the user interface cover. The adjustment device includes a positioning tray and a mounting member slidably secured to the positioning tray. A reader is attached to the positioning tray and includes an interface. The mounting member includes a slanted side plate abutting the positioning tray; wherein the positioning member is engaged with the positioning tray, for aligning with the interface of the reader and the card slot of the cover.
US08651360B2
An ultrasonic bonding system is provided. The system includes: a) a bond head assembly carrying an ultrasonic bonding tool; b) a conductive material supply; c) a conductive material feeding system for guiding a length of the conductive material supply to a position proximate the ultrasonic bonding tool; and d) a vapor generation system for supplying a vapor proximate the ultrasonic bonding tool, the vapor including a carrier gas and a lubricating vapor.
US08651359B2
A low thermal conductivity material layer covers a peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the conductive plate of a chip bonder head. The center portion of the conductive plate is exposed or covered with another conductive plate laterally surrounded by the low thermal conductivity material layer. During bonding, the chip bonder head holds a first substrate upside down and heats the first substrate through the conductive plate. Heating of a fillet, i.e., the laterally extruding portion, of a pre-applied underfill material is reduced because the temperature at the exposed surfaces of the low thermal conductivity material layer is lower than the temperature at the bottom surface of the conductive plate. The longer curing time and the more uniform shape of the fillet in the bonded structure enhance the structural reliability of the bonded substrates.
US08651352B2
A holster for a portable device is described. The holster includes a cleaning mechanism for cleaning a surface of a portable device while it is in the holster. The cleaning mechanism comprises a cleaning head movably coupled to a housing of the holster and positioned adjacent an interior surface of the holster; and an actuator coupled to the cleaning head and positioned on an exterior portion of the holster. Movement of the actuator moves the cleaning head, cleaning a portion of a surface of the portable device.
US08651349B2
The present invention relates to an attachment device by means of which, in use, an object is attached to a roof rack which is or at least can be connected to roof rails of a car, comprising a housing, at least two movable jaws extending to outside the housing, which jaws engage round a roof rack in use, and actuating means provided with an operating element for moving said at least two jaws together, wherein the actuating means are designed to translate the jaws and comprise at least one rack, which rack is engaged when the operating element is operated. The invention further relates to a combination of a roof rack and such an attachment device and to a combination of an object to be attached to a roof rack and such an attachment device.
US08651345B2
A glove with stationary arrangement includes at least a glove body having a non-operatable area, a glove station having a retention surface, and a magnetic arrangement provided at the non-operatable area of the glove body in a hidden manner, wherein the magnetic arrangement is magnetically affixed at the retention surface to detachably retain the glove body thereon so as to enable the user wearing the glove body in a donning and doffing manner in a hand down position.
US08651343B2
A suspensory lifting apparatus for lead suits in radiation therapy is an apparatus to suspend a lead suit for radiation therapists. A radiation therapist puts on the lead suit under the apparatus. A load of the lead suit imposing on the therapist is reduced by the apparatus. Thus, a radiation therapist is able to take actions comfortably as far as the mechanical arm's reach of the apparatus.
US08651339B2
A description is given of a filling system for the metered delivery of a lubricant, comprising a container for receiving the lubricant, wherein a rod interacts with the container, is mounted movably with respect to it and forces the lubricant out of an outlet opening arranged in the container. The invention also relates to cartridges for use in the filling system. One of the underlying objects of the invention was that of providing a filling system which can be supplemented by simple workshop means and enables the operator to fill up a lubricating system in a vehicle effortlessly within a short time. This object is achieved by a filling system in which the rod is rotatably mounted with respect to the container and turning of the rod in a predetermined direction of rotation brings about a reduction in the storage volume in the container or a handheld device and in which the rod has means for establishing a rotationally fixed connection with an adaptable turning tool.
US08651334B2
The invention pertains to a cartridge (1) with at least one chamber (6a, 6b) for accommodating a substance that respectively features a dispensing opening (11a, 11b) and another opening that is closed by a piston (8a, 8b) that can be displaced in the chamber and serves for dispensing the substance. The cartridge (1) furthermore features a piston rod mechanism (4) for displacing the piston (8a, 8b) in the chamber (6a, 6b). In this case, the piston rod mechanism is composed of several piston rods (14, 14a, 14b, 15, 15′) that can be transferred from a first dispensing stage to a second dispensing stage with the aid of a spring element (18, 18a, 18b).
US08651321B2
A gumball machine includes a gumball container that contains a plurality of gumballs, and a neck portion coupled to the gumball container. The gumball machine has an elongated transparent housing having an upper end coupled to the neck portion, and a base coupled to the lower end of the elongated housing. A speaker is positioned inside the base and is electrically coupled to a switch, a plurality of lighting elements are arranged inside the transparent housing and electrically coupled to the switch, and a power supply is housed inside the base and electrically coupled to the switch, the speaker and the lighting elements. When an actuator is actuated, the actuator turns on the switch to cause the lighting elements to flash, the speaker to broadcast sound and/or music, and a gumball to be dispensed from the gumball container.
US08651313B1
Technologies are described herein for storing fluid in an underwater cryogenic storage vessel designed for use in a fuel system of an underwater vehicle. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a storage vessel includes at least two concentrically arranged storage tanks, which includes a first storage tank and a second storage tank. The first storage tank surrounds the second storage tank, such that the first storage tank is configured to protect the second storage tank from external environmental conditions. The storage vessel also includes a storage compartment positioned adjacent to the two storage tanks. In one embodiment, the storage vessel may be an underwater cryogenic storage vessel that stores liquid oxygen used as a reactant in a fuel cell and liquid carbon dioxide, which is an effluent of the fuel cell.
US08651305B1
A closure assembly for mounting on a container includes a base configured for mounting on the container and defining an aperture through which the interior of the container is accessible. The base comprises a perimeter, a separator mounted on and extending across the perimeter with the aperture being formed in the separator, and a valve positioned on the separator. The valve extends across the aperture in the separator, and is openable by the application of pressure on the valve and self-closable upon removal of the pressure from the valve. The assembly also includes a cover for selectively covering the aperture. The cover is mounted on the base and is movable with respect to the base between a closed position and an open position. The closed position is characterized by the aperture not being accessible and the open position is characterized by the aperture being accessible.
US08651303B1
A locking stopper component has lower, upper and central extents. The lower extent includes a stick. A frusto-conical cam shoulder is formed in a central extent of the stick. The upper extent includes a lock rotatable between locked and unlocked positions and an upper shaft. The central extent operatively coupling the upper and lower extents includes a reciprocating assembly and a rotatable assembly whereby rotating the lock rotates the rotatable assembly and raises the reciprocating assembly to secure the component in a tubular member.
US08651288B2
A merchandise display system is presented. The display system includes a support frame, a plurality of shelves disposed on the support frame, and a plurality of dividers coupled to each shelf. Each shelf includes a base having a plurality of arcuate surfaces extending continuously as tangent radii from a front end to a rear end of the base. In one embodiment, the arcuate surfaces and the dividers cooperate to define a plurality of lanes. Each lane is dimensioned to accommodate a front to back column of merchandise items. When a merchandise item is placed at the rear end of one of the lanes, the merchandise item traverses the lane by gravity to the forward end of the lane such that the merchandise item is presented to a prospective consumer in a substantially upright and forward facing position.
US08651287B2
A crockery basket is provided for receiving a plurality of different types of crockery, especially in a dishwasher machine, said basket comprising a grid-type holding device consisting of a plurality of prongs that can be pivoted between different pivoting positions. The holding device consists of at least two pivoting rows of prongs that can be independently pivoted between the different pivoting positions.
US08651270B2
Hydrogen energy systems for obtaining hydrogen gas from a solid storage medium using controlled laser beams. Also disclosed are systems for charging/recharging magnesium with hydrogen to obtain magnesium hydride. Other relatively safe systems assisting storage, transport and use (as in vehicles) of such solid storage mediums are disclosed.
US08651266B2
An oil supply device for a conveyance device, comprising a conveyance chain, an upper rail in which the chain travels and an oil supply device provided above the upper rail. A groove portion is provided at an inner surface side of the upper rail. An upper key member is positioned between the groove portion and the chain to support the upper portion of the chain. An oil supply hole, through which oil passes, is formed at a position of the upper rail which corresponds to a position above the upper key member. The oil, dropped from the oil supply device, passes through the oil supply hole of the upper rail and is applied to an upper surface of the upper key member. The oil applied to the upper surface of the upper key member is flown along the upper surface and the side surface thereof and supplied to the chain.
US08651263B2
A conveyor system includes a conveyor surface formed of a plurality of rollers in a single file arrangement. A center guide assembly has a guide configuration where a center guide member extends between adjacent ones of the plurality of rollers and beyond the conveyor surface and a recessed configuration where the center guide member is recessed from the conveyor surface.
US08651261B2
A tubular food product launching system and method for interacting with a product loading head is disclosed. The system includes a pick belt, positioned alongside product carrying intermediate belts. The pick belt supplies additional product to a product inspector or vision equipped robot cell to replace defective or missing product observed on the intermediate belt(s) with replacement product from the pick belt. The overall system speed, and pick belt speed, can be adjusted to accommodate varying product post-launcher fill-rates in accord with the nature of the product and the abilities and speed of the robot cell and/or product inspector, so as to reliably assure 100% final fill-rate as product is fed to the loading head.
US08651260B2
A method and a device for handling containers is described, wherein the containers are transported along a predetermined transport path and combined with at least one other product, the amount of which can be determined, in such a way that the product is fed to each individual container in a predetermined feed area of the transport path, wherein the other product is routed along a feed path to the feed area. At least one characterizing state is determined in a detection area disposed upstream relative to the feed area in a direction of transport of the containers, the state being characteristic of a number of containers fed, and a residual amount for the product that remains to be fed to the predetermined feed area until the product is switched is determined as a function of this characteristic state.
US08651258B2
A system and method for a transfer of material in a tube or chute from a first location at a first height to a second location at a second height. The system can increase the lifespan and usefulness of that chute by allowing an easy rotation that tube or chute with respect to its supply and distribution locations such that the requirement for heavy machinery is reduced or eliminated during the repositioning process. This system allows for the correct positioning of a unworn or underutilized location of that chute as the main support path for the material transport in that chute.
US08651257B2
A driving structure for a wheel hub of a bicycle includes a wheel hub having a ratchet wheel, a ratchet base having an operating member and connected to the wheel hub, an engaging block and an elastic member both assembled onto the operating member, the elastic member abutting against the engaging block so that the engaging block is engaged with the ratchet wheel, a rotating ring assembled between the ratchet wheel and the operating member and having a plurality of abutting plates, each abutting plate abutting against the corresponding engaging block, an elastomer defined on the operating member and abutting against the rotating ring. Under this arrangement, the ratchet wheel simultaneously engages with the engaging blocks, because of the rotating ring and the elastomer.
US08651256B2
A method of determining the wear condition of a shifting clutch (1) of a motor vehicle which is provided either for interrupting the force flow or equalizing the rotation speed between a drive output shaft (2) of an internal combustion engine (3) and a drivetrain (4). The wear condition of the clutch (1) is determined from the parameters of clutch release path (sausrück) the and release force (Fausrück), at a release bearing (5) of the clutch (1) and, for this purpose, a difference between the clutch release path (sausrück), at a first increase-point (11; 12) of the release force (Fausrück) and at a reference point (13) represented by a second increase of the release force (Fausrück), is measured when the clutch is actuated.
US08651251B2
A regulable dashpot with shock-absorption force controls, especially intended for motor vehicles, with at least one flow-regulating system including one or more shock-absorption components for the compression phase and/or for the decompression phase. The object is to allow the dashpot to shift continuously between the hard and soft phases, whereby the valve-adjustment intervals can be varied at intervals that are not unnecessarily short or even unattainable. At least one valve assembly is accordingly supplied with variable flow impedance by regulating valve.
US08651247B2
A wheel bearing hub and disc brake rotor assembly for use on vehicles includes a rotor (14) and a wheel mount (24), formed as a package bearing, fastened to the rotor with a connection assembly that promotes in plane torque transfer. The rotor has a flange form as a series of spaced tabs (20), and the wheel bearing hub (14) has a shoulder with complementary spaced tabs (34). The rotor is connected to the bearing hub by clamping a bridge (42) that spans the shoulder tabs over the rotor tabs. A spring clip (50) can be use with the bridge to accommodate thermal expansion of the rotor and eliminate rattling. Torque is transferred from the brake rotor to the bearing hub in a common plane to prevent twisting. In one embodiment, the bearing hub shoulder tabs may be formed by milling or machining slots. In another embodiment, the bearing hub shoulder tabs may be formed by fine-blanking or stamping slots.
US08651236B2
An operator cage for a machine such as a mobile elevating work platform comprises a base unit (22) and a fence assembly (25) releasably attached to the base unit, wherein the cage (6) is constructed and arranged to be readily disassembled for convenient transportation.
US08651232B2
Transparent panel of acrylic glass (PMMA) having internal reinforcement elements for securing fragments of the acrylic glass formed upon an impact with a foreign body. The reinforcement elements are embedded interspersed within the panel and spaced apart in parallel longitudinally. The reinforcement elements include rigid cables and elastic cables. The rigid cables are formed of a metal having an ultimate tensile strength of at least 500 MPa. The elastic cables are formed of a metal having a percentage elongation (engineering strain at fracture) of at least 30%, preferably between 40% and 80%. The rigid cables and elastic cables may be separate and spaced apart from one another, or intertwined with each other. The panels may be used to form an acoustic barrier.
US08651231B1
Muffler tubes and methods of forming muffler tubes are provided. In one example, a muffler tube has an end portion with a plurality of outwardly extending tabs, wherein the tabs are folded radially inwards to at least partially close the end portion of the tube.
US08651227B2
A motor control device and an electric power steering system that make it possible to suppress occurrence of voltage saturation with a simple configuration are provided. A current limiting value computing unit computes a current limiting basic value of which the value is lower as a rotation angular velocity of a motor increases, and computes a voltage gain of which the value is smaller as a power voltage value, detected by a first voltage sensor provided at an electric power line that constitutes an electric power supply line to the motor, decreases. In addition, the current limiting value computing unit computes a difference between a control voltage value, detected by a second voltage sensor provided at a control line independent of the electric power line, and the above power voltage value, and computes an output gain of which the value is smaller as the difference increases. Then, by multiplying the output gain by the current limiting basic value together with a voltage gain, a current limiting value is computed.
US08651218B2
A muffler of a construction machine is formed by respectively coupling silencers to entrance and exit sides of an exhaust-gas purifying device by flanges. In flange coupling portions, mounting seats are provided integrally with lower semicircumferential portions of the flanges of the silencers in a manner such as to protrude toward outer peripheries of the flanges. By coupling the mounting seats to muffler mount brackets attached to a muffler mount, the muffler is mounted on the muffler mount.
US08651215B2
In a motor driven vehicle in which an electric motor is disposed in a vehicle-body-rear portion of a swing arm swingably supported by a body frame and the vehicle travels by transmitting the drive force of the electric motor to a rear wheel, a vibration generating device for generating vibration in accordance with the transmitted drive force is installed on a drive force transmission path from the electric motor to the rear wheel. The vibration generating device includes a gear pair partially embedded with respective weights to lose a rotational balance during rotation. A sound producing device for producing a predetermined sound in accordance with the transmitted drive force is installed on the same transmission path. The sound producing device is driven by a transmitting device reciprocating through contact with a cam attached to a reduction gear serving as a rotating body.
US08651214B2
A two-wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The two-wheeled vehicle may include highway bars. The two-wheeled vehicle may include a steering axis which is tilted relative to a fork axis. The two-wheeled vehicle may be configured in a faring configuration and in a non-fairing configuration.
US08651210B2
Engine exhaust is sent to a reformer, which produces hydrogen from fuel remaining in the exhaust. The hydrogen may be stored in a hydrogen tank, and may be used by a fuel cell to produce electricity to recharge a vehicle battery and/or to supply propulsion current to an electric propulsion system.
US08651204B2
An cutting element incorporates a non-magnetic and electrically conductive substrate on which a layer of polycrystalline diamond particles is sintered to the substrate. An method of forming a cutting element comprises sintering the substrate, a layer of diamond particles and a catalyst source at a pressure greater than 20 kbar and a temperature greater than 1200° C. to form a layer of polycrystalline diamond particles bonded to the substrate. Cutting elements incorporating non-magnetic and electrically conductive substrates can be sectioned using ablation techniques, such as laser cutting.
US08651197B2
A manually operated hammer drill (1) includes a spindle (3) that drives a chuck (5) in a rotary manner about an axis of rotation (6) in a drilling mode, and includes a pneumatic hammer mechanism (4), that hammers against a tool inserted in the chuck (5) in a hammer mode. The hammer mechanism (4) has a piston (10) which performs reciprocating movements (12) parallel to the axis of rotation (6) in a cylinder (11) conformed inside the spindle (3) when hammer mode is activated. The piston (10) has at least one radial groove (21) in which an annular seal (22) is arranged.
US08651187B2
A method and apparatus for the management of injection and production of well fluids in a subterranean well is described to optimize the use of stimulation fluids to enhance their compatibility with subterranean reservoirs and the surface environment and thereby reducing the damage said fluids induce in subterranean reservoirs and upon flow back to the surface reduce their damage to the environment is described. More specifically, this method is directed to the subterranean treatment of injection fluids.
US08651179B2
A swellable packer device upon exposure to brine in a well. The device may be swellable to a substantially constant profile in spite of significant fluctuations in brine concentrations. Thus, the likelihood of packer failure due to under-swelling or over-swelling is reduced. Indeed, the packer may be employed for long-term operations or isolations ranging from a couple of weeks to twenty years or more without undue concern over packer failure from under or over swelling.
US08651158B2
Disclosed herein is a method of: treating an organic polymer with an electron beam-generated plasma; exposing the treated polymer to air or an oxygen- and hydrogen-containing gas, generating hydroxyl groups on the surface of the polymer; reacting the surface with an organosilane compound having a chloro, fluoro, or alkoxy group and a functional or reactive group that is less reactive with the surface than the chloro, fluoro, or alkoxy group; and covalently immobilizing a biomolecule to the functional or reactive group or a reaction product thereof.
US08651156B2
The present invention provides an improved shear band for use in non-pneumatic tires, pneumatic tires, and other technologies. The improved shear band is uniquely constructed of honeycomb shaped units that can replace the elastomeric continuum materials such as natural or synthetic rubber or polyurethane that are typically used. In particular, honeycomb structures made of high modulus materials such as metals or polycarbonates are used that provide the desired shear strains and shear modulus when subjected to stress. When used in tire construction, improvements in rolling resistance can be obtained because of less mass being deformed and reduced hysteresis provided by these materials. The resulting mass of the shear band is greatly reduced if using low density materials. Higher density materials can be used (such as metals) without increasing mass while utilizing their characteristic low energy loss.
US08651151B2
A vehicle fuel inlet shut-off valve assembly includes a two-piece housing having inner and outer housing components secured to each other. The housing components can be provided of different materials, with a surface coating. A flapper door assembly is secured in the outer housing component and includes directionally biased interlocking components that facilitate installation and inhibit disconnection after assembly with redundant connections.
US08651149B2
A fluid jacket concrete pipe system includes a concrete pipe enveloped by a fluid-filled jacket. The fluid-filled jacket includes an inner jacket wall, an outer jacket wall, and a first and second side wall interconnecting the inner jacket wall to the outer jacket wall. A fluid inlet is disposed on the outer jacket wall. The outer jacket wall has a thickness dependent on a diameter of the concrete pipe and an external loading of the fluid jacket concrete pipe system.
US08651147B2
The present embodiments relate to an apparatus which can be used to increase the bending strength of a tube in its connection region. The apparatus may include an adapter unit, the shape of which is matched to a cross-sectional shape of a tube end in such a manner that on the one hand the adapter unit can be fitted to a tube connection of a device instead of the tube end and on the other hand the tube end can be fitted to the adapter unit. The apparatus may also include at least one spring element made of glass fiber reinforced plastic, which is connected to the adapter unit, projects out of the adapter unit in the direction of the tube and has a termination element at the projecting end, against which termination element a fitted tube abuts when subjected to bending, so that the rigidity of the spring element increases the bending strength of the tube in the region between the adapter unit and the element.
US08651129B2
An arrangement and method for generating or depositing a stream of m>1 fluid segments, respectively separated by an intermediary medium which does not mix with the fluid segments. The arrangement includes a molded body having a channel for conducting the fluid stream, from which n≧m first access lines and n second access lines branch off. The first and second access lines are configured so to be inserted into n wells. The lengths of the first access lines differ from the lengths of the second access lines, and respectively one first valve is arranged in the channel, between the branching location for each second access line and the branching location for each associated first access line, and wherein respectively a second valve is arranged in each second access line.
US08651128B2
A method and apparatus for isolating a section of sewer line. In one embodiment, a chamber is provided that extends into the ground and intersects a sewer pipe. Thereafter, the fluid in the sewer pipe is exposed to an interior of the chamber and a dam is placed in the chamber to isolate an upstream portion of the chamber from a downstream portion. As fluid collects in the upstream side of the chamber, at least one pump is used to control the fluid level in the upstream portion by transferring the fluid from the chamber to a predetermined, remote location.
US08651123B2
An umbrella for use in receiving a golf club is provided that includes a stem and a frame carried by the stem. A canopy is supported by the frame and has an interior surface and an oppositely disposed exterior surface. The canopy defines a canopy aperture that extends completely through the canopy. A club receiving member is configured for receipt of at least a portion of a golf club and is arranged in relation to the canopy aperture such that at least a portion of the golf club is capable of being disposed through the canopy aperture and received by the club receiving member.
US08651120B2
An interdental treatment device comprises a generator 16 for generating a non-thermal gaseous plasma at a temperature suitable for use in oral treatment and an applicator 18 of the non-thermal plasma. The applicator 18 may comprise a hollow needle member for directing a jet of the non-thermal plasma interdentally. Alternatively the applicator 18 may comprise an interdental brush having a hollow head for receiving a non-thermal gaseous plasma, the head having at least one lateral opening for the discharge of the plasma. The generator 16 and applicator 18 may both form part of a hand-held device 10 having its own gas supply in the form of a capsule 12 containing pressurized gas and its own power supply in the form of a battery 20.
US08651117B2
An applicator used to apply a cosmetic composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows includes a stem having a distal stem portion extending along a longitudinal axis and further includes a brush extending from the distal stem portion. The brush includes a core supporting bristles. The core extends along a longitudinal axis that is entirely contained within a plane. The core further has a first curve that is concave towards a first side of the core and a second curve, different from the first curve, that is concave towards a second side of the core opposite from the first side of the core. The longitudinal axis of the core crosses the longitudinal axis of the distal stem portion at least once. The core of the brush extends along the longitudinal axis of the core towards a free end of the core without turning back towards the distal stem portion.
US08651092B2
A gas cooler for an internal combustion engine is provided that includes a gas duct through which a gas flow supplied to the internal combustion engine can flow in a flow direction, and having a heat exchanger which is inserted into the gas duct through a lateral opening in an insertion direction, wherein a fluid or cooling the gas flow can flow through the heat exchanger, and wherein a first profile which runs in the insertion direction is formed on at least one side of the heat exchanger, which first profile meshes with a second profile provided on the gas duct.
US08651087B2
In order to create an engine more preferably for a small working machine, for example for garden, forest and landscape work or for an engine-operated tool and the like, with a carburettor unit for mixture provision, in which carburettor unit via an inlet pipe is connected with a cylinder of the engine, wherein the cylinder extends along its piston running direction from its crankcase side as far as to its head end, and wherein a holding device is provided which serves for the mechanical holding of at least the carburettor unit and at least comprises an elastic element with an improved arrangement of the carburettor unit and easy removability of the carburettor, i.e. simple assembly and disassembly, it is proposed that the holding device with the at least one elastic element is provided between the carburettor unit and the cylinder and that the holding device is arranged above the inlet pipe in the direction towards the head end of the cylinder in such a manner that a suspended arrangement of the carburettor unit on the cylinder is formed.
US08651077B2
A fluid-pressure-operated valve timing controller includes an outer rotor, an inner rotor, and a spiral spring constructed by an element wire spirally extending. The spiral spring biases the inner rotor in a biasing direction when the spiral spring twistingly deforms in accordance with sliding rotation of the inner rotor in a deformation direction relative to the outer rotor. The spiral spring has a bent part bent to protrude in a radial direction. The bent part of the spiral spring is linearly contact with a part of the element wire located adjacent to the bent part in the radial direction.
US08651066B2
A pulse detonation cleaning system is provided and includes a common tube, which is fluidly coupled to a vessel, a first array, including a plurality of elongate detonation tubes arrayed about a common axis, each of the plurality of the detonation tubes being disposed upstream from and fluidly coupled to an interior of the common tube and a second array, including a plurality of detonators arrayed about the common axis, each of the plurality of the detonators being disposed upstream from and operably coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of the detonation tubes such that actuation of each of the plurality of the detonators leads to combustion in the corresponding one of the plurality of the detonation tubes.
US08651064B2
A control system for managing and interfacing a plurality of water heaters, e.g. boilers. The control system includes a first boiler unit controlled by a first boiler control unit and a second boiler unit controlled by a second boiler control unit. The first boiler control unit is operable to coordinate the operation of the first and second boiler units in response to changes in output demand. The flues of the first and second boiler units are connected to a common flue. The control system further includes an interface and an interface control system. The interface control system communicates requests from the interface, to report and/or alter the operating parameters of the first and second boiler units, to the first and second boiler control units and communicates the request outcome(s) back to the interface.
US08651062B2
The invention features an animal carrier that is designed to more easily place an animal (e.g., a cat or dog) into the carrier. The carrier features a funnel that can be attached to the body of the carrier, that is sized to permit passage of the animal through the funnel, that is oriented to convey the animal by gravity into the carrier, and that can be removed once the animal has been delivered into the carrier. The invention also features a retrofit funnel that is adapted to be securely attached to an opening of a standard animal carrier.
US08651060B2
A birdhouse having at least four walls, a first gabled roof covering the top of the walls and extending beyond the front wall, and a bottom panel approximately covering and enclosing the bottom of the four walls; where the front wall has a first entrance opening; a front panel attached by at least one spacer to the front wall, wherein the front panel has a second gabled roof extending in front of and behind the front panel, wherein the front panel has a second entrance opening; wherein the first and second entrance openings are approximately the same diameter and are approximately horizontally aligned; wherein the first opening and the second opening are spaced apart by the at least one spacer, wherein the thickness of the spacer and the space it provides is approximately from one-half to 3 times the diameter of the first opening.
US08651058B1
A system for improved organic fishery systems for improved aquatic farming, primarily within inland production sites, primarily using a system of enclosed tanks.
US08651053B2
In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, an automatic feeder comprising a feed bin for storing bulk material, a trough for dispensing the feed to livestock, and a vein assembly positioned horizontally between the feed bin and the trough for transferring the bulk feed from the feed bin to the trough is provided. The vein assembly comprises a vein tube that houses a rotatable vein shaft and flexible wipers affixed as spokes to the shaft that form vein compartments for the feed. A motor assembly with a programmable timer rotates the vein shaft within the vein tube thereby transferring feed from the feed bin, to the vein compartments, and then to the trough.
US08651049B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing gas supplying unit for supplying a desired processing gas to a processing space between an upper electrode and a lower electrode which are disposed facing each other in an evacuable processing chamber. The plasma processing apparatus further includes a radio frequency (RF) power supply unit for applying an RF power to one of the lower and the upper electrode to generate plasma of the processing gas by RF discharge and an electrically conductive RF ground member which covers a peripheral portion of the electrode to which the RF power is applied to receive RF power emitted outwardly in radial directions from the periphery portion of the electrode to which the RF power is applied and send the received RF power to a ground line.
US08651048B2
A soft-landing (SL) instrument for depositing ions onto substrates using a laser ablation source is described herein. The instrument of the instant invention is designed with a custom drift tube and a split-ring ion optic for the isolation of selected ions. The drift tube allows for the separation and thermalization of ions formed after laser ablation through collisions with an inert bath gas that allow the ions to be landed at energies below 1 eV onto substrates. The split-ring ion optic is capable of directing ions toward the detector or a landing substrate for selected components. The inventors further performed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and drift tube measurements to characterize the performance characteristics of the instrument.
US08651037B1
A drive structure for driving an upper thread wiper of a sewing machine is provided, wherein the upper thread wiper and a drive device for driving the upper thread wiper are disposed on the cantilever and located close to the end of the needle shaft. In addition to that the drive device simplifies relative motion transmission structure, the cooperative arrangement between the upper thread wiper and the drive device further improves the power transmission efficiency and stability. The upper thread wiper can be quickly and easily assembled onto or removed from the wiper arm through a quick release device. Moreover, the drive structure is further provided with a clutch device which is capable of effecting or interrupting power transmission as desired.
US08651035B2
A multi-needle sewing machine includes a machine frame side thread guide member and guide threads drawn from plural thread spools. The multiple-needle sewing machine includes plural thread entrances to introduce threads guided by machine frame side thread guide portions to needle sides of needle bars, plural intermediate thread guide portions that guide intermediate portions of the threads, and an intermediate thread guide portion moving mechanism. The intermediate thread guide portion moving mechanism moves the intermediate thread guide portions in accordance with movements of the thread entrances during a movement of the needle bar case such that the intermediate thread guide portions are moved by maintain that the intermediate thread guide portions are spaced from each other.
US08651034B2
An embroidery frame includes an attachment portion that can be removably attached to an embroidery frame moving device of a sewing machine that is capable of performing embroidery sewing, a frame-side connector that is adapted to be connected to a sewing machine-side connector of the sewing machine by an attaching of the attachment portion to the embroidery frame moving device, to enable wired communication between the embroidery frame and the sewing machine, and a storage device that can be accessed from the sewing machine in a case where the frame-side connector is connected to the sewing machine-side connector.
US08651033B2
A method to precisely meter and dispense two or more crop inputs with a common metering disc is presented to achieve proper placement in the soil relative to one another. In one embodiment, dry granular or granulized fertilizer is metered from one side of the disc and seed is metered from the opposite side of the same metering disc. The fertilizer is placed in a concentrated “pulse” approximately equal distances between seeds within a common seed furrow and/or between seed furrows to improved nutrient use efficiency by minimizing soil to fertilizer contact and subsequent chemical reactions that make applied supplemental nutrients less available to plants. Pressurized air may be utilized to assist discharge of both the seed and fertilizer from the disc meter to assure precise spacing in the soil. A cover may be placed on the meter and metering disc to recirculate air and thus minimize potential atmospheric contamination from seed coatings and fertilizer materials.
US08651021B2
According to example embodiments, a roll printing apparatus includes a cleaning device in which a cleaning nozzle unit and a spray nozzle unit are integrated so that both a reverse offset process and a cliche cleaning process may be achieved in the roll printing apparatus. The roll printing apparatus may include a base plate, a blanket roll to transfer an ink material to a cliche and a substrate, a blanket roll supporter located on the base plate to support the blanket roll, a cliche table located on the base plate to fix and move the cliche, a substrate table located on the base plate to fix the substrate, and the cleaning device installed on the base plate to clean the cliche. The cleaning device may include a cleaning nozzle unit to spray a cleaning solution and a spray nozzle unit to spray DIW, which are integrated.
US08651020B2
The invention relates to methods for web tension adjustment in a processing machine for processing a web of goods, in particular in a shaftless printing press, in which downstream web tension segments are decoupled from an adjustment of the web tension in a first web tension segment defined upstream by a first clamping point and downstream by a second clamping point. To that end, the first clamping point is subjected to a first control instruction, which is generated using a first dynamic element with a non-constant transmission function, and the second clamping point is acted upon by a second control instruction, which is generated using a second dynamic element with a non-constant transmission function. As a result of the provisions of the invention, for decoupling the downstream web tension segments from the web tension adjustment and so forth, it is unnecessary to pilot-control the corresponding downstream clamping points.
US08651016B2
The unitized vacuum fryer is capable of low atmosphere vacuum cooking and has an elongate cooking tunnel having an upper portion separable from a base portion for cleaning and maintenance. When hermetically sealed together the two portions function to retain a high vacuum for an enclosed fry cooking system. Hermetic sealing locks at each end of the tunnel afford product entry and exit. The vacuum fryer does not require a separate enclosing pressure vessel.
US08651015B2
This invention relates to a processing machine of the food industry, specifically, a new electronic sterilization device for liquid beverage or liquids. One pole of the electric voltage device is connected to the voltage connector sleeve with an outlet of hollow capillary emitter, and the other pole of the electric voltage device is connected to the collection container. The inner diameter of the exit end of the hollow capillary emitter is very small. Liquid forms a Taylor cone at the exit end under the electric field force, thus a high electric field area is formed on the surface of the Taylor cone. Bacteria passing through the high electric field area will be fully polarized, thoroughly disrupted or electroporated, and finally killed. This invention features simple structure and easy operation with better and more thorough sterilization effect, showing distinct technical advantages especially for substances inappropriate to be treated in high temperature, high pressure or strong electric field, and its wide use in food and beverage industry can be expected in the very near future.
US08651012B2
A beverage forming system that includes a capsule for containing beverage ingredients and having an outer surface; a capsule-based beverage producing device provided with a member for injecting a liquid under pressure into the capsule, a member for draining a beverage from the capsule, and an enclosing member transferable from an opened state to a defined closed state, in which the enclosing member encloses the outer surface of the capsule; and a sealing member associated with the capsule and which is compressible when engaged by the enclosing member in the closed state, wherein the sealing member is effective to compensate for the clearance between the enclosing member and the capsule which would otherwise exist when the enclosing member is in its defined closed state. Also, a method for producing a beverage using such a system.
US08651011B2
A brewing device (1) for a coffee machine comprises a brewing cylinder (6) with a cylindrical hole and two pistons (3, 4) by means of which the brewing cylinder (6) can be closed off in order to form a brewing chamber (12). The brewing cylinder (6) and the pistons (3 and 4) are held in a frame (2), in a way displaceable relative to one another, and are drivable via a drive device (9, 10). This drive device (9, 10) comprises a spindle (9), the two ends of which are designed as bearing pins (25), and are mounted such that they are rotatable in a sliding way in bearing rings (26, 27) fitted in the frame (2). At least one supporting element (28) is inserted in at least one of the bearing rings (26), and is pressible substantially radially against the bearing pin (25) by means of a spring element (37). The bearing play between bearing ring (26) and bearing pin (25) is thereby compensated; a silent operation of the spindle in the brewing device results.
US08651001B2
A power tool in one embodiment includes a swing arm movable along a swing arm path between an upper first swing arm position and a lower second swing arm position, a latch hold mechanism movable between a first latch hold position adjacent to the swing path and a second latch hold position whereat at least a portion of the latch hold mechanism is within the swing path, an actuator configured to force the swing arm assembly away from the first swing arm position and toward the second swing arm position, a swing arm reset configured to pivot the swing arm from the second swing arm position to the first swing arm position, a latch hold reset configured to pivot the latch hold mechanism from the second latch hold position to the first latch hold position, and a control system configured to control the actuator.
US08650998B2
The invention relates to a machine for automatically cutting sheet material, the machine comprising a bench having a cutting zone, a cutter head mounted on means for moving it relative to the bundle, a cutter conveyor housed inside a box placed under the cutting zone, and means for establishing suction in the box, the box bulging outwards at least in its bottom portion that is remote from the cutting zone.
US08650997B1
A machine for accurately cutting tiles, blocks of concrete, clay, blocks of stone and stone materials, wood and wooden materials is described. It may include a support stand which at its top supports a removable bed structure. The bed includes a motor-driven cutting disc recessed-mounted axially along pillow blocks such that a substantial portion of the cutting disc is projected above the bed surface and its mode of rotation is about a fixed centralized axis. Trolley track rails situated on distal ends of both long sides of the bed allow for lateral movement of the trolley above the bed surface to facilitate the cutting operation. During operation the object secured safely on the trolley which is manually moved towards the cutting disc while a perforated shower head sprays water onto the work piece. Water is filtered and recycled back to the shower via the bin situated below the cutting disc and then to the recycle and filter unit.
US08650985B2
A faucet control handle structure, which can be used in different water control bases with different sizes, including a control handle and a adjustable device, wherein the control handle has a receiving space that has two positioning ribs cross each other to engage with the adjustable device. The adjustable device has an adjustable base, a clamping piece and an adjustable unit, wherein the adjustable base has a sleeve hole, one end of which has a plurality of wedging edges formed at the opening end thereof. A clamping piece that can be adjusted to move back and forth is then formed in an opposing direction of the wedging edge. According to the above structure, since the adjustable device is located at the receiving space of the control handle, it can be used for water control sticks with different sizes of the water control base to enhance the practicability of the faucet handle and increase the convenience during the assembly process.
US08650981B2
A robot is provided in a Cartesian space. The robot is provided with a linear movement rail, a movable body, a swing arm, a linear movement arm. The linear movement rail extends in parallel with the X-axis direction. The movable body is linearly moved in the X-axis direction along the linear movement rail. The swing arm has a first end and a second end. The first end is rotatably connected to the movable body around an R-axis (which is a swing axis) extending in a horizontal direction which is orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the second end extends radially from the R-axis. The linear movement arm, which is connected to the second end of the swing arm, moves a wrist unit in the Y-axis direction which is in parallel with the R-axis. A task tool is loaded to the wrist unit.
US08650968B2
A load testing device is provided, comprising a main beam and a pair of load testing assemblies operatively connected to the main beam. Each of the load testing assemblies includes a load applying member having a first ball at its terminal end; a spreader plate pivotally attached to the first ball to establish a first ball and socket joint enabling three rotational degrees of freedom about the first ball; a bracket pivotally connected to the spreader plate, wherein the bracket further includes a second ball extending toward the main beam; an adjustment beam pivotally attached to the second ball to establish a second ball and socket joint, and wherein the adjustment beam is slidably disposed relative to the main beam and lockable in one or more predetermined positions.
US08650964B2
A testing apparatus includes a retaining panel, a screw pole, two securing panels moveably attached to the screw pole, and two mounting members. Each of the two securing panels is slidably attached to the retaining panel. Each of the two mounting member is engaged with each of the two securing panels. The two securing panels are moveable relative to the screw pole for sandwiching an electronic device, and each of the two mounting member is engaged with the screw pole, for prevent the two securing panels from disengaged from the electronic device.
US08650963B2
A disclosed pressure-responsive sensor includes a flexible element contained within an enclosure and a membrane configured to exert an electrostatic force on the flexible element to cause the flexible element to respond to pressure variations on the membrane. A disclosed pressure-sensing method includes electrostatically coupling a membrane to a flexible element contained within an enclosure to transfer a pressure response of the membrane to the flexible element. Motion of the flexible element is converted into a pressure signal.
US08650960B2
An imaging apparatus for generating photoacoustic images and ultrasound images that is capable of generating both types of images with high resolution is provided. An ultrasound probe includes a plurality of probe elements. A first phase matching adding section reads out photoacoustic signals from a photoacoustic element data memory, and administers phase matching addition within a first phase matching range. An image processing section generates a photoacoustic image based on phase matched and added data. A second phase matching adding section administers phase matching addition on reflected acoustic signals sampled by a signal obtaining section within a second phase matching range. An image processing section generates an ultrasound image based on phase matched and added data. The first phase matching range is greater than the second phase matching range.
US08650959B2
A planar probe for the coupling of ultrasonic signals to a planar component to be tested by means of water-free jet technology is provided. The planar probe includes: at least one preflow chamber; a flow chamber located downstream of at least one preflow chamber, wherein the flow chamber extends through a slot-shaped water outlet opening to a lower surface of the planar probe; a probe, wherein a lateral surface of the probe comprises emitting/receiving elements and forms an inner wall section of the flow chamber; a base body for the reception of the probe; and a sliding plate comprising the slot-shaped water outlet opening, whose planar extension along the component is larger than the planar extension of the base body along the component, wherein the planar probe is connected to the sliding plate.
US08650950B2
The present disclosure provides a gravity gradiometer for detecting a gravity gradient. The gravity gradiometer comprises at least two sensor masses that are pivotable about respective axes and each experience a change in torque in response to a change in gravity gradient whereby the at least two sensor masses move relative to each other in response to the change in gravity gradient and wherein a signal indicative of the gravity gradient is generated in response to the relative movement of the at least two sensor masses. Further, the gravity gradiometer comprises an acceleration sensor for sensing an acceleration associated with an external acceleration applied to the gravity gradiometer. The gravity gradiometer also comprises an actuator for generating an adjustment force that is dependent on an acceleration sensed by the acceleration sensor. The adjustment force is also dependent on a mechanical response parameter associated with at least one of the at least two sensor masses. The adjustment force is applied such that a difference between the magnitudes of the torques experienced by the at least two sensor masses in response to the change in gravity gradient is reduced.
US08650949B1
A liquid level sensor frequency output system for efficiently communicating a liquid level with reduced power and increased accuracy. The liquid level sensor frequency output system generally includes a sensor that determines a liquid level, a transmitter in communication with the sensor that converts the level data to a signal having a frequency representing the liquid level, and a receiver that receives the signal, wherein the receiver calculates the liquid level based on the frequency of the signal. The calculated liquid level by the receiver can be transmitted to an output device such as a display, switch, warning system or pump.
US08650937B2
A solute concentration measurement device is disclosed. The device may comprise a filter membrane, an exchange chamber, a sensing chamber, a separator, and a sensor. The device may be configured to be placed in fluid communication with a sample solution containing a solute and a solvent. The filter membrane may provide selective fluid communication between the solution and the exchange chamber. The separator may separate the exchange chamber from the sensing chamber and cause a change in a condition of the sensing chamber corresponding to a change of a condition of the exchange chamber. The sensor may sense the condition pertaining to the sensing chamber and calculate the concentration of the sample solution corresponding to this change.
US08650936B2
A liquid chromatography device includes a sample inlet valve to which a sample to be analyzed is introduced, and a trap valve fluid-communicating with a solid phase extraction column and a reverse phase liquid chromatography column. The device further includes a solvent dividing unit dividing flow of a solvent discharged from the sample inlet valve into the first solvent inlet port and the second solvent inlet port of the trap valve. The liquid chromatography device improves resolution and increases reproducibility by allowing the sample injecting direction and the sample eluting direction to be opposite to each other.
US08650927B1
According to the apparatus and method, metals can be molded under a low extrusion pressure, the life of the apparatus is prolonged, the strength of the metal products is improved, the ignition of the metals is inhibited during processing, the amount of a protective gas used is reduced, and the formation of welding lines is inhibited.
US08650924B2
A bearing block assembly for bearing a pair of rollers which enclose a nip, at one end of the pair, includes two bearing blocks, each of which is intended for bearing a respective roller and which are provided with supporting elements for supporting in a frame. The bearing blocks each have a bearing aperture with a center line or axis, support elements via which the bearing blocks are supported next to one another in such that the center lines or axes of the bearing apertures extend parallel and at a distance from one another, as well as adjusting element via which the mutual distance between the center lines or axes can be adjusted. The support elements include a spring structure which is situated between the bearing blocks and cooperates with both bearing blocks and which is elastically deformable during adjustment of the mutual distance between the center lines or axes.
US08650920B2
A method and device for surface peening, particularly ultrasonic shot peening, of a component in the region of a passage opening is disclosed. A vibration device impinging the blasting material is disposed on one side and a counter-element is disposed on an opposite side relative to a component region having the passage opening. The counter-element is disposed at a distance relative to the corresponding side of the component region.
US08650910B2
The present invention is directed toward a method of reducing contamination of a glass melt in a stirring apparatus by an oxide material. The oxide material, such as platinum oxide, may be volatilized by the high temperature of the glass melt, and then condense on the inside surfaces of a stirring vessel, particularly the stirrer shaft and surrounding surfaces of the stirring vessel cover. A build-up of condensed oxide material may then be dislodged and fall back into the glass melt. Accordingly, an apparatus and method is provided that includes a heating element disposed adjacent an annular gap between the stirring vessel cover and the stirrer shaft. The heating element heats a surface of the stirring vessel cover bounding the annular gap and prevents condensation of volatile oxides that may flow through the annular gap.
US08650905B2
An evaporator for use in a refrigeration system includes a shell and a tube bundle, the tube bundle having a plurality of tubes extending substantially horizontally in the shell. A hood is disposed over and laterally surrounds substantially all of the plurality of tubes of the tube bundle. A distributor is positioned between the hood and the tube bundle. The hood is asymmetrically disposed within the evaporator.
US08650898B2
An air conditioner is disclosed. The compressor has an entrance coupled to an exit of the evaporator via the first ON/OFF valve; and an exit coupled to an entrance of the condenser via the first flow-direction valve. The liquid pump has an entrance coupled to an exit of the liquid accumulator via the second ON/OFF valve; and an exit coupled to an entrance of the throttling device via the second flow-direction valve. An exit of the condenser is coupled to an entrance of the liquid accumulator; an exit of the throttling device is coupled to an entrance of the evaporator. The compressor's bypass pipe has an entrance coupled to an exit of the evaporator; and an exit coupled to an entrance of the condenser. The liquid pump's bypass pipe has an entrance coupled to an exit of the liquid accumulator; an exit coupled to an entrance of the throttling device.
US08650887B2
A cryogenic storage tank comprises a partition that divides a cryogen space into a main storage space and an auxiliary space. A valve disposed inside the cryogen space is associated with a first fluid passage through the partition. The valve comprises a valve member that is actuatable by fluid forces within the cryogen space. A second fluid passage through the partition comprises a restricted flow area that is dimensioned to have a cross-sectional flow area that is smaller than that of a fill conduit such that there is a detectable increase in back-pressure when the main storage space is filled with liquefied gas.
US08650886B2
A flexible cooling loop for providing a thermal path between a heat source and a heat sink includes a plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections configured for being in thermal contact with the heat source and the heat sink. The cooling loop further includes a plurality if mechanically flexible tubing sections configured for connecting the mechanically rigid tubing sections to form the loop. The loop is configured for containing a liquid. The liquid is configured for being circulated within the loop for promoting transfer of thermal energy from the heat source to the heat sink via the loop.
US08650875B2
A single closed loop direct exchange geothermal power production system that utilizes a refrigerant working fluid in at least one of three primary designs to generate electrical power from deep wells: with a first version of a direct exchange geothermal power generating system operating primarily on refrigerant vapor pressure; with a second version of a direct exchange geothermal power generating system operating primarily on liquid refrigerant gravitational pressure; and with a third version of a direct exchange geothermal power generating system operating primarily on both liquid refrigerant gravitational pressure and refrigerant phase change/expansion from a liquid to a vapor state.
US08650871B2
An external combustion engine comprising a drive shaft, a first cylinder kinematically connected to the drive shaft, a second cylinder kinematically connected to the drive shaft, and a thermodynamic circuit fluidly connected to both the cylinders, and having at least an expansion chamber and a compression chamber for a heat-carrying fluid, in order to determine the cyclic movement of the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The first cylinder is mounted on a first support frame and the second cylinder is mounted on a second support frame, distinct from and constrained in a mobile manner to the first support frame. Movement means are mechanically connected to the first support frame and/or the second support frame, in order to determine the desired relative movement of the first support frame and the second support frame and to vary the reciprocal kinematic connection phasing of the two cylinders with respect to the drive shaft.
US08650869B1
An apparatus includes a piston/rod assembly comprising a piston and a housing. The piston is translatable within the housing. The housing comprises a housing power side and a housing filler side. The housing power side comprises a housing power side intake/exhaust tap. The housing filler side comprises a housing filler side intake/exhaust tap. The apparatus also includes a flow rectifier comprising a flow rectifier power side and a flow rectifier filler side. The flow rectifier power side comprises a flow rectifier power side intake/exhaust tap communicating with the housing power side intake/exhaust tap. The flow rectifier filler side intake/exhaust tap communicates with the housing tiller side intake/exhaust tap.
US08650856B2
A detonation chamber and a pulse detonation combustor including a detonation chamber, wherein the detonation chamber includes a plurality of aerodynamic jets disposed adjacent an exterior of a sidewall of the detonation chamber. The detonation chamber further includes a plurality of openings formed in the sidewall of the detonation chamber, wherein each of the plurality of openings is in fluidic communication with one of the plurality of aerodynamic jets. The plurality of aerodynamic jets are adapted to create a plurality of jet flows of a fluid within the detonation chamber during a combustion cycle defining a plurality of initiation obstacles within the detonation chamber to enhance a turbulence of a fluid flow and flame acceleration through the detonation chamber.
US08650855B2
The control system of the invention includes at least one actuator (6) for a cowling (2), driven by at least one electric motor (7), and a control means (9) for the electric motor (7). The electric motor control means (9) includes a means for determining and/or estimating the outside temperature of the turbojet engine, the electric motor control means being adapted for adjusting the driving torque supplied by the electric motor on the basis of said outer temperature.
US08650853B2
A noise reduction assembly located at a junction plane between an air intake structure and a fan casing of an aircraft turbojet has improved acoustic properties since the alternation of acoustic and non-acoustic zones is displaced or eliminated. In particular, the inner wall of the air intake structure includes a projecting part that extends towards the aft direction beyond the junction plane, in other words the flange of the fan casing. The projecting part may be sufficiently long so that its inner skin is continuous as far as the limit between the acoustic zone and the non-acoustic zone of the nacelle.
US08650846B2
A machine is provided for harvesting stalk-like plants. The machine has at least one mowing and pick-up mechanism that comprises a cutting mechanism that can be set into a rotational movement for cutting plant stalks, and a feed mechanism arranged above the cutting mechanism for taking in and discharging the cut plant stalks. The cutting mechanism is drivably connected to an electric motor allocated to it.
US08650841B2
The invention relates to a low friction gliding plate designed to optimize the process of packing at least one compressible object, such as insulation material, in continuous foil. In addition the present invention relates to a method for using a low friction gliding plate in packaging at least one compressible object.
US08650840B2
A reservoir for a nebulizer, a nebulizer and a method of filling a reservoir are proposed. To avoid undesirable rises in pressure, a fluid chamber of the reservoir is pre-collapsed and filled with an initial amount of fluid which is less than the maximum volume of the fluid chamber. Preferably, before being filled, the fluid chamber is compressed and/or expanded by means of gas to a defined volume which is less than the maximum volume of the fluid chamber.
US08650824B2
A flexible interlocking floor tile having a dual construction with an interlocking mechanism allows for easy installation of multiple tiles. The dual construction can include recycled material and virgin or new material. The tile also includes an adequate support at the corner of the tile when assembling multiple tiles. The tile has a single interlocking structure or groove to keep the entire tile joint tight with other tile joints, instead of interrupted interlocking structure which can lead to functional and aesthetic flaws in the entire floor. The single continuous interlocking structure allows for a one-step easy removal of any excess material or flashing from the tile after the molding process.
US08650790B2
A lockable safety selector switch adapted to replace a manufacturer's original safety selector switch for a firearm having a selector detent pin with a tip. The lockable safety selector switch has a body adapted to selectively orient between a SAFE position that prevents the firearm from firing and a FIRE position that allows the firearm to fire, and a locking mechanism configured to operatively associate with the firearm selector detent pin to selectively lock the body in the SAFE position. The locking mechanism has a spring-loaded cam that operatively interfaces with a key to prevent unintentional locking or unlocking of the locking mechanism. The lockable safety selector switch is configured such that the firearm requires no modification for the lockable safety selector switch to replace the original safety selector switch.
US08650788B2
The invention relates to a safety for a repeating rifle, with a safety slider (4) arranged displaceably between a safety position and an unsecured position on a lock (2), and a locking element associated with the safety slider (4) for blocking or releasing a firing pin nut (8) displaceably arranged in the lock (2). The locking element according to the invention is constructed as a safety lever (22), rotatable about a transverse pin (24), with a control part (23) engaging with a control groove (19) on the firing pin nut (8).
US08650787B2
A follower for a firearm magazine includes a base part, a guide, a cartridge engaging part, and a slide stop actuating structure. The base part provides a lower surface against which the magazine spring acts, and the guide provides a guide surface extending transverse to a base plane defined by the base part. The cartridge engaging part provides a spring action within the follower itself to augment the force of the magazine spring. The slide stop actuating structure is located at a front end of the base part and provides an inclined engagement surface that extends upwardly from the front end of the base part to a front edge of the follower. This upwardly angled surface forms an engagement surface to reliably engage a slide stop lug of a firearm to actuate the firearm's slide stop mechanism when the magazine is empty.
US08650783B2
A road sign mounting apparatus for displaying a road sign attached to a mounting bracket. The road sign mounting apparatus is adapted for being carried by a circular base having an open interior and a rim, and an upper profile and lower profile. The road sign mounting apparatus comprises a body and a plurality of legs carried by and extending outward from the body. Each of the plurality of legs is intended for being carried by the circular base. A road sign support is pivotally carried by the body and has a first position wherein the road sign support is carried beneath the upper profile of the circular base when carried by the circular base and a second position wherein the road sign support extends in a general vertical direction intersecting the plane defined by the upper profile of the circular base. The road sign support includes a locking mechanism for locking the road sign support in the second position. The road sign mounting apparatus may be carried by a tire having reflective surface.
US08650780B2
A specialized fastener cover is suitable for concealing a fastener used to attach one object to another. The fastener cover includes a decorative emblem and a method of pivoting the emblem between two positions. In one position, the decorative emblem conceals the fastener. When the emblem is pivoted to the second position, the fastener can be accessed so that it can be inserted in fastener receptacles in the objects to attach the objects to one another or removed from the fastener receptacles to separate the two objects. The fastener cover can be incorporated into an attachable object, such as a license plate frame to be attached to a vehicle.
US08650778B2
A hydraulic drive system realizes a jack-up operation without arrangement of a flow rate control valve and center bypass selector valve. The hydraulic drive system has first and second hydraulic pumps, first and second directional control valves for controlling boom cylinders, a third directional control valve for controlling the boom cylinders, and a third hydraulic pump for feeding pressure oil to the third directional control valve. A jack-up selector valve has a second select position where, when a pressure in bottom chambers of the boom cylinders is not higher than a predetermined pressure, feeding of pressure oil, which is delivered from the first hydraulic pump and second hydraulic pump, to rod chambers of the boom cylinders, is held permissible in association with switching of the second directional control valve and third directional control valve by a manipulation of a control device.
US08650777B2
An illuminant shoe has a body, an outsole and an illuminating device. The body has a putting segment, a lifting cover and an insole. The putting segment has a heel lining and a through hole. The lifting cover is connected to the heel lining. The insole is mounted in the putting segment. The outsole is mounted on the putting segment and has a mounting chamber. The illuminating device is mounted in the mounting chamber and has an illuminating module, a controlling module and a switch. The illuminating module has first wires, multiple illuminating elements and a first electrical element. The controlling module is connected to the illuminating module and has two second electrical elements, multiple second wires, a controlling unit, a battery and a protecting casing. The switch is mounted in the putting segment, is connected to the controlling module and has a third wire and a third electrical element.
US08650775B2
A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a perimeter element and a central element, which may be fluid-filled chambers. The perimeter element extends adjacent to a sidewall of the sole structure, and the central element is centrally-positioned. A gap may extend between the central element and the perimeter element. The gap may have an upper portion and a lower portion, with the upper portion being located closer to the sidewall than the lower portion. The perimeter element may also have a first compressibility and the central element may have a second compressibility, with the first compressibility being less than the second compressibility. Also, the upper surface of the perimeter element may be at a greater elevation or higher than an upper surface of the central element.
US08650769B2
An assembly including a substrate and a scale held on the substrate, wherein the scale has a measuring graduation, and the scale is held on the substrate by pneumatic suction. The scale is braced on the substrate via two-dimensionally distributed, spaced-apart supports, which are disposed facing a measurement area defined by the measuring graduation and wherein adjacent ones of the supports are spaced apart from one another at a mutual period that is less than a thickness of the scale. In addition, the supports have a structure such that a connection by optical contact bonding between the supports and the scale and/or between the supports and the substrate is prevented at least in the measurement area. A space between the scale and the substrate is sealed off from surroundings by a sealing structure.
US08650760B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus of reducing current requirements by increasing resistance of the blade structure by reducing the cross sectional area of at least one section of the blade so that the electrical current requirements for heating of the blade to cutting temperature are reduced wherein the power supply and substantially entire unit may be mounted within a hand held unit. Methods of shaping blades to perform various heat distributions for specialty blades for custom cutting are disclosed. Further, an improved blade mounting structure is provided which includes structure for maintaining the legs of the blade parallel to the direction of cut and provides for easy insertion of new blades by maintaining a slotted blade cradle stable and in alignment with the blades and a clamp member away from the blade when the clamp mounting structure is loosened.
US08650757B2
An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member and a press mechanism. The attaching member is releasably connected to the shaft. The press member is coupled to the attaching member and is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes an aligning arm configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft.
US08650751B2
A sensor utilizing a non-leachable or diffusible redox mediator is described. The sensor includes a sample chamber to hold a sample in electrolytic contact with a working electrode, and in at least some instances, the sensor also contains a non-leachable or a diffusible second electron transfer agent. The sensor and/or the methods used produce a sensor signal in response to the analyte that can be distinguished from a background signal caused by the mediator. The invention can be used to determine the concentration of a biomolecule, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid, such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry; and potentiometry. An enzyme capable of catalyzing the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the biomolecule is typically provided as a second electron transfer agent.
US08650750B2
A data cable connector module with a fixation element for the positioning and fixation of the cable conductors of a multi core cable, conductor receiving units for bent IDCs, IDC receiving units for fixation of connected IDCs; a centric metallic shield star electrically conductively connected with a fixation element housing; and a contact module with a contact module metal housing, an isolation socket for the reception of bent slide circuit board contacts; at least one circuit board, a front connector face; and a fixation element connector face with at least one end isolator block guided plug-in contacts, the fixation element and the contact module being developed so that they can be brought into contact with the IDCs, causing the cable conductors of the fixation element to be electrically conductively connected with the slide contacts of the contact module; and a process for the assembly of the module to a cable.
US08650745B2
A thermal processing and consolidation system is provided that includes an upper chamber assembly lower chamber assembly, layup and demolding station, transfer assembly, automatic or permanent coupling system, and controller. The upper and lower chamber assemblies are coupled to form an enclosed plenum operable to maintain a pressurized environment about a tool. The layup and demolding station receives the tool and facilitates the layup, bagging and sealing of unprocessed components at the tool. A transfer assembly accurately positions the tool on the lower chamber assembly in alignment with the upper chamber assembly. An automatic or permanent coupling system provides services to the tool and the enclosed plenum. A controller directs services to be supplied to the enclosed plenum and tool in accordance with a set of process parameters. This set of process parameters allows an individual set of unprocessed components to be thermally processed and consolidated.
US08650744B2
A process for assembling a rigid-flex printed circuit board (PCB) is presented. During operation, the process receives rigid-flex PCBs that are to be coupled together, wherein a rigid-flex PCB includes flexible PCBs coupled to rigid PCBs. The process then places the PCBs onto a carrier which is configured to: align the PCBs so that bond regions located on the flexible PCBs overlap with bond regions located on corresponding flexible PCBs, and apply pressure to the overlapped bond regions. The process then sends the carrier through a reflow oven which reflows solder on the PCBs so that the components become mechanically and electrically coupled to the PCBs. The temperature profile generated by the reflow oven and the pressure applied by the carrier cures and sets an anisotropic conductive film located in the bond regions so that the overlapped flexible PCBs become mechanically and electrically coupled together.
US08650743B2
An adjustably mountable electrical device with one or more yokes coupled to the electrical device, at least one electrically conductive strap, and an electrical device face, wherein a distance between the electrical device face and at least one of the yoke, the strap and an electrical box mounting screw aperture is adjustable after the electrical device is mounted to the electrical box. The system may comprise mounting flanges that may have threaded hubs or the system may further comprise an electric device having front and back shells moveable on a track in response to depression of a button allowing for movement of the back shell so that the electric device may be mounted having its face coplanar with a front wall surface.
US08650738B2
The invention relates to a method for inserting a spring (3) into a longitudinal-side or head-side groove (4) of element panels (5) which can be laid in combination, wherein the element panels (5) can be locked together by means of a movement of the spring (3) relative to the element panels (5), having the following steps: a) providing springs (3) on a supply belt (6), wherein the springs (3) are releasably connected to the supply belt (6); b) detaching the springs (3) from the supply belt (6); c) moving the springs (3) into the groove (4) of a provided element panel (5).
US08650736B2
A dispenser for viscous condiments including a tubular sidewall having opposite ends. One opposite end is open and can receive a plunger or piston therein for applying force to a condiment contained within the tubular sidewall. The other end of the sidewall includes a dispenser valve assembly including a member secured to an inturned flange portion of the sidewall with the flange portion being generally normal to the sidewall. The dispenser valve assembly is suitably secured to the flange portion as by heat sealing, such as a bead of hot melt, to form a composite laminated structure that is resistant to the penetration of liquid elements of the condiments. The dispenser valve assembly further includes a valve plate having one or more selectively openable discharge openings that will open and close under the influence of the pressure applied to the condiment in order to discharge the condiment.
US08650729B2
A carriage is moved in a direction including a Y axis component in order to move a turning process tool that is attached to a tool spindle along a horizontal line that is perpendicular to a Z axis, and thus, a turning process is carried out on a workpiece which is attached to a workpiece spindle.
US08650727B2
A laminate (6) is prepared by superposing a fibrous web (1a), (1b) containing fibers comprising polyethylene terephthalate on one side or both sides of a net-form sheet (4); water needling the fibrous web (1a), (1b) to entangle the fibers of the fibrous web (1a), (1b) with each other, and also to entangle the fibers of the fibrous web (1a), (1b) with the net-form sheet (4); and then, blowing hot air having a temperature above the glass transition temperature (Tg (° C.)) of the polyethylene terephthalate and below “Tg (° C.)+70° C.” to the laminate (6) by through-air technique. Preferably, after preparing the laminate (6) by entangling the fibers of the fibrous web(s) (1a), (1b) with the net-form sheet (4), the laminate (6) is dried with hot air; and then hot air is blown to the laminate (6) by through-air technique.
US08650725B1
A system and method are provided for constructing an intermediate securement point for a flexible panel. A stopper unit having at least one retention portion disposed over an engagement portion is provided with the retention portion extending radially beyond the engagement portion. A clip unit detachably coupled to the stopper unit to capture the flexible panel therebetween includes a collar portion defining an engagement channel configured to receive the engagement portion of the stopper unit. The collar portion terminates at first and second opposed ends spaced across a mouth of the engagement channel. An intermediate portion of the flexible panel may then be wrapped over the retention portion of the stopper unit to be gathered and releasably captured about the engagement portion by the clip unit coupled thereto. A flexible tie member may be coupled to the clip unit for releasably anchoring the clip unit to a support fixture.
US08650721B2
A buckle device 10 for a seat belt includes: an anchor plate 11 that can be attached to a vehicle body side; a buckle 20 to which a tongue of the seat belt can be detachably attached; and a woven fabric 30 that is passed through hole portions 14, 26 formed respectively in the anchor plate 11 and the buckle 20, the woven fabric 30 being folded back so as to overlap at least triply and being sewn together in the overlapping part. A tip end portion 31a of the woven fabric 30 tucked into the inner side contacts the opposing buckle 20.
US08650717B2
A processing line of bast fiber is provided. The processing line is comprised of various devices for carding, cutting, degumming, high temperature washing, separating and water washing, softening, drying, batching and applying oil, permeating and reconditioning, stretching-breaking carding, and combing and sorting. The processing line of bast fiber can improve production efficiency, and improve the yield of long hemp fibers. Moreover, the produced fiber has stable quality and is convenient for post-processing.
US08650714B2
A hinge plate includes a frame hinge plate part comprising a frame fastening part and a frame hinge part. A leaf/sash hinge plate part comprises a leaf/sash fastening part and a leaf/sash hinge part. A primary coil is disposed in the frame hinge part and a secondary coil is disposed in the leaf/sash hinge part, each coil being configured to surround a hinge plate pin. The primary coil extends at least almost up to an end face of the frame hinge part facing the leaf/sash hinge part. The secondary coil extends at least almost up to an end face of the leaf/sash hinge part facing the frame hinge part. A hinge plate pin sleeve comprising a ferrite material is disposed between the hinge plate pin and the primary and secondary coils, and extends approximately over a length of the hinge plate pin surrounded by the primary and secondary coils.
US08650711B1
A hinge assembly includes a hinge cup, an arm, an installation member and a damping device. The hinge cup has a receiving space and a positioning hole communicating with the receiving space. The bottom wall of the receiving space has at least one first engaging part. The arm is pivotably connected to the hinge cup. The damping device is located in the receiving space and includes a damping member, a slide and a housing. One end of the damping member is mounted in the positioning hole. The damping member has a piston rod which is connected to the slide. The housing has at least one second engaging part which is engaged with the first engaging part on the bottom wall. When the arm is moved toward a closed position relative to the hinge cup, the arm pushes the slide to provide the damping force.
US08650704B2
A cleaning appliance includes separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a chassis, and a duct mounted on the chassis for conveying the fluid flow to the separating apparatus, the duct including a support for supporting the separating apparatus.
US08650703B2
A cleaning apparatus including a main body, a dust collection unit detachably installed on the main body and provided with a plurality of inlets, through which foreign substances are introduced into the dust collection unit, and a connection hole, to which an external instrument is connected, a shutter to open and close one inlet, and a cap to open and close the connection hole. The shutter opens and closes the inlet in cooperation with one of whether or not the dust collection unit is attached to or detached from the main body and whether or not the connection hole is opened or closed.
US08650696B1
A sanitary sewer cleaning apparatus for removing roots and debris with a segmented circular brush attached to a rodder root removal tool. As the apparatus travels through a sewer line, the segmented brushes, which are mounted on hinges, fold back to reduce drag and facilitate movement through obstructed sewers. As the rodder pulls back the apparatus, the brushes engage the walls of the pipe to pull roots and debris to the sewer access point. The preferred embodiments comprises rodder coupler, an extension arm for coupling a plurality of brushes in a radial configuration, a plurality of brushes for collecting the root infiltration debris, and a plurality of hinges for angularly altering the plurality of brushes relative to the apparatus.
US08650695B2
The present invention is a pipeline pig for cleaning the interior of a pipeline, the pipeline pig having a longitudinal pig body with forward and rearward elastomeric propulsion members affixed to and supporting the pig body substantially concentrically in a pipeline, the propulsion members functioning to move the pig body through a pipeline by the force of fluid flow and a plurality of spaced apart elastomeric diagonally oriented scrapers radially extending from the pig body, each scraper member having a semi-circular outer peripheral edge configured and dimensioned to engage the interior wall of a pipeline to thereby scrape and clean the interior pipeline wall as the pig is moved through the pipeline and provide additional support for the pig substantially concentrically in a pipeline. Orientation of the scraper enhances scraping effectiveness by slicing through any debris buildup, separating the debris from the inner pipe wall so that it can be pushed out of the pipeline by the pig discs or cups.
US08650674B2
A footrest mounting system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the footrest mounting system comprises: a mounting platform that is coupled to a footrest; a mounting arm that is coupled to the mounting platform at a proximal end; and a lower body having at least one mounting depression in which the mounting arm is disposed within such that the footrest is positioned at an incline relative to the lower body.
US08650669B1
A portable urinal is provided with a reservoir having a low center of gravity, a flexible corrugated hose which will maintain its position in either a contracted or expanded condition or a shape or curve to which it is placed for convenience in use wherein the flexible corrugated hose maintains its shape and degree of extension or contraction and including receptacles suitable for use by males and females in various positions including seated, standing and stooping.
US08650666B2
A baseball type cap with a circumferentially stretchable headband to adjust to different head sizes is modified to add a stretchable fabric member that is stitched to the cap cover gores and to the stretchable headband. The lower edge of the fabric member extends about halfway around the back of the cap ending on either side near the ears of a user wearing the cap and stretches along with the stretchable headband to adjust to the head size of the user. A number of seams join the stretchable fabric member to the cap cover, creating a center pocket with an open top to hold a stereo jack and a removable audio device such as an MP3 player. The seams also create bud pockets on either side to hold ear buds. The dual wires from the stereo jack lead to a T-junction in the bottom of the center pocket and are long enough to manipulate the controls of the MP3 player outside the pocket while wearing the cap. At the T-junction, the dual wires are divided into individual ear bud wires, which pass through passages between the seams from the center pocket to the bud pockets without need to pierce the cap cover or fabric member. At the opposite ends of the fabric member on the sides of the cap, the seams are interrupted to leave openings for withdrawing the ear buds for use and subsequently replacing them.
US08656501B2
There is provided a method for selectively protecting one of a plurality of methods of a class of an application written in an object-orientated language, in particular Java, wherein a protected application is created by adding a protection module to the application, analyzing a first method to be protected of a plurality of methods of a first class of the application and determining first parameters needed for executing the first method, generating first gate code depending on the determined first parameters, replacing the first code of the first method by said first gate code and storing the replaced first code such that it can be accessed by the protection module during execution of the protected application, wherein, when the first method is called during execution of the protected application, the first gate code collects first data based on the determined first parameters and transmits the collected first data to the protection module, the protection module accesses the stored first code and generates a new class including a first substitution method based on the stored first code, instantiates the new class, invokes the first substitution method and passes at least a part of the collected first data to the invoked first substitution method so that the executed first substitution method provides the functionality of the first method, and returns execution to the first gate code after execution of the first substitution method.
US08656493B2
Improved methods and systems for decoy networks with automatic signature generation for intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems. A modular decoy network with front-end monitor/intercept module(s) with a processing back-end that is separate from the protected network. The front-end presents a standard fully functional operating system that is a decoy so that the instigator of an attack is lead to believe a connection has been made to the protected network. The front-end includes a hidden sentinel kernal driver that monitors connections to the system and captures attack-identifying information. The captured information is sent to the processing module for report generation, data analysis and generation of an attack signature. The generated attack signature can then be applied to the library of signatures of the intrusion detection system or intrusion prevention system of the protected network to defend against network based attacks including zero-day attacks.
US08656492B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for network intrusion detection are provided. A device configured to facilitate network intrusion detection may include at least one memory and at least one processor. The at least one memory may be configured to store computer-executable instructions. The at least one processor may be configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to (i) identify a communication, the communication comprising one of (a) a communication received by the device or (b) a communication generated by the device; (ii) identify a type associated with the communication; (iii) determine, based at least in part upon the identified type, a list of acceptable content for the communication; (iv) analyze, based at least in part upon the determined list, the content of the communication; and (v) determine, based at least in part upon the analysis, whether the content is acceptable content.
US08656490B1
A method and apparatus for safe and secure access to dynamic domain name systems. In one embodiment a method comprises transmitting a DNS query to a dynamic DNS server. The DNS query comprises a domain name. A DNS answer is received from the dynamic DNS server in response to transmitting the DNS query. The DNS answer comprises an IP address. A request is transmitted to a host at the IP address in response to receiving the DNS answer. A digital certificate is received in response to transmitting the request. The received digital certificate is then compared with each of a plurality of digital certificates stored in memory. The IP address is transmitted to a client computer system if the received digital certificate compares equally with one of the plurality of digital certificates.
US08656486B2
An electronic device may include a communications interface, a user prompting device, a biometric sensor, and a controller. The controller may perform biometric spoof detection with the biometric sensor, and receive a request for human presence verification from a remote device via the communications interface. The controller may also prompt the user for a verification action using the sensor based upon receiving the request, and determine that the user has completed the verification action in response to the prompting and based upon the biometric spoof detection. The controller may further send a response to the remote device via the communications interface and based upon determining that the user has completed the verification action. The controller may send a notification to the remote device that there is a biometric sensor.
US08656483B2
A system for locking an electronic device is provided. The system includes an electronic device, and electronic keys electrically connected to the electronic device. The electronic key includes a plurality of resistors which are connected in series, the resistance value of the electronic key is changeable by coupling different resistors of the electronic key. The electronic device comprises of a processing unit and a function key. When the function key produces locking command in response to user operation, the processing unit obtains the resistance value of the electronic key and produce encryption key according to the obtained resistance value to unlock the electronic device. When the function key produces unlocking command, the processing unit decodes the encryption key and unlocks the electronic device when determining the obtained value matches the decoded encryption key.
US08656477B2
Establishment of communication between client apparatuses and an arithmetic function unit is performed based on communication information acquired by communication using HTTP between the client apparatuses and the arithmetic function unit through a firewall function unit, where the client apparatuses download encrypted contents data from the arithmetic function unit by P2P without passing a firewall.
US08656474B2
A biometric authentication device includes: a biometric information obtain portion obtaining biometric information of a user; a biometric condition determine portion determining good and bad of biometric condition of the user according to the biometric information of the user; a biometric matching portion performing a matching of registered biometric information registered in advance based on the biometric information; an alternate authentication portion performing an authentication based on information that is different from the biometric information; and an alternate authentication control portion switching validation and invalidation of the authentication by the alternate authentication portion according to a determination result of the biometric condition determine portion.
US08656472B2
Requests for access to Web service resources are evaluated based on the type of request that is received. Requests are not granted unless sufficient proof of authentication is provided to grant that request. An authentication service evaluates one or more factors to determine whether or not to authenticate the client. After being authenticated by the authentication service, proof of authentication is provided to the Web service, which grants access to the Web service resource.
US08656463B2
A system and method for determining a trust level for a non-approved user in a social network is described. The method includes monitoring requests for social network interactions between an approved user and the non-approved user and determining if each interaction requested is of a first type or a second type. The method further includes increasing a first trust value when the interaction requested is of the first type and increasing a second trust value when the interaction requested is of the second type. The method further includes determining the trust level based on the first trust value and the second trust value. The method further includes changing the status of the non-approved user to an approved user based on the trust level, the first trust value and/or the second trust value.
US08656462B2
Systems, methods and apparatus for a distributed security that provides authentication and authorization management. The system can include a state manager that is used to identify and maintain the source associated with a client browser that submits requests to the state manager. The state manager can allow requests that are authorized and request authorization for requests that are not. The state manager can maintain the states associated with each domain to reduce the number of transaction needed to authenticate and/or authorize subsequent requests to the same domain or to different domains.
US08656459B2
A method for inhibiting phishing can include sending information from a mobile network device to a website server, generating a one time password at the mobile network device from the information, generating a one time password at the website server from the information, sending the one time password generated at the website server to the mobile network device when the mobile network device subsequently accesses the website, and comparing the one time password generated at the website server to the one time password generated at the mobile network device. In this manner, the website can be authenticated such that the occurrence of phishing is substantially mitigated.
US08656450B2
A security policy switching device includes a policy information storage that stores policy setting information and identification information of a policy in correspondence to each other, the policy setting information including setting content of the policy and identification information of a user to whom the policy is attached, a data information storage that stores identification information of data for which a policy is set and identification information of a policy attached to the data in correspondence to each other, and a policy switching unit that switches, in response to a switching request designating identification information of data for which the policy is to be switched and identification information of a user instructing the switch, a policy attached to the data by updating identification information of the policy attached to the data stored in the data information storage with identification information of another policy.
US08656441B1
A computer system comprising one or more communications devices; one or more processors operatively connected to the one or more communications devices; and one or more computer readable media operatively connected to the one or more processors and having stored thereon computer instructions for carrying out the steps of (a) maintaining, by the computer system, a database comprising (1) first data related to identification of one or more works; and (2) second data related to information corresponding to each of the one or more works as identified by the first data; (b) obtaining, by the computer system, extracted features of a work to be identified; (c) identifying, by the computer system, the work by comparing the extracted features of the work with the first data in the database using a non-exhaustive neighbor search; (d) determining, by the computer system, the information corresponding to the identified work based on the second data in the database; and (e) associating, by the computer system, the determined information with the identified work.
US08656436B2
Various designs of configurable multiswitch or multifeed satellite reception systems comprising switch-over matrices and transponder branches and “one cable solutions” which allow or do not allow subsequent expansion with respect to the subscribers that can be connected thereto are known from the prior art. In general, the costs for such systems comprising frequency converters are primarily determined by the frequency converters and the associated filters. The aim of the invention is to devise inexpensive methods or devices which allow detection of the complete frequency spectrum—even after subsequent expansions—and which therefore do not involve any restrictions with respect to the program range. The device for the freely programmable conversion of 1 to m transponders in n transponder blocks (TB1 to TBn) of a satellite reception system comprises the following elements: a satellite antenna (S) comprising at least one LNB reception converter (LNB1, LBN4) to the outputs of which the respective satellite IF plane is applied; a multiswitch (MS) connected to the outputs of the one or more LNB reception converters (LNB1, LNB4); n converters (U) which are arranged in parallel to each other; mid a combinatorial circuit (VS) connected to the converters (U) to combine the n transponder blocks (TB1 to TBn) to an output spectrum, the device making all configured transponders available to every receiver in the manner of a satellite head end. The invention is used in the field of satellite reception and distribution systems as a head end.
US08656434B2
In a system, tabulated information on broadcasting programs is supplied through a network. When a user selects information on a desired program from the tabulated information of programs, supplemental information attached to the individual program information is converted into an remote control signal to remote-control a user's receiver to receive the desired program.
US08656431B2
A system and device is disclosed that employs a global interactive program guide to receive, access, manage, and view digital entertainment services such as live television, television on demand, and pre-recorded video and audio programming from one on more content sources, via an internet-enabled device, anywhere in the world. As disclosed, the global interactive program guide provides a user with metadata that describes available content and enables the user to access desired content on an a la carte basis and arrange the presentation of that content in any way or order desired. The system of the instant invention can alternatively be practiced with any mobile communications device that is accessible via the internet, cell phone communications or other communications mode. Changes made to content availability are instantly synchronized through the entire system and content redundancy is obtained when available.
US08656416B2
According to this invention, an information processing apparatus which customizes a device driver for controlling an image forming apparatus includes an issuing unit which issues identification information for specifying a customized driver, and a storage unit which stores, in association with the customized driver, the identification information issued by the issuing unit.
US08656414B1
A framework can provide describe definitions for use cases. The framework can comprise a controller layer, a wrapper layer, and a function layer. The controller layer can be configured to receive describe requests and return describe results. The wrapper layer can be configured to call describe methods of functions that implement the use cases. The function layer can comprise functions that implement the use cases. A function execution request can be received, a customized function execution sequence can be determined for the function execution request, the customized function execution sequence can be executed, and results of the execution can be returned. The customized function execution sequence can comprise an indication of execution order for a plurality of functions.
US08656408B2
Guiding OS thread scheduling in multi-core and/or multi-threaded microprocessors by: determining, for each thread among the active threads, the power consumed by each instruction type associated with an instruction executed by the thread during the last context switch interval; determining for each thread among the active threads, the power consumption expected for each instruction type associated with an instruction scheduled by said thread during the next context switch interval; generating at least one combination of N threads among the active threads (M), and for each generated combination determining if the combination of N threads satisfies a main condition related to the power consumption per instruction type expected for each thread of the thread combination during the next context switch interval and to the thread power consumption per instruction type determined for each thread of the thread combination during the last context switch interval; and selecting a combination of N threads.
US08656404B2
A computer-implemented method of managing resources in a virtual machine environment can include determining a specification of provisioning success corresponding to each of multiple jobs in the virtual machine environment, determining a prediction of resource needs corresponding to each of the jobs, and determining a resource specification corresponding to each of the jobs based on the specification of provisioning success and the prediction of resource needs.
US08656403B2
Techniques are disclosed for optimizing schedules used in implementing plans for performing tasks in data processing systems. For example, an automated method of negotiating for resources in a data processing system, wherein the data processing system comprises multiple sites, comprises a negotiation management component of a computer system at a given one of the sites performing the following steps. One or more tasks from at least one source of one or more plans are obtained. Each plan is annotated with one or more needed resources and one or more potential resource providers at one or more sites in the data processing system. An optimized resource negotiation schedule based on the one or more obtained tasks is computed. The schedule comprises an order in which resources are negotiated. In accordance with the optimized resource negotiation schedule, a request for each needed resource is sent to the one or more potential resource providers such that a negotiation process is performed between the negotiation management component and at least one of the potential resource providers.
US08656395B2
A workload scheduler determines how to submit jobs to several scheduler agents across multiple systems. The scheduler engine determines the systems to which it is able to submit jobs. A job is received and analyzed to determine systems to which the job can be submitted. The scheduler engine determines which system will receive the job by evaluating the next system in line and determining if the job can be sent to that system and if that system is currently in a healthy state. The scheduler engine sends the job to the selected system. The scheduler agents inform the scheduler engine when the job is submitted and when it is executed. Once a time period has expired, the engine evaluates the health of each of the systems based on the number of jobs submitted and executed by each system.
US08656394B1
A method for executing an application program using streams. A device driver receives a first command within an application program and parses the first command to identify a first stream token that is associated with a first stream. The device driver checks a memory location associated with the first stream for a first semaphore, and determines whether the first semaphore has been released. Once the first semaphore has been released, a second command within the application program is executed. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention provide a technique for developers to take advantage of the parallel execution capabilities of a GPU.
US08656393B2
A multi-core system includes: a first core that writes first data by execution of a first program, wherein the first core gives write completion notice after completion of the writing; a second core that refers to the written first data by execution of a second program; and a scheduler that instructs the second core to start the execution of the second program before the execution of the first program is completed when the scheduler is given the write completion notice from the first core by the execution of the first program.
US08656391B2
A method and computer program product for defining a plurality of tags, each of which is associated with a discrete process executable on activity content. At least one of the plurality of tags is associated with a piece of content within an activity, thus defining one or more associated tags.
US08656389B2
In one embodiment, a method includes upon receipt from a first host of a command to pause a virtual port (Vport) associated with a first physical port establishing a connection with the first host, changing a current state of the Vport from an active state to a paused state. The changing of the current state of the Vport to the paused state does not tear down a current session between the Vport and a set of storage disks. The method further includes upon receipt from a second host of a command to resume the Vport at a second physical port establishing a connection with the second host, changing the current state of the Vport from the paused state to the active state and associating the Vport with the second physical port.
US08656386B1
A system, method and computer program product for managing files of Virtual Machines, including launching a plurality of Virtual Machines in a computing system having a host OS; using a content of at least one file of the host OS as a shared file; using a re-direct, providing access to the shared file when any Virtual Machine attempts to access its private file; using copy-on-write, making a copy of the shared file if the Virtual Machine attempts to modify the shared file, and placing a copy of the shared file in a private area of the corresponding Virtual Machine.
US08656382B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, data processing system, and computer usable program code are provided for obtaining data from an application. A class loader layer is instantiated for an application. The class loader layer is an interface between the application and a resource adaptor and the class loader layer has access to all classes for the application. The function is executed to generate a set of objects with a set of data types accessible by the resource adaptor responsive to receiving a request from the resource adaptor to invoke a function in the class loader layer. Finally, the set of objects are sent to the resource adaptor.
US08656380B1
Systems and methods for profiling an executable include generating differently instrumented versions of a portion of the program code for the executable. References to the portion of the program code may be replaced with references to a control function that conditionally executes the differently instrumented versions. Different profiling modes may be selected at runtime to control which version is executed. Profiling data may also be generated during execution of the program.
US08656377B2
Embodiments are directed to tracking variable location information in optimized code and efficiently collecting and storing reaching definition information. A computer system receives a portion of source code at a compiler, where the compiler is configured to compile and optimize the source code for execution. The computer system tags selected variables in the source code with a tag, where the tag is configured to provide location information for the variable. The computer system optimizes the received portion of source code including changing at least one of the tagged variables. The computer system also tracks the tagged variables as the variables are changed by the compiler during code optimization and persists the variable location information, so that the persisted variable location information is available to other compiler components.
US08656371B2
A report representation system and method of transforming report outputs into a standard representation format are provided. The report representation system comprises a report parser for parsing a report output, a code generator for generating a standard representation code of the report output and a code compiler for converting the standard representation code into a format representable as a fixed schema repository. The method comprises the steps of parsing a report output, generating a standard representation code of the report output and converting the standard representation code into a format representable as a fixed schema repository.
US08656370B2
In one embodiment, accessing a control flow graph (CFG) of a software program written in JavaScript; identifying one or more paths in the CFG; and performing symbolic execution on the software program using the CFG.
US08656366B2
A microprogrammable electronic device has a first code memory storing instructions, and is configured to execute each instruction in the first code memory at a respective instruction cycle. The system comprises binary code generating means, and a tracing device. The binary code generating means form part of the device, and are configured to generate and output on a single pin of the device binary codes, each of which indicates a corresponding execution-related event, is generated and outputted at a corresponding instruction cycle, and has N bits, where N is an integer >=2. The tracing device is coupled with the single pin to receive the binary codes, and has a second code memory in which the instructions are stored. The tracing device is configured to trace instructions executed by the device, on the basis of the received binary codes and of the instructions stored in the second code memory.
US08656362B2
A method, system and/or program product corrects semantic errors in code in an integrated development environment. The method includes inputting, using a code editor, code being developed in an integrated development environment. One or more nodes, in a syntax tree constructed for inputting the code, are identified as containing semantic errors pertaining to use of a third-party library. A primary executable code snippet and a secondary code snippet for correcting the semantic errors are displayed. If execution of the primary code snippet does not correct the semantic errors, then the secondary code snippet is automatically executed.
US08656359B2
Various embodiments of systems and methods for data mappings with visual debugging capabilities are described herein. A debugger is used to debug data transformations while presenting the actual transformation being debugged. The mapping being debugged is depicted differently than the rest of the mappings. A user can check the current context, continue debugging, resume execution, or terminate the debug session.
US08656358B2
This disclosure describes, for a example, a plant control system comprising: program editing means for creating a control program including an interlock condition and diagnosis of interlock; plant control means for executing a program object in the control program; and interlock diagnosing means for updating and displaying satisfaction/dissatisfaction of the interlock condition at a predetermined point before the present, further specifying only a source factor variable of the dissatisfaction even if plural stages of interlock circuits are formed, and automatically displaying the source factor variable in a graphic language, the interlock diagnosing means having a logical operation unit and a display unit.
US08656354B2
The present invention provides a method, a system and a computer program product for defining a version identifier of a service component. The method includes determining various specification levels corresponding to the service component. Thereafter, the determined specification levels are integrated according to a predefined hierarchy to obtain the version identifier of the service component. The present invention also enables the identification of the service components. The service components are identified from one or more service components on the basis of one or more user requirements.
US08656353B2
A system and a method are disclosed for receiving a request to create a mobile application, the request comprising provider-specific application information and provider-specific content for the mobile application, generating, by a processing device, an application description based on the provider-specific application information, wherein the application description comprises a selection of one or more application features for the mobile application, retrieving, by the processing device, a base mobile application stored in a data store, wherein the base mobile application comprises previously generated base application software code, modifying, by the processing device, the base mobile application in view of the application description; and generating, by the processing device, binary mobile application code for the mobile application in view of the modified base mobile application.
US08656350B2
A system and method for configuring an event-based process are disclosed. A configuration module receives input describing an event-based process or modifications to an event-based process. For example, the configuration module receives as input a graphical depiction of one or more states and state transitions that comprise at least a portion of the event-based process. Using the received input description, the configuration module generates executable data, such as data formatted as an event processing language, corresponding to the input. The executable data is then communicated to an event engine which executes the executable data to implement the event-based process or modifications to an event-based process corresponding to the received input. One or more aspects of the execution of the event-based process may also be visualized, and graphically modified, though an event monitoring module.
US08656336B2
A method includes receiving a design layout file for an integrated circuit device in a computing apparatus. The design layout file specifies dimensions of a plurality of features. Outer markers are generated in the computing apparatus for at least a subset of the features based on the proximity of the features to one another and spacing requirements. Features are identified in the computing apparatus where the associated outer marker has at least one dimension greater than the dimensions specified for the feature.
US08656335B2
A system and several methods for inferring higher level descriptions of circuit connectivity from register transfer level (RTL) netlists in order to provide more understandable and manageable design descriptions for complex System-on-Chip (SOC) designs, is provided. In particular, interface matching based on connectivity propagation is automatically performed whereby port names and properties on instances of functional elements and blocks are propagated to top level design ports as well as other instances of functional elements and blocks to create a more robust description of connectivity according to the RTL netlist, and to automatically form signal groupings that comprise a higher-level abstracted description. Also, a facility is included to allow user-guided grouping of instantiated interfaces with respect to actual signal names and properties in an RTL-level design.
US08656308B2
A method of managing electronic items is provided. User-owned images of items are received and stored to a plurality of virtual closets. Each of the plurality of virtual closets are associated with a specific position in a stack. The stack has a plurality of positions. Retailer-owned images of items are stored in the plurality of virtual closets. An image is displayed in each of the positions of the stack. Each displayed image is selected from a virtual closet of the plurality of virtual closets corresponding with the positions in the stack. A user is allowed to change the displayed image in each of the positions in the stack.
US08656306B2
An image displaying apparatus for a computer selectively executing a full-screen display or a frame display on a monitor screen is disclosed. The apparatus includes a main screen generating unit generating a predetermined main screen, a full-screen displaying unit displaying the main screen in a full-screen display, a mouse operation determining unit detecting a moving operation of the mouse to determine whether or not the moving operation is a predetermined first movement, a full-screen display detecting unit detecting whether or not the main screen is in the full-screen display, and a composite displaying unit displaying a predetermined sub-screen on the screen and the main screen downscaled so that the whole main screen is displayed on the remaining range of the screen when the mouse operation determining unit determines, during the full-screen display, that the moving operation is the first movement.
US08656292B2
A graphical user interface in which entities of the interface are manipulated using manipulation operations. The graphical user interface comprises a selectable interface entity upon which manipulation operations are commence-able, a first interface entity distinct from the selectable interface entity, and a second interface entity distinct from the first interface entity and the selectable interface entity. Upon commencement of a manipulation operation on the selectable interface entity, at least one of the first interface entity and the second interface entity is visually accentuated.
US08656289B1
A system and method for managing and displaying data messages includes a computing device configured to receive stream data, assign data messages of the stream data to one or more display columns of a graphical user interface, and display the data messages in the assigned columns. The stream data may be embodied as short data messages such as text messages having predetermined maximum character length. The data messages may be assigned to the display columns based on meta-data associated with the data messages such as the author of the data message, the source of the data message, and/or the type of the data message.
US08656288B2
On a document collaboration system, such as a wiki, the content of postings to the collaboration system is monitored for sensitive information. Under some embodiments, when instances of such sensitive information are detected, an e-mail is sent to the user that posted the collaboration page posting. In other embodiments, a message is then sent to a person associated with the entity that indicates that the information placed on the collaboration page is confidential information or is related to an asset of the entity. In further embodiments, individual people are assigned responsibility for monitoring the use of certain instances of sensitive information on the collaboration system. Each user is only notified when the instances they are responsible for appear on a collaboration page. In other embodiments, if a collaboration page includes an instance of sensitive information, access to the collaboration page is changed such that fewer people can access the collaboration page.
US08656285B1
A web based platform and method is provided for facilitating content transactions between a provider and one or more users. Content transmitted from a content provider via a communications network and a customized graphical user interface, and stored on a database server in association with content data. Access to an identifier of the content is provided for users of the user interface, and value is received from one or more users in association with the content. In response to the received value, selective access to the content by one or more users is provided, with the access for a particular user determined based on the content data. The content data in various embodiments may include a value threshold for the content, with access provided to all users or a set of users after a cumulative value received exceeds the value threshold.
US08656279B2
A method of configuring a device to receive gesture inputs of a particular culture includes: responsive to a user request to adapt a device to gestures of a culture, assigning a data record representing cultural setting of the device to the culture, and responsive to the assigning the culture setting of the device, adopting a gesture recognizer of the device to the culture setting.
US08656278B2
A data converting apparatus includes: a display image producing section that receives a file including one or more records in each of which records print data for one or more pages is described so as to produce image data for displaying; a preview displaying section that displays an image based on the image data produced in the display image producing section, and receives a designation by a user operation as to whether or not printing on a record basis or on a page basis is required; and a print image producing section that produces image data for printing with respect to the record or page which is designated to be printed by the preview displaying section.
US08656262B2
A digital broadcast system and a method of processing data are provided. The transmitting system of the digital broadcast system includes an encoder for encoding mobile data for FEC to build RS frames, a signaling encoder for encoding TPC data including the RS frame mode information, a divider for dividing at least one of the RS frames into a plurality of portions, a block processor for converting one portion to a plurality of SCCC blocks, a converter for converting the SCCC blocks to data blocks, a group formatter for forming data groups, a packet formatter for forming data packets including data in the data groups, a multiplexer for multiplexing main data packets including main data and the data packets, a trellis encoder for performing trellis encoding on data in the multiplexed data packets and a transmission unit for transmitting the broadcast signal including a parade of the data groups.
US08656255B1
A memory system includes a flash subsystem for storing data identified by page numbers. The memory system further includes a central processing unit (CPU), and a flash controller coupled to the CPU, the CPU being operable to pair a lower with an upper page. Further included in the memory system is a buffer including a page of data to be programmed in a block of the flash subsystem, wherein split segments of pages are formed and concatenated with split error correcting code (ECC), the ECC having a code rate associated therewith.
US08656252B2
A non-volatile storage device includes one or more non-volatile memories for storing data, and a memory controller for carrying out the control of the non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory includes the plurality of blocks, which are erase units, and the block includes the plurality of pages, which are write units of data, in each of the blocks at least one set of pages existing which include at least two pages sharing one word line. The memory controller configures a plurality of error correcting groups, each including at least one data page, which is a page for storing data, and at least one error correcting code page for storing a code for error correcting calculation of the data page, and assigns a page of a separate word line with respect to each of the data page and the error correcting page in the same error correcting group.
US08656250B2
A method and system for decoding low density parity check (“LDPC”) codes. An LDPC decoder includes an R select unit, a Q message first-in first-out (“FIFO”) memory, and a cyclic shifter. The R select unit provides an R message by selecting from a plurality of possible R message values. The Q message memory stores a Q message until an R message is generated by a CNU, the Q message and the R message are combined to provide a P message. The cyclic shifter shifts the P message.
US08656246B2
A method and apparatus for multicasting of a multi-packet message are disclosed. Data to be transmitted as a message are divided into N sets, each set being encoded to generate encoded data. A set of parity bits is separated from each of the N sets of encoded data. The N sets of separated parity bits are encoded by a systematic code with a predetermined distance S across the N sets, resulting in N′ parity-bit packets. The N′ parity-bit packets are encoded with a code that is selected so that each receiving station decodes the N′ parity-bit packets with a high probability. The N-packet message, comprising the N sets of encoded data less the separated bits, and the N′ packets are multicasted. If less than S packets of the N-packet message fail to decode at a receiving station, the receiving station recovers all N packets using the N′ packets.
US08656244B1
Described herein is a method and system that provides a class of error correction codes which can be used in communication systems to correct errors which may be introduced by a communication channel. In particular, a “staircase matrix” or “staircase LDPC code” is defined that enables performance gains associated with nonbinary LDPC codes while requiring low encoding complexity. Also, the concepts, systems and techniques described herein allow for implementation of a single encoder and decoder structure which can realize arbitrary rational coding rates, thus enabling a communication system to easily adapt a coding rate to different coding requirements.
US08656238B2
A scan flip-flop circuit includes a pulse generator, a dynamic input unit and a latch output unit. The pulse generator generates a pulse signal which is enabled in synchronization with a rising edge of a clock signal in a normal mode, and is selectively enabled in synchronization with the rising edge of the clock signal in response to a logic level of a scan input signal in a scan mode. The dynamic input unit precharges a first node to a power supply voltage in a first phase of the clock signal, selectively discharges the first node in the normal mode, and discharges the first node in the scan mode. The latch output unit latches an internal signal provided from the first node to provide an output data, and determines whether the output data is toggled based on the clock signal and a previous state of the output data.
US08656219B2
An ontology is generated for a business application on an enterprise network that describes one or more nodes that communicate with each other during the execution of the business application. An alert condition of the business application is detected, and the ontology for the business application is processed to determine one or more components of the ontology that are in an alert state. Further, a root cause view that indicates the one or more alert state components is generated and displayed to a user.
US08656218B2
Performing data management operations on replicated data in a computer network. Log entries are generated for data management operations of an application executing on a source system. Consistency point entries are used to indicate a time of a known good, or recoverable, state of the application. A destination system is configured to process a copy of the log and consistency point entries to replicate data in a replication volume, the replicated data being a copy of the application data on the source system. When the replicated data represents a known good state of the application, as determined by the consistency point entries, the destination system(s) may perform a storage operation (e.g., snapshot, backup) to copy the replicated data and to logically associate the copied data with a time information (e.g., time stamp) indicative of the source system time when the application was in the known good state.
US08656215B2
Various embodiments for disaster recovery (DR) production takeover in a computing environment by a processor device are provided. If, for a designated storage system operable in the computing environment, a takeover operation may be executed, and a DR storage system has validly replaced the designated storage system using a replacement process, a withdrawal of a DR mode of operation is performed, and ownership of at least one storage device operable in the computing environment is transferred to the DR storage system. The replacement process authorizes the DR storage system to transfer the ownership while withdrawn from the DR mode of operation.
US08656206B2
An apparatus having a first memory and a circuit is disclosed. The first memory may be configured to store a plurality of timers. Each of the timers may have a respective value that indicates an expiration time. A first one of the timers nearest to expiring is generally stored at a first address of the first memory. The circuit may be configured to (i) assert a signal in response to the respective value of the first timer matching a counter of time, (ii) read a second of the timers and a third of the timers both from a second address of the first memory, (iii) sort the second timer and the third timer to determine which expires next and (iv) replace the first timer by writing one of the second timer or the third timer that expires next into the first memory at the first address.
US08656200B2
A system for reducing power consumption in an electronic device comprising at least one electronic chip comprises a plurality of local access network (LAN) ports, a transceiver coupled between the LAN ports and the electronic chip, a PLA device, and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is configured to power off the electronic chip in response to a period of inactivity on the LAN ports and power on the electronic chip in response to a signal from the PLA device.
US08656191B2
A secure system-on-chip for processing data, the system-on-chip comprising at least a central processing unit (CPU), an input and an output channel, an encryption/decryption engine and a memory, wherein, said input channel comprises an input encryption module to encrypt all incoming data, said output channel comprising an output decryption module to decrypt all outgoing data, said CPU receiving the encrypted data from the input encryption module and storing them in the memory, and while processing the stored data, said CPU reading the stored data from the memory, requesting decryption of same in the encryption/decryption engine, processing the data and requesting encryption of the result by the encryption/decryption engine and storing the encrypted result, outputting the result to the output decryption module for decryption purpose and exiting the decrypted result via the output channel.
US08656175B2
When performing secure processing using confidential information that needs to be confidential, the secure processing device according to the present invention prevents the confidential information from being exposed by an unauthorized analysis such as a memory dump. A signature generation device that provides a message M with a signature by using a signature key comprises: a split key storage unit that stores split secret keys obtained by splitting the signature key d into at least two, a signature key generation equation F for calculating the split secret keys to obtain the signature key d, and a signature generation equation; a signature key generation identical equation generation unit that generates a signature key generation identical equation G for obtaining the same result as the signature generation equation F, with use of an associative law, a distributive law, and a commutative law; a combined split key generation unit that generates a plurality of combined split keys that are each a result of calculating the split secret keys, and that are to be arguments for the signature key generation identical equation G; and a signature generation unit that provides the message with the signature, based on the signature key generation identical equation G and the split secret keys.
US08656171B2
A method, an apparatus, and a system for configuring a key are provided. The method includes the following steps. A mobile node (MN) and an authentication authorization accounting home server (AAAH) generate a domain specific root key (DSRK) of a visited domain respectively. The AAAH sends the DSRK to an AAA visited server (AAAV). The MN and the AAAV generate a domain specific media independent handover service root key (DS-MIHS-RK) by using the DSRK respectively. The AAAV sends the DS-MIHS-RK to a visited domain media independent handover (MIH) authenticator. Thus, cumbersomeness and risks of errors in configuring and authenticating a password manually are avoided, so that large-scale and secure deployment of the MIH service becomes possible.
US08656166B2
Data is transmitted between a first user and a second user via an information technology communications network, in a method comprising the steps of: generating a first hash value for a selected one of the data items; digitally signing and encrypting the first hash value with a secret identifier associated with the first user; transmitting to a second user the encrypted first hash value; receiving and storing the transmitted encrypted first hash value for audit purposes and generating a second hash value for the received encrypted first hash value; encrypting the second hash value with a private identifier associated with a second user and a public identifier associated with the first user; and returning the encrypted second hash value to the first user.
US08656162B2
A method to facilitate securing of air-to-ground communications for an aircraft is provided. The method includes receiving security management information at the aircraft via at least one broadband data link prior to takeoff of the aircraft. The security management information is received for ground entities that can be communicatively coupled with the aircraft traveling on a flight path. The method of securing avionics also includes validating the security management information for the ground entities, and storing the validated security management information for the ground entities in the aircraft. The validating and storing of security management information occur prior to takeoff of the aircraft.
US08656149B2
A bootloader process executing on a service management processor (SMP) subsystem for a server device determines whether flag stored within non-volatile memory of the subsystem is set. The flag corresponds to whether a full cold initialization process of the subsystem is to occur. In response to determining that the flag has not been set, the bootloader process loads an image stored in the non-volatile memory into volatile memory of the subsystem. The image corresponds to processes properly running on the SMP subsystem after the SMP subsystem has booted, including a management process. The processes begin executing on the subsystem. The management process, determines whether a hardware configuration change within the subsystem has been made since when the image was saved to the non-volatile memory. In response to determining that the hardware configuration change has been made, the management process sets the flag and rebooting the subsystem.
US08656148B2
The invention discloses a device information collecting method in a computer system including the following steps: booting a computer system and entering an operating system; executing a collecting application program in the operating system for detecting a plurality of device information and settings in the computer system and storing the device information and settings as a log file and building up a virtual reference computer system according to the log file.
US08656147B2
Methods and apparatus to measure the integrity of a virtual machine monitor and an operating system via secure launch are disclosed. In one example, a method measures a first characteristic of a virtual machine monitor, stores the first measured characteristic in a first hardware protected location, measures a second characteristic of an operating system with the virtual machine monitor, wherein the measuring of the second characteristic is initiated by the operating system, and stores the second measured characteristic in a second hardware protected location.
US08656146B2
A secure boot processing may be accomplished on the basis of a non-volatile memory that is an integral part of the CPU and which may not be modified once a pre-boot information may be programmed into the non-volatile memory. During a reset event or a power-on event, execution may be started from the internal non-volatile memory, which may also include public decryption keys for verifying a signature of a portion of a boot routine. The verification of the respective portion of the boot routine may be accomplished by using internal random access memories, thereby avoiding external access during verification of the boot routine. Hence, a high degree of tamper resistance may be obtained, for instance, with respect to BIOS modification by exchanging BIOS chips.
US08656144B2
The invention provides an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image processing program which enable accurately observing a moving image of an object within a time interval within which the object is in a desired state. A control unit performs an analysis process after the elapse of every defined time period. As the analysis process, the control unit acquires evaluation values corresponding to image data of a plurality of frames stored within a latest defined time period and, based on the acquired evaluation values, selects a group of reproduction data formed from image data of a certain number of frames, out of the image data of the plurality of frames stored within the latest defined time period. After the completion of the analysis process, the control unit starts reproduction of a moving image based on the group of reproduction data selected through the analysis process.
US08656137B2
A method includes selectively routing a physical address to an originating device instead of to a shared memory at controller that manages conversion of device virtual addresses to physical addresses. The physical address corresponds to a data access from a virtual device. The method may provide local coherency at a computing system that implements virtualized input/output.
US08656136B2
In the computer system, a storage system provides a storage level virtual volume based on thin provisioning technology, to a physical server on which a virtual machine is defined. The storage system releases the area of the logical volume corresponding to the storage level virtual volume accessed by a virtual machine which is specified to be deleted, on the basis of storage level virtual volume conversion information which is managed by the storage system.
US08656134B2
A configurable memory allocation and management system may generate a configuration file with memory settings that may be deployed at runtime. An execution environment may capture a memory allocation boundary, look up the boundary in a configuration file, and apply the settings when the settings are available. When the settings are not available, a default set of settings may be used. The execution environment may deploy the optimized settings without modifying the executing code.
US08656132B2
When a computer 10 receives a request from the client computer 30 to access snapshot files, the target device to be used is identified. The computer 10 makes a request to the identified target device TD for attachment of the logical device LDEV that stores the snapshot files for which access is requested. When the computer 10 receives notification that the attachment has ended from the storage device system 20, the identified target device is mounted on the directory in which the snapshot files are stored.
US08656130B2
Persistent data storage is provided by a method that includes receiving a low latency store command that includes write data. The write data is written to a first memory device that is implemented by a nonvolatile solid-state memory technology characterized by a first access speed. It is acknowledged that the write data has been successfully written to the first memory device. The write data is written to a second memory device that is implemented by a volatile memory technology. At least a portion of the data in the first memory device is written to a third memory device when a predetermined amount of data has been accumulated in the first memory device. The third memory device is implemented by a nonvolatile solid-state memory technology characterized by a second access speed that is slower than the first access speed.
US08656126B2
Configuration information and a system log are acquired for each of virtual servers running on an external computer, and the acquired system logs are analyzed. Relation information on the relation between the acquired configuration information and a configuration item indicating an existing snapshot, which is acquired from the same virtual server and stored, is extracted on the basis of the analysis result. Identification information for identifying the acquired configuration information is generated on the basis of the extracted relation information, and the acquired configuration information and system log are stored as a configuration item indicating a snapshot in association with the generated identification information.
US08656122B2
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for managing write operations to an extent of tracks migrated from a second storage to a first storage. An extent object exists if the extent was previously migrated from the first storage to the second storage at a previous time. In response to determining that the extent object exists, a determination is made of the tracks in the extent having a write indicator indicating that the track was updated in the second storage since the previous time. The data for the determined tracks is copied from the second storage to free locations in the first storage. For each determined track, the entry for the determined track in the extent object is updated to indicate the free location to which the data for the track was copied as an active address for the track.
US08656110B2
When multiple pieces of content data are being recorded continuously to a nonvolatile storage device having page cache function, a preparation time before starting next content data recording is reduced. When a cache releasing section of a nonvolatile storage device (1) receives cache releasing from an access device (2), it releases addresses included in one logical block among multiple addresses which are cache objects at the same time. Further, the nonvolatile storage device (1) includes a cache information outputting section which outputs information regarding a time period required for releasing addresses which are cache objects outside, and the access device (2) refers to the information to select the address to be an object of releasing.
US08656107B2
A data processing system comprises data processing circuitry, a cache memory, and memory access circuitry. The memory access circuitry is operative to assign a memory address region to be allocated in the cache memory with a predefined initialization value. Subsequently, a portion of the cache memory is allocated to the assigned memory address region only after the data processing circuitry first attempts to perform a memory access on a memory address within the assigned memory address region. The allocated portion of the cache memory is then initialized with the predefined initialization value.
US08656106B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for cache management. Embodiments include receiving, by a cache controller, a request to insert a new cache line into a cache; determining, by the cache controller, whether the new cache line is associated with a forced injection; in response to determining that the new cache line is associated with a forced injection, accepting, by the cache controller, the insertion of the new cache line into the cache; and in response to determining that the new cache line is not associated with a forced injection, determining, by the cache controller, whether to accept the insertion of the new cache line based on a comparison of an address of the new cache line to a predefined range of addresses.
US08656105B2
A second level memory controller uses shadow tags 711 to implement snoop read and write coherence. These shadow tags are generally used only for snoops intending to keep L2 SRAM coherent with the level one data cache. Thus updates for all external cache lines are ignored. The shadow tags are updated on all level one cache allocates and all dirty and invalidate modifications to data stored in L2 SRAM. These interactions happen on different interfaces, but the traffic on that interface includes level one data cache accesses to both external and level two directly addressable lines. These interactions create extra traffic on these interfaces and creating extra stalls to the CPU. Thus in this invention shadow tags are updated only on a subset of less than all updates of the level one tags.
US08656104B2
A point-in-time copy relationship associates tracks in a source storage with tracks in a target storage. The target storage stores the tracks in the source storage as of a point-in-time. A write request is received including an updated source track for a point-in-time source track in the source storage in the point-in-time copy relationship. The point-in-time source track was in the source storage at the point-in-time the copy relationship was established. The updated source track is stored in a first cache device. A prefetch request is sent to the source storage to prefetch the point-in-time source track in the source storage subject to the write request to a second cache device. A read request is generated to read the source track in the source storage following the sending of the prefetch request. The read source track is copied to a corresponding target track in the target storage.
US08656099B2
A storage apparatus and its control method capable of implementing thin provisioning and reducing power consumption of storage devices are provided. The storage apparatus classifies a plurality of storage devices, which provide a pool with a storage resource, into a plurality of groups; performs thin provisioning operation by setting some of the plurality of groups to an active mode, in which the storage devices belonging to the groups are made to enter an activated state; sets other groups to a power-saving mode in which the storage devices are made to enter a power-saving state; and sequentially switches between the group(s) in the active mode and the group(s) in the power-saving mode among the plurality of groups.
US08656094B2
According to one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to receive a mount request to access at least one host data record on a virtual tape storage (VTS) system; computer readable program code configured to determine a number of host compressed data records per physical block on a magnetic tape medium; computer readable program code configured to determine a physical block ID (PBID) that corresponds to the requested at least one host data record; computer readable program code configured to access a physical block on the magnetic tape medium corresponding to the PBID; and computer readable program code configured to output the physical block without outputting an entire logical volume from the magnetic tape medium that the physical block is stored to. Other systems and computer program products are also described.
US08656092B2
A non-volatile memory device has a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. The array can operate in either a multilevel cell or single level cell mode and each cell has a lower page and an upper page of data. The memory device has a data latch for storing flag data and a cache latch coupled to the data latch. A read method comprises initiating a lower page read of a memory cell and reading, from the data latch, flag data that indicates whether a lower page read operation is necessary.
US08656090B2
A method for performing block management is provided. The method is applied to a controller of a Flash memory having multiple channels, where the Flash memory includes a plurality of blocks respectively corresponding to the channels. The method includes: obtaining at least one portion of a plurality of address-to-channel mapping relationships, for use of writing/programming operations; and according to at least one address-to-channel mapping relationship of the plurality of address-to-channel mapping relationships, programming at least one page of data into the Flash memory through at least one channel in a page mode. An associated memory device and a controller thereof are also provided.
US08656089B2
Electronic device, memory controlling method thereof and associated computer-readable storage medium
An electronic device including a NAND flash memory, an auxiliary memory, and a controller is provided. A code for detecting a read command sequence of the NAND flash memory is stored in the auxiliary memory. During a boot procedure of the electronic device, the controller reads the code from the auxiliary memory and executes the code to obtain the read command sequence of the NAND flash memory, so as to access content stored in the NAND flash memory according to the read command sequence.
US08656072B2
A memory/storage module is provided that implements a solid state drive compatible with Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) signaling on a double-data-rate compatible socket. A detachable daughter card may be coupled to the memory module for converting a memory bus voltage to a second voltage for memory devices on the memory module. Additionally, a hybrid memory bus on a host system is provided that supports either DDR-compatible memory modules and/or SATA/SAS-compatible memory modules. In one example, the memory/storage module couples to a first bus (DDR3 compatible socket) to obtain voltage and/or other signals, but uses a second bus for data transfers. In another example, the memory module may repurpose/reuse electrical paths that typically carry non-data signals for data traffic to/from the memory/storage module. Such data traffic for the memory/storage module permits concurrent data traffic for other memory modules on the same memory bus.
US08656070B2
The present disclosure is directed to a method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster. The method may comprise initiating an input/output (I/O) request from the initiator system to a first storage system included in a plurality of storage systems of the block storage cluster, each of the plurality of storage systems comprising a plurality of data segments; receiving a referral response from the first storage system, the referral response providing information describing a layout of data requested in the I/O request; obtaining a virtual disk count, a segment size, and at least one indexed port identifier based on the referral response; and directing the I/O request from the initiator system to the block storage cluster based on the virtual disk count, the segment size, and the at least one indexed port identifier.
US08656056B2
According to one embodiment, a data sources interface of a mainframe receives a transaction request from a user terminal communicating through a network. The transaction request is formatted in a web-based format. A data sources function is called to instruct a mainframe application to perform the requested transaction, and the instruction to the mainframe is formatted in the native format of the mainframe. A transaction result formatted in the native format of the mainframe is received from the mainframe application. The transaction result is modified according to the web-based format to yield a data source, and the data source is sent to the user terminal.
US08656052B2
A private customer IP address is mapped to a public NAT address using a repeatable, reversible algorithm. A given private IP address must always map to the same public IP address and a fixed range of source ports. In the mapped address translation (MAT) implementation, private IP addresses are mapped to public IP/port ranges by borrowing bits from the 16 bit port number.
US08656044B2
A method, apparatus and a system for retrieving data relating to at least one of a student's homework, exam or solution to a problem from at least one calculator via a network, wherein the handheld calculator is utilized by the student. The method includes presenting an invitation from at least one of a computer or a calculator of an instructor on the calculator of the student for requesting the data from the calculator of the student, wherein the invitation identifies a location on a computer or a calculator for transmitting the data, attaching the data to at least a portion of the invitation, wherein the data includes identification identifying at least one of the calculator of the student or the student, and transmitting the data from the calculator to the location identified in the invitation.
US08656038B2
A computer-implemented system and method for decoupling processing of request and response messages supporting different pluggable respective transports in a service-oriented pipeline architecture for a request-response Message Exchange Pattern (MEP) is disclosed. The method in an example embodiment includes receiving a message having coded therein information identifying a desired pluggable transport mechanism respectively for a request and a response; processing the message through a message processing pipeline; dispatching the processed message to a dispatcher; determining if the desired pluggable transport mechanism is available; activating the desired pluggable transport mechanism, if the desired pluggable transport mechanism is available; and transporting the processed message via the desired pluggable transport mechanism.
US08656035B2
A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and evaluated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
US08656033B2
A data processing method is provided for use with an information processing apparatus capable of sending data of a sending job to an external destination and capable of selectively utilizing a plurality of types of destination specification methods as a method for specifying a destination of the data of the sending job. When a predetermined instruction is input via a user interface unit, a prespecified destination specification method among the plurality of types of destination specification methods can be automatically utilized. A user is enabled to select a destination of the data of the sending job via the user interface unit by using the prespecified destination specification method. The information processing apparatus is enabled to send the data of the sending job to the destination selected by the user via the user interface unit by using the prespecified destination specification method among the plurality of types of destination specification methods.
US08656027B2
A wireless communication apparatus (for example, a wireless LAN access point) sends to an opposite apparatus during connection (for example, a wireless LAN terminal) advance notice of disconnection that notifies disconnection to a transmission frame before sending a disconnection frame (a deauthentication frame). After the advance notice of disconnection, the disconnection frame is sent and a disconnection process is executed. Since advance notice of disconnection is executed before the disconnection frame is sent, unless the wireless communication apparatus or the opposite apparatus during connection receives advance notice of disconnection before the disconnection frame is received, the disconnection frame is ignored, that is, disconnection frames from apparatuses except the apparatus during connection is ignored, then, illegal connection disconnection can be prevented.
US08656025B2
The invention provides a method and device for limiting unwanted network traffic, including unwanted emails. The method proceeds by assigning at least one network address to a category of network addresses based on a level of trust of the network address. Connection resources are allocated to the category. When a connection is received from a network address to which the category has been assigned, a portion of the allocated resources in the category are provided to the network address.
US08656022B2
A method and structure for dynamic allocation of servers to customers in a server farm which supports a flexible contract structure such that the total revenue of the farm is maximized. The invention creates a resource allocation plan based on a long term forecast for the server farm, taking into account traffic, number of servers, customers' contracts and revenue optimization algorithms. The plan is then modified as indicated by short term forecasting using currently monitored load metrics to reallocate to maximize revenue for particular time periods.
US08656020B1
A system and method provides secondary resource files in response to a request for a web page from a client device. In response to the request, a server provides an HTML file which identifies a secondary resource file, such as a javascript file, and the current version value of the secondary resource. The HTML file may be associated with a header which prevents the file from being cached. If there is no locally-cached version of the secondary resource file, the file is requested from the server. The server will transmit the secondary resource file with a header indicating that the file is to be stored indefinitely. If there is a locally-cached version of the secondary resource file, the client device compares the version value of the locally-cached version to the received current version value. If the values are different, the client requests the differences between the files. The server provides a difference file which the client device uses in conjunction with the locally-cached version of the secondary resource to generate the current version of the secondary resource.
US08656019B2
Data processing workload administration in a cloud computing environment including distributing data processing jobs among a plurality of clouds, each cloud comprising a network-based, distributed data processing system that provides one or more cloud computing services; deploying, by a job placement engine in each cloud according to the workload execution policy onto servers in each cloud, the data processing jobs distributed to each cloud; determining, by each job placement engine during execution of each data processing job, whether workload execution policy for each deployed job continues to be met by computing resources within the cloud where each job is deployed; and advising, by each job placement engine, the workload policy manager when workload execution policy for a particular job cannot continue to be met by computing resources within the cloud where the particular job is deployed.
US08656016B1
Some aspects of what is described here relate to managing application execution and data access on a mobile device. A request to access data is received from an application associated with a first perimeter on a device. The data is associated with a second, different perimeter on the device and has a data type. It is determined, based on the data type, that a management policy associated with the first perimeter permits the application to access the data independent of a second, different management policy assigned to the second perimeter. Based on the determining, the application is provided access to the data.
US08656010B2
A data use status tracking system 100 includes: a terminal device 1 that generates and transmits data; and a manager device 2 that receives the data transmitted from the terminal device. The manager device 2 includes: a process history storing unit 25; a processing unit 22 that processes the data received from the terminal device 1 and registers a process history including the process details of the data in the process history storing unit 25; and a referring unit 23 that receives a process history reference request designating a part or all of the process histories registered in the process history storing unit 25 from the terminal device 1 and transmits, as a response, out of counting results obtained by counting the process histories designated by the process history reference request with respect to a plurality of counting items, the counting result related to the counting item according to the type of the terminal device 1 to the terminal device 1.
US08656008B2
A monitoring control device monitors a communication device connected through a network through a virtual LAN provided on the network. The monitoring control device includes: a bandwidth learning unit which learns a bandwidth between the communication device and the monitoring control device by a first file transfer; and a file transfer management unit which manages whether or not a second file transfer, which passes through at least one section, is able to be performed based on a section bandwidth of the at least one section of the network, the section bandwidth obtained from the bandwidth learned by the bandwidth learning unit.
US08656001B2
A communication entrepreneur has an application server 2 having message conversion function. The application server 2 performs service function distribution processing with reference to trigger rule 220 and message rule 230. The communication entrepreneur can provide various service functions without notifying individual server addresses to a service entrepreneur.
US08655990B2
The present invention relates to an IPv6-based access device, edge router and method for stainless address configuration for IPv6 user equipment in an Ethernet access network, wherein, the access device adds the relay agent ID indicating the access device itself and the relevant port identifier indicating the user equipment to a router solicitation message sent by the user equipment in the form of a newly defined option, and forwards the message to the relevant edge router; and the edge router configures a dedicated address prefix for the user equipment according to the relay agent ID and port identifier, combines the address prefix, the relay ID and the port identifier into a router response message, and sends the response message to the relevant access equipment indicated by the relay ID; the access device sends a router advertisement message only including the address prefix via the line port indicated by the port identifier to user equipment. By allocating the dedicated address prefix to every data subscriber line for IPv6 service, IPv6 stainless address configuration is achieved to solve the security and scalability problems in the prior art.
US08655980B2
The present invention relates to interactive virtual reality networked computer systems and methods that facilitate communication and operation in a virtual reality environment. The virtual reality networked computer system has an infrastructure that includes a number of users, hosts and servers. The interconnected hosts and servers allow users to effectively locate, activate, access and interact within virtual reality environments in a variety of different ways. For example, users can establish user groups such that interaction within the virtual reality environment occurs between hosts (accessed by users) without the need of a central or dedicated server.
US08655961B2
Systems and methods for providing a report describing the status of an electronic envelope. The electronic envelope includes a first electronic document to be distributed for electronic signature and an electronic signing template defining a set of at least one task that must be performed by an executor of the first electronic document to complete the electronic signature. The first electronic document is subject to a workflow including a plurality of events. The method includes receiving from a monitoring entity a selection of an identifier of an event of the plurality. The progress of the first electronic document through the workflow is monitored. That the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document is determined. In response to determining that the at least one event has occurred, the monitoring entity is notified of such.
US08655957B2
A system and method for preventing e-mail spoofing, in which a receiving e-mail checking server system sends a message to a confirmation server associated with a network domain of the sending system of a received e-mail message, to determine if the sender transmitted the message. The e-mail checking server sends a confirmation request e-mail, including a transmission time or unique message “key” associated with the received e-mail, to the sending domain's confirmation server. When a confirmation request is received at the confirmation server, it replies with an indication whether the message was sent at the time indicated in the confirmation request, and/or whether the message key matches that of a previously transmitted message. The confirmation server checks whether the message was in fact sent based on stored values corresponding to the send time and/or message key stored for the confirmation request message. A message may further include indication that its origin can be confirmed. A receiver may maintain indications of domains capable of confirming sent e-mail messages, and determine a problem has occurred if no confirmations are received from a domain having that capability. An e-mail sender may mark domains from which it expects to receive e-mail confirmation requests, and determine a problem has occurred if e-mail messages sent to such domains fail to send confirmation requests.
US08655956B2
A method of responding to requests using stream processing can include receiving a server request from a server, wherein the server is configured to generate the server request responsive to a client request, and generating a request identifier associated with the server request. The method can include, responsive to the server request, sending a stream processing request derived from the server request to a first stream processing node. The stream processing request can include the request identifier. Responsive to receiving a create response message including a stream processing result and the request identifier from a second stream processing node, the stream processing result can be correlated with the server request. A write response message specifying the stream processing result can be sent to the server.
US08655952B1
A method and/or system for automating help task across multiple devices may include receiving from a requesting device a request for help instructions corresponding to a receiving electronic device, where the receiving device is not the requesting device. Help instructions may be sent to the requesting device in response to the request for help instructions. A request to automate the help instructions on the receiving device may be received from the requesting device. Automation data may be sent to the receiving device in response to the request to automate the help instructions. A determination may be made of whether the requesting device corresponds to a particular user. A determination of the receiving device may be made from a plurality of devices corresponding to the particular user. Automation status may be sent to the requesting device indicative of whether the help instructions were automated on the receiving device.
US08655949B2
Method and apparatus for information recommendation are provided. In one aspect, a method for information recommendation uses correlated information combinations to improve recommendation accuracy. Upon receiving data from a client indicating a visited information type, the method obtains correlated information types related to the visited information type from stored records. The correlated information types providing one or more correlated information combinations each including at least two correlated information types. For each of the one or more correlated information combinations, the method computes a degree of correlation between the correlated information combination and the visited information type. The method selects a target correlated information combination with a satisfying degree of correlation, and recommends the target correlated information combination to the client.
US08655940B2
In response to an all-to-all inter-process communication request from a local process, a computer repeatedly determines a destination server in accordance with a destination-server determination procedure so that, in a same round of destination-server determinations repeatedly performed by the respective servers during all-to-all inter-process communication, the servers determine servers that are different from one another as destination servers. Each time the destination server is determined, the computer sequentially determines a process running on the determined destination server as a destination process. Each time the destination process is determined, the computer obtains transmission data for the destination process from a send buffer in which the transmission data is stored as a result of execution of the local process and transmits the obtained transmission data to the destination server so as to enable reading of the transmission data during execution of the determined destination process in the destination server.
US08655939B2
A method and system processes data in a distributed computing system to survive an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack. The computing system has proximal select content (SC) data stores and geographically distributed distal data stores, all with respective access controls. The data input or put through the computing system is processed to obtain the SC and other associated content. The process then extracts and stores such content in the proximal SC data stores and geographically distributed distal SC data stores. The system further processes data to geographically distribute the data with data processes including: copy, extract, archive, distribute, and a copy-extract-archive and distribute process with a sequential and supplemental data destruction process. In this manner, the data input is distributed or spread out over the geographically distributed distal SC data stores. The system and method permits reconstruction of the processed data only in the presence of a respective access control.
US08655933B2
The present invention relates to a method and device for generating and managing shorter random number series, such as ID and password, in which, for the given N bits binary series R and K dimensions multi-dimensional coordinate information i (i1, . . . , ik, . . . , iK), R is used for the following part of the decimal point of initial value x0 for nonlinear function, i is transformed into coordinates of each dimension, i1, . . . , ik, . . . , iK, and the initial value x0 and ik are stored in the register, through operations to generate and manage multi-dimensional random number Ri.
US08655931B2
A storage system includes a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk containing a plurality of storage segments, and each segment providing a specific class of service (CoS) for storage. Each vdisk stores files with data and meta data distributed among its storage segments. A storage system includes a memory having multiple classes of service. The system includes an interface for storing a file as blocks of data associated with a class of service in the memory. The interface chooses the class of service for a block on a block by block basis for storage. A file system for storing a file. A file system for storing includes a plurality of vdisks. A method for storing a file.
US08655929B2
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and computer program products for managing data within a file system. In embodiments, the method includes determining the location of data within a file to be modified, modifying the data within the file, and adjusting a pointer to point to the data block containing the modified data. The data within a file may be modified by deleting data from the file or inserting new data into the file. New data may be inserted into a file by writing the data into new data blocks and then adjusting the pointers to point to the location of the new data blocks. An example method may also include determining whether data blocks are incomplete blocks and identifying the incomplete blocks by negating the value of the pointers to those blocks.
US08655928B2
A data file indicating a simulation result output from a computer is received. Based on a file name of a data file, it is determined whether or not each data file is a data file to be visualized, and the data file determined as a data file to be visualized is stored in a file storage unit.
US08655927B2
A memory device, system and method of editing a file in a non-volatile memory device is described. The memory device includes a controller and a memory array configured to copy an existing first file into a second file during editing and to maintain the first file while applying edits to the second file. When editing is completed, a first cluster pointer of the first file is redirected to point at the first cluster of the second file that has been edited.
US08655926B2
Synchronized distributed media assets is described. In embodiments, a global media catalog of global metadata is maintained for media assets that are accessible by client devices registered to a user. The global metadata corresponds to the media assets that are located remotely from one or more of the client devices. A client device can communicate a request for a media asset that is identified by the global metadata and located at a location remote from the client device.
US08655923B2
This disclosure provides various software and systems for efficiently maintaining aggregates. In one aspect, a system performing a computer implemented method identifies a first change to transactional data in a business application and automatically adds an aggregate record to an aggregate data structure based on the first change. The system then identifies a second change to the transactional data in the business application, the second change comprising an update to key figures associated with the first change. The system can prohibit an update to the aggregate record in the aggregate data structure based on the second change and automatically adds a second aggregate record to the aggregate data structure based on the second change to the transactional data, where the second aggregate record comprises the update to the key figures.
US08655922B2
Management device for a network of audiovisual information reproduction systems or jukeboxes, including a database with a plurality of sets of arrays, each array containing grouped information either about the composition of a jukebox, or the use of the jukebox, or the payment of fees. The database is managed by a computer server connected with the audiovisual information reproduction systems to receive messages sent by each audiovisual information reproduction device and containing information necessary to update determined sets of arrays in the database, and update data or the program for each audiovisual information reproduction device with information stored in at least one set of arrays in the database and transmitted in this message.
US08655918B2
A process of transforming data residing in databases, such as relational databases, into forms suitable as input to data analysis tools, such as predictive modeling tools includes the steps of defining a business process problem to be solved and identifying data requirements. For example, the business process problem may relate to predicting a customer's propensity to make purchases in the future or a store's requirements for inventory in the future. In the process, a computer implemented method is used for automatically transforming data for data analysis such as predictive modeling. Database metadata that describe database tables, their interrelationships, dimensional information, fact tables and measures are accessed. A mining transformation profile is created to encapsulate aggregations and transformation on data stored in relational databases in order to convert the data to forms suitable for predictive mining tools. The mining transformation profile specifies data transformations relative to the data base metadata. Executable data transformation codes is then generated from the database metadata and the mining transformation profile. Execution of this code results in aggregation and transformation of data residing in a database for input to a data analysis tool such as a predictive modeling tool. The data transformation code can be used by, for example, the predictive modeling tool to generate an output that provides a solution to a business process problem.
US08655909B2
A communication apparatus operates as a node of a network. The communication apparatus includes a port-state managing unit that updates, every time failure occurrence in the network is detected, state information indicating a state of the network, a database updating unit that updates, based on a transmission source address and a reception port of a received frame and the state information managed by the port-state managing unit, a database that determines an output port when a frame in which the transmission source address is a destination address is received, and an output-destination determining unit that determines an output port of the received frame by searching through the database using, as search keys, the destination address of the received frame and the state information managed by the port-state managing unit.
US08655905B2
A method of incrementally refining queries and updating query result lists without requiring a user to provide an explicit indicator of query submission. In the method, one or more query related character patterns are defined. Entry of query defining characters by a user is monitored to detect entry of a defined query related character pattern. The user is provided with one or more suggested query refinement options and an updated query result list each time a defined query related character pattern is detected. The query related character patterns may be a character pattern that indicates a word has been input by the user.
US08655903B2
A content management system detects a change to one part of a document, and to generate a corresponding change in a different part of the same document. Dynamic inclusion rules define conditions that, when satisfied, allow automatically changing a link in a document to a new link when corresponding data in the document is added or changed. If a change corresponds to a defined dynamic inclusion rule, a corresponding query in the rule is evaluated according to the changes in the document. When there is enough information to run the query, the query is automatically executed in a background process. If there is a single link that satisfies the query, the document may be updated with the new link. If multiple links satisfy the query, the top ranked query result may be automatically selected, or the user may select which link should be included in the document.
US08655896B2
A data structure for storing items of information having a time of life includes a time of life interval for each item of information, and methods for using the same. The items of information are organized in a data structure having nodes and edges connecting the nodes. This data structure is preferably a directed acyclic graph structure. The data structure includes parent nodes and child nodes. The time of life interval specified for any child node generally is contained within the time interval specified for that child node's parent node, such that the data structure includes no child nodes with a time of life interval that falls outside of the time of life interval of its parent node.
US08655894B2
An approach is provided for generating a searchable index including an associated object graph. Data objects of a database are converted into corresponding rows in a set of searchable columns. An object graph corresponding to each row of the searchable columns are determined. An index including the set of searchable columns and the corresponding object graphs are generated.
US08655885B1
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a new way to catalog digital assets derived or otherwise created from an original source such as a video, clip, movie, film, or the like. In one embodiment, time-based metadata, along with technical metadata and business metadata can be captured within a video and collected locally at a client device running media catalog client software. The collected information can be communicated to a media catalog server at the back end. The media catalog server can create a new asset based on the collected information and store the asset in a database. Multiple assets may be created to describe and reference the same video. However, the video itself is not modified and no variation of the video is created in anyway.
US08655879B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods and computer-readable media for transmedia video bookmarks, the method comprising receiving a first place marker and a second place marker for a segment of video media, extracting metadata from the video media between the first and second place markers, normalizing the extracted metadata, storing the normalized metadata, first place marker, and second place marker as a video bookmark, and retrieving the media represented by the video bookmark upon request from a user. Systems can aggregate video bookmarks from multiple sources and refine the first place marker and the second place marker based on the aggregated video bookmarks. Metadata can be extracted by analyzing text or audio annotations. Metadata can be normalized by generating a video thumbnail representing the video media between the first place marker and the second place marker. Multiple video bookmarks may be searchable by metadata or by the video thumbnail visually.
US08655875B2
A system that facilitates interactions between heterogeneous information providers, business process policies, and business process policy objects is provided. The system includes a translation services logic that accepts data format definitions and rules for transforming, translating, converting, reordering, merging, splitting and other operations that adapt one data format to another data format. The translation services logic produces a mapping rule object (MRO) for performing the adaptation(s).
US08655873B2
A system and method for aggregating and distributing geotagged content comprises a server, a database, and a user interface. A user accesses the user interface to identify a spatial area and request content from a plurality of content providers that is geotagged with a location within the identified spatial area. The user interface may be on a webpage.
US08655864B1
A method of analyzing documents or relationships between documents includes receiving a notification of an available metadata document containing information about one or more network-accessible documents, obtaining a document format indicator associated with the metadata document, selecting a document crawler using the document format indicator, and crawling at least some of the network-accessible documents using the selected document crawler.
US08655863B2
A search device includes a first search section and a second search section. The first search section searches, for second image data sharing a common attribute with first image data being processed by an image processing apparatus, a storage section in which image data processed by the image processing apparatus is stored. The second search section searches the storage section for third image data processed by the image processing apparatus within a time period from a predetermined time before a reference time to a predetermined time after the reference time, the reference time being a point of time at which the second image data was processed by the image processing apparatus. This makes it possible to prevent a search omission in the search device for searching for the second image data sharing a common attribute with the first image data.
US08655856B2
A computer apparatus and computer implemented method for policy distribution provides a Records Management System (RMS) that is configured for setting up and maintaining local record classification and disposition policies. An Enterprise Retention Management (ERM) application comprises a centralized workflow configured for managing retention policies for an entity. An application layer in the ERM comprises a propagation workflow that is configured for managing retention policy integration between the ERM and the RMS. The propagation workflow thus provides automated retention policy propagation from the ERM to the RMS.
US08655852B2
A storage control apparatus in cooperation with a plurality of controlled storage apparatus arranged in a cascade of point-in-time copy relationship. The apparatus includes: a rate control component operable to set a desired rate for cleaning a first target one of the plurality of controlled storage apparatus; a comparator component in communication with the rate control component to identify discrepant bits associated with first and second targets; and a copy initiator, responsive to the comparator component to initiate a copy operation responsive to the identified discrepant bits.
US08655827B2
A questionnaire generation process presents a first subset from a set of questions of the questionnaire and receives first answers from a user. The first answers are used to determine whether the first answers are sufficient to give definite values to conditions of first rules, wherein the first rules have conditions for providing output. When the first answers are not sufficient, the conditions of the first rules can be used to identify a second subset of the questions, wherein the second subset of questions has second answers such that a combination of the first and second answers is sufficient to give definite values to the respective conditions of the first rules, and the second subset of questions can be presented to the user.
US08655821B2
Methods for discovery of local causes/effects and of Markov blankets enable discovery of causal relationships from large data sets and provide principled solutions to the variable/feature selection problem, an integral part of predictive modeling. The present invention provides a generative method for learning local causal structure around target variables of interest in the form of direct causes/effects and Markov blankets applicable to very large real world datasets even with small samples. The selected feature sets can be used for causal discovery, classification, and regression. The generative method GLL can be instantiated in many ways giving rise to novel method variants. The method transforms a dataset with many variables into either a minimal reduced dataset where all variables are needed for optimal prediction of the response variable, or a dataset where all variables are direct causes and direct effects or the Markov blanket of the response variable.
US08655820B2
A method of providing a recommendation is provided. The method includes receiving user provided information at a first device from a second device. The user provided information includes user preference information and a user account authorization. User account information is requested from the first device based on the user account authorization. The requested user account information is received from a third device at the first device. The received user provided information and the received user account information is stored at a device accessible by the first device. A request for a recommendation is received from the second device. The recommendation is determined based on the stored user provided information and the stored user account information. The determined recommendation is sent from the first device to the second device.
US08655815B2
The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for neural-based processing. In one aspect, there is provided a method. The method may include reading, from a first memory, context information stored based on at least one connection value; reading, from a second memory, an activation value matching the at least one connection value; sending, by a first processor, the context information and the activation value to at least one of a plurality of microengines to configure the at least one microengine as a neuron; and generating, at the at least one microengine, a value representative of an output of the neuron. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US08655813B2
Neuronal networks of electronic neurons interconnected via electronic synapses with synaptic weight normalization. The synaptic weights are based on learning rules for the neuronal network, such that a synaptic weight for a synapse determines the effect of a spiking source neuron on a target neuron connected via the synapse. Each synaptic weight is maintained within a predetermined range by performing synaptic weight normalization for neural network stability.
US08655809B2
Data structures and apparatuses to represent knowledge are disclosed. The processes can comprise labeling elements in a knowledge signature according to concepts in an ontology and populating the elements with confidence values. The data structures can comprise knowledge signatures stored on computer-readable media. The knowledge signatures comprise a matrix structure having elements labeled according to concepts in an ontology, wherein the value of the element represents a confidence that the concept is present in an information space. The apparatus can comprise a knowledge representation unit having at least one ontology stored on a computer-readable medium, at least one data-receiving device, and a processor configured to generate knowledge signatures by comparing datasets obtained by the data-receiving devices to the ontologies.
US08655806B2
A disaster analysis and decision system comprises a geographic area module that comprises geographic data for a given geographic area; an artificial facilities module that comprises artificial facilities data positioned in the geographic area; a disaster control facilities module that comprises disaster control facilities data for the geographic area; an environmental variable module that receives and stores environmental variables that affects the geographic area; an analysis module that analyzes how the environmental variables affect the geographic area, the artificial facilities within the geographic area and the disaster control facilities for the geographic area, and decides how to control the disaster control facilities; a report module that provides reports for the analysis; and a database that stores data from other modules.
US08655794B1
Systems and methods for assessing the qualifications of a candidate for a position using metrics recorded, assessed, and analyzed by an automated and computerized system are provided. The systems and methods can provision a candidate assessment workspace for receiving a candidate solution and then calculate a candidate digital signature based on the candidate solution.
US08655793B2
A method and system for facilitating the hiring and recruitment of candidates for a particular position. The system would include information relating to the skill level and expertise of various candidates irrespective of a particular job. The candidates will have their various skills assessed through the use of an anonymous assessor. The assessor would provide the system with a rating of each candidate's various assessed skills. The candidate has the option to have this assessment evaluated by a disinterested third party. A client or employer would access the system for the purpose of receiving a listing of potential candidates, their skill levels as well as assessments. The client will provide the system with a list of potential candidates to the position. The clients would utilize this information to hire a particular candidate.
US08655786B2
This document describes tools capable of authorizing or enabling authorization of multiple payment transactions without requiring that a buyer or seller authorize each transaction separately. The tools may do so by enabling a buyer or seller to select aggregate constraints, such as a total price or number of transactions. Based on these selected constraints, the tools may authorize every payment transaction that meets the aggregate constraints without requiring the buyer to authorize every transaction separately.
US08655762B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for social networking services integrated with gift card services. In general, a profile of a member of a social networking service may be presented with one or more merchant credit services for prepaid merchant account credit, data characterizing a request to provide a credit service from the merchant credit services and a mobile phone number associated with an intended recipient of the first credit service may be received, and a message may be caused to be sent to the mobile phone number, where the message characterizes provision of the first credit service to the intended recipient. Interest in the credit service may be tracked and associated with a loyalty indicator associated with the member.
US08655759B2
A method includes determining whether a first amount of liability contributed by a first subscriber during a provision of a service to the first subscriber exceeds a first balance indicative of a first portion of available funding that may be consumed by the first subscriber, determining whether a second amount of liability contributed by a second subscriber during a provision of a service to the second subscriber exceeds a second balance indicative of a second portion of the available funding that may be consumed by the second subscriber, issuing a first communication to a device to affect the provision of a service to the first subscriber if the first amount of liability exceeds the first balance, and issuing a second communication to the device to affect the provision of a service to the second subscriber if the second amount of liability exceeds the second balance.
US08655757B1
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide for managing a customer asset, which is a hardware or software component of a customer device, in a data processing system having an offering platform program. The customer asset's is discovered by an asset manager, and an asset identity is assigned. The asset identity is stored persistently.
US08655756B2
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a data processing system having a business object model reflecting the data used during a business transaction. Consistent interfaces are generated from the business object model. These interfaces are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction.
US08655748B2
A method to generate revenue from supplied content is provided. Content is provided to a consumer via a network by providing a content service that allows the consumer to select and retrieve content as a package together with a clearing of the selectable content to an operator used by the consumer to select and retrieve the content via the network. Any content selected by the consumer is supplied directly to the consumer via the operator. The operator is charged for the supplied content.
US08655747B2
A system for processing sales transactions may include a first computing device in communication with a buyer-operated computing device, and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the first computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include programming instructions for receiving an order including one or more of a commitment of a buyer to purchase an item, and a preferred share value associated with the buyer, receiving contact information associated with one or more third parties, receiving a fractional share value associated with each of the one or more third parties, and in response to a sum of the fractional share values associated with each third party and the preferred share value equaling the purchase price associated with the item, using the received contact information to send a message to each third party. Each message may include the fractional share associated with the third party.
US08655746B1
Methods and system for providing real time offers to a user based on obsolescence of possessed items
In a remote communication environment, a method for real-time presentation of information to one or more users accessing one or more websites using an electronic communications device. Various aspects of the method comprise at least the following. Communication is established via the electronic communications device between the user and the website to conduct one or more primary transactions. One or more electronic identifiers associated with the user are obtained. One or more further or additional data elements related to the user are obtained from a third party using the at least one electronic identifier. Based at least on the electronic identifier and the further data element, the information is selected for presentation to the user in real time with the primary transaction. The information is presented to the user in real time with the primary transaction.
US08655744B2
There is disclosed a method for custom hair coloring formula identification. The method includes accepting user input of user characteristics including natural hair color, current hair coloring, hair treatments, hair coloring characteristics and hair treatment characteristics. The method further includes accepting user input of desired hair coloring and identifying a hair colorant suitable to create the desired hair coloring in view of the user characteristics. An order is then generated for the hair colorant.
US08655742B2
A system and method for optimizing order fulfillment by considering multiple supply modes in one aspect, plans supply of inventory by forecasting demand, estimating accuracy of said forecasted demand, and establishing reorder point policy based at least on said accuracy of said forecasted demand and a plurality of supply transportation modes. Current inventory position is monitored and if the current inventory position is below the reorder point policy, orders are placed according to a selected shipping method. The selected shipping method may be based at least on customer order priority and transportation budget.
US08655735B2
A request is received from a first consumer to sell at least one ticket, in which a provider of the ticket may have authorized the ticket to be sold. Information regarding the ticket may then be presented to at least a second consumer, who may make an indication to purchase the ticket. Thereafter, an inducement may be paid to the provider of the ticket in connection with a sale of the ticket to the second consumer.
US08655734B2
Disclosed is a method and system of providing user context-based services over computer networks, using mechanisms for collecting and specifying one or more user context elements, each element representing a context associated with the current buyer state and having context attributes and attribute values associated therewith, mechanisms for collecting affective (emotive) data to inform the user context, and also an interactive graphical view to gain insight into available services for assisting in understanding available service information and making decisions on purchasing.
US08655728B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for presenting a non-competing advertisement within content. In use, content is identified. Further, an advertisement is selected based on an automatic determination that the advertisement is non-competing with the content. Still yet, the advertisement is presented in association with the content.
US08655721B2
A method of negotiating an electronic commerce (e-commerce) transaction for the sale of a selected good can include identifying an asking price for the selected good and retrieving from memory merchant business objectives (MBOs) and consumer privacy rules (CPRs). The MBOs can specify incentive information corresponding to a proposed exchange of consumer information and the CPRs can specify asking prices corresponding to the proposed exchange of consumer information. The MBOs can be compared to the CPRs to determine if an agreement can be reached for the sale of the selected good with an incentive based upon the proposed exchange of consumer information. The e-commerce transaction for the sale of the selected good with the incentive can be consummated if in the comparing step it is determined that an agreement can be reached.
US08655720B2
A system for providing instant rebates to a customer at a point of sale includes a kiosk by which the customer initiates a rebate process by presenting a machine readable document having rebate information generated by a retailer's POS system. The customer may initiate an electronic funds transfer to the customer's account for amount of the rebate due, or alternately receive a printed check or a store card with a credit balance redeemable at the point of sale. The kiosk may report rebates in real time and have additional functionality to assist manufacturers and retailers for other marketing purposes.
US08655713B2
Techniques for help desk management are provided. A user's experience with a resource is captured via a rating. The rating is recorded along with other metrics associated with a processing environment of the user and proactive action taken in response to configuration or performance problems with the user.
US08655711B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking enterprise resource planning data to business capabilities. Embodiments provide a linkage between schematized ERP data (e.g., financial data) and schematized business capabilities. The linkage provides the ability to report in a visual way that permits the linkage of such things as business value, performance, maturity, interconnectedness, process standardization, compliance, etc. As such, businesses capabilities can be linked to specific spend amounts in ERP data.
US08655706B2
A system and method of implementing an end-of-life purchase of an item used in manufacturing. A method includes comparing a supply of an article to a demand for the article. The method also includes securing an amount of the article when the supply does not exceed the demand by a predetermined threshold, and waiting a predetermined period of time before repeating the comparing when the supply exceeds the demand by the predetermined threshold.
US08655703B2
Embodiments of task-based, decreasing-price markets enable dynamic discounting of items for sale. In one example, users shop for products (e.g., clothing, electronics, or cars) or services (e.g., hotel rooms, plane tickets, or car rentals) using a computing device or mobile device. As the users shop, they view advertisements or perform other tasks, like answering questions, and the system discounts an item's price based on the number or complexity of the performed tasks. Each user who performs a task gets a chance to buy the item at its discounted price. The other users also get a chance to buy the item at the discounted price. If someone buys the item, the item's price returns to its starting value. If nobody buys the item, the system discounts the item's price further as the users perform more tasks until someone buys the item or the item's price reaches a minimum value.
US08655701B2
Instant messaging (IM) entities may be invited to an electronic calendar event using an instant message. Selecting the IM entities as invitees to the event may include dragging and dropping names of the IM entities from a buddy list of an IM application to an event from an electronic calendar application, or vice versa. A method of inviting an entity to a calendar event includes providing a calendar event from a calendar application and recognizing, by the calendar application, an IM entity as an invitee to the event.
US08655700B2
A method and system for grouping events is provided in which a plurality of base groups (303) each define a set of event points. Combined groups (304) have a set of event points defined by the combination of the event points in combining groups. The combination may be by a union of groups or an exclusion of groups and may combine base groups (303) and/or combined groups (304) together. The method and system activate or deactivate groups to enable or disable the generation of events defined by the event points in a group. The generation of events may record event instances (306) of the event points for analysis, to provide an alert for an event instance of predetermined value, to trigger a further event or activity, or to publish the event instances for the event points.
US08655699B2
A method and apparatus for identifying overdue patients using standard billing or other office management data, so that patients can be contacted and invited to make an appointment. The invention begins by querying the diagnosis codes for each visit from the billing or other encounter tables, and matching these with a set of target medical conditions requiring regular care. Procedure codes and encounter dates for past visits are queried for these patients, to determine when each patient was last seen, and what was done. These procedure codes are matched against a set of exam codes to determine last medical examination dates, and against a set of procedures known to resolve each medical condition. Each condition requiring regular care is matched against any resolving procedures, leaving a set of untreated conditions requiring regular care. Based on the date of the last exam or treatment and accepted standards of care or office policies, a due date is calculated for each patient. The management system is queried for each overdue patient to determine whether they already have an appointment scheduled in the future, or a recall notice recently sent or yet to be sent. Additional filtering based on administrative settings may also be done. Overdue patients requiring contact are then placed on the contact list.
US08655686B2
According to some embodiments, a workers' compensation insurance premium may be calculated for a workers' compensation insurance policy covering a group of employees employed by an employer. Moreover, supplemental bundled insurance premiums may be calculated for each employee to provide individual, supplemental bundled insurance policies. The supplemental bundled insurance premiums may be contingent upon the employer's agreement to pay the workers' compensation insurance premium. By way of examples, the supplemental bundled insurance policies might be associated with one or more of short term disability insurance, long term disability insurance, accidental death insurance, accidental disability insurance and/or hospital accident insurance.
US08655685B2
The system is an advanced, web-enabled, clearinghouse that facilitates efficient and effective claim routing, monitoring and report retrieval. A claim status summary is displayed that links directly to a rejected claim listing, wherein each rejected claim listed is a link to associated detailed claim information. The detailed claim information display has fields to edit the associated detailed claim information. During the editing process, a rules verification is performed against the edited claim information to ensure the edit comply with the known rules for the associated payer. Upon successfully completing the rules verification, the edited claim is submitted to a payer.
US08655684B2
A method for operating a return generation system comprises several steps. In a first step, a group of a plurality of individuals is determined. In a further step, at least one asset is gathered from each of said individuals. Said at least one asset is subsequently transferred to a pool of assets. Upon death of one of the individuals, a rate to be distributed to the surviving individuals is automatically calculated. Subsequently, the assets are distributed among the surviving individuals.
US08655682B2
A system and method may generate a report to help decide among a plurality of treatment options for a medical condition. The system and method receive patient information and to generate a plurality of potential treatment options for the medical condition. The system and method also receive the patient's preference(s) for potential treatment outcomes of the treatment options, used to produce a preference value. The system and method also analyze indexed study data relating to the plurality of treatment options to produce based on the analysis a study score for each of the treatment options. For each treatment option, the system and method produce a treatment score based on at least the preference value and the study score, thus permitting generation of a report listing the treatment options and a) the treatment scores or b) the information derived from the treatment scores.
US08655673B2
The present invention discloses a mobile multi-media intelligent tourist guide service system, comprising GPS positioning receiver, GPS subsystem, mobile tourist guide service control subsystem, trigger area network subsystem, tourist guide information intelligent selecting and compositing subsystem, multi-media managing display subsystem, and electronic map subsystem. The mobile tourist guide service control subsystem receives and processes position information from the GPS positioning subsystem, produces multi-media tourist guide information in real-time through trigger area network subsystem and a tourist guide information intelligent selecting and compositing subsystem, plays on said multi-media managing display subsystem, and controls said electronic map subsystem displaying position in real-time, recording track and displaying corresponding geography information.
US08655672B2
Data about a plurality of events is stored in an event database, including information for selecting who should be invited to the event. Data about a plurality of members is stored in a member database, preferably including members' preference criteria specifying the type of events in which each member likes to participate. The member information is matched against the invitee selection criteria and the event information is matched against the member preference criteria to determine which members should be invited to each event. Based on results of this matching process, e-mail invitations to the selected events are sent to the members.
US08655669B2
An audio decoder has an arithmetic decoder for providing decoded spectral values on the basis of an arithmetically-encoded representation and a frequency-domain-to-time-domain converter for providing a time-domain audio representation. The arithmetic decoder selects a mapping rule describing a mapping of a code value onto a symbol code in dependence on a numeric current context value describing a current context state. The arithmetic decoder determines the numeric current context value in dependence on a plurality of previously decoded spectral values. The arithmetic decoder evaluates at least one table using an iterative interval size reduction to determine whether the numeric current context value is identical to a table context value described by an entry of the table or lies within an interval described by entries of the table, and derives a mapping rule index value describing a selected mapping table.An audio encoder also uses an iterative interval table size reduction.
US08655668B2
A method, system and a computer program product for an automated interpretation and/or translation are disclosed. An automated interpretation and/or translation occurs by receiving language-based content from a user. The received language-based content is processed to interpret and/or translate the received language-based content into a target language. Also, a presence of a cultural sensitivity in the received language-based content is detected. Further, an appropriate guidance for dealing with the detected cultural sensitivity is provided.
US08655660B2
The present invention is a system and method for generating a personal voice font including, monitoring voice segments automatically from phone conversations of a user by a voice learning processor to generate a personalized voice font and delivering the personalized voice font (PVF) to the a server.
US08655659B2
A personalized text-to-speech synthesizing device includes: a personalized speech feature library creator, configured to recognize personalized speech features of a specific speaker by comparing a random speech fragment of the specific speaker with preset keywords, thereby to create a personalized speech feature library associated with the specific speaker, and store the personalized speech feature library in association with the specific speaker; and a text-to-speech synthesizer, configured to perform a speech synthesis of a text message from the specific speaker, based on the personalized speech feature library associated with the specific speaker and created by the personalized speech feature library creator, thereby to generate and output a speech fragment having pronunciation characteristics of the specific speaker. A personalized speech feature library of a specific speaker is established without a deliberate training process, and a text is synthesized into personalized speech with the speech characteristics of the speaker.
US08655645B1
A computer system includes a database module, a query module, a translation module, a search module, and a transmission module. The database module is configured to receive and store information associated with a plurality of items of digital media, such as applications, in a database. The information associated with the plurality of items of digital media is stored in a first language. The query module is configured to receive a search request in a second language different than the first language. The translation module is configured to translate the search request from the second language into the first language. The search module is configured to search the database using the translated search request to produce a set of search results responsive to the search request. The transmission module is configured to transmit the set of search results.
US08655640B2
An unsupervised boosting strategy is applied to refining automatic word alignment. In some examples, the strategy improves the quality of automatic word alignment, for example for resource poor language pairs, thus improving Statistical Machine Translation (SMT) performance.
US08655633B2
The specification relates to the formulation of polyurethane materials particularly polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams. The specified method allows the formulator to mathematically predict the final physical properties of the polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams by using the algorithm described herein.
US08655628B2
A structural optimization engine generates a response profile based on a vibrational analysis of a three-dimensional (3D) structure. The structural optimization engine determines whether the 3D structure complies with one or more design goals set for the 3D structure based on the response profile. When the 3D structure does not comply with the design goals, the structural optimization engine retrieves dependency data from a structure database. The dependency data indicates various dependencies between response characteristics included in the response profile and specific regions of the 3D model. Based on the dependency data, the structural optimization engine determines structural modifications that can be made to the 3D structure to bring the 3D structure into compliance with the design goals. A multi-axis computer-aided manufacturing unit then makes the structural modifications to the 3D structure.
US08655626B2
A computer-aided method for carrying out the structural design of a part subjected to damages having significant effects on its structural integrity, such as an aircraft fuselage section subjected to a propeller blade release event, is provided. The method includes: obtaining finite element models that include all the relevant information for an optimization analysis for the un-damaged part and for at least one possible damaged part; defining at least one design variable of the part and at least one design constraint and one load case for the un-damaged part and for the damaged part; providing at least one simulation module for analyzing one or more failure modes of the part; iteratively modifying the design variables of the part for the purpose of optimizing a target function by analyzing simultaneously the un-damaged part and the at least one damaged part using the at least one simulation module.
US08655619B1
A method includes accessing a plurality of acceleration values generated by an inertial measurement unit of an optical system. The method includes identifying a maximum acceleration value (the accessed acceleration value having the greatest absolute value), identifying one or more adjacent acceleration values (the accessed acceleration value adjacent in time to the maximum acceleration value), and identifying a nearest adjacent acceleration value (the adjacent acceleration value having the value nearest the maximum acceleration value). The method includes determining a corrected peak acceleration. The corrected peak acceleration is the sum of a first value corresponding to an average of the maximum acceleration value and the nearest adjacent acceleration value and a second value corresponding to the product of a correction value and the difference between the maximum acceleration value and the nearest adjacent acceleration value. The method includes determining whether the corrected acceleration value exceeds a predefined threshold acceleration value.
US08655612B2
In a battery model identification method of the present invention, an M-sequence input electric current production part inputs M-sequence signals with different frequency components as an electric current input into the battery. In this occasion, terminal voltage of the battery is measured by a voltage sensor, and a parameter estimation part executes system identification based on the measured result to calculate frequency characteristics of the battery. Resistance components and capacitance components as parameters of a battery model are identified based on the calculated frequency characteristics.
US08655609B2
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems and methods for calculating a fault location in electric power delivery system based on a traveling wave created by an electrical fault in the electric power delivery system. According to one embodiment, an intelligent electronic device may be configured to detect a transient traveling wave caused by an electrical fault. A first traveling wave value of the transient traveling wave may be determined and a corresponding first time associated with the first traveling wave may be determined. The IED may receive a second time associated with a second traveling wave value of the transient traveling wave detected by a remote IED. The distance to the remote IED may be known. An estimated fault location may be generated based on the time difference between the first time and the second time. Additional methods of calculating the fault location may also be employed.
US08655606B2
Methods and systems are described for the identification and determination of loads by inverse analysis. A new combination of instrumentation and measurements is provided which allows accurate identification/measurement of static and/or dynamic forces, or loads, working on arbitrary test-objects or systems (i.e. test objects), through measurements of the results of the loads on the test object, signals like pressures, electrical potential, magnet flux displacement, strain, etc. This procedure allows the measurement/identification of arbitrary single or multiple loads, in arbitrary combinations, and multiple directions. The procedure also allows the measurement/identification of loads with arbitrary evolution in time, including static and dynamic loads.
US08655600B2
A method of estimating the cross-sectional area of a molecule for use in the prediction of ion mobility gives gas phase interaction radii determination and cross-sectional algorithm computation to provide separation and characterization of structurally related isomers. More specifically, the invention provides a method of correlating the differences in the molecular structures with differences in anti-cancer activity of pre-determined anti-cancer drugs by utilizing a new algorithm for estimating the cross-sectional area of the molecules of such drugs.
US08655598B2
This invention is a model that simulates the complexity of biological signaling in a cell in response to radiation therapy. Using gene expression profiles and radiation survival assays in an algorithm, a systems model was generated of the radiosensitivity network. The network consists of ten highly interconnected genetic hubs with significant signal redundancy. The model was validated with in vitro tests perturbing network components, correctly predicting radiation sensitivity ⅔ times. The model's clinical relevance was shown by linking clinical radiosensitivity targets to the model network. Clinical applications were confirmed by testing model predictions against clinical response to preoperative radiochemotherapy in patients with rectal or esophageal cancer.
US08655592B2
In a navigation apparatus, when a new road is learned based on a travel trace of a vehicle and a new road link representing the learned new road is connected to an existing link, the navigation apparatus designates the existing link as a base link and generates a new link extending along the existing link as a supplement link. In order to set a target point to one link, the navigation apparatus determines whether or not the supplement link is present at the one link. When the supplement link is present at the target point, the navigation apparatus sets the target point to the supplement link.
US08655589B2
A motion of an object is controlled from a geostationary transit orbit (GTO) of an earth to an orbit of a moon. A first trajectory of the motion of the object is determined from an intermediate orbit of an earth to a neighborhood of a stable manifold of a first Lagrange point (L1). A second trajectory of the motion of the object is determined from the GTO to the intermediate orbit. A third trajectory of the motion of the object is determined from the neighborhood to the stable manifold to an L1 orbit, and a fourth trajectory of the motion of the object is determined from the L1 orbit to the orbit of the moon. A trajectory from the GTO to the orbit of the moon is determined based on a combination of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth trajectories.
US08655588B2
A method and apparatus for providing accurate localization for an industrial vehicle is described; including processing at least one sensor input message from a plurality of sensor devices, wherein the at least one sensor input message includes information regarding observed environmental features; determining position measurements associated with the industrial vehicle in response to at least one sensor input message, wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises a two-dimensional laser scanner, and at least one other sensor device selected from an odometer, an ultrasonic sensor, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an inertial measurement unit, or an imaging sensor; and updating a vehicle state using the position measurements.
US08655587B2
A procedure for determining the probability of finding a parking place within a certain period of time on a pre-set stretch of road of an area with a multiplicity of stretches of road. With this procedure, motion profiles are detected and statistically evaluated of users of radiolocation-aided, especially satellite-aided, navigation aids in the area. For each user a “parking place found” event is determined; the stretch of road in which the “parking place found” event occurred is detected; and the travel time is detected which the user expended in each of the stretches of the road until the “parking place found” event occurred. From the data thus acquired for a multiplicity of users, a probability is determined of finding a parking place within the set time span on the stretch of the road.
US08655571B2
A fault detection and diagnosis method for a gas turbine engines comprises collecting a sensor signal from an acoustic or vibrational sensor at the gas turbine engine, pre-processing the sensor signal to remove predictable background, and extracting a feature set from the sensor signal using Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) algorithms and/or Code Excited Linear Prediction (CELP) algorithms. Fault and non-fault states are reported based on comparison between the feature set and a library of fault and non-fault feature profiles corresponding to fault and non-fault states of the gas turbine engine.
US08655567B2
Included are pressure increasing valves and pressure reducing valves as flow control valves, placed between a brake fluid pressure generation unit on an upstream side that generates brake fluid pressure and a braking force generation unit on a downstream side that generates braking force in accordance with the brake fluid pressure to a wheel, that regulates the brake fluid pressure to the braking force generation unit by controlling the flow rate of brake fluid, and an electronic control unit is provided with: a differential pressure obtaining unit that obtains information on the difference of brake fluid pressure from the brake fluid pressure on upstream and downstream sides of the flow control valve; a hydrodynamic force obtaining unit that obtains information on hydrodynamic force induced in a valve element by the flow of brake fluid passing through the flow control valve; and a brake fluid pressure control unit that controls the flow control valve by use of the information on the differential pressure and the information on the hydrodynamic force.
US08655563B2
In a braking/driving force control apparatus, a vehicle target braking/driving force and a vehicle target yaw moment through the control of braking/driving forces of wheels are calculated, and when the target braking/driving force and the target yaw moment cannot be achieved through the control of the braking/driving forces of the wheels, the vehicle target braking/driving force after the modification and the vehicle target yaw moment after the modification are calculated such that, within the range where the ratio of the vehicle target braking/driving force after the modification and the vehicle target yaw moment after the modification coincides with the ratio of the target braking/driving force and the target yaw moment, the vehicle braking/driving force and the vehicle yaw moment by the target braking/driving forces of the wheels take the greatest values.
US08655561B2
A bicycle control system includes at least one user input member, a value generating unit, a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The value generating unit includes a memory component that at least temporarily stores a generated value. The value generating unit updates the generated value that was memorized in accordance with the at least one user input member was operated. The wireless transmitter periodically transmits control signals that are indicative of the generated value. The wireless receiver receives the control signals from the wireless transmitter.
US08655553B2
A monitoring system is for an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle supply equipment. The electric vehicle supply equipment is structured to communicate with the electric vehicle to charge the electric vehicle. The monitoring system includes a monitoring component structured to monitor communication and monitor energy or power flow between the electric vehicle supply equipment and the electric vehicle, a storage component cooperating with the monitoring component to store information corresponding to the monitored communication and the monitored energy or power flow between the electric vehicle supply equipment and the electric vehicle, and a power supply structured to power at least one of the monitoring component and the storage component.
US08655552B2
A control device and a method for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle are provided, at least two acceleration signals being provided by at least two acceleration sensors oriented in different spatial directions. The orientations are angled in relation to a coordinate system oriented toward the vehicle longitudinal direction. The at least two acceleration signals are transformed on at least two axes of the coordinate system. The triggering signal is generated as a function of the comparison of the at least two acceleration signals and the transformed acceleration signals. The passenger protection arrangement is triggered as a function of the triggering signal.
US08655546B2
A vehicle driving support apparatus in which a cruise control unit starts to blink a hazard light when it is determined that a subject vehicle is stopped by collision prevention control through an automatic braking intervention. The blinking is continued until a predetermined operation input is performed by a driver so as to call the attention of a driver of a following vehicle or the like even if the driver is upset due to a sudden stop of the subject vehicle.
US08655538B2
A display system for an agricultural vehicle includes a display for displaying a representation of the vehicle's location in a field in which the vehicle is operating and a control device for receiving an indication of an operating state of the vehicle and for controlling a viewing mode of the display according to the operating state.
US08655533B2
An electric vehicle is provided. The electric vehicle may include a motor for driving a wheel; a brake device for braking the wheel in response to a driver's operation of a brake operation member; and a controller for controlling the motor in response to the driver's operation of an accelerator operation member. The controller may include a first motor control section for causing the motor to be placed in a regenerative braking mode to generate a first regenerative braking force, when a displacement amount of the accelerator operation member decreases to an amount less than a predetermined reference displacement amount; and a second motor control section for causing the motor to generate a second regenerative braking force which is a sum of the first regenerative braking force and a predetermined additional braking force, in response to the operation of the brake operation member.
US08655528B2
A method for allocating forces among the corners of a vehicle having a redundant actuator suite includes determining a set of desired forces at the center of gravity of the vehicle, and allocating the set of desired forces among the corners of the vehicle as virtual control commands using a controller. The method also includes mapping the virtual control commands at the corners to actual or true control commands at the corners, and controlling a plurality of actuators at the corners using the actual or true control commands. The actuators may include friction brakes and wheel motors. Mapping the virtual control commands may include using a Least Squares formulation. Control of the actuators may be prioritized with respect to each other using weighting matrices. A vehicle includes a controller having actuators and a controller configured for executing the above method.
US08655525B2
A hybrid powertrain includes a plurality of torque generative devices, a transmission input shaft, and a planetary gear set connecting the torque generative devices to the transmission input shaft. A method to control the powertrain includes monitoring a desired configuration of the powertrain and selectively grounding a gear of the planetary gear set with a selectable one way clutch based upon the desired configuration of the powertrain.
US08655521B2
A method for powering a powered system having a first power generating unit where power settings for the first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for a second power generating unit, the method including developing a power operating plan which is independent of a coupled power setting, and determining a power setting responsive to the power operating plan. A computer software code operable within a processor and configured to reside on a computer readable media for powering a powered system having at least a first power generating unit where power settings for the at least first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for at least a second power generating unit is further disclosed.
US08655520B2
An automatic train control device including a ground control device that computes a target stop position of a train, and in-vehicle control devices that receive the target stop position transmitted from the ground control device and compute speed control patterns to control the speed of the trains, respectively. On a route, a radio-equipped train that wirelessly transmits train ID•train position to the ground control device and a radio-unequipped train coexist. The ground control device manages on-rail information acquired from each track circuit, the train ID•train position, a train ID, and a train type in association with each other, calculates stop track circuit information, and calculates the target stop position for the radio-equipped train.
US08655519B2
A system, method and device for controlling a rail vehicle consist configured to traverse a rail system is provided. In one embodiment, the system may include a second module configured to receive environmental data from a first module having one or more sensors, wherein the environmental data is indicative of one or more environmental conditions for a portion of the rail system; wherein the second module is further configured to conduct an assessment of the environmental data in relation to a first control parameter; the second module is further configured to communicate one or more control signals of one of the first control parameter or a different, second control parameter based on the assessment; each of the first and second control parameters relates to controlling tractive effort of the rail vehicle consist over the portion of the rail system; and the second module is further configured to communicate the one or more control signals to a third module for control of the rail vehicle consist.
US08655514B2
Systems and methods for controlling a rail vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a rail vehicle system includes a first version of a travel database including travel information, a communication link to receive a second version of the travel database, and a controller configured to, in response to the second version of the travel database including changes to the travel information that meet predefined override criteria, control operation of the rail vehicle system based on the first version of the travel database; and in response to the changes to the travel information not meeting the predefined override criteria, adjust operation of the rail vehicle system to operate based on the second version of the travel database.
US08655511B2
An inertial system measures the attitude of an aircraft consisting at least in determining the angle of pitch and/or the angle of heading and/or the angle of roll of the aircraft, each of the said angles of attitude being determined by successive double integration of their second derivative. A pair of accelerometers to determine the angle of pitch being are disposed on either side of the centre of gravity along an axis substantially merged with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. A pair of accelerometers to determine the angle of heading are disposed on either side of the centre of gravity along an axis substantially merged with the transverse axis of the aircraft. A pair of accelerometers to determine the angle of roll are disposed on either side of the centre of gravity along a vertical axis perpendicular to the plane formed by the other axes.
US08655506B2
The present disclosure relates to methods of calculating and flying continuous descent approaches to an airport or the like, and to aircraft navigation systems for implementing these methods. The present disclosure resides in the recognition that greater predictability in arrival times may be achieved by flying continuous descent approaches by maintaining a constant aerodynamic flight path angle.
US08655505B2
A worksite management system for use with a mobile machine is disclosed. The worksite management system may have a control module located onboard the mobile machine and configured to store a least one operational relationship, and an offboard controller located at a worksite of the mobile machine in communication with the control module. The offboard controller may be configured to generate an analysis of machine performance at the worksite. The offboard controller may be further configured to cause remote reconfiguration of the at least one operational relationship based on the analysis to positively affect performance of the mobile machine.
US08655504B2
The disclosure relates to a carrier for automotive safety testing wherein the movement of the carrier is controlled by an external guidance system, so that the carrier follows a determined route during the automotive safety testing. The actual position of the carrier is typically determined by a GPS system, while the desired position and velocity of the carrier are provided by a wireless transmitter, typically a W-LAN router receiving data from a PC or similar external source.
US08655496B1
A network-based energy management system may identify an area that exhibits a need for electrical energy. The network-based energy management system may also identify an area that exhibits an ability to provide electrical energy. The network-based energy management system may cause electrical energy to be routed from the second area to the first area. In some embodiments, the first area and the second area may include base stations that are electrically connected to one another by one or more energy conduits, which may include superconducting wires so as to minimize transmission losses between base stations and their respective areas.
US08655495B2
A method for controlling a current in a wind park is provided. The wind park includes at least one wind turbine and at least one current generator. The method includes detecting a grid irregularity, determining an optimal current to be provided at a predetermined location in the wind park during the grid irregularity and determining a corresponding current to be generated from the at least one current generator so as to provide the optimal current at the predetermined location. The corresponding current is determined based on at least an impedance value between the at least one current generator and the predetermined location.
US08655488B2
A position control method for controlling a position of a movable portion, includes: performing control of allowing the movable portion to approach a predetermined position by moving the movable portion; and performing control of moving the movable portion to the predetermined position by moving the movable portion and detecting a relative position of the movable portion with respect to the predetermined position by using an imaging unit.
US08655485B2
A vending machine and associated control system in support of vending one or more items to a passenger in a rear passenger salon of a taxicab includes a computer having a processor and memory and a display arranged for viewing by the passenger. Code modules execute in the processor and provide interactive selection controls on at least a portion of the display. The passenger can cause an item to be vended from a remotely-located machine by interacting with the selection controls. One code module communicates vended item cost information to another module for inclusion in a calculation of a total fare for the taxicab ride and any vended items. The vending machine is preferably located in the taxicab trunk and is arranged to deliver items into the passenger salon through a rear deck of the taxicab. The vending machine can be refrigerated using, in part, the taxicab's air-conditioning system.
US08655483B2
A wafer cassette transportation method includes the steps: (a) Provide a monitoring system, overhead platforms, a detection system, and a plurality of transportation systems; (b) The detection system detects whether or not any overhead platform has a wafer cassette and generates and transmits first signals to the monitoring system; (c) The monitoring system reads the first signals and instructs one of the transportation systems to move the wafer cassette to an empty overhead platform; (d) The detection system detects whether or not any overhead platform has a wafer cassette and generates and transmits second signals to the monitoring system; and (e) The monitoring system reads the second signals and instructs another transportation system to move the wafer cassette away from the overhead platform, so as to enhance the transportation speed of the wafer cassette and lower the manufacturing cost. The present invention further provides a wafer cassette transportation system.
US08655474B2
An embroidery data generating apparatus that includes a pattern data acquisition device that acquires pattern data, an area identification device that identifies a base area in which a plurality of base stitches including a plurality of intersecting portions are to be formed, each of the intersecting portions being a portion at which two base stitches extending in different directions intersect, a first generating device that generates first sewing data to be used to sew the base stitches in the base area, a sewing data acquisition device that acquires second sewing data to be used to sew a pattern represented by the pattern data in an area including at least a part of the base area, and an embroidery data generating device that generates embroidery data including the first sewing data and the second sewing data.
US08655467B2
An audio testing system includes an acquisition unit, an input unit, a first analysis unit, a second analysis unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit obtains an audio signal played back by the audio player. The input unit generates a first input signal and a second input signal. The first analysis unit analyzes the acquired audio signal with a first analysis method in response to the first input signal to obtain performance parameters of the audio player. The second analysis unit analyzes the acquired audio signal with a second analysis method in response to the second input signal to obtain another set of performance parameters of the audio player. The first analysis unit is more accurate than the second analysis unit, and efficiency of the second analysis unit exceeds that of the first analysis unit.
US08655464B2
Systems and methods for generating an adaptive playlist on a computing device onboard a vehicle are provided. The system may include an onboard vehicle computing device configured to execute a media player program. The media player program may include a media storage module configured to store a plurality of media items, a user preference module having user media preferences, a contextual data module configured to receive dynamic contextual data from an onboard vehicle data source, and a playlist manager module. The playlist manager module may include a playlist generation engine configured to generate an adaptive playlist including user playlist media items, and a contextual media selection engine configured to select contextual media items based on the dynamic contextual data and interleave the selected contextual media items into the adaptive playlist.
US08655459B2
In a medical implantable lead and method for monitoring and/or controlling of an organ inside a human or animal body, the lead has a helix in a distal end that is rotatable by an inner wire coil (5), which is disposed inside of and along essentially the entire length of the lead and which is rotatably arranged in relation to an outer sleeve, such that the helix is attachable to the organ by being screwed into the tissue inside the body. The lead is provided with a connector in a proximal end which is connectible to an electronic device for monitoring or controlling the function of the organ, the connector having a connector pin that is in engagement with the wire coil and that is rotatably journaled inside a connector housing. During mounting of the medical implantable lead to the organ, the inner wire coil is rotatable by rotating the connector pin in relation to the connector housing with a suitable tool. The connector is provided with a friction brake between the connector pin and the connector housing.
US08655454B2
The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of tissue with microwave energy. The devices and methods disclosed herein utilize an antenna assembly which includes an elongate member, an outer conductor, an inner conductor, at least a portion of which is deployable, and a cooling system. The cooling system disclosed herein may significantly curtail any theoretical, or potential negative effects upon the target tissue experienced during the transmission of microwave energy to the antenna assembly due to ohmic heating.
US08655449B2
Exemplary cochlear implant systems include an implantable head module configured to be implanted within a head of a patient. The implantable head module includes a cochlear stimulator configured to be coupled to an electrode lead, the electrode lead including one or more electrodes configured to be in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the patient. The implantable head module also includes a signal receiver configured to receive a telemetry signal representative of an audio signal from a signal transmitter located external to the patient, a sound processor configured to process the telemetry signal and direct the cochlear stimulator to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the one or more stimulation sites via the electrode lead, and a power receiver configured to receive power for operating the implantable head module from a power transmitter located external to the patient.
US08655447B2
The invention consists of a system for remote programming of an implantable medical device such as a heart pacemaker, defibrillator or the like, wherein the system includes a programmable personal device (e.g., an implant) and a service center. The service center has a programming monitoring unit which determines a programming time endpoint which depends on the point in time at which a programming order was sent to the implant, and which cancels or deletes the programming order if the service center has not received a programming confirmation confirming successful receipt, execution, and/or forwarding of the programming order by the implant by the programming time endpoint.
US08655445B2
The invention concerns the therapy with a cardiac resynchronization device (CRT) and/or therapy with an automated internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD) for treating patients with any cancer or patients with cachexia due to acute or chronic illness other than cardiac illness, including malignant tumor disease, COPD, chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, chronic infections, and/or AIDS. Areas of application are the life sciences, in particular medicine and medical technology.
US08655444B2
A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%.
US08655441B2
In an exemplary implementation of this invention, a user wears comfortable biosensors. These sensors gather physiological data from the user and transmit this data to another radio-enabled device. This other device may be a mobile phone. The data is further transmitted, via this other radio-enabled device, to one or more networks (such as wireless networks or the Internet). A processor analyzes this transmitted data, in real time, to recognize patterns in the data that indicate the need for therapeutic intervention. Upon recognition of such a pattern, the processor outputs instructions for a transducer to deliver therapeutic stimuli. These instructions are transmitted, over one or more wired or wireless networks, to a transducer which delivers the therapeutic stimuli to the user.
US08655440B2
A speech sound intelligibility assessment system includes: a biological signal measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of a user; a presented-speech sound control section for determining a speech sound to be presented by referring to a speech sound database retaining a plurality of monosyllabic speech sounds; an audio output section for presenting the speech sound determined by the presented-speech sound control section as an audio; a characteristic component detection section for utilizing the electroencephalogram signal of the user measured by the biological signal measurement section to determine presence or absence of a characteristic component of an event-related potential at 800 ms±100 ms from a point of presenting the audio; and a speech sound intelligibility assessment section for, based on a result of determination by the characteristic component detection section, determining whether the user has aurally comprehended the speech sound or not.
US08655432B2
A method is proposed for simple and quick setting of an injection pump for image recording. In at least one embodiment of the method, patient-specific and appliance-specific input parameters are entered and a contrast agent protocol is created from the patient-specific and appliance-specific input parameters, by computer, by way of a functional relationship, and the contrast agent protocol is output to the injection pump. Furthermore, a computer unit is provided in at least one embodiment, with the aid of which the method is carried out.
US08655428B2
Efficient and effective mechanisms for collecting electroencephalography (EEG) data are provided to synchronize neuro-response data collection with stimulus material presentation for in situ engagement monitoring and tracking. An EEG headset includes multiple point electrodes individually isolated and amplified. In some examples, a stimulus material presentation mechanism includes a clock source and a clock transmitter. The clock transmitter sends clock signals to a neuro-response data collection mechanism to allow synchronization of neuro-response data collected with stimulus presentation events. The EEG headset can be configured to perform processing while supporting both continuous input and output.
US08655415B2
A mobile terminal 10 includes a first case C1 and a second case C2. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 is a slidable mobile terminal in which the first case C1 is slidably coupled to the second case C2 so as to be stacked thereon. On a top surface of the first case C1, a first display 26 is provided. Also, on a top surface of the second case C2, a second display 34 is provided in such a position so as not to be exposed in a home position (closed position) and so as to be exposed when a sliding operation is performed. For example, when a switch to a sliding position is made by a user during an incoming call, a name of a communication partner is displayed on the second display 34.
US08655414B2
A mobile terminal including a display unit; a first power source configured to supply a first power; a first control unit configured to control operations of the mobile terminal; and an attaching mechanism configured to receive a detachable e-paper kit including e-paper, a second power source configured to supply a second power, and a second control unit configured to control operations of the e-paper kit. Further, when the e-paper kit is attached to the mobile terminal via the attaching mechanism, the first control unit is configured to control the display unit to display first information via the first power supplied by the first power source, and the second control unit of the e-paper kit is configured to control the e-paper to display second information via the second power supplied by the second power source.
US08655412B2
A mobile communication apparatus includes: a first casing including a display unit having a backlight; a second casing being connected to the first casing, and having an input unit; a condition detecting unit that detects whether a condition is changed from a first condition to a second condition, the first condition in which the first casing is overlapped with the second casing, the second condition being different from the first condition; and a control unit that controls the backlight to illuminate the display unit by turning on the backlight in a certain turn-on condition when the condition detecting unit detects that the first condition is changed to the second condition. The backlight is turned on in a lower value than a normal value in at least one of luminance and illuminance.
US08655411B2
Disclosed is a method for displaying a character input in a portable terminal and an apparatus thereof. The method includes determining whether a dynamic input effect is set when a character input mode is started, and displaying a character corresponding to a key input if it is determined that the dynamic input effect is set. Accordingly, various methods of displaying an input character in the portable terminal can be provided.
US08655404B1
Systems and methods are provided for sharing and distributing content using a mobile client on a cellular telephone. The mobile client may transmit the shared content to a service portal and the service portal may distribute the shared content to client devices. The content may include images, audio, video, documents, and any other content a user desires to share using the cellular telephone. The mobile client may be configured to operate in a variety of sharing modes. In some of the sharing modes, the mobile client may perform certain functions automatically in response to the creation of new content. Each item of content may be shared and distributed to one or more social groups. Each social group may include one or more users. Each of the users in a social group may be associated with a client device and may be associated with another cellular telephone.
US08655401B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for supporting geographical-based services in a communications system. In an embodiment of the invention, a terminal node (e.g., a wireless terminal) inserts geographical information into a header portion of an IPv6 datagram. The serving network utilizes the geographical information to support a geographical-based service. In another embodiment, a terminal node, which is located in a geographical area, receives service configuration information regarding service regions from a serving network and determines what services are supported in the geographical area. In an embodiment, header formats for the inserted geographical information in a propagated signal between a terminal node and a serving network are provided.
US08655398B2
A system for communications on an extraterrestrial body may include a space-based component and an ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body. The space-based component may be configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body over a satellite frequency band wherein the space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting the extraterrestrial body. The ancillary extraterrestrial component may be configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body. Moreover, the ancillary extraterrestrial component may reuse at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band, and the space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component may be configured to relay communications therebetween. Related methods are also discussed.
US08655396B2
A method for a wireless communication includes receiving or storing a peak to average (PAR) back off value; and applying the PAR back off value to determine the transmission power and rate for SIMO and MIMO transmissions. In one aspect, the PAR back off value is at least partially based on modulation type. In another aspect, the PAR back off value is more for higher order QAM than for QPSK. The power allocation algorithm for different UL MIMO schemes is described as follows. For MIMO without antenna permutation (e.g. per antenna rate control), different PAR back off values are considered for different data streams. For MIMO with antenna permutation or other unitary transformation such as virtual antenna mapping or precoding, the PAR back off are determined based on combined channel. The transmission data rate depends on power and also the receiver algorithms such as a MMSE receiver or MMSE-SIC receiver.
US08655394B2
The basic idea of the present invention is to not only design a frequency-selective precoder with respect to the channel properties but also to ensure that the time-domain spread is limited. Hence the energy of the time-domain impulse response of the frequency-selective precoder is concentrated. According to a first embodiment, the time-domain spread is limited by designing a precoder such that it allows smooth transitions in the frequency domain between the values of the precoder when the precoder provides a staircase function. The smooth transitions can either be achieved by lowpass filtering the frequency-domain representation, the staircase function, of the precoder or by designing the precoder such that the sharp jumps are replaced by slopes. According to a second embodiment, the time-domain spread is controlled. The control may be achieved by employing a time-domain parameterization to precisely control the introduced additional time-domain spread.
US08655386B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium for providing information to a mobile device based on an event comprising detecting an occurrence of the event, determining if the event is a specific event and if the event occurred at or near a geographical location and sending an alert of the event to at least one mobile device if the event is the specific event, if the event occurs at or near the geographical location, and if the at least one mobile device is located at or near the geographical location.
US08655382B2
A wireless event notification system that selectively notifies members of events based on their location and/or interests, and devices and method for use therein. The wireless event notification system provides single or multifactor filtering based on one or more of proximity to an event, membership in a subgroup to which an event pertains and/or desire to receive events at the severity level of an event. Superfluous notifications are thereby reduced. Location-based filtering may be done by a notification server device to which member locations are reported or, to enhance member privacy, by wireless client devices using unreported member locations. Additionally, in some embodiments, wireless client devices are distributed by a system administrator to members after the system administrator has registered the members with the system to remove device acquisition, device compatibility and member registration hurdles that can present obstacles to universal participation in the system.
US08655379B2
A system is described for monitoring the geographical location of a subscriber's mobile cellular telephone, and for providing the location information to an authorized user through the world wide web. The geographical location of the subscriber's mobile cellular telephone is tracked using registration signals transmitted over the control channel by the cellular telephone. This information is supplied to a geographical location coordinator system, which determines the geographical coordinates for the cellular telephone. A database stores the geographical location information along with a subscriber's telephone number and account code. The database is updated to track the movement of the cellular telephone user across a geographical area.
US08655364B2
When a terminal-status detecting unit detects a predetermined terminal status with communication over a first mobile communication system being enabled by a first mobile communication unit, a control unit causes a second mobile communication system to start a process of acquiring a second mobile communication system to set communication via the second mobile communication system in an enabled status.
US08655353B2
Disclosed is an enhanced system and method for bridging calls across telecommunications networks, including an illustrative application of the invention as it relates to international roaming among prepaid wireless subscribers. For instance, whenever wireless subscribers roam internationally they may invoke the system by keying in an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) short code followed by the number to be dialed. Said subscriber's prepaid account is then decremented in real-time (until such account is fully depleted). A key feature of the disclosure generally is the bridging of the call legs between the wireless subscriber initiating the telephone communication and that of the receiving party through a series of general purpose databases and computers without requiring modifications to existing core network or handset infrastructure.
US08655347B2
The disclosure is related to measuring macrocell quality of a macrocell using femtocells. A method may be provided for measuring macrocell quality of at least one macrocell using a femtocell base station. The method may include measuring, by the femtocell base station, macrocell quality of at least one macrocell based on event information, generating macrocell quality report information based on a result of the measuring, and transmitting the generated macrocell quality report information to a server through a femtocell gateway. The measuring macrocell quality may include determining whether a macrocell identifier is present in the event information, measuring the macrocell quality of a target macrocell corresponding to the mermen identifier of the event when the macrocell identifier is present in the event information, and measuring the macrocell quality of substantially all neighbor macrocells when the macrocell identifier is absent from the event information.
US08655341B2
A set of systems and methods are described that: a) provides methods for viral mass distribution of mobile phone applications by use of phone book, contact lists, or other social network information, b) enable any Internet-enabled mobile device user to download and use such mobile applications without requiring PC access, and c) provides a technique for unifying code versions for most existing mobile devices, expediting the viral distribution of said applications.
US08655339B2
A method comprising configuring and installing a service processor in a wireless communications device that is capable of accessing one or more data services over a first wireless network and over a second wireless network. The service processor, which comprises one or more device agents, at least one of the one or more device agents comprising software or firmware, at least assists in implementing at least a first service policy and a second service policy by: detecting that the wireless communications device is connected to the first wireless network, and, in response, applying the first service policy, where the first service policy assists in controlling usage of the first wireless network associated with a first service activity of the wireless communications device, and detecting that the wireless communications device is connected to the second wireless network, and, in response, applying the second service policy.
US08655327B1
A method and apparatus of accessing a data service in a wireless communications network is disclosed. An example may include receiving a call identifying an application accessed by a mobile station, and verifying whether the accessed application is installed on the mobile station. The example may further include transferring a notification message to the mobile station based on the accessed application.
US08655321B2
A simplified notification scheme that looks at past behavior of accepting or rejecting messages and modifies whether and/or how future similar notifications are displayed. For example, if a user consistently ignores or rejects a pop-up notification, the system can modify whether or not such a pop-up notification is displayed again. In one specific embodiment, a wireless network can be detected by a mobile phone. The phone can determine whether or not a pop-up notification related to the wireless-network detection should be displayed based on past behavior of the user.
US08655317B2
The disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for determining a position of a mobile communication device by communicating with the device via a Short Messaging System (SMS). A location query is submitted to an SMS center, which formats a first SMS message for delivery to the device. The first SMS message is delivered to a designated SMS port on the device. A location logic on the device receives the SMS via the SMS port, extracts the location query, and attempts to calculate a location from received satellite signals. The calculated location is submitted back to the SMS server, either to be forwarded to the location server, or to a network element or device that submitted the location query to the SMS center in the first place. Assistance data may additionally be delivered to the mobile communication device via the SMS port.
US08655314B1
Subject matter described herein is directed to detecting unauthorized use, such as by a cloned mobile device, of wireless telecommunication services. Differences in location patterns of unauthorized and authorized mobile devices are leveraged to detect likely fraudulent uses. For example, a location-pattern entropy of an authorized mobile device is tracked. A change in the location-pattern entropy suggests an unauthorized use of the mobile device's account.
US08655306B2
A method and apparatus for obtaining end-user location information for emergency services within a multimedia network is presented. The multimedia network may include a network implementing the Session Initiation Protocol, H.323, etc. In one embodiment, a Location Application Server (LAS) in the multimedia network and an interface between the LAS and a gateway mobile location center (GMLC) is defined.
US08655299B2
A SAW-less receiver includes an FEM interface module, an RF to IF receiver section, and a receiver IF to baseband section. The RF to IF receiver section includes a frequency translated bandpass filter (FTBPF), an LNA, and a mixing section. The FTBPF includes a switching network and a plurality of baseband impedances. The switching network is operable to couple the plurality of baseband impedances to the FEM interface in accordance with a plurality of phase-offset RF clock signals to RF bandpass filter the inbound RF signal. The LNA amplifies the filtered inbound RF signal and the mixing section mixes the amplified inbound RF signal with a local oscillation to produce an inbound IF signal. The receiver IF to baseband section converts the inbound IF signal into one or more inbound symbol streams.
US08655298B2
A technique for locating sources interfering on a signal received by a receiver comprising an array of antennas calculates a spatio-temporal intercorrelation matrix Rxx, subdivides the useful band of the signals into sub-bands (b), and for each sub-band (b), calculates the spatial intercorrelation matrix R(b) associated with the sub-band (b) and calculates at least one of its eigenvalues {λ1, λ2, . . . λM}. Interference in the sub-band is detected with the aid of the following detection criterion: log ( ( ∑ m = k M λ m ) / ( M - k + 1 ) ) - log ( ∏ m = k M λ m ) / ( M - k + 1 ) > threshold , and determining the eigenvectors {U1, U2, . . . UN} of the spatial intercorrelation matrix R(b), and determining the directions of arrival of the interfering sources by searching for the vectors of relative gains belonging to the said interference sub-space or which are orthogonal to the orthogonal noise sub-space and complementary to the interference sub-space.
US08655288B2
An electronic device may include a mobile wireless communications device having a first housing, a spatial diversity wireless transceiver carried by the first housing, and a first antenna carried by the first housing and coupled to the spatial diversity wireless transceiver. The electronic device may include an external antenna device having a second housing, and a second antenna carried thereby and configured to be coupled to the spatial diversity wireless transceiver. The spatial diversity wireless transceiver may be configured to selectively operate one of the first antenna and the second antenna to provide spatial diversity.
US08655284B2
Embodiments include systems and methods for over-the-air testing of wireless systems. Embodiments comprise separated chambers containing wireless devices. The chambers are connected by propagation path corridors.
US08655270B2
Method for managing power and bandwidth resources in operation over a plurality of links from a hub, said power and bandwidth resources being limited, the method comprising: initially assigning power and bandwidth combinations to individual links according to current conditions pertaining to respective links, each combination having a corresponding resource cost; and controllably changing said initially assigned combinations at respective ones of said links to reduce respective resource costs, thereby to controllably balance an overall resource cost of said plurality of links to lie within available overall power and bandwidth resource limitations.
US08655268B2
In order to achieve effective utilization of radio communication resource, there is provided a relay station, for relaying a signal to be transferred between a radio base station and a radio terminal, which includes a storage section adapted to store communication controlling information for communication control with the radio terminal, a base station side signal reception section adapted to receive, from the radio base station, scheduling information in communication between the radio base station and the radio terminal through the relay station, a complementation section adapted to complement contents of the scheduling information received by the base station side signal reception section in accordance with the communication controlling information stored in the storage section, and a terminal side signal transmission section adapted to transmit the scheduling information whose contents are complemented by the complementation section to the radio terminal.
US08655267B2
In one or more embodiments, a cellular signal is received and amplified by a particular amount of gain. A power level of the amplified cellular signal is measured and compared to a power level threshold. The particular amount of gain is adjusted based on the comparison to alter the power level of the amplified cellular signal by less than 1 dB. The cellular signal having the altered power level is then transmitted.
US08655265B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises an exchange of messages between an access point and a wireless network switch. One message, a PROXY IGMP JOIN message, is transmitted to the access point for propagation to a multicast router. This is performed so that multicast data associated with the multicast group identified by the PROXY IGMP JOIN message is routed to the access point without any unnecessary involvement by the wireless network switch.
US08655259B2
The invention describes a system and method for allowing an individual to view an educational program remotely. In the preferred embodiment, the invention is used as a healthcare education system. The system comprises a file server which is connected to a database holding the educational programs. A remote interface connected to the file server allows an administrator to assign educational programs to an individual. The remote interface also includes a memory card writer which records the individual's identification code and the address of the file server on a memory card. The individual is given the memory card to take home. When the individual places the memory card in the memory card reader of a multimedia processor, the processor uses the file server address to automatically connect to the file server. The file server receives the individual's identification code from the processor, retrieves the corresponding educational program from the database, and sends the program to the processor to be displayed. After the individual has watched the educational program, completion data in the form of the date and time the program was watched, or the individual's response, is sent from the multimedia processor to the file server. The completion data can then be viewed by the administrator on a report screen.
US08655250B2
An apparatus and method control fix levels in a printing apparatus. The apparatus can include a media transport configured to transport a media sheet having marking material on at least a first side of the media sheet. The apparatus can include a media sheet rub module configured to rub a rub material against the first side of the media sheet. The apparatus can include a sensor configured to sense marking material on the rub material, the marking material rubbed from the first side of the media sheet onto the rub material. The apparatus can include a controller configured to determine a fix level of marking material on the media sheet based on the sensed marking material on the rub material, the fix level indicating how well the marking material is affixed to the media sheet.
US08655228B2
An image forming apparatus includes detecting means for detecting a temperature of a recording material on which a non-transparent toner image is heat-fixed; transparent image forming means for effecting image formation by transparent toner on the basis of transparent image data; a heating device for heating the transparent toner image formed by the transparent image forming means; and correcting means for correcting an amount, per unit area, of the transparent toner which is deposited on the non-transparent toner image fixed on the recording material, by the transparent image forming means in accordance with a temperature detected by the detecting means.
US08655227B2
The opening and closing apparatus includes a lower unit case, an upper unit case, a hinge, a lower guide member, an upper guide member and an opening/closing linking unit. The upper unit case is configured to open and close with respect to the lower unit case. The lower guide member is disposed in the lower unit case, and the upper guide member is disposed in the upper unit case. The opening/closing linking unit includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member and a linking portion. As the upper unit case is closed, the opening/closing linking unit moves from the base end side toward the distal end side along the upper guide member and the lower guide member.
US08655215B2
A method for reducing wear upon an electro-photographic printer drum includes the steps of determining a non-image region of a page to be printed, applying a halftone pattern of toner to a portion of the printer drum corresponding to the non-image region, and rotating the printer drum against a cleaning blade, the halftone pattern of toner providing lubrication between the drum and the cleaning blade.
US08655211B2
A fixing device includes a fixing belt; a pressing rotary body disposed outside a loop formed by the fixing belt; a nip formation pad disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and pressed against the pressing rotary body via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressing rotary body and the fixing belt through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The nip formation pad includes a protrusion disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of the recording medium and protruding toward the pressing rotary body without contacting the pressing rotary body. The fixing device further includes a pressing rotary body mover to contact and move the pressing rotary body bidirectionally in the conveyance direction of the recording medium to move the fixing nip toward and away from the protrusion.
US08655208B2
An image forming apparatus performs control so that a wrinkle is formed at a predetermined position of an intermediate transfer belt and, when forming a toner image having such a large size that the toner image overlaps the wrinkle formed in the intermediate transfer belt, the leading edge and the trailing edge of the toner image overlap the wrinkle.
US08655206B2
An image forming apparatus which transfers clear toner and at least one of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color toner onto a recording medium to form an image based on image information and image classification information, the apparatus including a clear priority determiner configured to determine a clear priority based on the image classification information; a toner adherence amount determiner determining amounts of the color toners and the clear toner to be adhered to the recording medium based on the image information and the clear priority; and a toner transferer transferring the color toners and the clear toner onto the recording medium in amounts determined by the toner adherence amount determiner.
US08655203B2
A toner supply control system for an image forming apparatus includes a supply controller to compute a toner supply amount required for a toner supply operation to cancel a toner concentration fluctuation in the developing agent. The supply controller includes an image-information-based consumption prediction unit to predict toner consumption amount based on image information used for forming an image; a toner-concentration-based consumption prediction unit to predict toner consumption amount based on a detection result of a toner concentration detector; and a toner supply determination unit to determine a toner supply timing and amount and initiate a toner supply operation based on the toner consumption amount predicted by the toner-concentration-based consumption prediction unit right after the toner consumption occurs. When the toner-consumed developing agent comes to a toner supply area again after the toner consumption occurs, a toner supply operation is initiated using a toner amount computed based on the image information in view of the already supplied toner.
US08655200B2
A controlling system comprising an image forming device and a controlling device for the image forming device, the image forming device having an indicating device which can indicate that a toner cartridge is in a toner near empty state and a communication part for communicating with the controlling device via a communication network, and when the toner near empty state of the toner cartridge is detected, the communication part transmits the information to the controlling device. The controlling device has a controlling condition table in which a controlling condition set for each image forming device to be controlled is recorded, and when a toner near empty signal is received from the image forming device to be controlled, the controlling device refers to the controlling condition of the image forming device recorded in the table, and outputs or does not output a toner near empty indication instruction signal depending on the controlling condition. When the image forming device receives the toner near empty indication instruction signal, it displays so on the indicating device.
US08655199B2
An image forming apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an original, an image forming unit configured to form an image of the original read by the reading unit on a sheet, a detecting unit configured to detect whether or not the image of the original read by the reading unit includes an irregular part formed by a stray dust particle adhered to the original, and a control unit configured to control, in response to detection of the irregular part by the detecting unit, the image forming unit to make an additional copy of the image of the original including the irregular part.
US08655193B2
Provided is an optical multilevel transmission system, comprising at least one optical multilevel transmitter for transmitting an optical multilevel signal obtained and an optical multilevel receiver for receiving the optical multilevel signal. The received optical multilevel signal has a larger noise in an angular direction than in a radial direction. The optical multilevel receiver sets, in a symbol decision of the received optical multilevel signal demodulated on the complex plane, for positions of all or some of ideal signal points, a width in the angular direction of a decision area, to which each of the ideal signal points belongs and which is measured along a circumference of a circle centered at an origin and passing through a center of the each of the ideal signal points, larger than a width in the angular direction of a decision area defined based on a Euclidean distance.
US08655192B2
A polarization diversity optical system device includes: a polarization split unit that splits a first coherent light into a first split light and a second split light whose polarization components are orthogonal to each other, and splits a second coherent light into a third split light and a fourth split light whose polarization components are orthogonal to each other; and a light combining unit that combines the first split light with one of the third split light and the fourth split light, and combines the second split light with the other of the third split light and the fourth split light.
US08655188B2
A driver circuit includes a plurality of delay circuits and an inverter. The plurality of delay circuits delay branched driving signals. The inverter inverts at least one of the branched driving signals. At least one of the plurality of delay circuits is at least one variable delay circuit delaying a variable amount of delay. The output driving signal is output by combining the inverted signal of the branched driving signal output via at least one inverter and at least one non-inverted signal of the branched driving signals output from the delay circuits.
US08655179B2
Infrared control signals are communicated between an infrared remote control unit (16) and an infrared controlled device (18) via network gateways (14). A sub-network of a backbone network (10) is automatically set up prior to transmission of messages. The sub-network comprises a selection of devices coupled to a backbone network (10). The setting up of the sub-network comprises automatically sending out a request from the first one of the network gateways (14) to detect network gateways (14) that indicate ability to transmit infrared control messages prior to transmission of the message and storing information defining the sub-network in the first one of the network gateways dependent to a response to the request. Subsequently, when a first infra red control signal is received from the infrared remote control unit (16) at a first one of the network gateways (14), a message is transmitted dependent on information derived from the first infrared control signal from the first one of the network gateways (14) over the backbone network (10) to the subnetwork of the selected devices. The message from the backbone network (10) is received at a second one of the network gateways (14). The second one of the network gateways (14) transmits a second infrared control signal from to the infrared controlled device (18) dependent on information derived from the message. The information in the network message may comprise sample values of the demodulated infrared control signal.
US08655175B2
A method and apparatus for implementing a hybrid SOA-Raman amplifier in a central office in order to enable multiple passive optical networks to share one or more enhancement service sources, e.g., to share a source for a broadcast service are disclosed.
US08655169B2
Consistent with the present disclosure, based on system requirements or in response to an increase in optical signal-to-noise level of an optical channel, such as a WDM channel, additional FEC bits are inserted into and replace selected data payload bits in each frame carried by the channel. The replaced data payload bits may then be transmitted in subsequent frames on the same channel. As a result, the transmitted frames have a reduced data payload rate, but a higher coding gain. Alternatively, the replaced data payload bits may be included in frames transmitted on another optical channel. In that case, the frames carried by the two channels typically have the same bit length or number of bits and may thus be compliant with the frame length requirements of G.709, for example. Preferably, the number of coding bits may be changed dynamically to obtain different coding gains.
US08655164B2
A digital camera is provided with a vertically long camera body having an approximately rectangular solid shape. An LCD panel provided in a rear surface of the camera body is arranged such that longitudinal directions of the display screen and the camera body correspond to each other. The digital camera is operated through a touch panel provided in a lower portion of the display screen. In a taking mode, an image is displayed in a small size on an upper portion of the display screen. In reproducing, the camera body is rotated sideways by 90 degree. In a reproducing mode, display posture of the image is also rotated by 90 degree, and the image is displayed in a large size on the entire display screen.
US08655156B2
In one method embodiment, providing a multiplex of compressed versions of a first video stream and a first audio stream, each corresponding to an audiovisual (A/V) program, the first video stream and the first audio stream each corresponding to a first playout rate and un-synchronized with each other for an initial playout portion; and providing a compressed version of a second audio stream, the second audio stream corresponding to a pitch-preserving, second playout rate different than the first playout rate, the second audio stream synchronized to the initial playout portion of the first video stream when the first video stream is played out at the second playout rate, the first audio stream replaceable by the second audio stream for the initial playout portion.
US08655155B2
Management information for video data and audio data that are created after their recording is started until it is stopped and that are recorded as a stream file on a record medium is more securely stored. When their recording is started, EP entry information contained in management information of the stream file is created. Whenever EP entry information is created, it is written to a nonvolatile memory. After their recording is stopped, fixed value information and so forth that are contained in the management information are created and written to the nonvolatile memory. According to a disc eject operation, the management information written to the nonvolatile memory is written to the disc and the contents stored in the nonvolatile memory are cleared. Likewise, when power is turned off without the eject operation, information stored in the nonvolatile memory is written to the disc. Since the management information is stored in the nonvolatile memory, even if power is unexpectedly turned off, the management information will not be lost.
US08655153B2
A system, method, and service of managing data comprises establishing a computerized user profile guideline corresponding to selected television programming interests of a user; instructing a processor to manage data based on the computerized user profile guideline, wherein the data is received from a television programming broadcaster; and managing access to specified television programming when the computerized user profile guideline corresponding to the selected television programming interests of the user is satisfied. The process of managing access may comprise alerting the user with information pertaining to the specified television programming.
US08655150B2
An apparatus for editing a series of moving images recorded across a plurality of recording media including at least a first and second recording media, comprising: an editing unit which performs editing processing on a part of the series of moving images recorded on the first recording medium; a storage control unit which performs control such that the editing processing is stored; a determination unit which determines whether or not a detachable recording medium has been attached; and a control unit which, in a case where it has been determined that the second recording medium has been attached, performs control for applying the editing processing that has been performed on the part of the series of moving images recorded on the first recording medium and has been stored by the storage control unit, to a part of the series of moving images that is recorded on the second recording medium.
US08655148B2
In one embodiment, a method includes storing a caption file including a set of visual representations of captions for a media program and a video file including video information for the media program. A server receives a request for the media program where the request is associated with a user device. The method determines the caption file and the video file for the media program based on the request. The server then sends visual representations of the captions from the caption file out of band with video information from the video file over a network to the user device. The user device is configured to overlay a visual representation of a caption over a portion of the video information.
US08655146B2
Collection and concurrent integration of supplemental information related to currently playing media
Collection and concurrent integration of supplemental information related to currently playing media. Based on certain characteristics associated with the media, additional information related thereto is identified and output along with the media itself. This provides an enhanced experience for a user, in that, this supplemental information augments the presentation of the media to the user. Such supplemental content can be any one or combination of a wide variety of types including textual information, image content, audio content, video content, etc. This supplemental content may be output automatically in conjunction with the media (e.g., when such media is being output). Alternatively, the supplemental content may be output upon the authorization of a user. The supplemental content may be output in a predetermined location (e.g., location within a video display). Alternatively, such supplemental content may be output within an unused (or infrequently used) area of such a video display.
US08655143B2
Embodiments may be disclosed herein that provide systems, devices, and methods of processing a program stream, the program stream comprising a video and an audio stream. One such embodiment is a method comprising: initializing an audio reference clock to a value associated with a presentation timestamp for a decodable audio frame which is the first audio frame capable of being decoded in the audio stream; initializing a video reference clock to a value associated with a presentation timestamp for a decodable video frame which is the first video frame capable of being decoded in the video stream; storing audio frames received prior to receipt of the decodable video frame which is the first video frame capable of being decoded in the video stream in an audio frame buffer; starting audio and video reference clocks after a video preroll delay, which is the difference between the first decodable video frame PTS and the value of PCR at the time that PTS is received, has elapsed; decoding the audio stream in accordance with the audio reference clock; and decoding the video stream in accordance with the video reference clock.
US08655133B2
The invention relates to an optical fiber employable in an optical communication system using Raman amplification and adapted to improve OSNR and suppress bending loss at the same time, and the like. The optical fiber is a silica-based optical fiber having a depressed refractive index profile constituted by at least a core, an inner cladding having a low refractive index, and an outer cladding, an effective area Aeff of 110 μm2 or more at the wavelength of 1550 nm, and a fiber cutoff wavelength λc of 1.3 μm or more but 1.53 μm or less. The depressed refractive index profile is designed such that the ratio Ra(=2b/2a) of the diameter of the inner cladding to the diameter of the core is 2.5 or more but 3.5 or less and that the relative refractive index difference Δ− of the inner cladding with respect to the outer cladding is at least the relative refractive index difference Δ−min where the bending loss at the wavelength for use is minimized but not exceeding (Δ−min+0.06) %.
US08655130B2
Non-circular core optical preforms are provided whose core-cladding interface edge has a sharpness that can be accurately controlled according to application-specific needs. Preform design and fiber fabrication is handled such that precisely edged fiber cores are maintained in the drawn fibers. This provides for markedly improved fiber functions, which rely on the non-circular structure of the core. In short, optical fibers having non-circular wave-guiding regions with precise, controlled edges are provided. By using selected manufacturing techniques that employ lower temperatures than commonly used, prior art techniques and by choosing proper materials with appropriate viscosities for core and cladding, the rounding of the edges of the wave-guiding region is precisely maintained in the final optical fibers.
US08655112B2
A method and apparatus for an improved workflow for digital image editing is disclosed. The method comprises accessing a file containing a plurality of effects to apply to an image; merging a plurality of visible layers of the image to create a merged layer; applying the plurality of effects to the merged layer; installing a layer mask on the merged layer; and applying a plurality of user strokes made during an image editing process to the installed layer mask.
US08655109B2
Methods and systems for a regression-based learning model in image upscaling are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of image patch pairs for each of a set of images is generated. Each of the image patch pairs contains a natural image and a corresponding downscaled lower-resolution image. A regression model based at least in part on the set of image patch pairs is defined. The regression model represents a gradient of a function of the downscaled lower-resolution image. An image is upscaled based at least in part on the regression model.
US08655103B2
A method of deriving a representation of an image by processing signals corresponding to the image, the method comprises deriving a function of the image, where a function of a translated, scaled or rotated version of the image is a translated or scaled version of the derived function of the image, and using a plurality of frequency components of a frequency representation of the function to derive a representation of the image.
US08655097B2
A system and method for a blur brush performing adaptive bilateral filtering is disclosed. The method may include receiving user input selecting an area of an image to be filtered, such as by pointing to the image area using the blur brush. The selected image may comprise an edge and a plurality of pixels. The method may operate to the blur brush identifying the edge in the selected image area. The method may operate to apply a filter tool (e.g., a bilateral filter) to the selected image area, while preserving the edge. The methods may be implemented by program instructions executing in parallel on CPU(s) or GPUs.
US08655094B2
A photogrammetry system and method provide for determining the relative position between two objects. The system utilizes one or more imaging devices, such as high speed cameras, that are mounted on a first body, and three or more photogrammetry targets of a known location on a second body. The system and method can be utilized with cameras having fish-eye, hyperbolic, omnidirectional, or other lenses. The system and method do not require overlapping fields-of-view if two or more cameras are utilized. The system and method derive relative orientation by equally weighting information from an arbitrary number of heterogeneous cameras, all with non-overlapping fields-of-view. Furthermore, the system can make the measurements with arbitrary wide-angle lenses on the cameras.
US08655079B2
In one aspect, a method to reduce false alarms in identifying whether a candidate image is from an object class includes projecting the candidate image onto an object class subspace and projecting the candidate image onto a non-object class subspace. The method also includes determining whether the candidate image is from the object class using a Bayesian decision function based on the projections on the object class subspace and the non-object class subspace.In another aspect, a method to reduce false alarms in identifying whether a candidate mine image is from a mine class includes projecting the candidate mine image onto a mine subspace and projecting the candidate mine image onto a non-mine subspace. The method also includes determining whether the candidate mine image represents a mine using a Bayesian decision function based on the projections on the mine class subspace and the non-mine class subspace.
US08655073B2
System and method for converting source image data to tile data by (a) selecting a source image set, (b) computing a scaling value for the source image set, (c) selecting a base scale for a tile set to be created based on the scaling value, (d) establishing the tile set geographic bounds of the tile set, (e) converting the tile set geographic bounds, (f) for each source image from each source image set (i) determining source image geographic bounds of the source image, (ii) if there is an intersection between the source image geographic bounds and the tile set geographic bounds, (1) loading the source image from a LRU cache, if possible, (2) if the source image is not in the LRU cache, loading the source image into the LRU cache, (3) extracting image data from the source image at the intersection, (4) scaling the image data based on the base scale, (5) storing the scaled image data to a tile storage mechanism, (g) clearing the LRU cache, and (h) repeating steps (a) through (g) for each source image set.
US08655062B2
An image processing apparatus comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit. The CPU comprises a first table specification, a second table specification, an inverse discrete cosine transformation (IDCT) module, a color space converting module and an entropy decoder. The entropy decoder retrieves and processes input image data as a two-dimensional quantized image according to the first table specification. The graphics processing unit performs a dequantizing operation on the input image data according to the second table specification. The IDCT module performs an IDCT operation on the dequantized input image data. The color space converting module performs a color space conversion on the input image data and outputs the converted image data.
US08655060B2
A night-scene light source detecting device includes a pixel value obtaining unit configured to obtain a pixel value of each pixel in an input image; a night-scene-feature extraction unit provided for extracting a zone area of a mean corrected-brightness value and a high corrected-brightness value of the input image as two night-scene features based on the pixel value of each pixel in the input image; a night-scene image detection unit provided for determining whether the input image is a night-scene image or not based on the two night-scene features; a specific color detection unit provided for detecting whether each pixel belongs to specific color or not; and a night-scene light source determining unit provided for determining whether the night-scene image is picked up under irradiation by the specific light sources in a night scene or not based on the result of the specific color detection.
US08655059B2
Disclosed is a processor-implemented method for processing image data representing a document using an image processing apparatus. The processor receives image data, determines the classifications and counts of pixels in the image data (e.g., in device independent space that are degrees of neutral or non-neutral), classifies the image data into a category based on the determination of classifications and counts of pixels, and determines a billing structure for the image data based on the classification of image data. The classification can be performed on the image data prior to conversion into device dependent space. For example, by counting true color, neutral, non-neutral, and fuzzy color pixels and comparing them to thresholds, the image data can be classified as neutral or very colorful. By classifying images earlier in the image path, errors in billing are reduced.
US08655058B2
A system and method of adaptive edge detection and noise reduction in an image where edge information is detected for each color component of each pixel, whether sensed or synthesized. In some embodiments, the filter applied to a selected non-edge pixel may be determined by the ultimate size of a region around the selected pixel, where the size of the region may be increased if a count of the non-edge pixels in the region is less than a threshold value.
US08655053B1
Methods and systems for generating a size measurement of a body part of person for fitting a garment include providing photographic data that includes images of the body part and using feature extraction techniques to create a computer model of the body part.
US08655052B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method for interactive and iterative reconstruction in a manner that helps to reduce computational requirements by generating a model from a subset of the available data, and then refining that model using additional data. Example embodiments directed to scene reconstruction, reconstruct a 3D scene from a plurality of 2D images of that scene by first generating a model of the 3D scene from a subset a of the 2D images. The model can then be refined using specific characteristics of each image in the subset that are calculated using the other images in the subset. The model is further refined using images not in the original subset.
US08655043B2
A method of operating an instrument that is a macroscope, microscope, or slide scanner is provided where the instrument has a larger dynamic range for measurement than a dynamic range required in the final image of a specimen. In the method, data is measured from a specimen using the instrument, and the dynamic range of the measured data is contracted in the final image file during scanning.
US08655042B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providing device sizing support, the method comprising obtaining an X-ray image of a vessel, introducing a guide wire having a radiopaque wire tip into the vessel, obtaining an X-ray image of the wire tip, segmenting the wire tip when it passes through the vessel, and providing sizing information relating to the size of the vessel based on the size of the wire tip. The imaging system according to the invention includes means providing functionality for performing the method according to the invention.
US08655036B2
Locations, such as computer assisted detection marks, are presented in medical imaging diagnosis, such as for colon computed tomography diagnosis. To avoid fly-through and/or to assist in more rapid and thorough review of CAD marks, a summary of a plurality of detected candidates is pre-computed and presented to the user in a single collection. For example, a single display or screen view includes a gallery of images for different candidates. These pre-computed images are displayed on the screen, allowing the user to quickly identify locations of interest and rule out other locations. The summary may be used for navigation outside the CAD context, such as presenting different portions of an organ to be viewed.
US08655031B2
Apparatus for identifying video content includes a scene detector to detect a plurality of consecutive scenes in the video content. The video content may include a video program and an advertisement contained within the video program. A signature generator determines a scene change signature for each of the plurality of consecutive scenes. A content identifier provides the plurality of scene change signatures to a comparator that compares the plurality of scene change signatures to a database having a plurality of video content items to identify the video program. The database includes an ordered plurality of previously determined scene change signatures for each item of video content in the database. The content identifier receives an identification of the video content from the comparator. The content identifier may further receive information related to a position of the plurality of scene change signatures within the ordered plurality of previously determined scene change signatures.
US08655029B2
In a face recognition system, overlapping patches are defined on a canonical face. Random clusters of pixel pairs are defined within each patch, and binary features are determined for each pixel pair by comparing their respective feature values. An inverted index hash table is constructed of the binary features. Similar binary features are then determined on a library of registrable samples of identified faces. A log probability of each registrable sample generating a binary feature from a corresponding cluster of pixel pairs at each specific patch location is determined and stored in the hash table. In a search phase, similar binary features are determined, and a hash key is determined for each binary feature. The log probabilities for each identity found in the hash table are summed for all clusters of pixel pairs and locations and sorted to find the high probability match.
US08655018B2
A method, system and computer program product for detecting presence of an object in an image are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a method for detecting a presence of an object in an image comprises: receiving multiple training image samples; determining a set of adaptive features for each training image sample, the set of adaptive features matching the local structure of each training image sample; integrating the sets of adaptive features of the multiple training image samples to generate an adaptive feature pool; determining a general feature based on the adaptive feature pool; and examining the image using a classifier determined based on the general feature to detect the presence of the object.
US08655013B2
Mail processing methods and systems. A method performed at a local delivery unit includes receiving an image of a mail item at the local delivery unit from an imaging and virtualization facility (IVF) that is geographically separated from the local delivery unit. The image and the mail item are associated with a mail item identifier. The method includes displaying the image to a user at the local delivery unit and receiving address information corresponding to the mail item from the user. The method includes associating the address information with the mail item identifier. Related apparatuses and systems are discussed.
US08655009B2
Color-based reaction testing of biological materials may be performed by capturing, in an uncalibrated environment, a digital image of an exposed test strip, together with an adjacently-located reference color chart or on-strip color chart. The image data specifically representing the individual test pads on the test strip, as well as the reference color blocks on the reference chart, are then located within the captured image, and compared to identify any color matches between the test pads and the corresponding sequences of reference color block. Based on this comparison operation, a set of test results can be generated which effectively identifies which of the reference chart's color blocks most closely matches the color of the corresponding dipstick's test pads. The generated test results may then be provided to the user in a printed or displayed form. Alternatively, the test results may simply be stored for later retrieval.
US08655004B2
A monitoring system that can be placed proximate to the head or ear of a user is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the monitoring system can be used with headphones, earbuds or headsets. The monitoring system can, for example, be used to monitor user activity, such as during exercise or sporting activities. The positioning of the monitoring system can also facilitate sensing of other user characteristics (e.g., biometric data), such as temperature, perspiration and heart rate. The monitoring system can also be used to control a an electronic device. In one embodiment, the monitoring system facilitates user control of the electronic device using head gestures.
US08654998B2
A call other than a conversion partner call and various sounds are detected by input audio signals from plural microphones without deteriorating a voice recognition precision. A hearing aid apparatus according to the present invention corrects a frequency characteristic of the call voice other than the conversation partner voice based on an arrival direction of the call voice other than the conversation partner voice, which is estimated based on the audio signal converted by the plural microphones, checks a call word standard pattern representing features of a phoneme and a syllabic sound based on other voice data picked up by using the microphones having one characteristic against a call voice other than the conversation partner voice in which the frequency characteristic is corrected by the frequency characteristic correction processing unit to determine whether the call voice is a call word, and forms a directivity in the direction other than the arrival direction of the voice of the conversation partner. Then, the hearing aid apparatus according to the present invention corrects the frequency characteristic of the call voice other than the conversation partner voice so as to provide the same characteristic as that of the microphones at the time of creating the audio standard pattern.
US08654995B2
An audio control system may receive a plurality of audio input signals. A switch or multiplexer may switch one of the plurality of audio input signals from respective audio sources to a power amplifier. A controller in communication with the multiplexer may control switching of the multiplexer. A display may provide the user with information regarding the switching of the audio signal inputs. A user interface may permit the user to manually switch the audio source. A signal detector in communication with an audio input signal may detect a signal from a priority source. When the signal from the priority source is detected, the controller may direct the multiplexer to route the signal from the priority source to the power amplifier.
US08654993B2
A method of operating a media player includes playing back audio media. During the step of playing back audio media, a maximum volume parameter is refined for the playing back of the media by the media player. The refining is based at least in part on the playing back of audio media during a time period prior to executing the maximum volume refining step. After a period of time, the maximum volume refining step is repeated. The refining is configured to prevent/minimize harm to hearing of the media player user based, for example, on the actual volume of media playback and time/duration profiles provided by occupational safety and/or other organizations.
US08654992B2
There is provided a sound processing apparatus for processing received sounds. A plurality of sound receiving units which are included in the apparatus output individually a sound signal corresponding to a received sound, then the sound signals in a time domain are converted into respective converted signal in a frequency domain, and a spectral ratio between the two converted signals is calculated for driving a phase correction value which corrects a phase of the sound signal.
US08654989B2
A vehicle rear surround sound audio system for a vehicle includes a plurality of speaker nodes, each of the speaker nodes including at least one speaker. A subset of the speaker nodes are located in a video viewing region of a vehicle. A head unit includes a DVD or other multi-channel surround sound source, a digital signal processor (DSP), an amplifier, and a fader. The head unit selectively implements: (i) a normal audio mode in which a plurality of different surround sound speaker signals are output to the plurality of speaker nodes according to a first mapping; or (ii) a rear surround audio mode in which all of the plurality of different surround sound speaker signals are output to only the subset of speaker nodes located in the video viewing region according to a second mapping such that the subset of speaker nodes are active to output all of the surround sound speaker signals.
US08654987B2
A standalone, earhook style headset interface and control apparatus that plugs into and engages a micro audio player, particularly, a micro MP3 player, used as an integral part of an ear supported, recorded audio device player or headphone. The earhook headphone system combines player controls, speaker and speaker controls, and headphone jack to plug in a second headphone for stereo listening of programmed audio while securing the MP3 player on, behind or about the ear during vigorous activity. An auxiliary jack also functions as the programming and recharging interface for the audio player device. A selector control switch for single/duplex single ear channel listening is located on the housing. A spring tail earhook of flexible soft silicone material, functions as the gripping and stabilizing element of the earhook headset, securing the unit behind or near the ear. All control functions of the audio player are integrated into the earhook headset.
US08654982B2
A wireless audio device may realize power savings when processing multi-channel data, e.g. 2-channel stereo audio data, by splitting the multi-channel block data into separate data blocks for each channel, e.g. Left-channel data block and Right-channel data block, and processing each separate data block independently in the source device to generate respective data packets targeting corresponding sink devices, e.g. a Left earphone and a Right earphone. The source device may then transmit each data packet to a different corresponding sink device, e.g. a Left-channel packet to a Left earphone and a Right-channel packet to a Right earphone. The data packets may also include header information indicative of whether a next packet is intended for a given sink device, enabling sink devices to enter sleep mode when the header information indicates that a next packet is not intended for the given sink device, to save power.
US08654981B2
A system for processing multimedia channels is described comprising: transmitting decryption keys for decrypting the multimedia channels, the keys encrypted in both a first encryption format and a second encryption format; the keys encrypted in the first encryption format being decryptable by a first type of multimedia receiver; and the keys encrypted in the second encryption format being decryptable by a second type of multimedia receiver.
US08654980B2
A QKD transmission apparatus comprises a GPS receiver module operable to receive a GPS signal, and a processor operable to use the GPS signal to derive a clock signal for transmission of a QKD signal.
US08654975B2
A method for joint generation of a ciphertext by devices of a data processing system includes providing, by a first device, a first message, representing secret data of the first device, generating an initial ciphertext comprising an initial blinded encrypted message, in which the first message is encrypted under a public key of a trusted entity, and an initial consistency component for validating the initial ciphertext using the bilinear map; and sending the initial ciphertext to a second device; wherein the second device provides a second message, representing secret data of the second device, generates an updated ciphertext comprising an updated blinded encrypted message and an updated consistency component for validating the updated ciphertext, and generating a final ciphertext comprising the final encrypted message and a final consistency component for validating the final ciphertext, wherein the final consistency component is generated using the updated consistency component and the bilinear map.
US08654971B2
A secure data parser is provided that may be integrated into any suitable system for securely storing data in and communicating data with cloud computing resources. The secure data parser parses data and then splits the data into multiple portions that are stored or communicated distinctly. Encryption of the original data, the portions of data, or both may be employed for additional security.
US08654970B2
A processor including instruction support for implementing the Data Encryption Standard (DES) block cipher algorithm may issue, for execution, programmer-selectable instructions from a defined instruction set architecture (ISA). The processor may include a cryptographic unit that may receive instructions for execution. The instructions include one or more DES instructions defined within the ISA. In addition, the DES instructions may be executable by the cryptographic unit to implement portions of an DES cipher that is compliant with Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 46-3 (FIPS 46-3). In response to receiving a DES key expansion instruction defined within the ISA, the cryptographic unit may generate one or more expanded cipher keys of the DES cipher key schedule from an input key.
US08654964B1
Outbound contact records for a contact center can be arranged as an ordered list reflecting a priority for reaching a party during defined time periods. For each time period, the corresponding prioritized list is used for originating outbound contacts. Originating outbound contacts involves first determining when an agent is available and determining an agent profile of the available agent. Then, records in the ordered list are searched to identify parties having a compatible called party profile matching the agent profile. When an agent is available, the selected contact records are used to generate outbound contacts and a responding party is matched to the agent. Other responding parties may be matched with other agents having the same agent profile or matched with second-best compatible agents. At certain conditions, the remaining records may be processed in a list-centric manner wherein a responding party is matched with any available agent.
US08654963B2
In a contact center, a system for processing communication events has an interaction server for managing events waiting to be routed, a routing server for routing the events, a rules engine, and a gateway server executing rules invocation logic and interacting with the rules engine. The interaction server tracks incoming events, initiates and sends a routing request to the routing server, including a special routing object, for each event that requires conformance to business rules, the routing server, executing the routing object, sends an execution request to the gateway server, which upon receipt of the request prepares a business object model (BOM), being a set of facts upon which the rules engine executes rules appropriate to the facts, resulting in routing direction for the routing server to route the event.
US08654958B2
Call forwarding profiles corresponding to call forwarding settings based on time, location, and/or presence states of a called party are created. Different call forwarding settings are then activated based on corresponding predefined call forwarding profiles. Users are enabled to pre-configure their call forwarding profiles based on one or more rules.
US08654953B2
Managing subconference calls within a primary conference call. An approach includes establishing a primary conference call including a plurality of participants, establishing a subconference call including a subset of the plurality of participants, and providing respective output signals to each of the plurality of participants. Members of the primary conference call are provided with audio only of the primary conference call, and members of the subconference call are provided with audio of the subconference call. The approach also includes providing a visual display that shows respective groupings of members of the subconference call and members of the primary conference call.
US08654951B1
A method, apparatus and computer program product for synchronizing transcripts and recordings of a bridge conference is described. An audio file recording of a bridge conference is accessed as well as a transcript of events associated with the bridge conference. The transcript of events associated with the bridge conference is synchronized with the audio file recording of a bridge conference such that a user can utilize the transcript to navigate to a desired place in the audio file recording of a bridge conference.
US08654940B2
The present solution includes a real-time automated communication method. In the method, a real-time communication session can be established between a text exchange client and a speech application. A translation table can be identified that includes multiple entries, each entry including a text exchange item and a corresponding conversational translation item. A text exchange message can be received that was entered into a text exchange client. Content in the text exchange message that matches a text exchange item in the translation table can be substituted with a corresponding conversational item. The translated text exchange message can be sent as input to a voice server. Output from the voice server can be used by the speech application, which performs an automatic programmatic action based upon the output.
US08654939B2
Methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business by providing bookmarks for voice mail messages in order to facilitate improved navigation thereof. A bookmark is preferably conveyed by the caller leaving a voice mail message to indicate information such as a change in the topic of the message, or a particular important passage within the message, or perhaps to identify some information for special treatment (such as a telephone number and time of day at which the call can be returned). Once the message has been bookmarked, the listener can navigate the message more efficiently (for example, by listening to a few seconds of each topic and then skipping to the next topic, or by listening only to the special information) and can also perform actions on parts of the voice mail message (such as forwarding only a selected segment to a third party, while keeping the remainder of the message confidential). Optionally, audio cues may be rendered with the voice mail message as it is played to the listener, where audio cues are sounds that are either “incorporated in” with the audio rendering as a separate (background) audio stream or inserted in-line within the message. (For example, audio cues may change to signify that the bookmarked topics of the message change, or many announce the type of bookmark associated with an upcoming audio message segment).
US08654938B2
When a call from a call terminal to a called terminal is received, a relay processing device transmits calling terminal specific information that specifies the calling terminal to the called terminal by using data communication. The calling terminal specific information, for example, is a phone number of the calling terminal, but may be a user's name of the calling terminal. The called terminal transmits to the relay processing device, connection information that indicates whether or not to respond to the call from the calling terminal. The transmission of the connection information may be performed by any one of voice communication and data communication. The relay processing device connects the phone call between the called terminal and the calling terminal or cuts off the connection between the calling terminal and the relay processing device according to the connection information.
US08654929B2
Systems, methods and computer products for querying for an interactive assistant for communication over a network via the set-top box. Communications are initiated between a subscriber and an interactive assistant. A diagnostic data log is uploaded from the set-top box to the interactive assistant. Based on the communications between the subscriber an interactive assistant and the diagnostic data log, diagnostic protocols are executed within the set-top box to generate a diagnostic report. The interactive assistant provides feedback analytics via the set-top box based on the communications between the subscriber and the interactive assistant, the diagnostic data log and the diagnostic report. Firmware solutions are downloaded to the set-top box based on results from the diagnostic report.
US08654919B2
A system and method for acquiring x-ray imaging data from a subject is disclosed. The x-ray imaging system includes a first support structure oriented in a vertical fashion and a second support structure oriented in a vertical fashion and spaced apart from the first support structure to define a scanning area configured to receive a subject to be scanned. A linear x-ray source is affixed to the first support structure on one side of the scanning area and is oriented in a vertical fashion, with the linear x-ray source configured to emit x-rays towards the subject. A linear detector arrangement is affixed to the second support structure on another side of the scanning area and is generally opposite the linear x-ray source. The linear detector arrangement is configured to receive x-rays after passing through the subject.
US08654913B2
A method and apparatus for processing a signal in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: receiving a signal at a receiver over a wireless channel; sampling the signal to produce a plurality of signal samples; and supplying the samples to an equaliser implemented in software running on a processor of the receiver, the equaliser being configured to process the samples using at least one equaliser time period having a nominal length. The method further comprises dynamically determining one or more characteristics of the channel; in dependence on the determined channel characteristics, dynamically selecting between a first operational state of the equaliser in which the nominal length is used and a second operational state of the equaliser in which an alternative length is used in place of the nominal length; and processing the samples in the equaliser using the determined equaliser time period length.
US08654907B2
The invention relates to apparatus for the receipt of digital data which is transmitted as a data signal from a remote location and a method by which the receiving apparatus can be designed with a configuration to improve the ability to receive the data signal. The design of the configuration is generated with reference to at least one decision metric which is adapted to suit the known characteristics of the data signal which is being received.
