US08690042B2
An assembly including a front panel is separated from a back panel by a panel fold line. Side flaps are disposed at opposing edges of the front panel and are each separated from the front panel by a flap fold line. The side flaps include a front flap surface with an adhesive material and a back flap surface opposite the front flap surface. The assembly is foldable about the panel fold line to dispose the back panel adjacent the front panel and foldable about the flap fold line to dispose the back flap surface adjacent a front surface of the back panel when the back panel is folded. In a folded position, the assembly forms a pocket between the front and back panels, and is adherable by the adhesive material to a separate surface.
US08690040B2
A method of forming a solder joint includes the steps of providing a heat shield member formed as an arcuate preferably metallic shell attached to a spring-clamp by means of an obedient shaft; attaching the spring clamp to a structure adjacent the solder joint; moving the heat shield member by bending the obedient shaft so that the heat shield member is positioned in a location spaced-apart from the solder joint with the concave surface of the heat shield member facing the solder joint; and applying heat from a torch to the solder joint from the side opposite the heat shield so that the heat shield reflects the heat back onto the solder joint.
US08690033B2
A tank assembly is configured for attachment to a mount of a tire carrier of a vehicle. The tank assembly includes a hub reservoir and a flange reservoir. The hub reservoir radially surrounds a central axis and is configured for connection to, and being supported by, the mount of the tire carrier. The flange reservoir extends radially from the hub reservoir about the central axis. The hub reservoir and the flange reservoir cooperate to define a cavity which is configured for holding a volume of fluid.
US08690028B2
A portable filter container for manually transporting large quantities of a liquid is described. The container includes an extendible handle that allows for easy transportation of the container on a set of wheels. The handle also actuates a pump to provide pressure to the inside of the container in order to force the liquid through a filter. The handle can actuate the pump either using a piston or a lever motion.
US08690014B2
An insulin pump and an infusion set adapter having a membrane which can be acted upon by a liquid flow path associated with the pump, wherein the pump comprises a sensor by which a change in shape or location of at least a portion of the membrane caused by a change in the liquid pressure in the flow path can be detected in a contact-free manner to identify an occlusion in the flow path.
US08690013B2
The single-use applicator used for discharging a filling substance and comprising a substance receiving chamber provided with an outlet is characterized in that the receiving chamber comprises an outwardly curved wall and an opposite wall which is provided with a surrounding web which engages into the cavity of the curved wall on the edge thereof, and that the curved wall is shaped such that it can be smoothly pressed onto the web and the interposed area of the opposite wall.
US08690004B2
The present invention is directed, in part, to an apparatus and methods related to an expandable storage tank for compressed gas, the storage tank prepared from a puncture resistant, flexible fabric material in which the storage tank is expandable to a desired volume when inflated and when deflated. During periods of non-use the storage tank is retracted in a compact and folded manner to save space compared to when the tank is inflated. The storage tank is utilized by employing its use in conjunction with a traditional air compressor and can be configured with or without a rigid outer shell that expands in relation to the amount of compressed air transferred into the expandable storage tank.
US08689999B2
A hair styling device holster includes a bottom section, a middle section, and a top section. The bottom section includes a flat bottom surface. The middle section is coupled to the bottom section and includes walls that define an interior compartment sized and configured to receive a heated end of a hair styling device. At least a portion of one of the plurality of walls including a mesh grating. The top section is coupled to the middle section and defines at least one opening in communication with the interior compartment defined by the middle section. An insulating material is disposed on an upper interior surface of the bottom section for insulating the bottom section from a hair styling device when the hair styling device is disposed within the first opening.
US08689995B2
Two embodiments of a molded plastic container/closure combination are described. Each can be structured to provide a child resistant opening feature and, optionally, a tamper-evident feature. In both embodiments, the closure has radially extending bayonets arranged around an outer skirt, which bayonets can be rotated into a position underlying semi-annular ribs in a beam molded integrally with the sidewall of the container. Rotation of the closure in the unlocking direction is opposed by a structure which requires depression of a release tab downwardly. In one embodiment, depression of the release tab requires that a frangible element first be fractured and removed from the container sidewall. In the second embodiment, depressing the release tab is made possible by a living hinge formed on one side of the release tab.
US08689991B2
A transport container (1) has walls (5) and a roof (6) arranged on the top edges thereof. The roof (6) is detachable from the top edges of the walls (5). Either an edge of the roof (6) or a top edge of a wall (5), or both, is provided with a bevelled surface (8a, 8b) against which a fork arm of a forklift truck may be supported, the bevelled surface (8a, 8b) being arranged to guide the fork arm of the forklift truck to the underside of the top surface of the roof (6) to allow the roof (6) to be lifted by the fork arm of the forklift truck.
US08689983B1
Methods and apparatus for vacuum operated sorting. The apparatus may include a plurality of casing members each having a passageway with a filter member across the passageway. The casing members may be removably coupled to one another in a desired order and/or quantity and attached to a vacuum source to provide sorting of objects such as beads into a plurality of size ranges.
US08689982B2
The invention relates to a device (2) for separating magnetic particles comprising several substantially aligned magnets (3). Some of the magnets (3) are inversely oriented. This array reduces any magnetic interference with the collection area of an adjacent magnet.
US08689980B2
The invention relates to a method of separating a particle fraction from a particle stream making use of gravitational force and which is performed in a fluid. This provides particle fractions that are collected in respective collecting means. According to the invention the fluid and the collecting means are moved in relation to each other defining a relative direction of movement. There are means provided to limit the movement of the particles to be separated with respect to the fluid in the relative direction of movement. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
US08689968B2
The invention relates to a conveyor device having an endless conveyor which revolves between deflection rollers and on which a receiving device for conveying goods to be conveyed is provided. The conveyor device also includes a power supply line. The conveyor element is a conveyor chain having chain links hinged together. Each link has a section of the power supply line, and the sections of adjacent chain links are coupled to each other.
US08689966B2
A device for the elimination of trimmings of rolls or logs of ribbon-like material associated downstream with a shearing machine of at least one roll or log (11), fed by a feeding plane (13) of rolls (10) and head and/or tail rolls (24), consecutively. The device comprises a conveyor group (14) for carrying the rolls (10) and eliminating the head and/or tail rolls (24,24′), wherein the feeding plane (13) comprises rests (15) and the conveyor group (14) comprises flaps (21), both shaped, facing each other and spaced between each other to define central longitudinal openings (16 and 22) for the passage of pushers (17) which allow at least one roll or log (11) to advance; the conveyor group (14) having chains (20) on which flaps (21) are positioned, and having a length of chains (20) without flaps (21) that define a movable opening (23) between adjacent chains.
US08689960B2
A torque limiter in which an area of a region where an area of a region where an inner face of a circumferentially extending chamber intersects an oil pressure expanding chamber in an extended plane extended toward the oil pressure expanding chamber is larger than a sectional area of an opening of the oil removing hole which is opened to the circumferentially extending chamber.
US08689946B2
A system for blocking an output shaft of the engine of an automobile, of a type that includes a toothed wheel coaxially mounted on the shaft, and a first finger mobile between a shaft releasing position and a shaft blocking position in which the first finger is engaged in a gap formed between two teeth of the wheel. The system includes an alignment mechanism capable of aligning a gap between two teeth of the wheel and the first mobile finger, and the first mobile finger is configured to be inserted into the gap without any substantial circumferential clearance.
US08689945B2
An exemplary device for preventing travel of an elevator car when a car door is open includes a receiver that remains in a fixed position relative to a hoistway wall. A stop member moves responsive to the car door moving toward an open position such that the stop member engages the receiver to prevent movement of the elevator car when the door is open.
US08689939B2
A step apparatus for heavy construction equipment and tree harvester having a leveling system for controlling a horizontal level of a cab and an upper frame is provided, which includes a step protector including a main body fixedly installed on one side of an upper frame, a step guide hole opened from an inside of the main body to an outside, a guide rail formed along a length direction of an inner side wall of the main body, and an insert hole formed on one side of the guide rail and open toward a vertically upward direction of the guide rail; a side step including a plurality of foot steps arranged at specified intervals on a step frame to form stairs, a step drawer formed on an upper part of the step frame and seated in the step guide hole, and a guide pin positioned adjacent to the step drawer and projected toward the side wall of the main body, wherein when the guide pin is slid along the guide rail, the step frame is seated in the main body or is drawn out from the inside of the main body; and a folding actuator including a cylinder rod coupled to the step drawer to be extended and contracted, the folding actuator drawing the step drawer to the inside of the main body of the step protector.
US08689932B2
An on-base enclosure for equipment is disclosed. The on-base enclosure has walls attached to a base for equipment such that the walls are attached to the base at a distance away from the base. By providing the walls away from the base, more room is provided around the equipment within the enclosure.
US08689924B2
An air-bag device in which a deployed air-bag has a complete deployment portion positioned on the longitudinally central side and having a substantially constant diameter and incomplete deployment portions positioned on longitudinally opposite end sides and having a diameter that gradually decreases in going toward a blocking member, the incomplete deployment portion has high rigidity compared with the complete deployment portion and is difficult to deform when there is a collision with a pedestrian, thus degrading the impact absorption performance, but disposing the plurality of vent holes in the incomplete deployment portion at a fixed pitch in the longitudinal direction and the circumferential direction of the air-bag enables the rigidity of the incomplete deployment portion to be lowered and the impact absorption performance to be enhanced, thereby giving uniform impact absorption performance over the entire longitudinal length of the air-bag.
US08689920B2
A traction control system comprises a detector configured to detect a monitored spin value corresponding to a spin amount of a drive wheel in a vehicle; a condition determiner configured to determine whether or not the monitored spin value detected by the detector meets a driving power suppressing condition; and a controller configured to execute a traction control for reducing a driving power of the drive wheel based on the determination; the condition determiner being configured to set the driving power suppressing condition variably based on at least one of a variable parameter relating to a rotation number difference which is variable according to a change rate of a rotation number difference between the drive wheel and a driven wheel, and a variable parameter relating to rotation of a drive system which is variable according to a rotation change rate of the drive system for driving the drive wheel.
US08689914B2
An omni-directional wheel assembly for a vehicle that includes a wheel, at least one lower suspension link and an upper attachment joint. Both the at least one lower suspension link and the upper attachment joint are attachable to the vehicle. The wheel is able to rotate at 360°, to steer the vehicle, around a pivot line positioned by the at least one lower suspension link and the upper attachment joint once attached to the vehicle. A projection of the pivot line onto a vertical projection plane comprises a vertical axis passing through a contact point between the wheel and ground defining a caster angle with the vertical axis, where whatever the orientation of the projection plane, the omni-directional wheel assembly includes an adjustment means able to adjust the caster angle within a predetermined range.
US08689911B2
A cutter for a downhole cutting tool is disclosed. The cutter includes a cutter body having a cutting face, a peripheral sidewall flank, and a base. The base has a recessed channel that extends inwardly from the peripheral sidewall flank and provides an inlet opening therein. A downhole cutting tool employing the cutter is also disclosed. The cutting tool includes a tool body having a cutter face. The tool also includes a cutter body having a cutting face, a peripheral sidewall flank, and a base, the base having a recessed channel that extends inwardly from the peripheral sidewall flank and provides an inlet opening therein. The tool also includes a braze joint between the base and the bonding surface.
US08689893B2
The present invention provides a check valve comprising a valve housing (1,2), a substantially circular flapper (3), a valve seat (16) for the flapper (3), an expandable chamber (11) in fluid contact with a connecting port (8) for hydraulics fluid, and a piston (4) having a first and a second end, the flapper comprises a first (19) and a second (18) connection point and is pivotably connected at the first connection point (19), said flapper is capable of pivoting between a closed position in close contact with the valve seat (16) and an open position which allows fluid to flow through the valve, the piston (4) is in contact with the expandable chamber (11) and a pre-stressed compressible device (15), said piston (4) pivotably connected at the first end to the flapper (3) via the second connection point and that the second connection point (18) is situated closer to the center of the circular part of the flapper than the first connection point (19).
US08689892B2
An apparatus for controlling fluid pressure, useful in the production of hydrocarbons from underground reservoirs comprises at least one conical segment. A conical segment comprises: an inner conical cylinder with a central axis; an outer conical cylinder, outside of, and coaxial with, the inner conical cylinder; and a swirl chamber disposed between a conical outer surface of the inner conical cylinder and a conical inner surface of the outer conical cylinder. There is a fluid entrance through a wall of the outer conical cylinder of at least one conical segment at an upstream end of the apparatus for directing fluids into such conical segment's swirl chamber. There is also a fluid exit through a wall of the inner conical cylinder of at least one conical segment at a downstream end of the apparatus for directing fluids out of such conical segment's swirl chamber.
US08689889B2
A downhole magnet tool comprises a top sub having an inner bore terminating in a downhole facing open end, the inner bore defining a centralizer receptacle of smaller width than a width of the downhole facing open end, a mandrel terminating upwardly in a centralizer stem, the centralizer stem being fitted in the centralizer receptacle of the top sub, and a magnet mounted on a downhole facing surface of the mandrel. A method of assembly of a downhole magnet tool comprises mounting a magnet on the mandrel and inserting the centralizer stem into the centralizer receptacle.
US08689878B2
A downhole tool for removing debris from fluid flowing through the downhole tool uses a screen member and wiper member, the wiper member having at least one window disposed through the inner and outer wall surfaces of the wiper member. Either the screen member or the wiper member is rotatable such that rotation of the screen member or the wiper member causes debris disposed on the outer wall surface of the screen member to fall-off the screen member. At least one directional port disposed at either the upper end of the screen member or the upper end of the wiper member causes rotation of the screen member or wiper member when fluid flows through the downhole tool.
US08689877B2
A cleaning tool (1) for use in cleaning ferrous material from a wellbore has a magnetic cleaning element (14) mounted to a tool body (2) within a slot (5) using a releasable concealed interference fit fastener assembly (15) comprising a fastener member having a head (16), and a shank (17) with a configured end (18) and a deformable fastener ring (20) adapted to fit closely over the shank, and a press-fit collar (21) adapted to deform the deformable fastener ring upon the configured end of the shank when assembled, and wherein the respective head and collar are each flanged to permit an interference fit with a corresponding contact surface of the tool body around said slot.
US08689876B2
A fracturing system for a well, in which a stream of LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, is injected into the well at frac pressure. Proppant is supplied into the LPG stream, and carried by the LPG mix into the formation. Inert gas such as nitrogen is used for purging system components of LPG, and to help protect against risk of explosion. Nitrogen may also be added to the LPG mix during a frac of shale gas or coal gas formations.
US08689871B2
Expansive cements for use in cementing subterranean wells contain an encapsulated gas-generating substance. The gas-generating substance comprises one or more materials that release hydrogen, nitrogen or both. The gas-generating substance is encapsulated by a coating comprising a polymer. The coating prevents premature gas release at the surface during slurry mixing, and promotes gas release at a desired location in the subterranean well. The released gas may also control the internal pore pressure of the cement slurry, thereby inhibiting the invasion of formation fluids into the borehole.
US08689869B2
An encapsulated thixotropy agent may be added to aqueous well service fluids. Such fluids include drilling fluids, cement slurries and polymer pills. The well service fluid may be subjected to shearing action downhole, causing the thixotropy agent to be released and imparting thixotropy to the fluid. The thixotropy agent comprises a dry suspension of synthetic layered silicates.
US08689865B2
A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H2O within a subterranean region wherein the heated H2O contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
US08689861B2
A hybrid air and liquid coolant conditioning unit is provided for facilitating cooling of electronics rack(s) of a data center. The unit includes a first heat exchange assembly, including a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger, a system coolant loop and a facility coolant loop, and a second heat exchange assembly, including an air-to-liquid heat exchanger, an air-moving device, and the facility coolant loop. The system coolant loop provides cooled system coolant to the electronics rack(s), and expels heat in the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger from the electronics rack(s) to the facility coolant. The air-to-liquid heat exchanger extracts heat from the air of the data center and expels the heat to the facility coolant of the facility coolant loop. The facility coolant loop provides chilled facility coolant in parallel to the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger and the air-to-liquid heat exchanger. In one implementation, the hybrid coolant conditioning unit includes a vapor-compression heat exchange assembly.
US08689854B2
A method of fabricating a decomposition conduit with an in-line static mixer, the method including molding a decomposition conduit housing around a sand core by inserting molding material into a cavity between a decomposition conduit housing mold and the sand core, where the sand core includes a static mixer and, where the act of molding the decomposition conduit housing is operative to mount the static mixer to the molded decomposition conduit housing.
US08689850B2
The sonotrode and anvil of co-pending application Ser. No. 12/925,652, for advanced ultrasonic welding of work pieces, are readily incorporated into new form-fill-seal machines, but existing machines with heat-seal stations pose difficult problems for swapping of the sealing packages. Kits enabling heat station replacement, with the further improved sonotrode and anvil disclosed herein, comprise: a housing; a linear rail fixed thereto; anvil and sonotrode support members; and a parallel gripper. Each of the anvil and sonotrode support members is slidably attached to the rail(s) and are also connected to a respective piston of the gripper, permitting actuation of each through cycling of the gripper pistons. The improved sonotrode/anvil combination each comprise a corresponding plurality of energy directors arranged into a three-dimensional grid pattern to produce a narrower weld region, but one exhibiting greater durability, thereby permitting use of less packaging material, and which may also weld a company logo into the workpieces.
US08689840B2
Agglomerated fine solids, e.g., agglomerated pellets (2B), that are located within a restricted space or pinch point of a conveyance system (1), and that impede the free-flow of fine solids from one vessel (4) to another vessel (10), are detected and fragmented through the coordinated use of a flow detector (12), breaker plate (8) and press (6). The flow detector (12) senses an interruption or diminishment in the flow of the fine solids and signals and actuates the press (6) which in turn engages and fragments the agglomeration. The breaker plate (8) is sized and configured to trap major agglomerates.
US08689834B2
An expandable cap system includes a guide line having a pump at one end and an expandable cap device at the other end. The guide line acts to supply a material capable of creating a plug at one end of the damaged pipe thereby preventing oil or other line contents from entering the pipe at the source.
US08689830B2
This invention provides the design of a spin-controlled faucet outlet structure. It contains a valve seat inside a rotation set. The valve seat houses a turn button, a scaling plate and a discharging plate. These three pieces are locked together and controlled on the valve seat through a bridging seat. The bridging seat is locked to the faucet outlet. The turn button and the sealing plate along with the turn button and the rotation set move in series. The bottom of the rotation set is connected to a bubbler. The turn button of the rotation set spins with the sealing plate together and changes the blockage of the faucet outlet using the sealing plate, making it function as the controller of discharging and stopping water.
US08689827B2
A support shaft connects between a flange and a pump unit. An intermediate member, which connects between the support shaft and pump unit, enables a relative positional change between the support shaft and the pump unit in an axial direction of the support shaft. The intermediate member limits a relative positional change between the support shaft and the pump unit in a circumferential direction of the support shaft. A resilient member is received in the support shaft and exerts a restoring force in an axial direction of the support shaft to urge the pump unit, which is movable relative to the support shaft in the axial direction, toward a bottom portion of the fuel tank.
US08689807B2
A wig clip constituted by a plastic base frame and plastic comb body, wherein such wig clip is characterized in that: the base frame has pins or holes provided on/in the side elements of a rectangular frame member comprising front/rear elements and side elements; the comb body has multiple comb teeth provided at the front of the base, while a tab is provided at the rear of the base via a spring having a void, with holes or pins formed in/on the left side and right side of the base; and the comb body and base frame are axially joined in a rotatable manner and have such relationship that the tab can be engaged with the lock member, so that the positions of the two can be changed between an open state and clipping state.
US08689806B2
An artificial nail has a nail platform, an electroluminescence material connected to the nail platform, and an electric circuit electrically connected to the electroluminescence material. The electroluminescence material is preferably an electroluminescent film or other material that becomes luminous upon application of alternating current. When an electroluminescent film is used, the electric circuit preferably includes a driver module that provides sufficient alternating current to drive the electroluminescent film.
US08689803B2
The invention relates generally to a system and method for treating conditions responsive to nicotine therapy. More specifically, the invention relates to pulmonary administration of a nicotine containing formulation to effect smoking cessation.
US08689802B2
The combination smoking and drinking apparatus includes a generally upright consumable liquid retaining container with an elongated conduit formed therebetween. An inlet is coupled to one end of the conduit and has a combustion compartment therein. Additionally, an outlet is coupled to an opposite end of the conduit such that applying a vacuum to the outlet pressurizes the conduit and draws smoke from the combustion compartment directly through the conduit to the outlet without mixing the smoke with the consumable liquid in the container.
US08689799B2
A reversible orthosis is configured to support and/or immobilize at least one limb of a patient, including a textile article with first and second faces. The faces are equally able to contact a limb or limbs of the patient. The device includes at least one fastening tab having an active face with fastening elements cooperable with first or second securing device arranged respectively on the first and second faces and an inactive face opposite the active face. The fastening tab is fixed non-removably via its inactive face on a zone of the textile article contiguous to one of the edges of the textile article, allowing a pivot, about a pivot axis substantially parallel to this edge, between a first position, in which the active face catches by contact on the first securing device, and a second position, in which the active face catches by contact on the second securing device.
US08689798B2
A protective cushion for preventing a medical device from damaging the skin of a patient and a method for using the cushion. The cushion includes a bottom portion made of soft material and configured for resting against the patient's body and separating the medical device from the patient's body; and a top portion configured for receiving the medical device. The soft material can be resistant to bacterial growth. The bottom portion can have a concave curvature to fit against the patient's body. The top portion can include an opening shaped for receiving the medical device. The opening can separate the top portion into first and second side portions. The top portion can include a fastening system for securing the medical device in the protective cushion. The fastening system can include a tab or the opening shape. The cushion can include a cover for covering the opening in the top portion.
US08689792B2
A system and method of occluding a reproductive body lumen (34) to prevent the passage of reproductive cells through body lumen is disclosed. The system can include a catheter delivery system (10) having a handle device (18), a catheter (10) operatively coupled with the handle device (20), and an occluding device adapted for deployment within the body lumen. The handle device can include a damper device adapted to reduce the vibration on the handle device from deployment of the occluding device from the catheter. Further, the handle device can include an indexing member operatively coupled with the catheter to provide indexing of the catheter.
US08689791B2
Provided herein is a respiratory apparatus comprising a means for conducting breathable gasses directly to the trachea of a patient, via a tracheotomy or via a tube through the mouth to the trachea, and a means suitable for supplying the breathable gasses, under pressure, thereto and means for exhausting gases therefrom, characterised in that the pressuring means is so located as to impart pressure to said gasses immediately adjacent the site of the tracheotomy or the patient's mouth, thereby substantially reducing the length of the air supply hose to an endotracheal tube, so that problems associated with high pressures and large volumes of dead space can be alleviated.
US08689782B2
A gas burner includes a burner body and a simmer plate assembly. The burner body includes a central cavity in which at least one flame is provided. The simmer plate assembly includes a plate portion and a base portion configured to support the plate portion. The assembly is configured to be at least partially and removably inserted into the central cavity. The plate portion is configured to act as a barrier between the at least one flame and a heated object placed above the gas burner.
US08689779B2
A gas burner with a burner lower part with a lower gas distribution chamber which is open at the top and a radial secondary air passage to supply secondary air to an inner region of the gas burner, and a burner upper part positioned loosely on the burner lower part and partially closing off the lower gas distribution chamber, and which includes a burner ring, in which an annular upper gas distribution chamber is configured, and which has a gas throughflow opening corresponding to the lower gas distribution chamber and connecting the lower gas distribution chamber to the upper gas distribution chamber.
US08689778B1
The masonry cutting device generally includes a portable, lightweight frame having an integral upper cutting edge and a center space, a lifting device supported by the frame within the center space and below the upper cutting edge, wherein the lifting device moves a lower cutting edge towards the upper cutting edge for cutting a masonry item between thereof. The lower cutting edge is attached to a guide member which includes slotted ends for travelling along the frame to keep the lower cutting edge in alignment with the upper cutting edge. The lifting device is generally comprised of a shortened, hydraulic jack having a release member, manually-operable handle, and optional spacer. Also included are bias members for exerting a downward force upon the guide member and a catch tray generally comprised of a wired grid that is removable upon the frame and used to catch the cut masonry items.
US08689777B2
Wire for cutting feedstock and a method for cutting feedstock with the wire. The wire may include an iron based alloy comprising at least 35 at % iron, nickel and/or cobalt in the range of about 7 to 50 at %, at least one non-metal or metalloid selected from the group consisting of boron, carbon, silicon, phosphorus, and/or nitrogen present in the range of about 1 to 35 at %, and one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, titanium, molybdenum, aluminum, and/or chromium present in the range of about 0 to 25 at %, wherein the wire has an aspect ratio of greater than one and exhibits metallic and/or crystalline phases of less than 500 nm in size.
US08689776B2
The present invention provides an integrally configured flow channel system for application in the basic structure of a paintball gun, which enables increasing speed of vaporization to produce a high working pressure. The structure is solid, and maintains high safety for the operating mechanism. The system mainly includes a gun main body having a long rectangular shape and provided with heat conducting properties, and is longitudinally defined with a bolt. A chamber is defined parallel to the bolt, and a pre-vaporizer is longitudinally defined close to the chamber and the inner surface bordering on the exterior of the gun main body. One end of the pre-vaporizer affords passage to the chamber, and another end is joined to a pressure source through a lead-in port. The pre-vaporizer effectively uses the heat effectively exchanged from the heat stored by the gun main body.
US08689773B2
A toy projectile launching system that launches a toy projectile. The launcher has a handle. The handle is offset between two supports. A first arm element is coupled to the first support. A first elastic loop is anchored to the first arm element. The first elastic loop has a looped section that extends into an open area. A second arm element is coupled to the second support. A second elastic loop is anchored to the second arm element. The second elastic loop has a looped section that extends into the open area. The looped sections of the first elastic loop and the second elastic loop are spaced to receive and engage opposing hook elements on the toy projectile when the toy projectile is manually drawn through the open area.
US08689771B2
A device is provided that may be adapted to control or monitor the pressure level of a fluid system. The device includes a member composed of a shape memory alloy in a superelastic state. The member is configured to undergo a phase change from a high modulus Austenitic phase to a low modulus Martensitic phase and stretch in response to an activation stress. In one embodiment, the member defines two ends such that one end of the member is operatively connected to a fixed point. Another end of the member is operatively connected to a movable element. As the member stretches in response to the activation stress, the movable element is translated relative to the fixed point. In another embodiment, the member includes two plates with respective holes that are selectively aligned when the first and second plates stretch or deform in response to the activation stress.
US08689746B2
A device for the variable adjustment of valve lift curves of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, which has a hydraulic consumer, a camshaft and a volume accumulator. The camshaft is arranged in the internal combustion engine in a rotatably mounted manner by camshaft bearings. The interior of the camshaft has a cavity. Bores are formed on the camshaft in the region of the camshaft bearings and, via the bores, the cavity communicates with the camshaft bearings. The volume accumulator is arranged in the cavity and has a housing which extends in a region of at least one camshaft bearing.
US08689744B2
The present invention is provided with one or more inserts that are inserted at the lower portion of a water jacket formed at siamese portions between cylinder bores of a cylinder block and increase the flow of cooling water at the upper portion of the water jacket, in order to provide a cooling device and an insert for a water jacket of an internal combustion engine, which is inserted at the lower portion of the water jacket formed at the siamese portions of the cylinder block to increase the flow of cooling water, improves cooling efficiency of the siamese portions of the cylinder block by inducting recirculation of the cooling water at the lower portion, and improves fuel efficiency by making the temperature uniform in the stroke direction of the piston of the cylinder block and reducing friction of the piston.
US08689730B2
A robotic painting system includes an applicator, a first paint metering device in fluid communication with the applicator, a second paint metering device in fluid communication with the paint applicator, and a paint supply in fluid communication with each the paint metering devices to fill at least one of the paint metering devices with a desired amount of paint, wherein each of the paint metering devices is electrostatically isolated from the paint supply, and wherein a color change time and a paint waste are minimized and a cleaning operation of the system is optimized.
US08689727B2
The examples described herein provide methods and equipment for an anti-oxidation spraying on a steel billet. In some examples, when the billet at the temperature of 400° C.-1000° C. enters the predetermined spraying region, a plurality of anti-oxidation spraying devices are used to perform an anti-oxidation spray on the billet in two or more directions, thereby forming directly an anti-oxidation coating on the steel billet at 400° C.-1000° C. By using the example method and equipment described herein, on-line spraying of anti-oxidation coating on the steel billet can be performed under high-temperature condition, thereby reducing an oxidation burning loss rate of the steel billet.
US08689723B2
Discloses is a disk for a horn of a vehicle. The disk of the horn has a shape in which the whole region of the disk is divided into a plurality of regions having different vibration characteristics and has a structure in which the plurality of regions are disposed along a circumferential direction of the disk.
US08689722B2
A net holster holds fishing nets outside a boat and out of the way of anglers inside the boat. The net holster of the present invention has over 100 adjustable positions to keep the net out of the way. The net holster can keep a net in place outside the boat of speeds of at least 30 miles per hour. The net holster of the present invention is designed to hold most nets. A universal clamp and a tie down clamp enable the net holster to fasten to a variety of marine vessels with very little effort.
US08689719B1
BOATBABY, a portable, auto retractable marine line (rope) reel, attachable, spring loaded receptacle for marine line (rope) used in docking, trailering and launching a boat is disclosed. No current device exits.
US08689714B1
An electrochemical engine for buoyancy is provided with the engine having a water-tight and gas-tight chamber containing a volume of seawater. The electrochemical buoyancy engine contributes electrons for reduction of hydrogen protons in the seawater using a sufficient voltage applied to an anode and a cathode disposed in the seawater. The generated hydrogen gas is held in the chamber to provide the desired buoyancy and can be vented to adjust the buoyancy.
US08689706B2
The leg socket has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ribs extending along an interior wall. Each rib has a concavely curved surface extending longitudinally and disposed on a common radius of the wall to provide contact with a cylindrical table leg over a surface.
US08689705B2
A furniture kit including first and second spaced apart leg members including front and rear end portions and a frame space between facing surfaces, a first furniture assembly including a first rigid furniture component having first and second ends and having front and rear portions, wherein (i) a first furniture configuration is configurable that includes the first furniture assembly supported between the leg members and generally within the frame space with the front and rear portions of the first furniture assembly adjacent the front and rear end portions of the leg members, respectively, and (ii) a second furniture configuration is configurable that includes the first furniture assembly supported between the leg members and generally within the frame space with the front and rear portions of the first furniture assembly adjacent the rear and front end portions of the leg members, respectively.
US08689704B2
A sterilizable surgical accessory table includes a pair of independently movable tabletops supported by a base. The front tabletop is supported by a carriage which allows the position of the front tabletop to be adjusted fore and aft, while maintaining it in a horizontal plane. The rear tabletop cannot move fore and aft, but it can be tilted about a transverse horizontal axis. The rear tabletop is at all times well above the horizontal plane of the front tabletop. Both tabletops are normally locked in position, but the setting of each can be adjusted by depressing one of two pedals at the bottom of the base. The tabletops can be removed easily for cleaning and sterilization.
US08689701B2
A wheel truck, including: a front wheel pair assembly and a rear wheel pair assembly, two side frame assemblies, two spring suspension devices, and a bolster assembly. The spring suspension devices include a bearing spring unit, a damping spring, and a wedge. The wedge includes a primary friction surface and a secondary friction surface. The primary friction surface is attached to a column surface of the side frame assembly. The secondary friction surface is attached to an inclined surface of the bolster assembly. The wedge has the following structure parameters: α=16-30°, and μ
US08689699B2
An elevated bicycle-based transportation system comprises a bicycle, a front suspension member, connected to a front portion of the bicycle and having on the upper end a rolling, sliding, or gliding member, a rear suspension member, connected to a rear portion of the bicycle and having on the upper end a rolling, sliding, or gliding member, and an overhead track, which is a supporting member substantially horizontal in orientation, on which the rolling, sliding or gliding members of the suspension members rest. When suspended in this way, the bicycle can be ridden along the overhead track. When the suspension members are not suspended from the overhead track, the bicycle can be used in the normal manner, and at least one of the suspension members can be retracted, collapsed, folded, pivoted, detached, or otherwise modified by a simple operation, to be made less prominent.
US08689683B2
A door opening assembly of a bale press including a first arm member having a first end and a second end hingedly coupled at the first end to a first door. The door opening assembly also includes a second arm member having a first end and a second end hingedly coupled at the first end to a second door. An actuator is coupled to the second end of the first arm member and the second end of the second arm member to cause the first arm member to displace the first door and the second arm member to hold the second door from being displaced. A further feature includes a door closing system involve a guide member and a guide receptacle for moving a latch gate to close the door.
US08689676B2
A piston-combination comprising an elongate chamber bounded by an inner chamber wall, and comprising a piston sealingly movable in the chamber relative to the chamber wall at least between a first and a second longitudinal position of the chamber, said chamber having cross-sections of different cross-sectional areas at the first and second longitudinal positions, and at least substantially continuously differing cross-sectional areas at intermediate longitudinal positions between the first and second longitudinal positions, the cross-sectional area at said second longitudinal position being smaller than the cross-sectional area at the first longitudinal position, said piston changing dimensions and having different cross-sectional areas thereby adapting to different cross-sectional areas of the chamber during the relative movements of the piston between the first and second longitudinal positions through said intermediate longitudinal positions of the chamber, said combination engaging a rigid surface and being movable relative to said surface.
US08689673B2
Methods and apparatus for converting energy from a stream of compressed gas into mechanical work as systems incorporating such methods and apparatus.
US08689671B2
An article of armor includes a friction material operative to prevent penetration of a ballistic projectile. The armor is also operative to prevent penetration of a plurality of ballistic projectiles at a single point of impact. The armor may include a backing, or a facing, or may comprise an intermediate layer between a backing and facing in any combination. The armor of the invention applied directly to or attached to an article to be armored so as to cover all or any portion of the article. The backing and facing may include a friction material or a non-friction material. The friction material is a composite of a resin binder agent, a fibrous support structure, a friction modifier system, and a wear system.
US08689654B2
In an hydraulic pressure supply apparatus for a transmission, it is configured to have a first hydraulic control valve supplying signal pressure to a pressure regulation port of a regulator valve that regulates discharged pressure discharged from a hydraulic pump to line pressure; a second hydraulic control valve regulating the line pressure and supply it to a lockup clutch; a connecting section connecting a hydraulic passage connecting the first hydraulic control valve and the pressure regulation port with a hydraulic passage connected to an output port of the second hydraulic control valve; and a selecting mechanism installed at the connecting section to select higher pressure between output pressures of the first and second hydraulic control valves such that the selected one acts on the pressure regulation port.
US08689642B2
A torque sensor has an envelope tube, a middle cylinder mounted in the envelope tube, a inner cylinder mounted through the middle cylinder, a resilient element connected to the middle cylinder and the inner cylinder, a first disc and a second disc respectively attached to the inner cylinder and the middle cylinder, and a detection unit detecting a displacement angle of the second disc and the first disc to calculate a torque applied to the inner cylinder. The torque sensor has a simple structure, fast, sensitive and accurate torque sensing ability, and can be used on all kinds of mechanisms that rotate when a force is applied thereon to calculate and quantify amounts of energy and work of the exerciser according to the torque.
US08689640B2
A method and a device for simulating a body that is moved in a translational or rotational manner. The method includes detecting a force that acts on the body or a torque (MW), and assigning a reference mass or a reference moment of inertia (Jsoll) to the body. The force or the torque (Mw) and the reference mass or the reference moment of inertia (Jsoll) are used to determine a reference speed (ωsoll) for a speed control which controls an actual speed (ωist) using a control transmission function (G(s)), and the reference speed (ωsoll) is determined by means of a transmission element using a transmission function (P(s)) that is reciprocally proportional to the control transmission function (G(s)).
US08689625B2
A device and a method are used for measuring the filling level of a fluid for monitoring a dispense/aspirate process in reaction vessels, including at least one cavity for dispensing and aspirating the fluid, where the cavity is provided with a filling level sensor whose signals, transmitted to an evaluation unit, are evaluated to determine the filling level, the at least one cavity is assigned a receiving body which is closed at the bottom and is separated from the cavity for receiving the fluid, the filling level sensor is at least one thermistor extending along the outside of a wall of the receiving body without coming in contact with the fluid, the evaluation unit evaluates the temperature influence of the thermistor in dispensing, aspirating and in retention of the fluid in the receiving body to detect the filling level, in this way the process monitoring in washing the reaction vessels is improved.
US08689623B2
According to one embodiment, a first substrate has a pair of thermosensitive films, a heater film, and a passage protective film having corrosion resistance in a passage forming region on a first main surface, and has a metal sealing film having corrosion resistance in a region other than the passage forming region. A second substrate has a groove formed in the passage forming region on a second main surface and a side wall forming portion separating other regions other than the passage forming region from the groove and protruding beyond the other regions. A fixing member fixes the first substrate to the second substrate. The side wall forming portion of the second substrate is compression bonded so that the side wall forming portion is located on the metal sealing film on the first substrate.
US08689622B2
A system for detection of turbulent air flow across a sail of a sailboat, comprising at least one base module arranged to be attached to said sail; an elongate body arranged to move in said air flow, which is attached to said at least one base module at one end; a power source on said at least one base module; at least one sensor on said at least one base module arranged to detect movement of said elongate body; and a signalling device arranged to output signals to a sailor on said sailboat in response to signals received from said at least one sensor; wherein said base module comprises at least one radiator which is arranged to transmit electromagnetic or optical radiation in the direction of said elongate body moving in said air flow; and said at least one sensor on said base module is arranged to detect reflected radiation from said elongate body moving in said air flow.
US08689618B2
Dynamometer testing of a vehicle comprising, with only a first wheel shaft connected to a dynamometer test unit, including the steps of applying a first power to the first wheel shaft, determining a representation of the first power using the dynamometer test unit, determining a second power, different from the first power, being applied to one or both of the first wheel shaft and the second wheel shaft, the second power being a virtual power represented by a virtual representation of second power, and, based on the representation of the first power determined by the dynamometer test unit and the virtual representation of the second power, determining a first speed which is a representation of the speed of the vehicle driven on a road and subjected to the first and second power.
US08689614B2
The present invention provides a method for the real-time continuous monitoring of a change or density and/or viscosity within a test sample. Such methods can be used to determine the occurrence of a chemical reaction within a test sample where the same causes and increase or decrease in the density and/or viscosity of the sample due to, for example, a gelation, precipitation or coagulation occurring within the test sample. There is further provided a multi-resonator apparatus for use in measuring the density and/or viscosity of a test sample in which the multi-beam resonator is immersed.
US08689610B2
An improved method of testing the integrity of a porous filter is provided. The test method is an improvement over a gas-liquid diffusion test wherein the improvement comprises providing a conduit downstream of the filter and filling the conduit with a liquid, the conduit having a length to cross sectional area ratio selected to substantially resist diffusive flow of the gas through the liquid downstream of the filter material.
US08689608B2
The present invention provides a high-responsiveness and high-accuracy thermal gas sensor configured to enable gas to be analyzed based on a variation in heat conductivity. The thermal gas sensor includes a substrate 2 with a cavity portion 5, a thin-film support 6 stacked in the cavity portion and comprising a plurality of insulating layers 8a and 8b, and a first heating member 3 and a second heating member 4 both sandwiched between the insulating layers in the thin-film support. The second heating member is located around a periphery of the first heating member. The first heating member is controlled to a temperature higher than a temperature to which the second heating member is controlled. The concentration of ambient gas is measured based on power applied to the first heating member.
US08689600B2
In a wedge drive (1) with a first part (20) which can be provided with a machining tool and a second part (30), wherein the two parts (20, 30) are arranged movably relative to each other, and there is provided at least one positive-action return device which engages or can engage both parts (20, 30), and a third part (10) which is connected to the first part (20), the at least one positive-action return device is return spring-free and has at least one device for causing and/or supporting the return of the one part (20) and/or for increasing the retraction force which can be applied in the return of the one part (20) in the upward stroke movement of the third part (10).
US08689594B2
An electrical lock system comprises an electric motor, a remote control unit for authenticating authorized users prior to granting permission and communicating such information to a motor (5) driver circuitry wherein said motor (5) is built-in in a doorknob whose axis of rotation is arranged coaxial to said cylinder's longitudinal axis such that said motor's shaft extend along a cylinder adaptor region integrating said doorknob to said lock cylinder. Said adaptor portion is coupled to a mechanical bloc connecting said adaptor region to a battery bloc and to said motor (5) through an intermediary body integral to said doorknob enclosing said motor (5) and gear mechanism.
US08689592B2
Introducer Device comprises (a) Housing including (1) Housing Lumen sized and shaped to slidably receive a visualization device therein and (2) Slot sized to receive therein a projection extending from visualization device received in Lumen radially away from Lumen; (b) Sheath extending distally from handle and being sized and shaped for insertion through a natural body opening into a hollow body organ, Sheath including a fluid delivery lumen delivering heated fluid to the organ and a fluid return lumen withdrawing the fluid after it has been circulated through the organ; (c) Connector including Connector Lumen aligned with Lumen and sized and shaped to slidably receive therein visualization device; (d) Locking arrangement movably coupled to Housing, movement relative to the housing opening and closing Slot; and (e) Adjustment mechanism moving Connector relative to Housing to adjust distance between a proximal end of Connector Lumen and a distal end of Sheath.
US08689586B2
A glass-melting device for producing glass fibers capable effectively reducing inclusion of bubbles into glass fibers to be spun, and a method for producing glass fibers using the same are provided.A glass-melting device 100 for producing glass fibers comprises: a first glass-melting tank 12; a conduit 14 extending downward from the first glass-melting tank 12; a sucking device 18 for exposing the first glass-melting tank 12 to a reduced-pressure atmosphere; a second glass-melting tank 20 provided on a lower portion of the conduit 14 and exposed to an atmospheric-pressure atmosphere; and a bushing 22 provided at a bottom portion of the second glass-melting tank 20 and equipped with a number of nozzles 22a.
US08689585B2
An apparatus and method for removing volatilized chemical compounds from within enclosed or partially enclosed spaces containing molten glass. One or more condensing devices are positioned within the enclosure to produce preferential condensation of the vapor on condensing elements of the condensing devices, thereby facilitating easy removal of the condensates from the enclosure. The condensing elements may have a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the design of the enclosure.
US08689581B2
A rotary-type fluid machine (10A) includes: a closed casing (1) having a bottom portion utilized as an oil reservoir, a rotary-type fluid mechanism (expansion mechanism) (15) that is provided in an upper portion of the closed casing (1) and in which working chambers (32, 33) in cylinders (22, 24) are partitioned into a suction side working chamber and a discharge side working chamber by vanes (28, 29), a shaft (5) having therein an oil supply passage (51) for supplying oil to the fluid mechanism (15), the shaft being connected to the fluid mechanism (15) and extending an oil reservoir (45), an oil pump (52) provided at a lower portion of the shaft (5), an oil retaining portion (65) for retaining oil, which is pumped up by the oil pump (52) and supplied through the oil supply passage (51), in a surrounding region around the fluid mechanism (15) to allow the partitioning members of the fluid mechanism (15) to be lubricated, the oil retaining portion formed so that the liquid level of the oil retained therein is positioned higher the lower face of the partitioning members (28, 29).
US08689579B2
An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a heat exchanger accommodated inside a indoor unit body which is a housing whose lower face is opened, a drain pan which is disposed below the heat exchanger and receives drain water generated at the heat exchanger, a drain pump which is detachably disposed within the indoor unit body, sucks drain water accumulated in the drain pan and discharges the drain water to the outside, a drain port which is disposed at a bottom face wall section of the drain pan, the port being an opening portion through which the drain pump is insertable, and a drain cap which openably closes the drain pump insertion port.
US08689575B2
A system for improving the thermal efficiency of a thermal control loop in which refrigerant after compression and condensation is applied to an evaporator employs a subsidiary counter-current heat exchange intercepting refrigerant flow to maintain the quality of the refrigerant by exchanging thermal energy between the input flow and the output flow from the evaporator. The same principle is effective, with particular advantage when small connections have to be made, in systems using mixed phase media and using the concept of direct energy transfer with saturated fluid.
US08689570B2
An air conditioning apparatus is provided that includes an indoor device including a heat exchanger, and a remote controller to input an operation condition of the indoor device. The remote controller includes a sensor that senses a moving state of the remote controller, a controller that determines the operation condition of the indoor device based on a result sensed by the sensor, and a signal transmitting and receiving device that transmits and receives a signal to and from the indoor device. The indoor device includes a blower, a wind direction controller that controls a discharge direction of air discharged from the blower, a signal transmitting and receiving device that transmits and receives a signal to and from the remote controller, and a controller that controls the driving of the blower and the wind direction controller in accordance with the operation condition received from the remote controller.
US08689569B2
A Peltier element cooling control circuit that accurately controls a small number of elements with a simple structure. First and second amplification circuits are connected between a current detection resistor detecting current of a Peltier element and a current control circuit performing current control on the Peltier element based on voltage proportional to the current. One of two resistors determines the amplification rate of the first amplification circuit includes a thermistor. When the ambient temperature is equal to a predetermined temperature or greater, the output voltage of the second amplification circuit is supplied to the current control circuit to control the current of the Peltier element so as to be constant. When the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined temperature, the output voltage of the first amplification circuit is supplied to the current control circuit to control the current of the Peltier element in accordance with the temperature characteristics.
US08689565B2
A combined cycle power generation plant can include at least one gas turbine and at least one steam turbine. A method for providing Asymmetric Joint Control for Primary Frequency Regulation (PFR) in the combined cycle power generation plant can include the use of the spinning energy existing in the high pressure steam to rapidly supply additional power to the steam turbine for PFR service within the time frame established as a requirement to participate in the PFR service. The PFR control method can be carried out by controlling flow of high pressure steam to a medium pressure steam circuit through a bypass.
US08689561B2
In one embodiment, a premixer is provided for use, e.g., with trapped vortex (TVC) combustors, that injects premixed fuel and air directly into the recirculating vortex, in a manner compatible with natural vortex flow in the cavity.
US08689559B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method and system of operating a combustion system that has Lean direct injection (LDI) functionality. The method and system provides a passive cooling system for an injector of the LDI system. The method and system may also provide a means to direct the flow of the fluid exiting the injector of the LDI system.
US08689558B2
A propfan engine has a power-producing core, a plurality of nozzles for exhausting exhaust gas from the core, and a row of propeller blades rotatable about an axis. The blades are positioned downstream of the exhaust nozzles. The exhaust nozzles are rotatable about said axis. The nozzles can be aligned with the gaps between successive propeller blades in order to reduce noise during operation of the engine.
US08689549B2
A hydraulic control circuit for the overcontrol of a hydraulic system which controls a drive, in particular for controlling a hydraulic motor (5) for driving a slewing gear of a crane superstructure, wherein the pressure lines (3.9, 3.10) for the hydraulic motor (5) are connected by means of a supply piston (3.2) to a hydraulic pump (2) or a tank (1), and the pressure lines (3.9, 3.10) are each assigned pilot valves (3.4, 3.3), shuttle valves (3.8, 3.7) and directional control valves (3.6, 3.5). The shuttle valves (3.7, 3.8) are connected by means of control lines (3.11, 3.12) to an activatable proportional pilot valve (6), such that the separately activatable directional control valves (3.5, 3.6) can thus be activated by means of said pressure, which is built up by the pilot valve (6).
US08689543B2
Inside of an engine exhaust passage, a hydrocarbon feed valve (15) and an exhaust purification catalyst (13) are arranged. On the exhaust purification catalyst (13), platinum Pt (51) is carried and a basic layer (53) is formed. The concentration of hydrocarbons which flows into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is made to vibrate within a predetermined range of amplitude and within a predetermined range of period, whereby the NOx which is contained in the exhaust gas is reduced by the exhaust purification catalyst (13). A clogging degree detecting means is provided for detecting a degree of clogging of a nozzle opening of the hydrocarbon feed valve (15). The NOx purification rate is estimated from the degree of clogging of the nozzle opening of the hydrocarbon feed valve (15) which is detected.
US08689539B2
Simple, robust and systematic solutions are provided for controlling counter-rotating open-rotor (CROR) gas turbine engines. The solutions mathematically decouple the two counter rotating rotors of a CROR engine by model-based dynamic inversion, which allows application of single-input-single-output (SISO) control concepts. The current solutions allow fuel flow to be treated as a known disturbance and rejected from the rotor speeds control. Furthermore, the current control solutions allow a simple and well-coordinated speed phase synchronizing among the four rotors on a two-engine vehicle.
US08689534B1
A rope structure comprises a plurality of link structures each defining first and second ends. Each link structure is formed of synthetic fibers. Each first end comprises at least first and second bend portions. Each second end comprises at least third and fourth bend portions. The first end of a first one of the plurality of link structures engages the second end of a second one of the plurality of link structures such that the first and second bend portions of the first end of the first one of the plurality of link structures are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth bend portions of the second end of the second one of the plurality of link structures.
US08689533B2
A lawn rake or lawn rake attachment provides a capture structure which cooperates with the tines of a lawn rake to increase the collection of small leaves and debris with each stroke of the rake. More specifically, the capture structure provides a broad surface preferably spanning the width of the rake and positioned an effective distance trailing behind the rake tine structure. In operation of the lawn rake equipped with the capture structure, during the course of a stroke of the rake the rake tines stir up the small leaves in or on the lawn grass. The stirring-up action propels the leaves a distance up above the ground before they fall back on the rake stroke trail. The trailing rake capture structure intercepts the airborne leaves and holds them at its surface while the rake is in a forward raking motion.
US08689532B2
The invention relates to a device for delivering a beverage into a thermoplastic container formed from a heated preform, the preform being approximately cylindrical and positioned in a mold, characterized in that it includes injection unit for injecting at least one beverage into a recess in the preform so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mold, the mold defining the shape of the container, the injection unit comprising an injection head designed to inject at least one beverage through a mouth of the recess, the injection head being integrated into the mold.
US08689529B2
An automatic packaging apparatus is provided, having a conveyor, a continuous longitudinally folded web, and cutting and sealing mechanisms for forming flexible pouches from the web. Each flexible pouch has an open end and an overlap portion specifically suitable for operation with the apparatus of this invention. The open end is separated and a load is inserted into one of the flexible pouches. After the load is inserted, air is withdrawn and a gas is preferably injected into the flexible pouch by a plurality of flat-profile snorkels, or a single, wider snorkel. The flexible pouch is then heat sealed to form a gas-tight seal. Controls, preferably including a servo mechanism, are used to simultaneously operate the cutting, sealing, fluid transfer and product infeed stations of the automatic packaging apparatus. As the flexible pouch moves from the fluid transfer station to the sealing station, the gas-tight seal is maintained.
US08689527B2
A harvest aid machine and method of use is provided comprising a self-powered vehicle having a main chassis upon which a crate storage unit may be mounted. The harvest aid machine has improved maneuverability and may have a near zero-point turning radius. Crate storage unit may comprise a platform for receiving packed crates and a second platform for receiving empty crates. Alternatively, crate storage unit may include a chute assembly for receiving empty crates and/or a roller table for receiving packed crates. A harvest aid machine may further include harvest modules that may be removably mounted to a main chassis and are width-adjustable such that the harvest modules are adaptable to different crop row spacing, and optionally different crate sizes.
US08689524B2
There is provided a medicine feeding device which can apply uniform tension to wrapping paper wound in a roll state to wrap a medicine. The medicine feeding device comprises a tablet case which stores a medicine, and the wrapping paper wound in the roll state, wraps a medicine discharged from the tablet case in wrapping paper 72, and comprises a tension application mechanism 113 which applies predetermined tension to the continuously pulled-out wrapping paper. This tension application mechanism is constituted to freely move up-and-down, and to apply tension to the pulled-out wrapping paper by its own weight.
US08689520B2
A transportable, transformable structure utilizing a tower shuttle apparatus for converting the structure from a closed, transportable unit to an open, stationary unit. The tower shuttle includes a connection post, including a socket joint, connected to a shuttle cart on casters. The socket joint is capable of receiving a ball connection at the base of a structural tower affixed to the transformable structure. This connection allows a single operator to fully assemble a mobile performance stage or other transportable, transformable structure with ease and with no damage to the stage deck. The tower shuttle allows the towers to be moved into position no matter the required direction.
US08689517B2
A variety of roof mount sealing assemblies are disclosed. The roof mount sealing assemblies allow a user to mount rails for solar panels, signs, satellite dish or any other desired item on the roof and have the mounting location sealed against water. The roof mount sealing assemblies has a body with a recess for a flexible washer, which is attached to a bolt body (or formed with the bolt body) and threaded either down in a base plate or directly into the roof. The bolt body and body form a double stud assembly, which also holds a flashing onto the roof to provide further water proofing.
US08689485B2
A vertical planter and gardening wall comprised of base planter blocks that are identical to each other and end blocks that are identical to each other. The blocks are stackable and interlock. The invention can be used by gardeners to cultivate and display their gardens indoors or outdoors in a restricted area.
US08689484B2
A polyolefin sheet material carries layered segments of a polymer which contains a herbicide such as a 2,6-dinitroaniline. The sheet material can be porous to permit free passage of water. It may be either a perforated sheet or a woven or non-woven material. A desired material is a non-woven fabric of non-biodegradable polyolefin material, such as a geotextile, for example. In order to obtain a root growth-repelling property, the herbicide is blended with a polymer which is attached or bonded to or embedded in the geotextile, or other polyolefin carrier sheet material, in the form of spaced apart layered segments. Diffusion of the herbicide directly into the soil is prevented by a barrier material positioned on, coated on, or otherwise bonded to the layered segments, to encompass surfaces of the segments which are otherwise exposed on the sheet material. Essentially all of the herbicide contained in the layered segments is directed into the soil virtually exclusively by means of its long term migration through the carrier sheet material.
US08689473B2
A dioramic apparatus includes a vessel having an inferior portion and a superior portion. The vessel includes a shell and defines an interior space. The interior space is partially filled by a liquid medium. At least one dioramic scene is disposed in the interior space. A reservoir is in fluid communication with the interior space. The reservoir includes a flow plate defining at least one liquid intake and at least one liquid output port. The at least one liquid intake is configured and arranged for receiving at least a portion of the liquid medium from the interior space when the dioramic apparatus is at least partially inverted. The at least one liquid output port is configured and arranged to output at least a portion of the liquid medium from the reservoir when the vessel is placed in an upright position.
US08689471B2
A control for an excavator of the type having a plurality of hydraulic cylinders for moving excavator components such that digging is accomplished at a worksite with an excavator bucket or other excavator implement, includes a plurality of hydraulic control valves, each of which is associated with a respective one of the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the application of hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective one of the hydraulic cylinders, and a plurality of manually actuated joystick valves for supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective hydraulic control valves to control the movement of the hydraulic cylinders. The control includes a sensor arrangement for sensing the position of one or more excavator components.
US08689469B2
A removable spat may be used with a shoe having a sole and an upper. The spat includes a boot portion having a back opening and a front end, and a sleeve connected to the boot portion. The back opening of the boot portion is adapted to receive the shoe therein. The sleeve has a fixed end connected to the front end of the boot portion and a free end opposite the fixed end. The sleeve extends freely from the front end to define a first sleeve position, and the sleeve is foldable over the boot portion to define a second sleeve position.
US08689456B2
An inch rule for reading off distances has at least one lighting element that is adapted to lights up the surroundings.
US08689453B2
A cooking utensil 10 having a stem or handle 12 and a bowl or containment portion 13 which has a cavity 16 and protruding ridges which may be used to selectively engage, cut and grind an item such as food.
US08689447B2
A fire retardant, transparent panel and method of making the panel, that is especially well suited for use on mobile platforms, and particularly on aircrafts. The panel is a composite of a transparent matrix and a plurality of fire-retardant nanoparticles. The nanoparticles have a diameter less than the visible spectrum of light, and in one form between about 0.1 nm to about 400 nm in diameter. The nanoparticles may be arranged randomly or in predetermined patterns within the matrix during manufacturing of the panel. The panel is lightweight, transparent and yet highly fire retardant.
US08689438B2
A seal includes a housing with an exterior surface. The housing forms a cavity extending from the exterior surface into the housing and defines at least one slanted interior surface. The at least one slanted interior surface extends from the exterior surface of the housing and is in a substantially non-perpendicular and angled relation to the exterior surface of the housing. The seal also includes at least one electrical lead that extends through the housing and has a portion exposed across the cavity therein. The at least one electrical lead extends from the housing and is configured to be in electrical contact with at least one electrical component encased within the electronic control housing. The seal also includes an adhesive material that substantially fills the cavity and surrounds the exposed portion of the at least one electrical lead exposed across the cavity.
US08689435B2
A mounting system including: a storage that stores plural formats for each substrate including divisional information of a mounting apparatus indicating which of plural mounting apparatuses that divisionally mount plural electronic components on a substrate mounts what electronic component on the substrate and information on a deviation amount of an electronic component indicating how much each of the electronic components mounted on the substrate and inspected by an inspection apparatus is deviated from its regular position; and a controller that changes, according to a change of an assignment of mounting, the divisional information in a format corresponding to the substrate for which the assignment has been changed, and controls the mounting apparatus that has mounted the electronic component and has been specified from the mounting apparatuses to mount the electronic component on the substrate after correcting a deviation amount based on the information on a deviation amount.
US08689413B2
A flame resistant fabric with better tear strength and specifically a flame resistant fabric with tear strength flame resistant 100% cotton yarn are provided. The 100% cotton yarn is produced using a combination of compact spinning technology and gassing and/or singeing process performed in tandem, the yarn is weaved into fabric by pre-established process and the fabric is flame retardant finished by using chemicals and lubricants by pre-established process to form the flame resistant fabric with better tear strength. Also, a method of manufacturing the flame resistant cotton fabric that has a better tear strength after fire resistant treatments provided. Advantageously, the flame resistant fabric is affordable, light weight and has better tensile and tear strength.
US08689410B2
A tongue (200, 400) for an inflatable belt restraint system, the tongue comprising: a narrow cylindrical hollow tube (204a, 204b) comprising a first formed member and a second formed member joined together along respective mating edges of the first and second formed members and two mating portions (202a and 202b) forming the looped portion of the tongue.
US08689409B2
A fastener for mounting a panel to a supporting structure includes a fastener part having a base with an upper and lower side. A connector is adapted to engage with another fastener part projecting from the upper side of the base. The lower side of the base is adapted to be adhesively connected to a substrate and incorporating a surface configuration that promotes a mechanical connection with an adhesive. The lower side surface configuration includes a protrusion extending from the base to a crown. The protrusion includes an undercut portion configured to form a mechanical connection with the adhesive. In use adhesive fills between the protrusions and forms a mechanical connection with the undercut portions when hardened.
US08689405B2
A biaxial pivoting mechanism includes a supporter disposed on a first module, a base connected to the supporter, a rotating component disposed between the supporter and the base. A track is formed on a lateral wall inside the base. The rotating component includes a shaft portion pivoting to the supporter, and a sheathing portion connected to the shaft portion. A hole is formed on the sheathing portion. The sheathing portion pivots to the supporter via the shaft portion for accommodating inside the accommodating space. The biaxial pivoting mechanism further includes a sleeve movably disposed inside the hole. The sleeve includes a protruding portion. The sleeve is rotated relative to the rotating portion by sliding the protruding portion along the track. The biaxial pivoting mechanism further includes a holder disposed on the sleeve for holding a second module.
US08689402B2
A furniture hinge includes at least one control cam and at least one spring. The control cam moves along on the spring in order to produce a closing force and/or opening force. A sliding element is attached to the spring and/or to the control cam. The control cam or the spring moves along on the sliding element.
US08689397B2
A vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a housing (2) being separated in at least a dust compartment (4) and a motor compartment (6). The vacuum cleaner (1) also comprises a motor (7) located in the motor compartment (6) and an air guide (8) between the dust compartment (4) and the motor (7). The motor (7) is suspended in the motor compartment (6) by a suspension system comprising at least one spring (23).
US08689396B2
Mating connectors enable a vacuum cleaner section to be releasably attached to a toolbox section. The connectors include a downward-facing tongue that fits in a corresponding horizontal slot. The tongue has a vertical slot that corresponds with a vertical flange adjacent the slot. An interacting tab and slot prevent the vacuum cleaner section from being removed from the toolbox section when a closeable top on the toolbox section is closed. The two sections attach in a position in which upright side walls on the vacuum cleaner section align with the upright sides on the toolbox section, and an extended horizontal work surface is formed by portions of the hinged top on the toolbox section and the vacuum cleaner section. A handle on the vacuum cleaner section can form part of the horizontal work surface, which has parallel lateral grooves with co-linear segments on opposite sides of a recessed channel. A wheeled version has a handle hinged to a mount and a pocket that encircles and supports the vacuum cleaner section. Another version has a handle that retracts into the recessed channel and is arranged to support the top against the ground when the top is fully open.
US08689395B2
A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a flexible suction hose. The surface cleaning apparatus main comprise a main body comprising a suction motor provided in the air flow path. A cyclone bin assembly may be provided on the main body. The surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a flexible suction hose. The surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a suction hose wrap. The suction hose wrap may comprise a stand for the surface cleaning apparatus.
US08689394B2
A washer-drier scrubbing machine includes a rotating roll brush the surface covered by spiked bristles facing upwards and towards the center near the front portion, and is covered by a casing which extends downwards and near the ground is provided with a “flap” having aligned openings oriented and facing the floor at the sides of the casing and facing the ground are sprayers fed with water-detergent mixtures pumped from a tank. Proximate the sprayers are arranged diffusers of compressed air which prevent the sprayed washing mixture from expanding outside the outline of the casing and being conveyed only towards the casing openings and towards a rotating brush and not beyond, on the track along which the machine proceeds the dirty water collected by the brush is sent to a tank through a separator which retains the high consistency dirt, and an intermediate container.
US08689392B2
[Object]An object is to easily suction dust/dirt on a cleaning portion of a mop as need arises without scattering the dust/dirt adhering to the mop when cleaning a floor with a vacuum cleaner while cleaning with the mop.[Solution]A mopstick (4) is inserted through an opening (13) on a cylindrical cleaning unit (6) of a mop dust suction device (3), which includes a hose coupling unit (7) detachably attached to a connection portion of a hose of a vacuum cleaner; a cleaning portion (5) of the mop is drawn into the cylindrical cleaning unit (6); the cleaning portion (5) of the mop is rotated in an arrow (B12) direction while the cleaning portion (5) of the mop is moved repeatedly in an arrow (A11) direction; and the dust/dirt adhering to the mop is easily suctioned and removed by suction force of a vacuum cleaner main body (1).
US08689388B1
A hand operated butterfly sponge mop or regular sponge mop with a unique disposable sponge assembly where the sponge is retained by ratchet teeth respectively engaging a notch on a pair of notched collars molded onto the sponge. The sponge is retained in a closed position against the lower surface of the main body by ratchet teeth engaged in notches of a respective notched collar to overcome a force of downward force compression springs. When the respective button attached to a respective tooth is pressed down to overcome a biasing spring force which caused the teeth to be engaged with the notches, the downward spring force of the force compression springs cause the sponge to move away from the main body so that the dirty sponge falls away into a trash receptacle without requiring a user to handle the dirty sponge.
US08689387B2
The present application relates to a laminated pad (1) that is used to apply a liquid or a colloidal substance in a controlled manner onto a surface. The laminated pad comprises at least one storage layer (4), where the storage layer when provided with through-going cuts (8) and welded to an impermeable pocket layer (5) due to its resilient characteristics, will form an upwardly standing surface in the cutting area. The upwardly standing surface will act as a brush and/or scrub or a transfer device, whereby the brush or scrub can be used to treat the surface to which a substance is to be applied, before or during the appliance of the substance.
US08689386B2
The invention described herein is directed to a skid for cleaning subsea conduits, such as strakes and fairings, and a method of cleaning subsea conduits. This invention may be utilized for the removal of marine growth from subsea conduits.
US08689381B2
Disclosed herein is a novel method of preparing shoe sole. The method of preparing shoe sole includes irradiating an uncured rubber sheet by laser beam to pattern and vulcanize a portion of the uncured rubber, tailoring the partially patterned vulcanized rubber into a shoe shape, and afterward fully vulcanizing the partially patterned vulcanized rubber sheet to form a shoe sole. An additional step of assembling the upper panel of shoe sole on the partially vulcanized rubber sheet is also performed.
US08689379B2
A bumper pad includes a base attached to a material that extends over the rail and couples as a crib teething rail cover. The bumper pad includes a base, mesh sides, and a teething rail cover. In some embodiments, the sides are separable from the base. In some embodiments, the teething rail cover is separable from the mesh sides. In still other embodiments, the sides are separable from the base and the teething rail cover is separable from the sides. A rail cover includes a rail cover base and at least one pair of fastener straps extending from one side of the rail cover base. The rail cover may also include tie straps and corresponding slits, fastener pads, or loops on the rail cover base. Methods of assembly of the bumper pad and rail cover are also disclosed.
US08689377B2
A patient bed for an imaging medical apparatus has a patient support plate that has at least one radar antenna to obtain physiological and/or geometric data from a patient the patient support plate. In a method for the operation of such a patient bed having at least one radar antenna in an imaging medical apparatus, the at least one radar antenna is operated to obtain data from the patient on the patient support plate.
US08695101B2
A computer hardware-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product determines an applicability of a data privacy regulation when transmitting data used with an enterprise project. A data privacy regulation describes regulatory restrictions on data being transmitted from a first geopolitical entity to a second geopolitical entity. A set of categorized data is used by an enterprise project, and the data privacy regulation establishes limitations on a transmission of at least one category of data, from the set of categorized data, from the first geopolitical entity to the second geopolitical entity. A first set of binary data and a second set of binary data are processed to determine if transmission of said at least one category of data from the first geopolitical entity to the second geopolitical entity is regulated by the data privacy regulation.
US08695096B1
In some embodiments, automatic signature generation for malicious PDF files includes: parsing a PDF file to extract script stream data embedded in the PDF file; determining whether the extracted script stream data within the PDF file is malicious; and automatically generating a signature for the PDF file.
US08695094B2
A method, computer program product or computer system for scanning files in a computer system to detect additional infected files of a computer virus when a first infected file of the computer virus is identified, includes maintaining a friends tree for each file in the computer system, maintaining a search tree using the friends trees for scanning the files, searching the files listed in the search tree for the additional infected files, and quarantining the additional infected files detected in the searching.
US08695088B2
Proposed is a Capability Management System (CMS) in a distributed computing environment that controls access to multiple objects by multiple subjects based upon a specified access order. A capability is dynamically constructed when the capability is needed. After the capability is used to access an object, a new capability is generated. In the alternative, multiple capabilities for enforcing an access order are generated independently of each other. The new capability is then employed by the same or another subject to access the object according to a prescribed access sequence. In this manner, at any particular time there is one capability valid to access the object by the appropriate subject. In addition, the capability includes information for verifying the authenticity of the capability and for specifying an expiration time associated with the capability. The technology may also be enhanced by providing a linkage between capabilities intended for use in a sequence.
US08695087B2
Access control for a memory device is provided. In one embodiment, a portable memory device is provided comprising a storage medium comprising a private area and circuitry operative to (a) receive, from a host device, a password to unlock the host device, (b) compare the password with a password stored in the portable memory device, and (c) if the passwords match, allow the host device to access the private area. In another embodiment, a portable memory device is provided comprising a storage medium comprising a private area and a public area. The public area stores computer-readable program code to facilitate interaction with the access control features of the portable memory device. Methods for use with such memory devices are also provided. Other embodiments are disclosed, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.
US08695084B2
A method of a device for filtering messages routing across a network includes extracting, by a filter configured on the device, a plurality of message components from messages received via a network. The plurality of message components is identified as having at least a field name in common, including a first field name. A learning engine configured on the device creates a list of data types for values of the first field name. The list includes one or more data types of a value of the first field name identified for each of the plurality of message components. The learning engine determines a most restrictive data type from the list of data types for the values of the first field name of the plurality of message components.
US08695083B2
A security gateway receives messages, such as URL requests, rejected by a message filter based on a set of rules. The security gateway maintains frequencies with which the messages were rejected by the rules. The security gateway finds rejected messages having a high frequency of occurrence. Since messages having a high frequency of occurrences are more likely to represent legitimate requests rather than malicious attacks, the security gateway generates exception rules, which would allow similar messages to pass through the gateway.
US08695076B2
A partner registration module can provide for an automatic registration of partners to a central server. An entire partner registration process can be automated from end to end, providing a unified process for registering partners. The partner registration module can be fully compatible with current registration agents and next generation registration agents.
US08695068B1
A device authentication server authenticates a remotely located device using data representing pixel irregularities of a display of the device. Since each display will deteriorate in a unique and randomized way, a unique mapping of pixel irregularities of a display of a device will be unique. By combining unique map of pixel irregularities of a display of the remotely located device, the device can be distinguished from similar devices when other attributes alone are insufficient to uniquely identify the device.
US08695065B2
A data communication apparatus which is capable of preventing reception of undesired data by a destination without increasing the load on a network, etc. Data and a destination thereof are input. A sender ID related to a sender who sends the input data is input. The input data is sent to the input destination. A sender ID for data transmission to the input destination is permitted is stored as a permission ID. The input sender ID is collated with the stored permission ID. Whether to permit data transmission is determined according to the collation result.
US08695064B2
A method and system for identifying a machine used for an online session with an online provider includes executing a lightweight fingerprint code from a provider interface during an online session to collect and transmit machine and session information; generating and storing a machine signature or identity including a machine effective speed calibration (MESC) which may be used to identify the machine when the machine is used in a subsequent online session by a method of matching the machine signature and MESC to a database of machine identities, analyzing a history of the machine's online sessions to identify one or more response indicators, such as fraud indicators, and executing one or more responses to the response indicators, such as disabling a password or denying an online transaction, where the response and response indicator may be provider-designated.
US08695058B2
In various embodiments, a method is described that includes registering a mobile device with an enterprise by storing registration data for the mobile device in a device management database; designating one or more group designations for the mobile device; storing the one or more group designations in the device management database; determining one or more policies for the mobile device based at least in part on the one or more group designations; and selectively taking action on selected data from the mobile device in the device management database based on the one or more policies.
US08695056B2
A method for information flow tracking is provided using, for example, a functional programming language based on lambda calculus, λI. The method provides a unified information-tracking framework that supports multiple, interdependent dimensions of information. An expressive policy-specification system is separated from the underlying information-flow tracking mechanism. Arbitrary domain-specific policies are supported that can be developed and enforced independent of information flow tracking. Information-flow metadata is treated as a first-class entity, and information flow is correctly tracked on the metadata itself. Classes of information flow polices are defined using multiple dimensions that are application to both information flow data and to the information flows themselves. These classes of polices accurately model more realistic security policies, based on partial trust relations. Therefore, multiple interdependent dimensions of information are simultaneously tracked and enforced within the framework of the information flow tracking system.
US08695053B2
An apparatus and a method for multimedia data handling to a web or cloud-computing service are disclosed. A set-top box can generate a pre-encoded stream of digitized data after receiving a raw incoming multimedia signal or after receiving a pre-processed, decoded, decompressed, and/or decrypted incoming multimedia signal from a service provider-specific signal receiver. The set-top box can also generate streams of encoded multimedia data from the pre-encoded stream of digitized data and segmentize the streams of encoded multimedia data into individually-viewable segments for uploading to the web or cloud-computing service, wherein a size of each segment varies based on a current connection bandwidth availability and/or a workload on the set-top box. By automatically segmentizing the streams of encoded multimedia data into individually-viewable segments for the web or cloud-computing service, a user can start viewing the currently-uploading multimedia data faster than a conventional single stream upload.
US08695036B2
A method acquires program guide information in an image signal receiver, and program guide method and apparatus using the same. In the program guide apparatus, information immediately required by a user is obtained first, and information of less preferential channels is obtained next, thus presenting a smooth interface to the user. The method of acquiring program guide information for channels includes acquiring the program guide information for each channel by scanning accessible channels while a received program is not displayed. The program guide apparatus includes a tuner tuning a channel, a program guide information detector, a memory, a key input, a microprocessor, and a character signal generator.
US08695034B2
A method and apparatus for delivering screen display data to existing display devices. Some embodiments of an apparatus include an interface to receive an input stream for a display device. The apparatus further includes a module to generate on screen display data for the display device. The apparatus includes a multiplexer, the multiplexer to multiplex the on screen display data into the input stream.
US08695033B2
Networks and/or devices for enabling and/or providing live or non-live interactivity with televised programming and/or its viewers and/or fans and/or hosts and/or actors and/or contestants. In certain (non-limiting) embodiments, mobile or handheld devices (e.g., mobile phones or laptops) communicably connected or connectable to networks having platforms thereon for permitting or providing live or real-time interactivity with televised programming and/or its viewers/fans/hosts/actors/contestants. In other embodiments, methods for performing or providing the interactivity described herein. In still other embodiments, software, residing on a data storage device, which directs a processor to perform actions in accordance with and/or to obtain one or more of the objectives of the technologies and methods described herein.
US08695029B2
A method of distributing digital video sequences in the form of a stream including sequences of data containing digital images, including a modification stage of an original stream by modifying at least a part of the sequences, the modification producing a modified stream of the same nominal format as the original stream, transmitting the modified stream, and a reconstruction stage implemented with a decoder, wherein the reconstruction is adaptive and progressive in function of information coming from a digital profile of the recipient.
US08695026B2
Methods and computer program products for reporting application and device data retrieved from within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network environment are provided. IPTV system usage data is retrieved from at least one IPTV device and normalized into a predetermined data format. The IPTV system usage data is parsed according to predetermined criteria. The parsed IPTV system usage data is delivered to a dedicated data mart for storage, the IPTV system usage data that is stored within at least one dedicated data mart is accessed, and the IPTV system usage data that is stored at the at least one dedicated data mart is used to generate a report.
US08695024B2
A magazine detachably installed in a main body of a disc changer is divided into sections by partitions for storing a large number of optical discs. The magazine is provided with a belt set around rollers, which carries the optical disc in contact with the belt. In the disc changer, the belt is rotated by a gear of the roller, which is engaged with an external drive gear for taking the optical disc through rotating movement. Among the optical discs which have been taken, a target optical disc opposite the slit of the disc control plate passes through the slit, and the other optical discs stop while abutting against the disc control plate. The optical disc which has passed through the slit is inserted into disc carriage rollers, and further carried to the drive for recording/reproducing.
US08695022B2
Techniques are described for providing context for replacement functions. In one or more implementations, a context module is provided that can set context information associated with a computing device in memory such that a replacement function can retrieve the context information. When a call to a target function is intercepted and a replacement function is invoked, the replacement function can use the context information to execute one or more tasks associated with the replacement function.
US08695017B2
An application interoperation method includes: maintaining a handler table including data type information, function information and calling information associated with each application installed in a portable device; receiving input information on a menu key of the portable device, from a user, while a first application is active; extracting, in response to the receipt of the input information, at least one function information associated with data type information, which is being processed or requested by the first application, from the handler table; dynamically generating a menu including the extracted function information to provide the user with the generated menu; receiving selection information on particular function information among the provided menu, from the user; and identifying calling information associated with the selected particular function information by referring to the handler table and executing a second application on the basis of the identified calling information.
US08695011B2
Functionality is implemented to determine that a plurality of multi-core processing units of a system are configured in accordance with a plurality of operating performance modes. It is determined that a first of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a first performance criterion that corresponds to a first workload of a first logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the first logical partition is associated with a first set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the first operating performance mode. It is determined that a second of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a second performance criterion that corresponds to a second workload of a second logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the second logical partition is associated with a second set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the second operating performance mode.
US08695007B2
A hypervisor calculates the total number of processor cycles (the number of processor cycles of one or more physical processors) in a first length of time based on the sum of the operating frequencies of the respective physical processors and the first length of time for each first length of time (for example, a scheduling initialization cycle T1, which will be explained further below). The hypervisor calculates for each virtual computer the number of possessing cycles, which is a value obtained by the total number of processor cycles being distributed in proportion to the service ratios of multiple virtual computers. In virtual processor scheduling, the hypervisor runs a virtual processor inside a virtual computer on any physical processor based on the number of hold cycles of each virtual computer.
US08695001B2
A service broker for asynchronous execution of software. The broker functions include dynamically loading working modules from a specified directory, publishing the working module commands, receiving service requests from clients, and upon successful authentication and authorization, dispatching the requests to module command queues for scheduling and execution. The modules are invoked in separate domains so that management functions can control the modules independently. A management application facilitates interactive user scheduling of the actions being invoked. This can also be accomplished automatically according to business rules, for example. The management application also facilitates checking the progress on an action that is occurring, displaying errors that occur during the command execution, results of an action can also be displayed, and scheduling of requests.
US08694998B2
Embodiments are provided that include the use of a cancellable command application programming interface (API) framework that provides cooperative multitasking for synchronous and asynchronous operations based in part on a command timing sequence and a cancellable command API definition. A method of an embodiment enables a user or programmer to use a cancellable command API definition as part of implementing a responsive application interface using a command timing sequence to control execution of active tasks. A cancellable command API framework of an embodiment includes a command block including a command function, a task engine to monitor the command function, and a timer component to control execution of asynchronous and synchronous tasks based in part on first and second control timing intervals associated with a command timing sequence. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08694991B2
A data processing system transforms a physical server into multiple virtual servers. The illustrative data processing system comprises a physical server and a virtualization platform integrated into the physical server that is configured to run multiple operating systems simultaneously one or more physical servers. A baseboard management controller integrated into the physical server controls the virtualization platform and the operating systems including physical and virtual resources. The virtualization platform operates according to state data accessed from the baseboard management controller.
US08694990B2
Methods, systems and computer program products for utilizing system configuration information to determine a data migration order. The method includes computer instructions for establishing communication from a source virtual machine to a target virtual machine, the source virtual machine including a memory. The configuration information associated with the source virtual machine is determined and utilized to determine an order of migration for pages in the memory. The pages in the memory are transmitted to the target virtual machine in the order of migration.
US08694987B2
A server rack system module is provided. Each rack internal device at least includes a control chip, and the rack internal devices include a plurality of servers. An integrated management module (IMM) is respectively coupled to the control chips, where the IMM stores integrated management firmware, and the integrated management firmware has latest version firmware of the control chip integrated therein and records latest version serial numbers of the latest version firmware. When the server rack system is started, the IMM reads a current version serial number of currently installed firmware of each control chip, and compares the current version serial number with the corresponding latest version serial number, so as to determine whether to update the currently installed firmware.
US08694972B2
A mechanism for providing automatic interoperation between native objects created in a single language computing environment and objects created in external virtual machines and foreign class systems is discussed. Embodiments of the present invention provides a class definition syntax for objects created in the single language computing environment that provides the ability to directly subclass external classes and implement external interfaces. One embodiment of the present invention also permits a foreign object system to instantiate native objects and to create foreign subclasses of native classes. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention provides bidirectional mapping between metadata associated with objects created with each of a plurality of different types of foreign object systems and metadata created in a form supported by the single language computing environment.
US08694970B2
A unified debug system with multiple user-configurable trace volumes is disclosed, including embodiments as a system, a method, and a computer-readable medium. Embodiments of the present invention provide more robust and flexible solutions for introducing configurable trace volumes to firmware, allowing a user to specify firmware system configurations for trace buffers, trace frames, and trace volumes, and offer other advantages over the prior art. One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a system that includes a firmware component comprising firmware, and a firmware interface communicatively connected to the firmware component. The firmware includes a plurality of trace volumes for storing a plurality of trace entries. The trace volumes are user-configurable through the firmware interface. The plurality of trace volumes includes first, second and third trace volumes. The first trace volume includes storing at least some of the trace entries to a trace buffer in a first volatile memory component. The second trace volume includes storing at least some of the trace entries to one or more trace buffers in one or more trace frames in a second volatile memory component. The third trace volume includes storing at least some of the trace entries to one or more trace buffers in one or more trace frames in a non-volatile memory component.
US08694951B1
An apparatus having a core and one or more logic blocks is disclosed. The core may be embedded within the apparatus. The core is generally (i) configured to perform a function and (ii) wrapped internally by a first scan chain before being embedded within the apparatus. The logic blocks may be (i) positioned external to the core and (ii) coupled to one or more parallel interfaces of the first scan chain. A second scan chain may be configured to wrap both the logic blocks and the core.
US08694947B1
A system and method optimizes hardware description generated from a graphical program or model automatically. The system may include a streaming optimizer, a resource sharing optimizer and a delay balancing engine. The streaming optimizer transforms one or more vector data paths in the source model to scalar data paths or to a smaller-sized vector data paths. The resource sharing optimizer may replace multiple blocks of the source model that are functionally equivalent with a single shared block. The streaming and resource sharing optimizers may also configure portions of the modified model to execute at a faster rate. The delay balancing engine may examine the modified model to determine whether any delays or latencies have been introduced. If so, the delay balancing engine may insert one or more blocks into the modified model to correct for any data path misalignment caused by the introduction of the delays or latencies. A validation model, a report, or hardware description code that utilizes fewer hardware resources may be generated from the modified model.
US08694946B1
This invention provides methods, computer program products, and systems to guide a user in optimizing the Simultaneous Switching Noise (SSN) of an electronic device by using visual approaches on a graphical user interface (GUI). Also provided is an interactive feedback mechanism that enables the user to evaluate the effectiveness of an optimization method. A matrix representation of the different I/O pins on the device shows the level of SSN at different victim pins caused by switching aggressor pins. The SSN is depicted using different graphical representations. Associated with the SSN of each victim pin is the graphical representation of its accuracy. The accuracy rating denotes the reliability of the SSN and is an indication of how sensitive a victim pin is to errors. In the interactive feedback mechanism, user input on SSN optimization is received and used to calculate the new SSN and accuracy rating of different victim pins on the device. The new data is then updated in a timely manner on the GUI.
US08694930B2
A method provides a layout defining a structure to be patterned onto a substrate. The structure is registered with a predefined grid of the layout. The method includes locally stretching the grid in a first portion of a layout causing a problematic spot on the substrate.
US08694927B2
A method of designing a pattern layout includes defining one shot area including a plurality of chip areas, generating an initial common layout in the plurality of chip areas, primarily correcting the initial layout to form a primary corrected layout, and secondarily correcting the primary corrected layout independently to form a plurality of secondary corrected layouts.
US08694920B2
An application status system is described herein that informs the user about application-specific status updates and notifications through a changing status icon associated with an application-switching user interface displayed by an operating system when the application is running. When an application has focus, there is typically no way for another application to display status to the user without displaying a dialog box or a notification balloon that interrupts the user. The application status system takes advantage of the existing application-switching user interface to display a lightweight status icon overlay on the application-switching user interface itself. Thus, the application status system allows applications to provide application-specific status updates without interrupting a user's activity in another application and without adding additional UI for a user to process.
US08694914B2
A processing system may include a display device, a primary window manager, and an auxiliary window manager. The primary window manager may display a first remote-enabled window in the display device. The processing system may also include a program to generate a mouse-enabled window, and the primary window manager may prevent the mouse-enabled window from displaying in front of the first remote-enabled window. The auxiliary window manager may detect an attempt to display the mouse-enabled window, and, in response, may automatically display a second remote-enabled window in front of the first remote-enabled window. The second remote-enabled window may include an object that a user can select with a remote control to instruct the processing system to display the mouse-enabled window. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08694911B2
A tool for manipulating data entries that cannot be visualized in a user interface. A user interface displays a plurality of data entries that fit in the user interface, where the plurality of data entries are from a larger group of data entries. The tool generates and displays a marker (text line or icon) representative of at least a subset of the remainder of data entries from the larger group. A user directing an operation request to the marker causes the operation to be performed on the data entries represented by the marker.
US08694906B2
A cloud computing infrastructure administration system can track use of cloud computing resources by customer, hardware utilization, and geographical location in a unified manner, the cloud may be administered much more efficiently. A cloud computing visualization tool can use the tracked data to provide multiple visualization options to aid in cloud computing management. For instance, usage can be tracked and information displayed on a per-customer, per-machine, per-location, and/or other basis. Thus, administrators can, for example view a particular customer's use of resources regardless of location but also view a location's allocation of resources regardless of customer. The tool can be configured to restrict access by login, and thus customers or other parties other than administrators may view data.
US08694899B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for creating and using customized avatar instances to reflect current user states are disclosed. In various implementations, the user states can be defined using trigger events based on user-entered textual data, emoticons, or states of the device being used. For each user state, a customized avatar instance having a facial expression, body language, accessories, clothing items, and/or a presentation scheme reflective of the user state can be generated. When one or more trigger events indicating occurrence of a particular user state are detected on the device, the avatar presented on the device is updated with the customized avatar instance associated with the particular user state.
US08694888B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for presenting computer-generated characters. The method defines several frames for a character and sequentially presents the frames. Each frame depicts a particular representation of the character. Also, at least two of the frames provide different representations of the character. Some embodiments provide a method for applying effects to computer-generated characters. This method applies an effect to the computer-generated characters by first generating an effect script. It then selects the generated effect script to apply to the computer-generated characters.
US08694877B2
A modified soft output Viterbi algorithm (SOVA) detector receives a sequence of soft information values and determines a best path and an alternate path for each soft information value and further determines, when the best and alternate paths lead to the same value for a given soft information value, whether there is a third path departing from the alternate path that leads to an opposite decision with respect to the best path for a given soft information value. The SOVA detector then considers this third path when updating the reliability of the best path. The modified SOVA detector achieves max-log-map equivalence effectively through the Fossorier approach and includes modified reliability metric units for the first N stages of the SOVA detector, where N is the memory depth of a given path, and includes conventional reliability metric units for the remaining stages of the detector.
US08694871B2
A iterative decoding method for iteratively carrying out a decoding process for an encoded segmented and signal transmitted in a plurality of (Ncb) sub blocks for each predetermined block unit includes storing a number of (ncb) sub blocks smaller than the number (Ncb) of the sub blocks; and successively and iteratively carrying out a decoding process for each of the stored (ncb) sub blocks within a specified time period determined based on the number (ncb).
US08694870B2
An unequal error protection scheme for borehole telemetry. The scheme, when applied to imaging applications, assigns more protection for the more significant bits and less protection for less significant bits. When applied to communication using channels of different quality, more protection is provided for channels of poor quality.
US08694868B1
Systems and methods are provided for decoding data using hard decisions and soft information. In particular, the systems and methods described herein are directed to decoders having variable nodes and check nodes, each with multiple states. The systems and methods include receiving, at a decoder during a first iteration, values for each of a plurality of variable nodes, and determining, during a second iteration, one or more indications for each of a plurality of check nodes based on the one or more values of the variable nodes received during the first iteration. The methods further include updating, at the decoder during the second iteration, the values for each of the variable nodes based on the values of the respective variable node received during the first iteration, and the indications for each of the plurality connected check nodes during the first iteration.
US08694867B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, and apparatuses related to multilevel encoding with error correction. In some embodiments, a plurality of bits may be encoded into a plurality of memory cells by responding to bits of the plurality of bits by changing the logic levels of corresponding groups of memory cells of the plurality of memory cells. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08694860B2
A method and system is disclosed for operating a NAND memory device. The NAND memory device is operated by transmitting serial peripheral interface signals from a host to a NAND memory device, whereby the signals are communicated to a NAND memory in the NAND memory device without modifying the signals into a standard NAND memory format. Similarly, a method and system is disclosed for receiving signals from the NAND memory device without modifying the signals from a standard NAND format into a serial format. The system also incorporates error detection and correction techniques to detect and correct errors in data stored in the NAND memory device.
US08694842B2
A method, computer program storage device and apparatus are provided for flexible observability during a scan. In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided. The method includes providing a selector load input to at least a portion of a scan chain, selecting an observe-only scan mode for the at least a portion of the scan chain based at least upon the selector load input, and providing a data input to a storage element in the scan chain based at least upon the observe-only scan mode. The apparatus includes a first scan chain multiplexor comprising a selector input, a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The apparatus also includes a first scan chain storage element comprising an input terminal and an output terminal, where the input terminal of the first scan chain storage element is communicatively coupled to the output terminal of the first scan chain multiplexor. The apparatus further recites that the output terminal of the first scan chain storage element is communicatively coupled to the first input terminal of the first scan chain multiplexor. The computer program storage device adapts a manufacturing facility to create the apparatus.
US08694837B1
A system including a filter circuit, an error module, and a measurement module. The filter circuit receives, from a network device, an analog signal having jitter, generates an equalized signal based on digital feedback signals and the analog signal, and generates a recovered data signal based on the equalized signal. The recovered data signal includes data transmitted by the network device to the system. The error module generates an error signal based on the equalized signal and a threshold signal. The measurement module generates a multiple signals based on the recovered data signal, and the error signal. The multiple signals include the digital feedback signals and eye characteristic signals. The eye characteristic signals indicate characteristics of an eye diagram of the recovered data signal. The measurement module generates the digital feedback signals such that the eye diagram of the recovered data signal does not include the jitter.
US08694836B2
A computer implemented fault diagnosis method employing both probabilistic models and statistical learning that diagnoses faults using probabilities and time windows learned during the actual operation of a system being monitored. In a preferred embodiment, the method maintains for each possible root cause fault an a-priori probability that the fault will appear in a time window of specified length as well as maintaining—for each possible resulting symptom(s)—probabilities that the symptom(s) will appear in a time window containing the fault and probabilities that the alarm will not appear in a time window containing the fault. Consequently, the method according to the present invention may advantageously determine—at any time—the probability that a fault has occurred, and report faults which are sufficiently likely to have occurred. These probabilities are updated based upon past time windows in which we have determined fault(s) and their cause(s). Advantageously, each root cause fault may be assigned its own time window length. By maintaining these probability parameters for several different window lengths, a window length that is particularly well-suited to a particular set of conditions may be chosen.
US08694832B2
A processor recognizes a request from a program executing on a first hardware thread to initiate software code on a second hardware thread. In response, the second hardware thread initiates and commences executing the software code. During execution, the software code uses hardware registers of the second hardware thread to store data. Upon termination of the software code, the second hardware thread invokes a hypervisor program, which extracts data from the hardware registers and stores the extracted data in a shared memory area. In turn, a debug routine executes and retrieves the extracted data from the shared memory area.
US08694831B2
An apparatus and a method for detecting and reporting malfunctions in computer programs is described. A malfunction detector detects at least one type of a software malfunction as defined in a configurable malfunction library. A data collector collects data of the software malfunction. A crash reporter reports the crash report in a manner specified in a configurable reporting library corresponding to the type of software malfunction to one or more remote computers.
US08694823B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to querying and repairing data. In aspects, a component may detect that data on storage has become corrupted. In response, the component may request data from one or more redundant copies of the data and may determine which of the redundant copies, if any, are not corrupted. If a non-corrupted copy is found, the component may send a request that the corrupted data be repaired and may identify the non-corrupted copy to use to repair the corrupted data.
US08694818B2
A control circuit includes a plurality of clock synchronization units configured to shift an input signal in response to clock signals which are inputted thereto, a selection output block configured to select an output signal from output signals of the plurality of clock synchronization units, and output the selected output signal, and a clock supply block configured to sequentially supply the clock signals to the plurality of clock synchronization units.
US08694817B2
A power supply according to various embodiments of the disclosure is configured to detect an event and, in response to the event, alternately supply power to a plurality of provided devices via a provided bus at a first current level or at a second current level, the second current level less than the first current level. Among other things, embodiments in this disclosure help allow additional devices to be used on a bus, even where the total power consumption of the devices would normally exceed a maximum defined by a bus architecture. Furthermore, various embodiments help allow a single gauge of wire to be used throughout a bus network (even where long lengths of wire are required) while still providing sufficient power to the devices connected to the bus.
US08694811B2
In a digital device, activity of (or load on) one or more processors, peripherals and memory buses are measured. A power management framework operated in the digital device bases power settings in the digital device on the measured loads, and accordingly issues power management commands to change power consumption states of one or more of the processors, peripherals and memory buses. Some user applications (termed power aware applications) in the digital device provide a number identifying their application type to the power management framework, which thereby determines the resources required by the application. The power management commands issued by the power management framework ensure provision of the corresponding resources to the application, while also targeting minimization of power consumption in the digital device. In an embodiment, the digital device corresponds to a mobile phone.
US08694810B2
One embodiment provides a power management method for servers in a data center. A group of servers is selected, and the total power allocated to a group of servers is limited to within a group power budget. A separate server power allocation is individually requested for each of a plurality of the servers. Within the constraints of the group power budget, the requested server power allocations are selectively granted for a specified magnitude and duration. The granted server power allocations are also selectively renewed, either automatically or upon request of the servers. Each server that has not received a renewed server power allocation from a group power management entity upon the expiration of the specified duration automatically reduces its own power consumption, such as by the server powering itself off.
US08694808B2
A power supply system includes a PWM power supply connected to and supplying power to a power-consuming unit and a power supply protocol management apparatus connected to the power-consuming unit through a transmission bus for acquiring a VID protocol of the power-consuming unit and acquiring a VID code conversion table matching the VID protocol. The power supply protocol management apparatus converts a VID code output by the power-consuming unit (on the basis of the VID protocol) into a required voltage of the power-consuming unit according to the VID code conversion table, compares the required voltage with a voltage at an output end of the PWM power supply to generate a feedback voltage value, and transmits the generated feedback voltage value to the PWM power supply which adjusts its output voltage according to the feedback voltage value.
US08694804B2
A power management method of a computer system is provided. The method includes the following steps. Health states of a plurality of power supplies are detected to generate a detection signal. Output powers provided by the power supplies are received to calculate a total maximum output power of the power supplies. An interrupt is generated by triggering a configuration management program according to the total maximum output power or the detection signal. The interrupt is processed by an interrupt handler to adjust a power consumption of a central processing unit (CPU).
US08694802B2
A system and method for creating tamper-resistant code are described herein. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a first object code block. The method also comprises translating the first object code block into a second code block, wherein the translating includes applying taper-resistance techniques to the first object code block or the second object code block. The method also comprises executing the second object code block.
US08694799B2
The invention provides a system and method for content protection. A system according to an embodiment includes a media center connectable to a mobile secure and protection keyring associated with an identifier and with a media Key block MKB. The media center includes: a unique identifier identifying the media center MC_UID, a set of device keys DK; storage means for storing files identified by respective file identifiers; and a processing unit comprising file encryption means for encrypting each file before storage in the storage means, using a title key (Kt) computed from the identifier MC_UID of the media center and for encrypting the title key Kt from the set of device keys DK of the media center, and from the identifier and the media key block MKB of the mobile secure and protection keyring, the media center being further provided to write the encrypted title key (eKt) in association with the file identifier of the file to the mobile secure and protection keyring.
US08694795B1
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media are described for securely installing, executing and/or migrating a security sensitive application in a trusted execution environment on a mobile device. For example, techniques described herein allow a mobile device to verify the operating environment of the mobile device, the security sensitive application itself and discover a trusted execution environment on the device to install the security sensitive application. Furthermore, techniques are disclosed for verifying the state of one or more applications on the mobile device against a synchronized copy of the trusted execution environment operating in the cloud and also migrating the state of one or more applications from a trusted execution environment from a first mobile device to a second mobile device in the event that the mobile device is compromised, lost, stolen or being upgraded.
US08694794B2
A method for protecting a privilege level of a system management mode (SMM) of a computer system is disclosed. A SMM program is loaded into a special memory (SMRAM) area within a system memory of a computer. A first program, a second program, and a vector table are loaded into a general area of the system memory. Before the booting process of the computer has been completed, a reference hash value of the first program is determined by the SMM program, and the reference hash value is stored in the SMRAM area. A hash value of the first program is the computed by the SMM program. After the computer has been operating under an operating environment of an operating system, the computed hash value is compared to the reference hash value. When the computed hash value matches the reference hash value, the first program is called by the SMM program.
US08694791B1
Aspects of this disclosure are directed to outputting, for display at a presence-sensitive display, a first set of two or more selectable objects in a first arrangement of locations, the computing device operating in a first instance of a limited access state. At least one of the selectable objects includes an element of a predetermined passcode. The computing device may receive an indication of a first gesture to select one of the selectable objects and an indication of a second gesture to designate the selected object as an element of a candidate passcode. The computing device may transition to an access state based at least in part on a comparison between the candidate passcode and the predetermined passcode. The computing device may transition to a second instance of the limited access state, and may output a second set of two or more selectable objects in a second, different arrangement.
US08694788B1
A security system includes an interface, a main computer, and an application server. The interface enables a user to access a remote document related to a product. The main computer stores documents related to the product and generates a pair of localized encryption keys. The encryption keys include a first key that encrypts data and second key that decrypts the data. An application server that is remote from the interface transmits and receives the document from the interface. The main computer authenticates the integrity of the document in a local operation by signing the document with the first key before it is transmitted to the interface and by signing the document with the second key after it is received from the interface. A method of authenticating the integrity of information related to a selected product stored on a main computer includes generating the localized pair of encryption keys; signing the document with the first key at the main computer; transmitting the signed document to an interface or a Web browser; and signing the document with the second key at the main computer when the document is received from the interface or the Web browser.
US08694783B2
A secure authentication channel (SAC) between two nodes in a communication network is created by the nodes themselves using mutual authentication. The network has two nodes, a coordinating entity, two PKI-based SACs, and one non-PKI SAC which is created by the two nodes and is for use by the nodes. The coordinating entity generates a master key which is transmitted to two nodes via a PKI-based SAC established between the coordinating entity and each of the two nodes. One node uses the master key to generate a first random number and the second node uses the key to generate a second random number. The second node also has an encrypted third random number. The network also has a third SAC, which is not solely based on PKI, between the first node and the second node and is created when the two nodes have authenticated each other. The mutual authentication process occurs without the intervention of the coordinating entity.
US08694781B1
A technique provides hardware security module (HSM) operability which is performed in a computing device. The technique involves running, by processing circuitry of the computing device, a virtual machine monitor to provide a virtual machine environment. The technique further involves running, by the processing circuitry, a security module VM within the virtual machine environment. The security module VM is configured to perform HSM operations on behalf of a set of other VMs. The technique further involves imposing, by the processing circuitry, a requirement that all access between the security module VM and the set of other VMs occur through the virtual machine monitor to isolate and protect the security module VM against tampering.
US08694779B2
According to one general aspect, a method may include receiving, via a first network tap point included by a first network segment, a first portion of network communication data between a client computing device and a server computing device. The method may include receiving, via a second network tap point included by a second network segment, a second portion of network communication data between the client computing device and the server computing device. The method may include attempting to correlate each sub-portion of the first portion of network communication data to corresponding sub-portion of the second portion of network communication data. The method may also include analyzing the correlated network communication sub-portions to generate at least one set of metrics regarding the performance of the network communication between the client computing device and server computing device.
US08694774B2
A method and system for authentication of sites in a land mobile radio (LMR) system and encryption of messages exchanged by the sites. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a certificate created by a trusted authority by applying a function to a first site public key using the trusted authority's private key to generate a reduced representation, which is encrypted with the trusted authority's private key. Other sites may receive the certificate, decrypt it using the trusted authority's public key, and authenticate the first site. The method may further include generating a session key, encrypting it with the public key of the first site, and transmitting the encrypted session key to the first site. The first site decrypts the encrypted session key with the first site's private key, and transmits a message encrypted with the shared session key to other sites for decryption using the session key.
US08694768B2
A management station which manages the encryption devices in a SAN to set up encrypted LUNs. In setting up the encryption, the source and target ports are identified, along with the target LUN. LUN serial numbers used to identify unique LUNs. As paths to a given LUN are defined, the management station compares the path to existing paths and provides an indication if there is a mismatch in the encryption policies or keys being applied to the LUN over the various paths. This allows the administrator to readily identify when there is a problem with the paths to an encrypted LUN and then take steps to cure the problem. By determining the paths and then comparing them, the management station greatly simplifies setting up multipath I/O to an encrypted LUN or access by multiple hosts to an encrypted LUN.
US08694767B2
A system and method that enables secure system boot up with a restricted central processing unit (CPU). The system includes a memory, a segmenting device, and a security sub-system. The memory is a NAND flash memory with a block structure that comprises a guaranteed block and non-guaranteed blocks. The guaranteed block is guaranteed to be useable. A boot code is segmented into boot code segments and the boot code segments are stored separately in the guaranteed and non-guaranteed blocks. The security sub-system is configured to locate the boot code segments stored in the non-guaranteed blocks and validate them independently based on data in the guaranteed block. The security sub-system is further configured to assemble the boot code segments into the boot code and execute the boot code.
US08694756B2
A mechanism is provided for invoking multi-library application on a multiple processor system, wherein the multiple processor system comprises a Power Processing Element (PPE) and a plurality of Synergistic Processing Element (SPE). Applications including multi-libraries run in the memory of the PPEs. The mechanism comprises maintaining the status of each SPE in the applications running on the PPE, where there are SPE agents for capturing the instructions from the PPE in the SPEs that have been started. In response to a request for invoking a library, the PPE determines whether the number of available SPEs for invoking the library is adequate based on the current status of SPEs. If the number of available SPEs is adequate, the PPE sends a run instruction to selected SPEs. After finishing the invocation of all libraries, the PPE sends termination instructions to all started SPEs.
US08694753B2
A computing system determines whether memory data pertaining to a block of dynamically allocated memory within an inferior process memory space satisfies one or more criteria in heuristics data. The computing system identifies a category to assign to the block of dynamically allocated memory based on the determination of whether the memory data satisfies the criteria and generates a reliability score for the block of dynamically allocated memory indicating a level of reliability of the identified category. The computing system categorizes the block of dynamically allocated memory based on a comparison of the reliability score and a previous reliability score of the block of the dynamically allocated memory.
US08694739B1
Multiple disparate wireless units sharing of antennas are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a first wireless communication unit of a first wireless communication standard, where the first standard includes selecting one of two antennas provided. The apparatus further includes a second wireless communication unit of a second wireless communication standard, where a first antenna and a second antenna are shared by the first and second communication units. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08694728B2
Miss rate curves are constructed in a resource-efficient manner so that they can be constructed and memory management decisions can be made while the workloads are running. The resource-efficient technique includes the steps of selecting a subset of memory pages for the workload, maintaining a least recently used (LRU) data structure for the selected memory pages, detecting accesses to the selected memory pages and updating the LRU data structure in response to the detected accesses, and generating data for constructing a miss-rate curve for the workload using the LRU data structure. After a memory page is accessed, the memory page may be left untraced for a period of time, after which the memory page is retraced.
US08694722B2
Memory systems having a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory arranged in blocks, and a controller coupled to the volatile memory and to the non-volatile memory. The controller is configured to maintain, in the volatile memory, a list of addresses of erased blocks of the non-volatile memory. The list of addresses of erased blocks of the non-volatile memory is limited to a maximum number of list entries. The controller is further configured to transfer the list of addresses of erased blocks of the non-volatile memory from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory in response to the list containing its maximum number of list entries and/or in response to an operation that would increase the number of list entries to a number equal to or greater than the maximum number of list entries.
US08694711B2
A crosspoint selector switch for simultaneously supporting multiple data formats having different switch reconfiguration timing requirements, comprising; a configurable switch section for selectively connecting outputs thereof to receive data from respective inputs thereof in response to operational switch data; and a configuration section operatively connected to provide the operational switch data to the switch section, the configuration section storing switch configuration data supporting multiple different configurations of the switch section, the configuration section being operative to receive different operational update commands each associated with a different configuration for the switch section and update the operational switch data from the stored switch configuration data to reconfigure the switch section in dependence on which of the different operational update commands is received.
US08694710B2
A method of conversion by at least one interface circuit connected between a first bus including at least one data wire and one clock wire, and at least one second single-wire bus, of a transmission between a master circuit connected to the first bus and at least one slave circuit connected to the second bus, wherein a speculative read command is sent to the slave circuit before interpreting the state of a bit for controlling a reading or a writing, originating from the master circuit.
US08694706B2
The system and methods described herein may be used to implement NUMA-aware locks that employ lock cohorting. These lock cohorting techniques may reduce the rate of lock migration by relaxing the order in which the lock schedules the execution of critical code sections by various threads, allowing lock ownership to remain resident on a single NUMA node longer than under strict FIFO ordering, thus reducing coherence traffic and improving aggregate performance. A NUMA-aware cohort lock may include a global shared lock that is thread-oblivious, and multiple node-level locks that provide cohort detection. The lock may be constructed from non-NUMA-aware components (e.g., spin-locks or queue locks) that are modified to provide thread-obliviousness and/or cohort detection. Lock ownership may be passed from one thread that holds the lock to another thread executing on the same NUMA node without releasing the global shared lock.
US08694705B2
To improve processing performance of an information processing device as a whole by controlling priority in units of processes. There are provided a bus for data transfer and a plurality of function modules each having a processing function performing processing in units of processes and capable of issuing a data transfer request for the bus. Further, there is provided a process identification information holding unit capable of holding process identification information set for each of the processes in association with the function module performing processing of the process. Furthermore, there is provided a bus arbiter determining a priority order of processing for each piece of the corresponding process identification information for each data transfer request from the function module and arbitrating contention of data transfer requests for the bus according to the priority order. Processing performance is improved by performing priority order control in units of processes.
US08694687B2
A system for generating a computing system specific value comprising, a computing system not comprising any specialized hardware to generate a device specific value, a software product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable medium, comprising instructions operable to cause computing system to perform operations comprising: generating a digital value which is substantially dependent on manufacturing variation among like devices of computing system.
US08694684B2
A method for compressing a stream of application layer network traffic communicated over a transport layer connection of a virtual private network connection between a client and a server using an appliance. The appliance intercepts one or more transport layer packets of a stream of application network traffic communicated via a transport layer connection of a virtual private network connection between a client and a server. The appliance accumulates data from a payload of the intercepted transport layer packets, determines data accumulated for transmission should be compressed based on one or more compression trigger, and compresses the accumulated data into a self-contained compression block for transmission.
US08694674B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for supporting remote hosting without using network address translation. A method may include supporting, at a hub, a plurality of redundant tunnel end points for each of a plurality of spokes using a technology based at least in part on multipoint generic routing encapsulation protocol. The method may further include using policy based routing to determine a destination spoke for outgoing data traffic. The method may additionally include using service level agreement tracking to select a tunnel end point from the plurality of redundant tunnel end points for the determined destination spoke. The method may also include causing the outgoing data traffic to be routed to the determined destination spoke via the selected tunnel end point. Corresponding systems, apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
US08694669B2
In an apparatus for providing a multimedia streaming service, a server transmits a Media Presentation Description (MPD) including information about media data to a client, receives a partial request message requesting a part of media data having a range according to a defined range in the MPD, and transmits to the client a segment having the range in response to the partial request message. The segment includes at least one fragment, segment index information indicating the position of the at least one fragment in the segment, and fragment index information indicating the position of each of a plurality of samples included in the at least one fragment.
US08694667B2
A filtering method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor an audio/video data file and filtering data. The computer processor analyzes the filtering data with respect to the audio/video data file and retrieves specified audio/video data portions comprising data objects within frames of the audio/video data file. The computer processor removes gaps existing in the audio/video data file and receives tags comprising instructions for presenting video data of the audio/video data file, audio data of the audio/video data file, and the specified audio/video data portions. The computer processor stores the video data in a first layer of a multimedia file, the audio data in a second layer of the multimedia file, and the specified audio/video data portions in additional layers of the multimedia file. Each of the first layer, the second layer, and the additional layers comprises a tag layer comprising the tags.
US08694656B2
A system and method for detecting a user operating a first client device at an intermediary server communicatively coupled to one or more client devices including the first client device and further communicatively coupled to one or more other intermediary servers each communicatively coupled with one or more other client devices, establishing communication with at least one social networking server maintaining information corresponding to the user comprising one or more of user preferences, a plurality of user connections, and user connection preferences corresponding to each of the plurality of user connections, querying the at least one social networking server for the information, receiving the information and generating a local viewing social network for the user comprising generating a user profile according to the information, detecting one or more local connections and establishing direct communication between the user and at least one of the one or more local connections.
US08694652B2
A data Interface for transferring digital data between a host and a client over a communication path using packet structures linked together to form a communication protocol for communicating a pre-selected set of digital control and presentation data. The signal protocol is used by link controllers configured to generate, transmit, and receive packets forming the communications protocol, and to form digital data into one or more types of data packets, with at least one residing in the host device and being coupled to the client through the communications path. The interface provides a cost-effective, low power, bi-directional, high-speed data transfer mechanism over a short-range “serial” type data link, which lends itself to implementation with miniature connectors and thin flexible cables which are especially useful in connecting display elements such as wearable micro-displays to portable computers and wireless communication devices.
US08694648B2
A method for implementing a SIP feature includes, in particular embodiments, establishing a communication session via a communications platform between a first and second user and receiving a request from a third user to join the communication session. The second and third users are from a plurality of users using a shared line. The method further includes integrating communications of the third user into the communication session. In particular embodiments the method includes establishing a communication session between a first and second user via a communications platform. The method also includes receiving a select request that locks the communication session so that a third user cannot resume the communication session with the first user. In particular embodiments the method includes receiving a request from a first user of a shared line to enable a privacy feature that reduces call information generated by the communications platform in remote state notifications.
US08694629B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node for managing usage of a subscriber. The method may include: defining a primary metering policy having a first applicability condition and a first quota; defining a secondary metering policy having attributes including a second applicability condition and at least one inherited attribute that references an attribute of the primary metering policy; determining that the second metering policy is applicable when the first applicability condition and the second applicability condition are true; selecting the secondary metering policy as an active metering policy; and managing subscriber usage according to the attributes of the secondary metering policy. In various alternative embodiments, the step of managing subscriber usage includes: measuring subscriber usage according to a rating factor of the secondary metering policy; and charging the measured subscriber usage to both the primary metering policy and the secondary metering policy.
US08694623B1
Methods and apparatuses are presented for managing remote computers. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus includes one or more management servers comprising a registry of manageable objects. The one or more management servers are capable of being executed on a first machine. One or more management applications are coupled to the one or more management servers. The one or more management applications are capable of being executed on a second machine, where the first and second machines are separate. A first cache connector is coupled to the one or more management servers, where the first cache connector retrieves and stores at least one of the manageable objects listed in the registry. A second cache connector is coupled to the one or more management applications, where the first and second cache connectors form a cache management connection. The processing required to implement the first cache connector is distributed across the first machine.
US08694621B2
A first capture system that captures network communication events related to an application, and a second capture system that captures internal processing events related to the application. A visualization system analyzes the data captured by each of the capture systems, synchronizes and correlates the data, and presents an integrated display of these communication and processing events. In a preferred embodiment, the communicated messages include an identifier of the application, and the processing components also associate an identifier of the application to each recorded processing event. To facilitate the integrated display of the events, the visualization system synchronizes the recorded communication and processing events to a common time base.
US08694613B2
There is provided a client device including a storage section which stores content data, a control section which acquires content identification information for identifying the content data stored in the storage section, and a transmission section which transmits, to a server device, a registration request including user identification information for identifying a user who uses the client device and the content identification information acquired by the control section, and which, when the server device holds the content data identified by the content identification information, causes the server device to hold information obtained by associating the user identification information with the content identification information as user-specific registration information.
US08694605B1
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for disseminating content to remote devices. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided that can include receiving, at a computer system, registration information for one or more remote devices; registering the one or more remote devices; selecting content to associate with a selected subset of the one or more registered remote devices for presentation; generating a message comprising a primary uniform resource identifier (URI) corresponding to a source for the content; selecting at least one of the one or more registered remote devices for presenting the content; and sending the generated message to the at least one selected registered remote device, wherein the at least one selected registered remote device is configured to automatically retrieve and present the retrieved content from the source identified by the primary URI in the message.
US08694602B2
Data conversion processing for converting access target data into data of a different block size is executed without degradation of data input/output processing performance.A first controller manages its own load by associating it with LUs, which are access targets of an access requester; and if the first controller receives an access request from the access requester, it judges whether its load exceeds a threshold or not; and if its load exceeds the threshold, the first controller executes first data conversion processing for converting data relating to an access target LU(s) of the access requester from a first block size into a second block size or second data conversion processing for converting the data from the second block size into the first block size; and if its load is equal to or less than the threshold, the first controller gives a command to a second controller to execute the first data conversion processing or the second data conversion processing and the second controller executes the first data conversion processing or the second data conversion processing based on the command from the first controller.
US08694589B2
Methods and systems for saving draft electronic communications, such as web e-mails, are described herein. One such described method comprises automatically saving a draft web-email in the e-mail web page. A second such described method comprises saving a draft web e-mail in a cookie residing on the client machine. A third such described method comprises automatically saving a draft web e-mail at the host that provides the Web e-mail service. A fourth such described method comprises interacting with a central installed client component to save a draft web e-mail one the user's machine at the client side.
US08694583B2
In order to enable more of the contents managed by a content server to be provided, an information processing apparatus connected to a communication network includes: a managing unit that manages a content and attribute information; a detecting unit that detects an external processing apparatus connected to the communication network; an acquiring unit that acquires capability information, which indicates a capability that can be provided by the external processing apparatus; a generating unit that generates content list information containing a first list containing a content that is managed by the managing unit and that can be directly provided by the information processing apparatus, and a second list containing a content that can be provided by giving a processing request to the external processing apparatus; and a providing unit that provides the content list information to a client terminal.
US08694576B2
A method, a system and a computer program for parallel event processing in an event processing network (EPN) are disclosed. The EPN has at least one event processing agent (EPA). The method includes assigning an execution mode for the at least one EPA, the execution mode including a concurrent mode and a sequential mode. The execution mode for the at least one EPA is stored in the EPN metadata. The method also includes loading and initializing the EPN. The method further includes routing the event in the EPN and, when an EPA is encountered, depending on the execution mode of the encountered EPA, further processing of the event. Also disclosed are a system and a computer program for parallel event processing in an event processing network (EPN).
US08694575B2
A data-intensive computer includes a processing sub-system formed by a plurality of processing servers, a database sub-system formed by a plurality of database servers configured to form a collective database, and a unifying operating system environment. The unifying operating system environment extends across the processing sub-system and the database sub-system to coordinate operation of the plurality of processing servers and the plurality of database servers to act as components in a single data-intensive computer and presents the database sub-system to an application running in the data-intensive computer as a layer in a memory hierarchy of the data-intensive computer.
US08694558B2
A system and method for tracking work in a database environment. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a plurality of work records, where each work record is associated with code that is submitted for integration into a software application. The method further includes receiving a first indication that designates a first work record of the plurality of work records as a parent work record, and receiving a second indication that designates a second work record of the plurality of work records as a child work record, where the second work record is a child of the first work record.
US08694553B2
An apparatus, method and system facilitate efficient creation of virtual places and provide tools for using the virtual places. The virtual places include a virtual real estate listing, newsworthy place and a virtual box seat. Tools are provided including an automatic declutter tool and a staging tool.
US08694541B1
Various embodiments of the invention can be used to organize and prioritize data to optimize the ability to answer business questions and address business needs. A data mapping system may be used to map value driver data elements to business questions to assess which data sets or sources of data are more important than others when assessing the business questions. This can assist in the process of identifying the most useful and accurate data for assessing a business question.
US08694537B2
Systems and methods for searching databases by sound data input are provided herein. A service provider may have a need to make their database(s) searchable through search technology. However, the service provider may not have the resources to implement such search technology. The search technology may allow for search queries using sound data input. The technology described herein provides a solution addressing the service provider's need, by giving a search technology that furnishes search results in a fast, accurate manner. In further embodiments, systems and methods to monetize those search results are also described herein.
US08694535B2
A computing device includes a processor for receiving data pertaining to a plurality of different items of content. The data for each different item of content including at least one identifier for at least one premise pertaining to the item of content selected from a taxonomy of premises, and including at least one identifier for at least one conclusion pertaining to the item of content. The conclusion is based on the selected premises. A database includes the data pertaining to the plurality of different items of content. The database is searchable upon receipt of a search request based on one or more of the premises. Upon the search request, the processor is constructed and arranged to generate a set of records from the database containing the premises in the search request and generating a set of intersections of conclusions within the database that are based on the set of records.
US08694534B2
Systems and methods for searching databases by sound data input are provided herein. A service provider may have a need to make their database(s) searchable through search technology. However, the service provider may not have the resources to implement such search technology. The search technology may allow for search queries using sound data input. The technology described herein provides a solution addressing the service provider's need, by giving a search technology that furnishes search results in a fast, accurate manner. In further embodiments, systems and methods to monetize those search results are also described herein.
US08694529B1
A collection of items may be categorized according to a category hierarchy. A search of the items may be explicitly associated with a particular category in the hierarchy or else unassociated. A set of refinements may be available, for example, to help narrow the search. Refinements may be applicable to items in linked categories. Refinements may be surfaced based at least in part on linked categories associated with the search. Refinements may be surfaced when the search is unassociated with a particular category. For example, a possibly relevant set of categories may be determined. Refinements may be surfaced according to a variety of ordering criteria.
US08694526B2
A graphical user interface includes tabs representative of different classes of search results. The tabs are derived in response to the processing of a query. The different classes of search results group content by meaning, such that a query term with different meanings produces different classes of search results with different meanings.
US08694524B1
In a database system, a mechanism is provided to enable parsing of a query into plural objects stored in respective plural tables. One or more characteristics of the query is modified using content of the plural tables based on one or more predefined rules for the purpose of recomposing the query.
US08694511B1
The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for modifying search result rankings based on populations.
US08694509B2
A method and apparatus for storing and searching for handwritten memo data in a database in which the handwritten memo data are stored in the form of bit streams representing continuous and discontinuous elements constituting the handwritten memo data are provided. The memo data search method includes receiving an input of memo data, storing the memo data in the form of a bit stream, searching, when a search for the memo data is requested, a memo index database for the memo data, and displaying a search result. The handwritten memo data management method and apparatus stores and searches for the memo data regardless of orientation and size.
US08694503B1
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that processes data. During operation, the system obtains, in a buffer, records to be included in a data segment as the records are generated, wherein each of the records comprises one or more metrics and at least one dimension associated with the one or more metrics. After the buffer reaches a threshold size, the system creates a data segment comprising at least one of a forward index and an inverted index for a column in the records. The system then enables querying of the data segment and a set of offline data segments comprising older records of the one or more metrics and the at least one dimension.
US08694502B2
Techniques may be used to match records of a batch file to an entity representation in a universal database. Inputs may include, but are not limited to, a batch file and a universal (or other) database. The technique may compare the records of the batch file to the records of the universal database, and may attempt to create matches between the records in the batch file and the entity representations or records in the universal database. One possible output may include one or more tables that include foreign record IDs of the batch file records, each in association with an entity representation of the universal database. The techniques may include a batch style processing of records.
US08694500B2
Documents written using a markup language such as XML may be decomposed into Path and Parent Associated Node (PPAN) elements, each of which is a linear data structure that includes the content of a node, the parent-child relationship of the node, and the path level of the node. A number of PPAN elements may be grouped together to form A PPAN chain. A PPAN matching process uses the PPAN elements/PPAN chain to search for structured documents that match the PPAN chain. The PPAN matching process is able to perform query and match at the same time to accelerate the PPAN matching process, and also enables complex services to be represented by generic structured documents. Optionally, the PPAN matching process may support wildcard requests so that services may be discovered without prior knowledge of the services.
US08694499B1
A system determines query similarity. The system determines a volume per unit time of an issued first query over a time period and determines a volume per unit time of issued other queries over the time period. The system compares the volume per unit time of each of the issued other queries to the volume per unit time of the issued first query. The system identifies ones of the issued other queries as similar to the first query based on the comparison.
US08694496B2
A method for harvesting application metadata includes receiving metadata from a web application and storing the metadata to a metadata collection. The metadata indicates a characteristic of a web application user. The metadata collection identifies the user and may include metadata from other web applications. The advertisement is then characterized. For example, keywords may be associated with the advertisement. An affinity between the advertisement and the user is then determined and an indication of the affinity is recorded. When the affinity exceeds a predetermined threshold, the user may be identified as a potential target of the advertisement. The service provider may then identify the potential targets to the advertiser or provide the advertisement to the targets on behalf of the advertiser. The web application may be compensated for providing the metadata. The compensation may occur in response to the metadata resulting in identifying the user as a potential target.
US08694495B2
An information processing device is connected to multiple information processing terminals wherein multiple types of expressions exhibited by a user during playback of content are detected, evaluation of each played-back content is obtained, of the detected plurality of types of expressions a predetermined expression serving as a high evaluation index indicated by the user during playback of high evaluation content is identified, and the expression information serving as a identified high evaluation index and the information expressing evaluation as to each content are transmitted. The information device includes a receiving unit to receive expression information serving as the high evaluation index from multiple information processing terminals; a user identifying unit to identify a user indicating an expression of similar high evaluation index for the same content; a recommended content identifying unit to identify recommended content having a high evaluation to other similar users; and a transmitting unit.
US08694489B1
A determination of whether a mapped business listing that is produced as a search result corresponds to an actual location of operation is based on different factors. One factor identifies whether the business listing is associated with a business category that appears as search results for a particular geographic area in numbers that exceed average proportions for the same business category density in similarly situated geographic areas. Another factor determines whether different business listings in the same geographic area include the same identifying data. Specific characteristics of a neighborhood where the business listing is mapped provide an additional factor for identifying whether a search result for a business listing is map spam. The different factors may be considered together to determine the likelihood that a mapped search result is spam.
US08694476B2
An archive cluster application runs across a redundant array of independent nodes. Each node runs an archive cluster application instance comprising a set of software processes: a request manager, a storage manager, a metadata manager, and a policy manager. The request manager manages requests for data, the storage manager manages data read/write functions, and the metadata manager facilitates metadata transactions and recovery. The policy manager implements policies, which are operations that determine the behavior of an “archive object” within the cluster. The archive cluster application provides object-based storage. It associates metadata and policies with the raw archived data, which together comprise an archive object. Object policies govern the object's behavior in the archive. The archive manages itself independently of client applications, acting automatically to ensure that object policies are valid.
US08694472B2
A method comprises storing a partitioned database comprising a plurality of partitions, wherein each of the plurality of partitions comprises a respective set of data records. The method continues by storing at least one secondary index associated with each of the plurality of partitions. The method continues by taking offline each of the plurality of partitions. The method continues by unloading data records from each of the plurality of partitions. The method continues by loading the data records into the partitioned database. The method continues by, in conjunction with loading the data records, modifying the at least one secondary index. The modification of the at least one secondary index comprises determining a partition identifier and a memory address associated with a particular data record loaded into the partitioned database. The modification of the at least one secondary index further comprises storing the determined partition identifier and the determined memory address in the at least one secondary index.
US08694471B2
A client caches objects from a data set on a server. The client registers to receive notification of events that occur to cached objects. As events occur to cached objects, the client determines if a specified time interval has elapsed since the cached objects were last updated. If a specified time interval has elapsed, then the client updates the cached objects. If a specified time interval has not elapsed, then the client waits for the specified time to elapse, during which time additional updates to the objects on the server can occur.
US08694463B2
A method for synchronizing a database at a portable electronic device with a backup database including backup data records includes receiving information representative of data records of the database at the portable electronic device, determining if the database at the portable electronic device is to be updated with the backup data records, and if the database at the portable electronic device is to be updated, transmitting representative viewable or audible samples of ones of the backup data records.
US08694460B2
A movement determination apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of position information of an object at desired periods, a classifying unit that classifies the plurality of position information acquired by the acquiring unit into a plurality of measurement segments, an estimating unit that estimates existence regions of the object in the plurality of measurement segments, on a basis of the classified plurality of position information, and a determining unit that determines movement of the object position by comparing the existence regions.
US08694459B2
The current specification covers various new algorithms, methods, and systems for, e.g., image recognition (e.g., for action, gesture, emotion, expression, biometrics, fingerprint, facial, OCR (text recognition), background, relationship, position, pattern, and object), machine learning, training schemes, feature space, clustering, classification, similarity measures, optimization, search engine, ranking, question-answering system, soft (fuzzy or unsharp) boundaries/impreciseness/fuzziness in language, clustering, and recognition, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computing with Words (CWW), parsing, machine translation, sound and speech recognition, video search and analysis (e.g. tracking), image annotation, geometrical abstraction, image correction, semantic web, context analysis, data reliability (e.g., using Z-number (e.g., “About 45 minutes; Very sure”)), rules engine, control system, autonomous vehicle, system diagnosis, medical diagnosis, biomedicine, large number of images analytics, event prediction, financial forecasting, economics, risk assessment, e-mail management, database management, indexing and join operation, memory management, data compression, and crowd-sourcing (using experts or humans).
US08694449B2
In various embodiments, electronic apparatus, systems, and methods include a unified compact spatiotemporal method that provides a process for machines to deal with space and time and to deal with sensors and effectors. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08694445B1
A data processing device may be operable to determine whether the data processing device is in a state of charging a battery. When the data processing device is determined to be in the state of charging the battery, a charging condition of the battery may be analyzed by the data processing device. The data processing device may analyze a viewability condition at a display module. The data processing device may analyze an environmental condition associated with proximity of a human to the data processing device. The data processing device may then choose, based on a result of the analysis of the charging condition, a result of the analysis of the viewability condition and/or a result of the analysis of the environmental condition, display of content in a manner to attract attention to the data processing device.
US08694432B2
A system operating in conjunction with a financial account permits joint activation of a card associated with the financial account. An event-detection module detects an event related to the card and an authorization component for permitting certain individuals to use the card. A messaging module generates account-related messages and transmitting these messages to individuals associated with the financial account.
US08694431B1
Preauthorized payments may be made to service providers, repair shops and even vendors serving employees on business trips through credit card processing. The approved payment amount is authorized on a virtually created payment card which is then sent to the payee. These transactions incur interchange fees for the card processing. Therefore, unlike a check or EFT payment, the payee receives the approved payment less interchange fees. Interchange rates vary based on the payment card product offered by an issuing bank in addition to factors relating to how the payment card is processed. The current invention is a method of automatically generating a virtual payment card and/or processing the card in a manner to achieve a target interchange fee.
US08694430B2
Provided is an information processing device which enables a user to always and easily recognize an amount to be paid by the user, which results in a reduction of the burden imposed on the user. A debit requesting module (72) requests that a bank debit a bill amount of each transaction of a credit card from a payment account of the credit card. A balance determination module (81) determines whether or not a balance of the payment account is insufficient for the bill amount of the each transaction based on a notification of a result of the debit from the bank. A change module (74) changes, when it is determined that the balance of the payment account is insufficient, a payment method for a bill amount of an item of transactions which uses a variable payment method to a fixed payment method, the fixed payment method being a method of paying a predetermined fixed amount of money as a unit, the variable payment method being a method of making a payment with a payment unit that varies for each transaction depending on an amount of the transaction of the credit card. The present invention is applicable to a server.
US08694423B2
Systems and methods for brokering data are invented and disclosed. A system for producing a data model comprises a message broker, filters, and a data collector. The message broker includes an interface configured to receive client requests from a plurality of communication devices, a transaction request identifier configured to identify a plurality of parameters associated with a client request, and a router configured to distribute the request responsive to at least one of the parameters. The filters are coupled to the router and apply and apply respective tests for determining when the client request should be processed by the system. The data collector is coupled to the message broker and forwards data from the client request to at least one of a plurality of data stores when at least one of the filters indicates that the client request should be processed by the system.
US08694417B2
A system and method for factoring in a trader's trading activity into the margin requirements is disclosed. In the securities arena, day traders are assessed different margins than non-day-traders, however, the specific profile of the trader is analyzed (that is, the same rule applies to all day traders).
US08694412B2
A two phase auction for an item includes a first phase in which an asking price for the item decreases at predetermined intervals when the auction is a seller's auction and increases at predetermined intervals when the auction is a buyer's auction, and a second phase after the first phase wherein the asking price starts at a level equal to a first bid placed by a first bidder during the first phase and periodically increases when the auction is a seller's auction and decreases at predetermined intervals when the auction is a buyer's auction until no additional bids are received from the first bidder and/or additional bidders, the auctioned item being awarded to a last bidder in the second phase.
US08694409B2
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. In one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of requests for electricity are received from a plurality of end-use consumers. The requests indicate a requested quantity of electricity and a consumer-requested index value indicative of a maximum price a respective end-use consumer will pay for the requested quantity of electricity. A plurality of offers for supplying electricity are received from a plurality of resource suppliers. The offers indicate an offered quantity of electricity and a supplier-requested index value indicative of a minimum price for which a respective supplier will produce the offered quantity of electricity. A dispatched index value is computed at which electricity is to be supplied based at least in part on the consumer-requested index values and the supplier-requested index values.
US08694406B2
The present invention is directed to an alternative method for gauging market participant behavior, which is identified herein as “Market Barometer.” In one embodiment, Market Barometer is based on the recent performance ranks of particular equity strategy indices as compared to their historical ranks. Significant deviations from historical ranks is a predictor of market performance over subsequent near term time periods, for example, a subsequent month and, in turn, these deviations can be used to estimate the current market expected return. Empirical tests reveal that expected market returns vary over time in line with Market Barometer readings.
US08694405B2
System and method of visual representation of stock exchange transactions which provide additional information for traders when it comes to taking buy/sell decisions for stocks, being oriented towards electronic stock exchange transactions. Specifically, the present invention is aimed at tools for trading of products that can be traded in terms of quantities and/or prices. The method is based on labeling each transaction with a label selected from between initiated buy transaction, when the execution price is equal to or greater than the sell limit price registered in the first sell level of the order book, and initiated sell transaction, when the execution price is equal to or lower than the buy limit price registered in the first buy level of the order book.
US08694403B2
Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. A mutual fund rating company can use this CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to predict the performance of funds that invest in a particular industry or sector. In addition, since mutual funds often provide guidelines for selecting stocks, rating companies can use this modeling approach to predict the performance of companies in a fund's portfolio.
US08694400B1
Usage of shared resources can be managed by enabling users to obtain different types of guarantees at different times for various types and/or levels of resource capacity. A user can select to have an amount or rate of capacity dedicated to that user. A user can also select reserved capacity for at least a portion of the requests, tasks, or program execution for that user, where the user has priority to that capacity but other users can utilize the excess capacity during other periods. Users can alternatively specify to use the excess capacity or other variable, non-guaranteed capacity. The capacity can be for any appropriate functional aspect of a resource, such as computational capacity, throughput, latency, bandwidth, and storage. Users can submit bids for various types and combinations of excess capacity, and winning bids can receive dedicated use of the excess capacity for at least a period of time.
US08694395B2
A method, a system, and a computer program for suggesting to the user a tax event to reduce the user's tax liability. Embodiments comprise accessing known user information related to the user and the user's taxes, wherein the known user information includes at least some information for a current tax year to date; comparing the known user information with requirements for at least one of tax deductions and tax credits offered by a taxing authority for the current tax year; identifying deductions or credits having requirements related to the known user information; and suggesting to the user a tax event for reducing the user's tax liability, wherein the suggested tax event is based at least partially on the known user information and the identified deductions or credits having requirements related to the known user information.
US08694388B2
Disclosed is a delivery management system and method using a smart communicator that include a selling server for selling articles online; a delivery server for managing delivery of articles sold by the selling server; a mailbox which reads information from an information storage attached to an arrived article at a destination under the control of the delivery server; and a home network server, which stores ordered article information, determines whether the arrived article is correctly delivered based on a comparison between the ordered article information and the arrived article information read from the information storage, transmits the result of the comparison to a smart communicator, controls follow-up management of the delivery according to a remote control of the smart communicator, to verify article arrival, and controls follow-up management using the smart communicator.
US08694385B1
The present invention provides a software facility for identifying the items most relevant to a current query based on items selected in connection with similar queries. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the facility receives a query specifying one or more query terms. In response, the facility generates a query result identifying a plurality of items that satisfy the query. The facility then produces a ranking value for at least a portion of the items identified in the query result by combining the relative frequencies with which users selected that item from the query results generated from queries specifying each of the terms specified by the query. The facility identifies as most relevant those items having the highest ranking values.
US08694383B2
Data identifying a path is received between two or more geographic locations. Path information is identified along or near the path. A relevance is associated to the path information. A subset of the path information having a highest relevance is provided.
US08694379B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates automatically generating an advertisement. An interface component can receive a portion of image data related to at least one of a good or a service associated with a transaction. An automatic posting component can automatically generate an advertisement with a portion of descriptive data related to at least one of the good or the service based at least in part upon the image data, wherein the created advertisement is published to an environment for exposure.
US08694374B1
A computer-implemented method for processing network activities is described. The method includes identifying a model that specifies attributes for network objects, identifying a network object having one or more attributes that deviate from the model, and providing as an input to a ranking algorithm a value associated with the deviance of the one or more attributes of the identified network object.
US08694370B2
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to incentive programs awarding loyalty points based at least in part upon the number of miles driven in a motor vehicle. Reward points may be earned by having the vehicle serviced at authorized locations. At the time of servicing, the authorized location notes a current vehicle odometer reading, and the odometer reading is communicated to an administrator of the loyalty program. The odometer reading is used to calculate a number of miles driven since the last authorized servicing, and the number of mile driven is then converted into loyalty points to be credited to a consumer of the vehicle. Thus, incentives for servicing only at authorized locations are provided to the consumer.
US08694368B2
A spend mapping tool provides a system, method, and computer program product for analyzing transactions between merchants and cardmembers. The tool groups a merchant by industry in a merchant industry group. The tool also groups a cardmember by industry in a cardmember industry group. Further, the tool analyzes transaction data from a transaction between at least one merchant in said merchant industry group and at least one cardmember in said cardmember industry group.
US08694366B2
Systems and methods of using a mobile communication device to locate a product or a vender within a shopping facility. The method comprises receiving, via an input associated with the mobile communication device, a request to locate the product or the vender within the shopping facility, transmitting the request to a remote computer system, and receiving at the mobile communication device from the remote computer system an indication of whether the product or vender is located within the shopping facility, and, if the product or the vender is located within the shopping facility, an indication of the location of the product or the vender within the shopping facility. The remote computer system is configured to determine whether the product or the vender is located within the shopping facility and determine a location of the product or the vender within the shopping facility.
US08694364B2
A return coupon holder is described for holding a return coupon issued in a store in conjunction with a customer's merchandise return transaction. The return coupon holder is preferably sized large enough to discourage the customer from stowing the coupon away, such as in a handbag. Additionally, holders may be of different types that visually or electronically convey information about a category associated with the customer's return transaction. Thus, salespersons may accordingly provide appropriate customer service to the customer. The holder categories may indicate an approximate dollar value of the return transaction, a type of merchandise returned, a return payment method, an assessment of the profitability of the customer, an assessment of the risk of fraud associated with the return transaction, and the like. A computer decision system may select holder type. Some embodiments of the coupon holder are fitted with a device that allow tracing of the customer's movements while still in the store.
US08694363B2
A method and a system dynamically generates an advertisement based on one or more tokens distilled from information about a web session that requested a web page. For example, a token is distilled from information about a web session. Data is retrieved from a commerce database based on the token. The retrieved data is assembled into an advertisement, which is then supplied for rendering with the web page.
US08694357B2
An online marketing research system where users identify a specific brand and/or competitive brands in which they are interested. An internet crawler engine collects sentiments relating to the identified brands according to a sampling method, which may be created by the user. The results from the internet crawler are refined using a refinement engine. The refined sentiments are then scored by a sentiment engine. Users may view the scored results via a user interface, which itself includes an interactive sentiment modeler. The interactive sentiment modeler provides quantified insights and allows users to select types of charts, the constructs, and timelines that are important to them.
US08694356B2
Augmenting service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) governance maturity including receiving an evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA; identifying, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance capability, one or more predefined risks to the SOA; establishing, for each governance capability in dependence upon the predefined risks to the SOA, a risk value representing the severity of the predefined risks; selecting, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA and the predefined risk value, one or more governance work products; and communicating to predetermined stakeholders in the SOA the one or more predefined risks to the SOA identified for each governance capability, the risk value established for each governance capability, and the governance work products selected for each governance capability.
US08694350B1
Techniques are described for facilitating interactions between task requesters who have tasks that are available to be performed and task performers who are available to perform tasks, such as via an electronic marketplace acting as an intermediary for task performance. In some situations, the facilitating of the interactions includes automatically matching available tasks to task performer users, such as to automatically generate recommendations for task performer users of available tasks that are appropriate for those task performer users to perform. Such generated task recommendations for task performer users may then be provided to those task performer users in various ways, including via one or more Web pages or electronic communications sent to devices of the task performer users. The task recommendations may be generated in various ways, including based on previous tasks performed by the task performer users and on other prior activities of the task performer users.
US08694348B2
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.
US08694346B2
A method and system is provided for making price-related predictions of items based on training a classifier using historical information including pricing information for the items and labels relating to the price-related information that are generated automatically from the historical information. A prediction system provides price-related predictions for airline tickets. The prediction system collects flight information for flights on a daily basis. The prediction system generates training data to train a classifier to make the price-related predictions using the flight information. After training the classifier, the prediction system then can make the price-related predictions for a trip.
US08694343B2
A system and method for managing insurance claim denials. The system and method reviews a denial of claim from an insurer and a patient medical record received from a healthcare provider to determine if an appeal should be filed for the denial. It prepares an appeal to the denial comprising an appeals overturn letter and supporting document and submits the appeal to the insurer if it determines that an appeal should be filed. The system then tracks and monitors the progress of the appeal and process the appeal determination received from the insurer. The system utilizes these tracking and monitoring information to streamline and improve the insurance claim process of the healthcare provider, such as developing and implementing claim denial reduction program.
US08694339B1
Systems and methods for evaluating basis risk associated with index based security instruments. The systems and methods calculating an element factor for each of a plurality of elements based on a modeled company loss for a plurality of events and an industry loss for the plurality of events, calculating a company loss for each element based on the element factor and an industry loss for each of the corresponding elements for each of a plurality of events, comparing the company loss for each element to the modeled company loss for each element for each of the events, wherein the comparing occurs within a layer of interest to determine a basis risk for each of the events and outputting a monetary value of the basis risk for each of the events based on each of the elements.
US08694326B2
A communication terminal includes a decoder which decodes an input bitstream received from another communication terminal, to generate an output audio signal and outputs the generated output audio signal to a speaker; and an echo canceller which obtains an input audio signal representing sound captured by a microphone placed in a space to which the speaker outputs the sound, and removes, for respective subbands, an echo component included in the obtained input audio signal and corresponding to the output audio signal, to generate an audio signal for transmission. An encoder codes the audio signal for transmission to generate an output bitstream and transmits the generated output bitstream to another communication terminal; and a control unit controls, for the respective subbands, echo cancellation processing according to a reproduction band of at least one of the output audio signal and the audio signal for transmission.
US08694321B2
Apparatus for communicating includes a processor, a memory, a storage, a display, a manual input arrangement and audio output. Image data elements are stored in the storage and the processor is configured to output a plurality of the image data elements to the display, receive manual input selecting at least one of the image data elements and receive manual input indicating that selection is completed. For each selected image data element, the processor produces and outputs a further data element.
US08694320B2
A method of generating audio for a text-only application comprises the steps of adding tag to an input text, said tag is usable for adding sound effect to the generated audio; processing the tag to form instructions for generating the audio; generating audio with said effect based on the instructions, while the text being presented. The present invention adds entertainment value to text applications and provides very compact format compared to conventional multimedia as well as uses entertainment sound to make text-only applications such as SMS and email more fun and entertaining.
US08694309B1
A method, a computer readable medium and a system for automatic speech recognition tuning management that comprises, collecting an utterance, analyzing the utterance, correlating the collected utterance to the utterance analysis, and fetching at least one of, the collected utterance, the utterance analysis, and the correlation of the collected utterance to the utterance analysis.
US08694302B1
Any primitive cells or blocks can be represented physically by a Barycenter compact model (or Barycenter model), and any black box model can also be physically represented by a Barycenter compact model physically. A hierarchical boundary condition between blocks is formulated by the Barycenter compact model. Hierarchical boundary condition problems between blocks can be limited within two levels only if using the Barycenter compact model.
US08694276B2
A testable integrated circuit chip (80, 100) includes a functional circuit (80) having modules (IP.i), a storage circuit (110) operable to hold a table representing sets of compatible tests that are compatible for concurrence, and an on-chip test controller (140, 150) coupled with said storage circuit (110) and with said functional circuit modules (IP.i), said test controller (140, 150) operable to dynamically schedule and trigger the tests in those sets, whereby promoting concurrent execution of tests in said functional circuit modules (IP.i). Other circuits, wireless chips, systems, and processes of operation and processes of manufacture are disclosed.
US08694273B2
The present invention constitutes a method, processes, and apparatus for measurement and analysis of variables of different type and origin. In particular, the invention presents a method and apparatus for real-time signal conditioning and analysis in the presense of impulsive, or sparse interferences. The present invention overcomes limitations of the prior art by providing a novel method for identifying and discriminating between, in real time, the conditions of the signal with and without impulsive disturbances. This method can be implemented without substantial changes in the signal processing chain of a communication or data acquisition system.The present invention also overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art through the introduction of the novel SPART filters, which can replace the corresponding analog linear filters in the signal chain of a device. SPART filters have the ability to sense and discriminate between, in real time, the conditions of the signal with and without impulsive disturbances, and temporarily adjust their behavior in a manner which reduces the power of these disturbances.
US08694270B2
A multiphase flowmeter for determining at least one characteristic of a first phase flowing in a pipe with at least a second phase being also present in the pipe is disclosed. The multiphase flowmeter includes a processor configured to determine the at least one characteristic of the first phase, a first transducer configured to emit a first pulse signal into the first phase at a first incident angle with respect to a straight line that is perpendicular to an interior pipe wall; the first pulse signal is in an ultrasonic range and is configured to be coupled to an exterior pipe wall; and the absolute value of the first incident angle in the first phase is configured to be at least 10 degrees and at most 80 degrees and a second transducer configured to emit a second pulse signal into the first phase at a substantially normal incidence.
US08694264B2
(EN) MS analysis, MS2 analysis, . . . , MSP analysis for peptide mixture are sequentially executed to obtain respective mass spectra (S1). At this time, an analysis in which precursor ion is changed or a different cleavage condition is set for the same precursor ion is performed plural times to put together peaks appearing in mass spectra that are obtained respectively. After the number of peaks is increased, a useful peak is extracted using commonality and complementarity of the peaks of MSm spectrum and MSm+1 spectrum and classification is performed for each type of peaks extracted to obtain an appearance frequency for each classification (S3, S4). An evaluation score on whether the extracted peak is a product ion and on a terminal is calculated based on reliability and appearance frequency that are obtained in advance (S8). The evaluation score is used in estimating sequence with the use of the extracted peak to decide and output, for example, the priority of sequence candidates (S8, S9).
US08694260B1
A web enabled system for quantitative quality control of seismic projects may comprise at least one server remotely located from the seismic acquisition operation. At least two databases are operated by the server wherein at least one database comprises an electronic map database comprising electronically scalable maps. The server is programmed for receiving data over an Internet connection comprising seismic instrument operation data, contractor data, HSE management system data, and GPS stamped inspection data. A programmable GPS unit is programmed to produce the GPS stamped inspection data and comprises a digital camera operable for recording and storing GPS stamped digital images. The data can be merged into electronically scalable terrain maps to uniquely display tables, graphs, quality indicators, which can be selected at the desired locations for greater depth of information.
US08694255B2
A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle has a surroundings sensor and an evaluation unit for evaluating the surroundings sensor data. The evaluation unit receives data from a positioning device. Furthermore, a reduced or limited subset of data taken from a digital roadmap is stored in a non-volatile memory, which is provided to the evaluation unit. The reduced data are selected to include only data relevant for the function(s) of the driver assistance system. Thereby the driver assistance system does not need to be connected for data transmission with a navigation system.
US08694251B2
A user-heading determining system (10) for pedestrian use includes a multiple-axis accelerometer (110) having acceleration sensors; a device-heading sensor circuit (115) physically situated in a fixed relationship to the accelerometer (110); an electronic circuit (100) operable to generate signals representing components of acceleration sensed by the accelerometer (110) sensors, and to electronically process at least some part of the signals to produce an estimation of attitude of a user motion with respect to the accelerometer, and further to combine the attitude estimation (750, α) with a device heading estimation (770, ψ) responsive to the device-heading sensor circuit, to produce a user heading estimation (780); and an electronic display (190) responsive to the electronic circuit (100) to display information at least in part based on the user heading estimation. Other systems, circuits and processes are also disclosed.
US08694245B2
Map information is exchanged between communication devices. A map of a geographical area is received. The map includes embedded interactive links that graphically represent points of interest within the geographical area. An embedded interactive link that graphically represents at least one point of interest is highlighted within the map. Responsive to selection of another embedded interactive link within the map that graphically represents another point of interest within the geographical area, the other embedded link within the map is highlighted. The map is transmitted, with the other embedded interactive link that graphically represents the other point of interest highlighted.
US08694235B2
An aircraft load management system determines a cargo through a wireless communication system to rapidly position the cargo. RFID emitter tags on each piece of cargo are triangulated relative to an aircraft internal cargo bay. Real time cargo position information is displayed to facilitate direction of drivers, loadmasters and aircrew. Cargo data is also relayed to onboard systems for mission planning, and for communication to a global information network to prioritize cargo delivery and dynamic mission re-planning. Even prior to onloading, cargo data is wirelessly communicated to the load management system to automatically plan the cargo load sequence. The load management system also autonomously loads remote controlled ground vehicles and equipment through communication therewith.
US08694233B2
This method is for managing fuel consumption of a hybrid vehicle on a given trip, the vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an electric energy storage arrangement and at least an electric machine adapted to work as a generator or as a motor. This method includes: a) determination, for the given trip, of a target value of a parameter representative of fuel economy resulting from the use of the electric machine, b) determination of an actual value of the parameter when the vehicle is running on the trip, c) comparison of said target value and the actual value, and d) information of a user of the result of the comparison, at least at the end of the trip. The vehicle is provided with a computation arrangement and display for allowing steps c) and d) to take place onboard.
US08694227B2
An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal-combustion engine includes an air-fuel-ratio sensor, a control-input calculator, an air-fuel-ratio controller, and a gain calculator. The air-fuel-ratio sensor is disposed in an exhaust channel in the internal-combustion engine and is configured to detect an air-fuel ratio in exhaust gas. The control-input calculator is configured to calculate a control input in accordance with an output value of the air-fuel-ratio sensor. The air-fuel-ratio controller is configured to perform a feedback control using the control input such that the output value of the air-fuel-ratio sensor reaches a target value. The gain calculator is configured to calculate a gain in accordance with the output value when the output value is leaner than the target value. The gain is to be used in calculating the control input.
US08694211B2
A method and a system for controlling a displacement device for a fifth wheel coupling disposed on a tractor vehicle are described, wherewith the displacement device has a lower structure having at least one guide rail oriented in the direction of travel, a movable carriage which supports the fifth wheel coupling and engages the guide rail(s), and a control device connected to a motorized drive unit for displacing the carriage and also connected to an adjusting member for fixing the carriage with respect to the guide rail(s); wherewith a measurement is made for determining the angle between the tractor and semi-trailer, the measurement signal is converted in the control device to a control signal, and thereby an operation of the motorized drive unit and/or the adjusting member is initiated. The underlying problem of the invention was to devise a method and a control system which minimize the risk of the semi-trailer striking against the cab of the tractor. One way in which this problem is solved according to the invention is that, from the measurement signal, an angular or distance timewise rate of change is generated in the control device, or such a timewise rate of change is transmitted to the control device.
US08694205B1
A system may control demist flow by computing a fogging possibility for a zone of a vehicle using a fogging heuristic according to received inputs, the fogging possibility indicative of fogging risk for vehicle glass in the zone of the vehicle; determining, based on comparing the fogging possibility to at least one fogging risk threshold, whether a change in demist flow for the zone is warranted to at least one of reduce the fogging risk for vehicle glass in the zone of the vehicle and reduce energy usage for the production of demist flow to be provided to vehicle glass in the zone of the vehicle; and selectively providing an output to at least one of the plurality of demist doors associated with the zone of the vehicle to adjust the demist flow to the zone of the vehicle when a change in demist flow for the zone is warranted.
US08694202B2
An information providing system of a motorcycle includes a navigation device and an audio device. The navigation device includes a navigation controller. The navigation controller is disposed in a trunk on a side surface of the trunk close to a back surface of a passenger seat. The trunk is provided in a rear portion of a vehicle body of the motorcycle and above a rear wheel of the motorcycle. The audio device includes an audio device operation part and an audio device controller. The audio device operation part is provided in a vicinity of a handlebar of the motorcycle. The audio device controller is disposed in an audio device housing provided at a position lower than a bottom plate of the trunk.
US08694198B2
For control unit access, a vehicle to be checked is identified using an identifier. Control and/or monitoring operations covered by the control unit access are selected. A communication link is set up over a selected vehicle communication interface. Communication devices covered by the selected vehicle communication interface are ascertained. Independent control and/or monitoring operations covered by the control unit access are ascertained, where these operations are associated with available communication means and are not dependent on a superordinate control and/or monitoring operation. A control and/or monitoring operation, which has the greatest number of subordinate dependent control and/or monitoring operations, is selected for execution.
US08694195B2
A motor vehicle has a wheel-view camera with a wide-angle lens and an image sensor. The wheel-view camera is mounted in the housing of a side view mirror and points in a downward direction such that the wheel-view camera captures a front wheel. An image processing unit is operatively connected to the wheel-view camera unit for receiving image data from the wheel-view camera. The image processing unit is configured to process the image data such that the image processing unit performs a wide-angle lens correction, an image rotation and a viewpoint conversion. A display unit is operatively connected to the image processing unit. The display unit receives processed image data from the image processing unit and displays an image of the front wheel.
US08694190B2
A regeneration control device of a hybrid vehicle detects brake fluid pressure for detecting the amount of engagement of the brakes of the hybrid vehicle, and performs a first regeneration control in a closed state of the accelerator and the brake pedal not being depressed, a second regeneration control in the closed state of the accelerator and the brake pedal being depressed, and a third regeneration control when the accelerator pedal is in the closed state and the brake fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined value, wherein X(Nm/s) is set as the rate of increase of regenerative torque in the first regeneration control, Y(Nm/s) is set as the rate of increase of regenerative torque in the second regeneration control, and Z(Nm/s) is set as the rate of increase of regenerative torque in the third regeneration control, then X
US08694165B2
An example method is provided and includes establishing a communication pathway to a building element configured to control at least one environmental setting within a room. The method also includes communicating an ability to control the environmental setting within the room to an endpoint configured to participate in a meeting session. The method further includes receiving a command from the endpoint to adjust the environmental setting during the meeting session. The command can be communicated to the building element. In more specific examples, the method can include registering with one or more application program interfaces (APIs) associated with the building element, and communicating a credential to the building element in order to provide an authentication for controlling the environmental setting. In yet other embodiments, the command to adjust the environmental setting is received via a menu of a user interface provided by a video conferencing platform.
US08694162B2
An apparatus is provided for determining a path or route in which a robot may be guided to perform a task(s) and avoiding one or more obstacles or obstructions. The apparatus includes at least one memory and at least one processor configured to receive origin location information via a Near Field Communication (NFC) tag associated with a key in an instance in which the key is positioned in an origin location. The processor is also configured to receive target location information via the NFC tag associated with the key in an instance in which the key is positioned in a target location, at which a task is performed by a robot and may generate a route for the robot to traverse in order to complete the task based in part on the origin location information and the target location information. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.
US08694161B2
A collaborative robotized system comprises: a mobile platform furnished with running device, with an electric motor propulsion assembly, and with a longitudinal mechanical linkage assembly comprising an articulation; an electrical power source; manual control device of the system; remote control device of the system; a computer assembly of at least one computer; hardware-incorporating device suitable for integrating sensors and effectors, and software-incorporating device suitable for integrating software elements; and management device for managing integrated sensorimotor behaviors, suitable for arbitrating implementations of several sensorimotor behaviors in parallel.
US08694158B2
An off-line programming system (10) which includes a three-dimensional shape arranging unit (27) which fills in a curved surface or consecutive plurality of flat surfaces of a selected three-dimensional shape by selected operation patterns and arranges a three-dimensional shape in a virtual space so that the operation patterns will be projected on surfaces of the workpiece model, a working path preparing unit (28) which projects operation patterns on the surfaces of the workpiece model so as to prepare a working path of the tool, and a tool position/posture determining unit (29) which uses the prepared working path and normal direction of the surface of the workpiece model as the basis to automatically determined the position or position/posture of the tool model.
US08694152B2
A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the space. The system includes at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the space, at least one barrier in the space and defining a boundary of the portion of the space and configured to substantially prevent the passage of the vehicles past the at least one barrier, and a controller connected to the control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one control unit for isolating the portion of the space associated with the at least one control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the space and effects the removal from or shutting down of vehicles within the portion of the space.
US08694148B2
A method and system increase processed specimen yield in the laser processing of target material that includes multiple specimens formed on a common substrate. Preferred embodiments implement a feature that enables storage in the laser processing system a list of defective specimens that have somehow been subject to error during laser processing. Once the common substrate has been completely processed, the system alerts an operator to the number of improperly processed specimens and gives the operator an opportunity to run a software routine, which in a preferred embodiment uses a laser to scribe a mark on the top surface of each improperly processed specimen.
US08694130B2
A reinforced medical electrical lead for neurological applications has a reinforced construction for resisting the detachment of electrodes and lead connection terminals, thereby improving the robustness of the lead and extending the life of the lead by reducing the likelihood that a further surgical procedure will be required to remove the lead for repair or replacement thereof. The present reinforced lead construction maintains the integrity of the electrical connection between the conductor and the respective electrode and lead connection terminal by incorporating several reinforcing features in the lead construction in contrast to conventional lead constructions where it is possible to pull the electrodes and lead connection terminals away from their contact points with relatively little force.
US08694122B2
A method and system of providing therapy to a patient using electrodes implanted adjacent tissue. The method comprises regulating a first voltage at an anode of the electrodes relative to the tissue, regulating a second voltage at a cathode of the electrodes relative to the tissue, and conveying electrical stimulation energy between the anode at the first voltage and the cathode at the second voltage, thereby stimulating the neural tissue. The system comprises a grounding electrode configured for being placed in contact with the tissue, electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to the electrodes, a first regulator configured for being electrically coupled between an anode of the electrodes and the grounding electrode, a second regulator configured for being electrically coupled between an anode of the electrodes and the grounding electrode, and control circuitry configured for controlling the regulators to convey electrical stimulation energy between the anode and cathode.
US08694121B2
A programmable switching circuit with charge pumps for a bio-stimulator is disclosed. A programmable controlling circuit generates a set of binary bits according to a controlling program and then uses a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter for outputting to the pulse signal generating circuit so as to generate two pulse signals with the predetermined waveforms and different phases. Then, according to these two pulse signals with different phases, two charge pumps included in a charge pump regulating circuit output currents with specific voltage intensity through two output routes. The amplitude of the current is determined by the capacitor on each output route. Additionally, the programmable controlling circuit determines which route to be outputted so as to control and switch the polarities and current amplitude of a bio-stimulator.
US08694116B2
An apparatus and method for adjusting the performance of an implanted device based on data including contextual information. Contextual information, including operational and performance data concerning the implanted device as well as the patient with the implanted device, is stored by a portable electronic device. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device is adapted for battery operation and includes a personal digital assistant (PDA). The portable electronic device is adapted for use as an interface to conduct wireless communications with the implanted device. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device interfaces with a clinical programmer for use by a physician.
US08694114B2
A hearing assistance device and method is presented. An electrode is configured to be disposed within a cochlea of a user. A processor is in communication with the electrode and is configured to stimulate the electrode. The processor is configured to receive an input audio signal, band-pass filter the input audio signal into a plurality of channel signals, apply a Hilbert transform to at least one of the plurality of channel signals to generate a transformed audio signal, and analyze the transformed audio signal to identify at least one positive-moving zero crossing of the transformed audio signal. Upon identifying the at least one positive-moving zero crossing of the transformed audio signal, the processor is configured to trigger an electric current pulse to be delivered to the electrode.
US08694105B2
The invention relates to a neurostimulation system, particularly for deep brain stimulation (DBS), comprising a spatial array (130) of stimulation electrodes (132) and an associated controller (110). The controller (110) is adapted to sequentially supply electrical pulses to different subsets of the stimulation electrodes (132). Preferably, the controller (110) comprises a single pulse-generator (112) and a multiplexing unit (111) for distributing the pulses to different stimulation electrodes. The stimulation electrodes (132) may preferably be arranged on probes (131).
US08694103B2
An implantable connector comprises an electrically insulative housing including an outer wall, an interior cavity surrounded by the outer wall, a port through which the lead body portion can be introduced into the interior cavity, and a pair of first apertures disposed through the outer wall on a first side of the housing. The connector further comprises an electrical spring clip contact mounted to the housing. The contact includes a common portion and a pair of legs extending from opposite ends of the common portion. The legs respectively extend through the first apertures into the interior cavity, such that the legs firmly engage the electrical terminal therebetween when the lead body portion is introduced into the interior cavity.
US08694099B2
Generally, the disclosure is directed one or more methods or systems of cardiac pacing employing a right ventricular electrode and a plurality of left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a first one of the left ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Employing sums of the measured activation times to select one of the left ventricular electrodes for delivery of subsequent pacing pulses.
US08694083B2
In a biometric sensor provided for use with an exercise apparatus and having a pair electrodes for sensing a biopotential signal, a common-mode rejection circuit can be used to cancel noise in the signal resulting from various sources including motion of the apparatus.
US08694081B2
A system and associated method include an AECG/PCG sensor configured to generate an AECG/PCG signal in response to a monitored fetal heart. The system also includes an US transducer configured to generate an US signal in response to the monitored fetal heart. The system also includes a computer configured to assess the quality of the AECG/PCG signal, and compare the assessed quality of the AECG/PCG signal with a selectable threshold value. The computer is also configured to disable the US transducer and process the AECG/PCG signal to provide a fetal heart rate estimate as long as the assessed quality of the AEC/PCG signal exceeds the selectable threshold value. The computer is also configured to enable the US transducer and process the US signal to provide a fetal heart rate estimate only if the assessed quality of the AEC/PCG signal is equal to or less than the selectable threshold value.
US08694077B2
An apparatus for targeting a desired target site on a body tissue that separates a first body cavity from a second body cavity of a patient includes a catheter having a longitudinally extending catheter lumen and adapted to provide access to the first body cavity. A framing member has a collapsed condition in which the framing member is adapted for insertion into the first body cavity through the catheter lumen and an expanded condition in which the framing member is adapted for placement within the first body cavity. The framing member has a framing member body. At least one target point is carried by the framing member and is adapted for placement adjacent the desired target site. At least one target pathway is attached to at least one target point. At least a portion of the target pathway extends through the catheter lumen. The target pathway is substantially spaced apart from the framing member body. A method of using the apparatus is also described.
US08694074B2
Methods and systems for determining whether a location of multiple current injecting electrodes has changed are disclosed herein.
US08694069B1
A fiber-optic (FO) element-based sensing probe for use in monitoring parameters of a biological environment. A straight FO-element, embedded and cast in a polymeric body of the probe delivers excitation light from a light source on one side of the FO-element to a chamber, inside the body, that is filled with an indicator matrix responsive to the excitation light and to the presence of a biological environment. The same straight FO-element collects light from the chamber and delivers it, in an opposite direction, from the chamber to an optical detector. The chamber may be configured to be co-axial with the FO-element and to have a transverse dimension, across the axis of the FO-element, exceeding the outer diameter of the core of the FO-element. A membrane permeable to an analyte of the biological environment is disposed in a recess of the chamber adjoining the aperture defined by the chamber in an outer side surface of the polymeric body.
US08694068B2
A method and system for continually monitoring oxygenation levels in real-time in compartments of an animal limb, such as in a human leg or a human thigh or a forearm, can be used to assist in the diagnosis of a compartment syndrome. The method and system can include one or more near infrared compartment sensors in which each sensor can be provided with a compartment alignment mechanism and a central scan depth marker so that each sensor may be precisely positioned over a compartment of a living organism. The method and system can include a device for displaying oxygenation levels corresponding to respective compartment sensors that are measuring oxygenation levels of a compartment of interest. The method and system can also monitor the relationship between blood pressure and oxygenation levels and activate alarms based on predetermined conditions relating to the oxygenation levels or blood pressure or both.
US08694066B2
A superconducting magnet system for high power microwave source focusing and cyclotron electronic apparatus is provided, wherein, the superconducting magnet comprises an inner superconducting main coil, an outer superconducting main coil, two end compensation coils, a regulating coil and a central regulating coil. These coils are formed by coiling Nb3Sn/Cu superconducting wire. The superconducting magnet can operate off-line through solid nitrogen formed by a cryocooler and high-pressure nitrogen. The superconducting magnet and the superconducting switch constitute a closed loop, thereby achieving magnetic field stability, without outside electromagnetic interference. The superconducting magnet system can provide a magnetic field having special spatial distribution and high stability.
US08694060B2
A process device wireless adapter includes a wireless communications module, a metallic housing, and an antenna. The wireless communications module is configured to communicatively couple to a process device and to a wireless receiver. The metallic housing surrounds the wireless communication module and has a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to attach to the process device. In one embodiment, a metallic shield contacts the housing second end such that the metallic shield and the housing form a substantially continuous conductive surface. The antenna is communicatively coupled to the wireless communication module and separated from the wireless communication module by the metallic shield. Preferably, the wireless communications module illustratively includes a printed circuit board that has a length that is greater than its width.
US08694049B2
This disclosure describes a distributed reader architecture for a mobile computing device such as cellular telephone handset. This architecture includes a reader library that reads device capabilities and business model parameters in the device, and in response, for selects an appropriate configuration of reader modules for identifying a content item. The reader modules each perform a function used in identifying a content item. The modules are selected so that the resources available on the device and in remote devices are used optimally, depending on available computing resources on the device and network bandwidth. One example of a reader module is a fast watermark detection module that quickly detects the presence of a watermark, enabling resources to be focused on portions of content that are most likely going to lead to successful content identification. A watermark signal structure for fast watermark detection is comprised of a dense array of impulse functions in a form of a circle in a Fourier magnitude domain, and the impulse functions having pseudorandom phase. Alternative structures are possible.
US08694039B2
A method and system are provided in which a device comprising a first or main phase locked loop (PLL) and a second or reference PLL, is operable to communicate utilizing a first and a second receiving antenna. The first PLL may generate a first signal based on a reference signal generated by the second PLL. A second signal may also be generated based on the reference signal. Data associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) may be received via the first receiving antenna utilizing the generated first signal. The first RAT or another RAT may be scanned via the second receiving antenna utilizing the generated second signal. The scan via the second receiving antenna may be performed concurrently with the reception of data via the first receiving antenna. A switch may be utilized to enable or disable scanning operations via the second receiving antenna.
US08694034B2
A system for the distribution of radio-frequency signals includes a main unit associated with at least a first radio communication set, at least a remote unit associated with at least a second radio communication set installed in a preset area, for the radio coverage of the area, and a communication channel associated with the main unit and with the remote unit, wherein the main unit (2) and the remote unit have analogue modulation elements of the signals to be sent on the communication channel. The remote unit includes at least a selective amplification unit associated with the second radio communication set and having analogue/digital conversion elements of the signals coming from the main unit, through the communication channel, and/or of the signals coming from the second radio communication set, digital filtering elements of the digital signals coming out of the analogue/digital conversion elements and amplification elements of the signals coming from the main unit, through the communication channel, and/or of the signals coming from the second radio communication set.
US08694030B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for per-antenna training in a multiple antenna communication system having a plurality of transmit antenna branches. A long training sequence is transmitted on each of the transmit antenna branches such that only one of the transmit antenna branches is active at a given time. The active transmit antenna branch is configured in a transmit mode during the given time and one or more of the inactive transmit antenna branches are configured in a receive mode during the given time. The transmit and receive modes are configured, for example, by applying a control signal to one or more switches.
US08694029B2
The inventive method for monitoring entities (10) moving in a monitored space represented by a first digital model (14) comprising a set of maps (16) divided into geographical zones (18) of a predetermined shape, and having a size defined according to the level of granularity, includes: identifying geographical zones (18) of each map (16), defining operational zones (24a, 24b) and associating each operational zone (24a, 24b) with a predefined level of granularity, configuration, positioning the entity (10), determining a level of granularity to be applied, determining a geographical zone (18) containing the entity (10), detecting a change of zone, and applying a new level of granularity as a function of the operational destination zone (24a, 24b). The determination steps, the detection step, and the application step are carried out within each entity (10), independently.
US08694025B2
A method and system arc disclosed for determining the geographic location of a user communicating on a communications network such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a provider of a product or service: (a) receives the user's phone number (or other identification for contacting the user's station), and (b) supplies the user's station with a distinctive identifier. The provider then supplies a location determining service with the user's phone number (or other identification). A phone call is made to the phone number by the location determining service for retrieving the distinctive identifier from the network station having the phone number. If the distinctive identifier is retrieved and the location determining service determines that the user's station is within an appropriate geographical area (or not within an inappropriate area), then the provider can provide the requested product or service to the user.
US08694023B2
In some examples, a method of tracking device location in a communication network is described. The method may include, detecting at a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, location indicia from one or more access points (APs) in a vicinity of the MTC device. The method may also include determining, based on the detected location indicia, that a current location of the MTC device is different than a preceding location of the MTC device. The method may also include reporting the detected location indicia to a network end in the communication network. The network end may be configured to update location information of the MTC device in response to receiving the detected location indicia.
US08694016B2
Systems, methods, device and apparatus are provided that allocate broadcast delivery capacity based oil popularity measurements associated with broadcasted data objects. By allocating broadcast delivery capacity based on popularity measurements, Quality of Service (QoS) perception can be improved by decreasing the number of reception failures, decreasing the data object access delay and/or decreasing the consumption of wireless device resources, such as battery power and processing capabilities.
US08694014B1
A method and corresponding system is provided for managing registrations and reducing registration failure. According to at least one embodiment of the method, a wireless communication device (WCD) receives a channel list message (CLM) in a given coverage area. The WCD may determine that it is not within coverage of a first channel specified in the CLM. The WCD may make this determination before attempting to register for service on the first channel. In response to making this determination, the WCD may register for service on another channel specified in the received CLM.
US08693992B2
A method of storage of an e-mail includes either receiving the e-mail at a portable electronic device or sending the e-mail from the portable electronic device. The e-mail is marked for saving at the portable electronic device and transmitted by radio communication for receipt by a server and for storage of the e-mail in a backup database.
US08693990B2
A computer program product that includes a computer useable storage medium to store a computer readable program for proximity-based authentication for managing personal data that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations. The operations include receiving a request for personal data from a data access device, determining a first location corresponding to a location of the data access device, and determining a second location corresponding to a location of an authentication device. The operations also include transmitting the personal data to the data access device if the first location is within a threshold distance of the second location.
US08693986B2
A method for use in enabling a mobile communication device for communication involves establishing communication with an IEEE 801.11 device which is configured to operate as an access point; while communicating with the IEEE 801.11 device: participating in an authentication procedure with the IEEE 802.11 device; after positive authentication from the authentication procedure, participating in a provisioning procedure with the IEEE 802.11 device for receiving information for programming in the mobile communication device; and communicating with use of the programmed information in the mobile communication device.
US08693983B2
A method for operating a mobile network, especially for charging traffic within the mobile network, wherein monitoring of chargeable events regarding traffic from and/or to a mobile node will be performed by a Charging Function for collecting charging data. The method is characterized in that a Charging Function's sub-function for monitoring of chargeable events on a data flow level or IP (Internet Protocol) flow level will be additionally located—as an additional sub-function D-CEMF (Delegated Chargeable Event Monitoring Function)—on at least one further network element, which is different from the Charging Function and which allows to traverse breakout and/or localized traffic of the mobile node, so that the Charging Function and the further network element each are including such a sub-function, and that the additional sub-function D-CEMF will report information regarding monitored chargeable events to the Charging Function. A mobile network for carrying out the method is described.
US08693979B2
Aspects of the present disclosure provide power efficient methods to track an emergency call. A mobile station may take Location Base Service (LBS) measurements during a low power state and may report the measurements to a serving base station. The serving base station may report the measurements to a network control and management system (NCMS) to track the emergency call.
US08693976B2
Disclosed herein are techniques for allowing callbacks from emergency call centers to a subscriber, including when restrictions in place would have otherwise prevented the call. The technique may employ Camel, thereby triggering Camel when a subscriber dials an emergency or public safety call center. Camel's Mobile Switching Center (MSC) will set up a call to the emergency call center, and the Service Control Point (SCP) will suspend or disable the restrictions in place, such as parental control features. The restrictions may be suspended indefinitely, for a specific time period, until another triggering event, or the like. The subscriber, in this manner, can receive a callback from the emergency call center.
US08693975B2
A cigarette lighter adapter (CLA) is provided with a main body configured to be connected at one end thereof to a vehicle cigarette lighter socket or auxiliary power socket. The main body of the cigarette lighter adapter is also connected to one end of a coaxial cable. The other end of the coaxial cable is preferably terminated with a standard low cost DC connector for connection to a portable media player (e.g., with integrated or separate satellite radio receiver) or other content source that provides a frequency modulated (FM) radio frequency signal with audio content onto the coaxial cable 60. The FM signal is amplified by an amplifier in the main body of the CLA and then injected into the vehicle power system through the contacts in the mechanical housing of the main body and the vehicle cigarette lighter socket.
US08693974B2
A receiving apparatus is provided. The receiving apparatus comprises a chip carrier including at least one stack of layers, wherein at least one layer in the stack supports radio frequency transmission lines, tunable bandpass filters, wherein each bandpass filter is integrated within an associated radio frequency transmission line, and at least one integrated micro-chip on the chip carrier. The at least one integrated micro-chip couples selected bandwidth regions of received broadband radio frequency signals to the tunable bandpass filters via the associated radio frequency transmission line. The at least one integrated micro-chip outputs each filtered selected bandwidth region to an associated one of a plurality of intermediate frequency modules.
US08693966B2
A method for filtering out a useful signal of a mobile radio terminal from a plurality of superimposed signals having a signal quality received by base stations in a cellular mobile radio network. The superimposed signal of the mobile radio terminal is detected by base stations that are reached and the signal quality of the received and superimposed signal of every base station reached is determined. The signal quality of a selected base station is then transmitted to a decision element and a selection of a selected base station is made by the decision element to decode the useful signal of the mobile radio terminal. The invention also relates to a device for filtering out a useful signal of a mobile radio terminal from a plurality of superimposed signals received by base stations in a cellular mobile radio network.
US08693959B1
A system for transmitting and receiving data is provided. The system includes a direct-conversion receiver that receives a signal modulated on a carrier frequency signal. The direct-conversion receiver includes one or more subharmonic local oscillator mixers. A local oscillator is connected to the direct conversion receiver, and generates a signal having a frequency equal to a subharmonic of the carrier frequency signal. A transmitter is connected to the local oscillator, which uses the local oscillator signal to transmit outgoing data.
US08693957B2
A signal transceiving module includes: a first antenna; a first signal port; and a first processing circuit coupled to the first signal port and arranged to detect a first signal quality of a first received signal received from the first signal port and determine if the first antenna is coupled to the first signal port correctly according to at least the first signal quality.
US08693956B2
A method for evaluating the current coupling factor between an electromagnetic transponder and a terminal, wherein a ratio between data, representative of a voltage across an oscillating circuit of the transponder and obtained for two values of the resistive load, is compared with one or several thresholds.
US08693955B2
A method and apparatus for determining the location of a node within a wireless communication system is provided herein. In order to determine the location of a node, a series of GSM network measurement reports (NMRs) received at multiple base stations are analyzed by location-finding equipment. Multiple reports from the same mobile unit are analyzed for their received signal strength and multiple location estimates are then determined for the node. The location estimates are then averaged and weighted to determine an accurate location estimate for the node.
US08693954B2
The invention is directed to a method for reducing the influence of an interfering signal Si on a wanted signal Sw in a first frequency channel n received by a receiver 112a′ when the interfering signal Si occurs in a second frequency channel n+1 near to the first channel n. The method comprises the steps of: assuming a model Sτof a transmitter 120b′ causing the interfering signal Si; obtaining in the first channel n a measure of the wanted signal Sw and a measure of a nonlinear part of the interfering signal Si, and in the second channel n+1 a measure of a linear part of the interfering signal Si; solving the model for said transmitter 120b′ by using the measured linear and nonlinear part; and obtaining the interfering signal Si; influencing the first channel n by using the solved model, and subtracting the obtained interfering signal S1 from the wanted signal Sw received by the receiver 112a′.
US08693948B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service. According to embodiments, a method for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service is provided. According to the method a first mobile cellular device is selected. An instruction is transmitted to the first mobile cellular device instructing the first mobile cellular device. The instruction causes the first mobile cellular device to relay communications between the second mobile cellular device and the cellular service provider. The first mobile cellular device thereby provides the repeating function for the second mobile cellular device.
US08693945B2
A signal repeating system for a wireless network includes an antenna configured for transceiving signals between a base station and a user equipment device. Repeating circuitry is coupled to the antenna and defines an uplink path for signals from the user equipment device to the base station and a downlink path for signals from the base station to the user equipment device. The repeating circuitry includes gain circuitry and gain control circuitry that is coupled to the gain circuitry. The gain control circuitry is operable for varying the gain of the repeating circuitry according to a waveform. Measurement circuitry measures the receive power in the uplink path over time from the user equipment device. Processing circuitry cross-correlates the inverted gain variation waveform with the measured receive power for determining the existence of traffic from user equipment devices in the uplink path.
US08693944B2
Disabling data channels at a customer premises provides, in one embodiment, generating at least one jamming signal and inserting the at least one jamming signal at a first frequency to jam at least one carrier frequency channel. The jamming signal may be hopped to at least one additional frequency different from the first frequency to jam at least one additional carrier frequency channel.
US08693935B2
A fixing unit includes a heating rotary belt, a pressing member that abuts with an inner surface of the heating rotary belt, a pressing rotor that forms a fixing nip with the heating rotary belt, a induction coil separated by a predetermined distance from the external surface of the heating rotary belt and generating a magnetic flux to generate heat in the heating rotary belt, a magnetic core portion that forms a magnetic path for the magnetic flux generated by the induction coil, and a regulating portion that regulates the deformation of the heating rotary belt by abutment with the external surface of the heating rotary belt.
US08693934B2
A fixing device includes an induction heater disposed opposite a heating rotary body and including a first side core disposed at one end of the induction heater, a second side core disposed at another end of the induction heater in a direction of rotation of the heating rotary body, and a plurality of arch cores arranged in an axial direction of the heating rotary body. Each arch core includes a first vault edge face disposed at one end of the arch core in the direction of rotation of the heating rotary body and contacting a planar face of the first side core and a second vault edge face disposed at another end of the arch core in the direction of rotation of the heating rotary body and contacting a planar face of the second side core.
US08693929B2
An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a print medium with a developer composed of toner and carriers, wherein when the first distance is longer than the second distance, an average gap between the first peripheral surface and a member that faces to the first peripheral surface in an area with a length of the first distance extending upstream from the closest point with respect to the specified direction is smaller than an average gap between the first peripheral surface and a member that faces to the first peripheral surface in an area with a length of the first distance extending downstream from the closest point with respect to the specified direction.
US08693913B2
An image forming apparatus includes a control board, a first connection terminal provided on an outer surface of the control board, an installation section disposed at the outer surface side of the control board, a substrate capable of being installed into the installation section, a second connection terminal provided on a first surface of the substrate and connected to the first connection terminal, a grip portion provided on a second surface of the substrate at a first end thereof in an in-plane direction, and an external connection terminal provided on the substrate so as to project from the substrate at a second end thereof in the in-plane direction. The external connection terminal is externally exposed to allow an external device to be connected thereto when the substrate is installed into the installation section after the external connection terminal is inserted through an opening in the apparatus body.
US08693904B2
An image forming apparatus may include a first and second mode. In the first mode, the image forming apparatus uses a second charging member to charge toner that remains on an intermediate transfer member and then transfers the charged, remaining toner to an image carrier in a primary transfer portion. In the second mode, the image forming apparatus transfers the remaining toner adhered to the second charging member in the first mode to the intermediate transfer member. Also in a second mode, the image forming apparatus controls so that a surface potential of the image carrier that reaches the primary transfer portion at a timing at which the remaining toner transferred to the intermediate transfer member passes through the primary transfer portion has a same polarity as that of a surface potential of the image carrier in the first mode and also has an absolute value smaller than that thereof.
US08693902B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a charging unit that uniformly charges a surface of a latent image carrier; a latent-image forming unit; a developing unit that performs development by causing toner to electrostatically adhere on the surface of the carrier; a transfer unit that transfers a toner image onto a recording medium; and an image-density adjusting unit that causes to form a multi-gradation patch pattern on the surface of the carrier, that causes to detect potentials of latent image patches in the multi-gradation patch pattern, that causes to detect a toner adhesion amount on each toner patch, and that performs control of an image density. One of part and all of the low-density latent image patches is a dot-dispersed latent image patch in which the arrangement of unit dot latent images in the basic dot matrix is determined so that a minimum center-to-center distance having a smallest value is maximized.
US08693891B2
An optical modulation apparatus includes a first modulator, a second modulator, a multiplexer, a calculator and an adjustor. The first modulator configured to modulate light emitted by a light source using a first input signal and output a first modulated signal. The second modulator configured to modulate the light using a second input signal and output a second modulated signal. The multiplexer configured to multiplex the first and second modulated signals and output a multiplexed signal. The calculator configured to calculate a power difference between a higher-side frequency component having a frequency higher than a center frequency of the multiplexed signal and a lower-side frequency component having a frequency lower than the center frequency. The adjustor configured to adjust delays of the first and second input signals based on the power.
US08693886B2
In an optical multilevel transmitter (210), a polar representation of an optical multilevel signal (r, φ) is generated by a polar coordinate multilevel signal generation circuit (212), input to an optical amplitude modulator (211) and a polar coordinate type optical phase modulator (201), and output as an optical multilevel modulated signal (213). The polar coordinate type optical phase modulator (201) generates an optical phase rotation proportional to an input voltage, so the modulation distortion of the electric signal is transferred in a linear form to the optical phases of the optical multilevel modulated signal (213). In an optical multilevel receiver (219), a received signal is input to two sets of optical delay detectors (133) and balance receivers (134) and directly demodulated, and a differential phase Δφ for the received signal is calculated by arctangent computation from the output signal. In a phase adaptive equalizer (205), the modulation distortion of the phase is removed by adaptive equalization of the differential phase Δφ. By separately receiving the amplitude components and combining them, the modulation distortion is removed and highly sensitive optical multilevel transmission is achieved.
US08693880B2
A wavelength path communication node apparatus includes a wavelength path demultiplexer (321) which demultiplexes branched optical signals input to wavelength multiplexing ports into wavelength path signals, and outputs the wavelength path signals from wavelength demultiplexing ports corresponding to the respective wavelengths, a wavelength path multiplexer (322) which outputs wavelength path signals input to wavelength demultiplexing ports from wavelength multiplexing ports corresponding to the wavelengths of the wavelength path signals, a plurality of transponders (331) each of which converts a wavelength path signal input to a wavelength path transmission port into a client transmission signal to transmit the client transmission signal, and converts a received client reception signal into a wavelength path signal of a wavelength to output the wavelength path signal from a wavelength path reception port, a demultiplexing system optical matrix switch (323) which switches and connects the wavelength demultiplexing ports of the wavelength path demultiplexer and the wavelength path transmission ports of the transponders, and a multiplexing system optical matrix switch (324) which switches and connects the wavelength demultiplexing ports of the wavelength path multiplexer and the wavelength path reception ports of the transponders.
US08693871B2
A method for routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) in an optical network with improved heuristics for reducing the computational times required for the RWA. The method minimizes the number of wavelengths by packing the lightpaths using a minimum number of bins in a bin packing problem. Computational efficiency is enhanced by using several novel methods to determine shortest paths and eliminate arcs in a graph that represents the network topology.
US08693870B2
The present invention provides a control apparatus including: an output monitor which monitors polarization-multiplexed output light output from a polarization multiplexing light modulator which modulates light of two systems independent of each other, polarization-multiplexes light signals of the two systems subjected to the light modulation, and outputs the polarization-multiplexed light signals; and a control unit which controls a delay time difference at a stage where the light signals of the two systems forming the polarization multiplexing light modulator are polarization-multiplexed based on a monitor result of the output monitor. The control apparatus controls a delay time difference between polarization channels easily or surely.
US08693852B2
A warmer for scented oil is provided. The warmer includes a base, a cover removably positioned on the base, and a warming device. The cover has a substantially spherical shape with an opening at an upper apex and an open channel formed in the cover at the upper apex around an outer periphery of the opening. The open channel is configured to receive the scented oil. The warming device is in a heat conductive relationship with the cover so that scented oil in the open channel is warmed by the warming device. The warming device can be one or more of a lighting device with an incandescent light bulb, a resistance heater with or without a lighting device such as a light emitting diode, or a candle.
US08693850B2
The disclosed method calculates video time density functions based on inter-frame mutual information or other similarity measures. The method includes acquiring a video sequence from memory, computing mutual information or other similarity measures between two consecutive frames of the video sequence, and constructing a video temporal density function based on the mutual information or similarity measures. The method enables fast navigation of the video sequence by performing a temporal quantization of the video time density function to determine a set of quanta. The video sequence can be navigated using the nearest neighbor video frames to the set of quanta. The method enables thumbnail extraction of a video sequence using statistical modeling by performing a temporal quantization of the video time density function to segment video sequence in time domain and using mixture (such as Gaussian mixture and ICA mixture) vector quantization to find the sample frames for each temporal segment.
US08693847B2
There is provided a contents processing apparatus including: a contents data acquisition unit that acquires data of contents; a section detection unit that detects from the acquired data of the contents a cross-fade section that includes a plurality of frames constituting a portion where a final picture of a predetermined scene is gradually changed and replaced with a picture of the next scene; a scene specifying unit that specifies a retrospective scene, where a plurality of scenes are changed in a predetermined interval, based on the detected cross-fade section; a similar scene searching unit that searches for scenes similar to the plurality of the scenes included in the specified retrospective scene from data of different contents acquired by the contents data acquisition unit; and a digest generation unit that generates a digest of the different contents by combining the searched scenes.
US08693841B2
There is provided with a video reproducing apparatus, including: an access unit configured to access a storage medium holding a plurality of video scenes; an external device search unit configured to search for an external device which can communicate; a scene selecting unit configured to select a video scene from the storage medium based on information of the external device found by the external device search unit; and a video reproducing unit configured to read the selected video scene from the storage medium using the access unit and reproduce the video scene.
US08693839B2
An image recording apparatus includes: a recording process section recording an image on a recording medium; an output process section outputting the image; and a control section multiplexing information on timing for starting the recording of the image with the image output from the output process section before the recording process section starts recording the image on the recording medium.
US08693828B2
A waveguide structure for a dual polarization waveguide includes a first flange member, a second flange member, and a waveguide member disposed in each of the first flange member and second flange member. The first flange member and the second flange member are configured to be coupled together in a spaced-apart relationship separated by a gap. The first flange member has a substantially smooth surface, and the second flange member has an array of two-dimensional pillar structures formed therein.
US08693825B2
A ferrule structure including a ferrule having an end face shape configured to incorporate at least a portion of a lens attached to an end of an optical fiber. The end face includes a cavity in which a circumference of the cavity is equal to or less than the outer diameter of the ferrule and larger than in inner diameter of an opening in the ferrule housing an optical fiber.
US08693820B2
An optical waveguide includes a substrate, an upper clad layer arranged on the substrate; and an optical waveguide structure that is disposed in the upper clad layer so as to be parallel to a surface of the substrate. The optical waveguide structure includes a flat optical waveguide, channel optical waveguides that are each connected with a first edge face of the flat optical waveguide and extend radially therefrom, the channel optical waveguides each respectively have lateral sides parallel to the substrate surface that have a width therebetween which increases as the distance from the first edge face increases, and an input optical waveguide connected with a second edge face that is arranged at an side of the flat optical waveguide opposite to the first edge face.
US08693810B2
A system and method for cancellation of RF interference in the optical domain. The system and method utilize two Mach-Zehnder electrooptic modulators biased for parallel counter-phase modulation. The method of signal subtraction is referred to as incoherent optical subtraction, since two independent laser sources serve as the optical carrier waves. The system has produced the broadband cancellation result while simultaneously recovering a 50 dBm signal which was initially “buried” under the broadband interference. The cancellation depths achieved by the system are due to the accurate channel tracking and precise time delays attainable with modern optical devices—unattainable with state-of-the-art electronic devices at the time of this writing.
US08693802B2
A fluoroscopy apparatus including: an illumination unit having a light source radiating illumination light and excitation light onto an observation target, a fluorescence-imaging unit acquiring a fluorescence image by imaging fluorescence generated at the observation target by the excitation light, a white-light-imaging unit acquiring a reference image by imaging light returning from the observation target by the illumination light, and an image-correction unit obtaining a correction fluorescence image by raising the luminance value of the fluorescence image to the power of a reciprocal of a first and second exponent obtained by a power approximation of a distance characteristic of luminance versus observation distance, for the fluorescence image, and that obtains a corrected fluorescence image by dividing the correction fluorescence image by the correction reference image.
US08693795B2
A method for encoding video or images includes receiving input data associated with a block within a video or image frame and performing a transform of the input data to produce a first set of output coefficients. The method also includes receiving the first set of output coefficients and performing a second transform to produce a second set of output coefficients. The method further includes quantizing the second set of output coefficients. The second transform is performed using a rotational transform matrix that is selected to maximize a degree of orthogonality of the rotational transform matrix.
US08693792B2
Costs are reduced, by decreasing the number of encoders used to compress images when compressing two or more images at different compression rates. A region of interest is detected within a processing target image, and a region of interest image is generated. A reduced image is generated by reducing the size of the processing target image. The reduced image and the region of interest image are multiplexed in an image space to generate a multiplex image. The multiplex image is compressed to generate compressed image data.
US08693782B2
A fingerprint of an image identified within a received message is generated following analysis of the message. A spam detection engine identifies an image within a message and converts the image into a grey scale image. The spam detection engine analyzes the grey scale image and assigns a score. A fingerprint of the grey scale image is generated based on the score. The fingerprint may also be based on other factors such as the message sender's status (e.g. blacklisted or whitelisted) and other scores and reports generated by the spam detection engine. The fingerprint is then used to filter future incoming messages.
US08693778B1
A color-based imaging system and method for the detection and classification of insects and other arthropods are described, including devices for counting arthropods and providing taxonomic capabilities useful for pest-management. Some embodiments include an image sensor (for example, a digital color camera, scanner or a video camera) with optional illumination that communicates with a computer system. Some embodiments include a color scanner connected to a computer. Sampled arthropods are put on a scanner to be counted and identified. The computer captures images from the scanner, adjusts scanner settings, and processes the acquired images to detect and identify the arthropods. Other embodiments include a trapping device and a digital camera connected by cable or wireless communications to the computer. Some devices include a processor to do the detection and identification in the field, or the field system can send the images to a centralized host computer for detection and identification.
US08693771B2
A single panchromatic (Pan) image and a single multispectral (MS) image are Pan-sharpened by extracting features from the Pan image and the MS image. The features are decomposed into features without missing values and features with missing values. A dictionary is learned from the features without missing values. The values for the features with the missing values are learned using the dictionary. The MS image is merged with the Pan image including the predicted values into a merged image, and the merged image is then Pan sharpened.
US08693763B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining preferred alignments of a treatment beam generator, which is suitable for irradiating an object, relative to a body, wherein the visibility of the object in at least one image is taken into account when determining the preferred alignments, wherein the image is obtained by means of at least one imaging device, the position of which relative to the treatment beam generator is known and invariable.
US08693761B2
A method of generating a susceptibility map of an object utilizes a regularizing inverse function, oversampling k-space, removing external phase noise and rapid phase change effects, accounting for the known geometry of the object, and using modified SWI phase data to generate reasonable susceptibility maps and digital images therefrom, such as SWI images. The inventors refers to the inventive methods set forth herein as Susceptibility Weighted Imaging and Mapping (SWIM).
US08693750B2
A method and system for automatic detection and volumetric quantification of bone lesions in 3D medical images, such as 3D computed tomography (CT) volumes, is disclosed. Regions of interest corresponding to bone regions are detected in a 3D medical image. Bone lesions are detected in the regions of interest using a cascade of trained detectors. The cascade of trained detectors automatically detects lesion centers and then estimates lesion size in all three spatial axes. A hierarchical multi-scale approach is used to detect bone lesions using a cascade of detectors on multiple levels of a resolution pyramid of the 3D medical image.
US08693745B2
Methods and computer program products for quantitative three-dimensional (“3D”) image correction in optical coherence tomography. Using the methods and computer program products, index interface (refracting) surfaces from the raw optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) dataset from an OCT system can be segmented. Normal vectors or partial derivatives of the curvature at a refracting surface can be calculated to obtain a refracted image voxel. A new position of each desired refracted image voxel can be iteratively computed. New refracted corrected voxel positions to an even sampling grid can be interpolated to provide corrected image data. In some embodiments, clinical outputs from the corrected image data can be computed.
US08693744B2
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for generating a contour for a medical image. The system may include a contour synthesis engine that is configured to receive a plurality of contours for a medical image, the plurality of contours identifying at least one object within the medical image. The contour synthesis engine may be further configured to synthesize a combined contour from the plurality of contours by selecting portions of the plurality of contours based on one or more pre-defined contour combination criterion, the one or more pre-defined contour combination criterion including a designated number of contour overlaps such that any region where at least the designated number of contours are overlapping is included in the combined contour. The system may also include a graphical user interface configured to display an overlay of the plurality of contours and the combined contour on the medical image, and to receive user input to modify the combined contour by adding an additional region from the plurality of contours.
US08693742B2
Embodiments of the present invention can resolve molecules beyond the optical diffraction limit in three dimensions. A double-helix point spread function can be used to in conjunction with a microscope to provide dual-lobed images of a molecule. Based on the rotation of the dual-lobed image, the axial position of the molecule can be estimated or determined. In some embodiments, the angular rotation of the dual-lobed imaged can be determined using a centroid fit calculation or by finding the midpoints of the centers of the two lobes. Regardless of the technique, the correspondence between the rotation and axial position can be utilized. A double-helix point spread function can also be used to determine the lateral positions of molecules and hence their three-dimensional location.
US08693740B1
A method and architecture for face detection under varying light conditions, tilt levels, different color characteristics of faces in a digital image are disclosed. In one embodiment, skin pixels in the digital image are selected. Any unselected pixels are then classified into bright pixels and dark pixels. Skin pixels are then selected from the bright pixels. Skin pixels are further selected from the dark pixels. All the skin pixels are then grouped into windows. Any window having skin pixels that is more than or equal to a predetermined number of skin pixels is then declared as a skin window. Candidate face regions are then formed by grouping the skin windows. Boundaries of candidate face regions are then determined. Eye regions are then determined in the boundaries of candidate face regions. Each candidate face region is then declared as a face, if the eye regions are determined in it.
US08693710B2
An apparatus for preventing leakage of a weak signal from a speaker is provided. The apparatus passes a normal speaker drive signal coming through speaker signal lines and blocks a weak signal generated by the sounds around the speaker, thereby preventing wiretapping the speaker.
US08693709B2
An audio speaker has at least one transducer for converting electrical signals into mechanical motion. There is a planar sound producing structure that has a first face and a second face. A mechanical connection connects the at least one transducer to the sound producing structure, such that mechanical motion produced by the at least one transducer induces the sound producing structure to vibrate and produces sound from the first face and the second face. A deflector is interposed between the at least one transducer and the sound producing structure. The deflector is adjacent to the second face of the sound producing structure and reflects the produced sound from the second face of the sound producing structure to a listening area forward of the first face.
US08693708B2
A backup alarm for producing an audible warning signal which warbles or beeps, at selected audible output power (Db) levels includes a computer which drives a speaker by switching drive voltage to the speaker with above audible, high frequency pulses in packets repetitive at audible frequency. The high frequency pulses are pulse width modulated at different ratios selected from tables in memory of the computer in accordance with the voltage from a battery power source which provides the drive voltage so that the audible output power remains constant at the selected level over a wide range of power source voltage. By providing for warning/alarm signal generation by means of an operating system which provides both high, above audible frequency and audible frequency switching, power conservation and warning signal output power control are accomplished without interference.
US08693707B2
A signal processing circuit includes: an AD converter configured to quantize an input signal, whose amplitude changes in accordance with temperature, within a set voltage range and convert the quantized input signal into a digital signal; and a setting circuit configured to set the voltage range so as to be wider when the input signal is greater in amplitude in accordance with the temperature and so as to be narrower when the input signal is smaller in amplitude in accordance with the temperature.
US08693697B2
An encoder and encoding method for use in a surround sound system wherein at least four audio input signals representing an original sound field are encoded into two channel signals and the encoded two channel signals are decoded into at least four audio output signals corresponding to the four audio input signals. The encoder includes matrix structure connected to receive the four audio input signals for encoding the four input signals into two channel output signals. The matrix structure is responsive to the four input signals for producing L and R output signals as follows: L=FL+kFR+jRL+jkRR R=FR+kFL−jRR−jkRL wherein k denotes a transformation or matrix constant having a value approximately 0.207 and j denotes a 90 degree phase shift.
US08693696B2
A parameter representation of a multi-channel signal having several original channels includes a parameter set, which, when used together with at least one down-mix channel allows a multi-channel reconstruction. An additional level parameter is calculated such that an energy of the at least one downmix channel weighted by the level parameter is equal to a sum of energies of the original channels. The additional level parameter is transmitted to a multi-channel reconstructor together with the parameter set or together with a down-mix channel. An apparatus for generating a multi-channel representation uses the level parameter to correct the energy of the at least one transmitted downmix channel before entering the down-mix signal into an upmixer or within the up-mixing process.
US08693688B2
A method and apparatus for adaptive packet ciphering is disclosed. The apparatus can include a transceiver capable of communicating in a wireless network and specifying a packet number (PN) and an integrity check value (ICV) as separate packet data units (PDUs) in a stream of a PDUs. The data between a PN-PDU and an ICV-PDU can be enciphered as a single payload of concentrated PDUs.
US08693687B2
The present invention introduces methods and apparatus of encrypting/decrypting three-dimensional (3D) video content. The inventive methods and apparatus can achieve a flexible payment/authorization mechanism for the 3D video content. A user can choose to view only 2D images corresponding to the video content, or pay an authorization fee that allows the user to view the entire 3D video content.
US08693683B2
An electronic device generates identifying values which are used in authenticating the electronic device. The device comprises an interface, a private key generator for generating a private key, a non-volatile memory for storing at least the private key, an index source, a hash engine, and a logical interconnection between the private key generator, the non-volatile memory, the index source, the hash engine and the interface. The hash engine generates identifying values provided to the interface via the logical interconnection. The identifying values are provided to a verifying device for use in authenticating the electronic device. Alternatively or in addition, devices may be paired to share a root key to cryptographically communicate between each other and/or to authenticate each other.
US08693675B2
A method includes receiving, at a device, a request to initiate a call with respect to a contact and a communication device associated with a caller. In a particular embodiment, the method may further include initiating presentation, at a display device, of a selectable call placement indicator to initiate the request. In another particular embodiment, the method may further include sending display data to the display device, where the display data indicates that the call has been placed to the contact.
US08693666B2
A network management system communicates with a plurality of intelligent distributed network nodes. The network management system dynamically distributes managed objects across the plurality of intelligent distributed network nodes. Examples of managed objects distributed by the network management system include a service control managed object, a call control managed object, a bearer control managed object, and a resource proxy managed object.
US08693657B2
A method, system and apparatus for implementing a Multimedia Ring Back Tone (MRBT) service are provided. The method includes: receiving a call request originated by a calling terminal; parsing a tone playing policy specifying whether to play a caller tone or a callee tone or whether to filter a tone; performing caller tone media negotiation or callee tone media negotiation, or performing no tone negotiation according to the parsing result; and playing the caller tone or the callee tone to the caller, or playing no tone. With the technical solution of the present invention, the caller tone service can be implemented in the IMS domain. Whether a caller tone or a callee tone is played to the caller is determined according to a preset policy. Furthermore, the tone filtering service is also implemented. This gives a user freedom in experiencing the MRBT service.
US08693653B1
Social websites, such as dating websites, are provided with advanced features. For example, a dynamic telephone number generator is provided that may be associated to a destination telephone number. Someone calling that dynamic telephone number may be routed to the destination number. The dynamic number may be generated as a result of receiving user input to a dating website. Additionally, a dynamic number may call a user's web browser directly such that users can utilize traditional telephone lines to talk over the internet to a website.
US08693650B2
There is a need to provide a technique of accurately detecting an identification signal representing that the partner performs facsimile communication, by using an appropriate detection filter in accordance with the operation mode in a facsimile apparatus. Based on whether the FAX/TEL mode (first mode) or the TEL answering mode (second mode) is set as the operation mode, a facsimile apparatus according to this invention determines whether a band-pass filter and band-reject filter are to be used. The facsimile apparatus detects a CNG based on the signal detection result using the determined filter.
US08693649B2
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods, and computer readable media for interfacing with a phone provider in an on-demand service environment. In one embodiment, a proxy server is in communication with a phone system. The phone system provides a phone call and is operated by the phone provider. The proxy server is configured to: receive information from the phone system regarding a phone event in relation to the phone call, and output a message including the phone event information to a data network. A client machine is in communication with the proxy server over the data network and in communication with a data provider separate from the phone provider. The client machine is configured to: receive the message from the proxy server, and display the phone event information in a first part of a user interface in a web browser. A second part of the user interface can display information received from the data provider.
US08693635B2
An X-ray detector assembly includes an integrated circuit, which includes an array of detector elements and a readout circuit adjacent to the array and coupled to read charge out of the detector elements. A non-metallic shield is positioned over the readout circuit so as to prevent X-rays from striking the readout circuit.
US08693634B2
A method of generating a density enhanced model of an object is described. The method includes generating a customized a model of an object using a pre-defined set of models in combination with at least one projection image of the object, where the customized model is formed of a plurality of volume elements including density information. A density map is generated by relating a synthesized projection image of the customized model to an actual projection image of the object. Gains from the density map are back-projected into the customized model to provide a density enhanced customized model of the object. Because the density map is calculated using information from the synthesized projection image in combination with actual projection images of the structure, it has been shown to provide spatial geometry and volumetric density results comparable to those of QCT but with reduced patient exposure, equipment cost and examination time.
US08693633B2
Systems, devices, and methods are described including implantable radiation sensing devices having exposure determination devices that determines cumulative exposure information based on the at least one in vivo measurand.
US08693631B2
A craser device, imaging system utilizing a craser device, and a method of imaging. The craser device includes a gain medium with excited gain medium atoms that emit x-ray and/or gamma-ray photons, a transmission medium abutting the gain medium, and a reflecting mirror comprising one or more lower refractive index layers and abutting the transmission medium. The transmission medium has a higher refractive index than the gain medium and at least one of the materials in the reflecting mirror. The x-ray and/or gamma-ray photons are confined to the transmission medium via total internal reflection and interact multiple times with the excited gain medium atoms through evanescent waves producing amplified stimulated emission leading to formation of a high intensity incoherent or coherent x-ray and/or gamma-ray beam.
US08693608B2
An endpoint or other communication device of a communication system includes a clock recovery loop having a phase error estimator. The communication device is operative as a slave device relative to another communication device that is operative as a master device. The clock recovery loop is configured to control a slave clock of the slave device responsive to a phase error estimate generated by the phase error estimator so as to synchronize the slave clock with a master clock of the master device. The phase error estimator comprises a plurality of filters each configured to generate a different estimate of master clock phase using at least a subset of a plurality of packets received from the master device, and control logic for adaptively selecting at least a particular one of the plurality of filters for use in generating the phase error estimate to be processed in the clock recovery loop.
US08693605B2
Aspects of the present disclosure are also directed towards a method that includes maintaining a transmission period which has a start time and an end time synchronized to metrological time. Further, this method, in response to the start time, begins transmission of a frame, which includes a plurality of symbols. This transmission occurs over power distribution lines that carry power using alternating current (AC). This method also includes synchronizing a transmission time for each symbol of the plurality of symbols according to a time-based parameter of the AC. In response to reaching an end of the frame, a synchronization symbol period is determined for a synchronization symbol, as a function of the transmission times, for the plurality of symbols and time from the end of the frame to the end time. The synchronization symbol is then transmitted on the power distribution lines.
US08693603B2
A semiconductor device includes a selection circuit and a phase detector. The selection circuit, in response to a first selection signal output from a controller, outputs as a timing signal a first clock signal output from the controller or an output signal of a PLL using the first clock signal as a first input. The phase detector generates a voltage signal indicating a phase difference between a second clock signal output from the controller and the timing signal output from the selection circuit. The semiconductor device further includes a data port, a memory core storing data, and a serializer, in response to the timing signal output from the selection circuit, serializing data output from the memory core and outputting serialized data to the controller via the data port. The controller generates the first selection signal based on at least one of the voltage signal and the serialized data.
US08693602B2
Method and system for separating a plurality of users in a communication system including two transmitter antennas and N receiver antennas, said signals transmitted by said users containing symbols an, x( ) corresponding to the vector of the envelopes of the output signals of the 1 to N receiver antennas after a shaping filtering operation, characterized in that it uses a linear mean square filter extended over an observation vector {tilde over (x)}=[x(2n−1)T x(2n)T x(2n−1)H x(2n)H]T where x(2n−1) and x(2n) correspond to the (N×1) (N≧1) observations at the symbol times 2n−1 and 2n.
US08693590B2
To detect a special burst sequence, a cross correlation (C) is compared to a square root of an estimated noise variance (σ) in conjunction with a threshold value (Th). In one aspect of the disclosure, the threshold value may include multiple threshold values. The multiple threshold values may be compared to an intensity or level of a special burst metric (C/σ) to facilitate determination of the special burst sequence. For example, when a special burst metric C/σ is greater than a second threshold value (Th2) it may be determined that a special burst sequence exists. However, when the special burst metric C/σ is greater than a first threshold value (Th1), but less than the second threshold metric (Th2), it may be determined that detection of a special burst is unclear. In this case, a TFCI value may be used to confirm whether a special burst is detected.
US08693587B2
A method for demodulating time-multiplexed signals able to mutually collide, in particular in the case of an AIS (Automatic Identification System), being a communications system between ships allows collisions between these ships to be limited and allows the maritime traffic in view from the coasts to be monitored thanks to coastal stations that listen to the communications. When these colliding signals are sufficiently “distinct” (in frequency, in power or in time), algorithms exist for discriminating between them. The demodulator offers the possibility of demodulating two colliding signals, whose collision parameters (difference in frequency, in power or their non-synchronization) are sufficiently small to make them virtually inaccessible otherwise. The method and equipment allow the satellite AIS system to utilize cases of signal collisions that were hitherto detrimental in order to improve the overall performance.
US08693585B2
A wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication method wherein even when the permissible delay amount of data is small, the permissible delay thereof can be satisfied. A data type determining part (101) determines whether the delay of transport data or control information should be allowed or not. A pilot signal insertion control part (102) decides, based on pilot insertion interval information and allowable delay information, that a pilot signal is placed adjacently to data that is not allowed to delay. A multiplexing part (106) multiplexes encoded and modulated transport data with the pilot signal generated by a pilot signal generating part (105) in such a manner that realizes the placement decided by the pilot signal insertion control part (102).
US08693583B2
Techniques for decoding repeated messages sent from a transmitter are improved with information obtained from the decoding of the first transmission and by augmenting Chase combining techniques with a voting-based combining method. In an example method, first encoded bits corresponding to a first instance of the repeated message and demodulated to obtain first soft bits, which are decoded to obtain first decoded bits. Second encoded bits corresponding to a second instance of the repeated message are demodulated to obtain second soft bits. The first decoded bits are re-encoded to obtain re-encoded bits. Sign values for modified soft bits are determined from sign values for the first soft bits, the sign values for the second soft bits, and the sign values for the re-encoded bits. The modified soft bits are combined with the first soft bits and decoded.
US08693582B2
A novel and useful multi-antenna receiver that receives, demodulates and decodes a broadcast signal, whose modulation and encoding of time and timing information allow for reliable and power-efficient operation. The multi-antenna receiver of the present invention is adapted to eliminate or substantially reduce the reception nulls that occur in receivers having a single antenna that is placed in a fixed position. Two or more antennas are employed whereby the receiver generates a combined signal based on a combination of the individual antenna signals or selects one of the antenna signals for input to the receiver based on desired criteria such as signal-to-noise-and-interference-ratio (SNIR). This results in greater robustness of the communication link by reducing or eliminating reception nulls and by rejecting interference through the selection of the antenna for which the signal-to-interference ratio is higher. The invention includes various antenna configurations that are adapted to reuse a single core for multiple antennas or to otherwise reduce size and/or cost.
US08693579B2
One embodiment provides a method of providing low power operations in a switchable Digital Video Broadcasting—Handheld (DVB-H) receiver operable as a single receiver and as a diversity receiver includes operating the switchable DVB-H receiver in a single receiver mode in a first coverage region, the first coverage region corresponding to conditions in which both the single receiver as well as the diversity receiver satisfy a predetermined performance criteria, and switching the switchable DVB-H receiver to a diversity receiver mode in a second coverage region, the second coverage region corresponding to conditions in which the diversity receiver satisfies the predetermined performance criteria and the single receiver does not satisfy the predetermined performance criteria.
US08693577B2
A receiver operatively coupled to an antenna structure capable of receiving a first plurality of RF signals is disclosed herein. The receiver includes an RF processing network operative to perform weighting and combining operations within the RF domain using the first plurality of RF signals so as to produce a second plurality of RF signals. Also provided is a downconverter configured to downconvert the second plurality of RF signals into a second plurality of down-converted signals. In alternate implementations certain of the weighting and combining operations are performed at baseband and the remainder effected within the RF domain. A transmitter of corresponding architecture is also disclosed.
US08693564B2
The present invention relates to a Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) communication system and more particularly, to a method for Correlation matrix feedback in a multi-cell wireless communication system. A method for transmitting correlation matrix feedback information of a mobile station considering adaptive feedback mode in a multi-cell wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises measuring a channel between the mobile station and a serving base station using a signal received from the serving base station; determining a first matrix indicating channel state information and a first precoder using the measured channel; generating a second matrix using a Fourier matrix and the first matrix; and transmitting feedback information including at least one of information of the first precoder and diagonal values of the second matrix.
US08693556B2
A method and system provides for execution of calibration cycles from time to time during normal operation of the communication channel. A calibration cycle includes de-coupling the normal data source from the transmitter and supplying a calibration pattern in its place. The calibration pattern is received from the communication link using the receiver on the second component. A calibrated value of a parameter of the communication channel is determined in response to the received calibration pattern. The steps involved in calibration cycles can be reordered to account for utilization patterns of the communication channel. For bidirectional links, calibration cycles are executed which include the step of storing received calibration patterns on the second component, and retransmitting such calibration patterns back to the first component for use in adjusting parameters of the channel at first component.
US08693552B2
A receiver is configured to receive video frames. A cadence detector is in communication with the receiver and is configured to analyze a newly received video frame to determine the cadence of the video frames. A frame rate converter is configured to interpolate at least two of the video frames to form output frames in accordance with an interpolation parameter based on the cadence and with a frequency scaling factor. The frequency scaling factor corresponds to the frame rate of the output frames.
US08693551B2
Encoding methods directed to making coding decisions and estimating coding parameters including searching for optimal angular prediction in intra-prediction mode; choosing the best intra block subdivision; and providing motion estimation for tree-structured inter coding. The methods are targeted to HEVC specifications of video compression, however, may be used with other video coding standards.
US08693546B2
Provided is a video encoding/decoding technique for improving the compression efficiency by reducing the motion vector code amount. In a video decoding process, the prediction vector calculation method is switched from one to another in accordance with a difference between predetermined motion vectors among a plurality of motion vectors of a peripheral block of a block to be decoded and already decoded. The calculated prediction vector is added to a difference vector decoded from an encoded stream so as to calculate a motion vector. By using the calculated motion vector, the inter-image prediction process is executed.
US08693545B2
A display device and driving method are disclosed. The display device is configured to determine local areas in which motion blur is expected. Black data is inserted into the image data in the areas to compensate and reduce the motion blur.
US08693541B2
A system and method of providing motion estimation is disclosed. A recursive motion estimation module works in conjunction with a non-recursive motion estimation module to provide candidate motion vectors to a selection module. The selection module determines which of the candidates is more likely to yield a desirable result and selects that candidate accordingly.
US08693537B2
The disclosure is directed to techniques for region-of-interest (ROI) coding for video telephony (VT). The disclosed techniques include adaptive skipping of non-ROI (i.e., background) areas to conserve encoding bits for allocation to the ROI.
US08693528B1
In one or more embodiments, a circuit is configured to receive a differential signal from a transmitter that is isolated from the receiver circuit and that includes a common-mode suppression circuit and signal combining circuit coupled to the corresponding lines carrying the differential signals. The common-mode suppression and signal combining circuits are configured to suppress common-mode signals of differential signals communicated on the set of differential signal lines and combine to form of differential-mode components of the differential signals.
US08693518B2
A high temperature industrial furnace roof system having first and second spaced apart hanger brick rows with a filler row disposed therebetween and a cable system including a plurality of electrical cables. The filler row includes a plurality of filler elements having at least one removable heating module with a heat source. The cable system operatively connects the heat source with a power source and permits the removable heating module to be removed from the respective filler element while the respective heat source remains operatively connected with the power source.
US08693516B2
A semiconductor surface light-emitting element of this invention is provided with a photonic crystal layer 6 obtained by periodically forming a plurality of holes H in a basic layer 6A comprised of a first compound semiconductor of the zinc blend structure and growing embedded regions 6B comprised of a second compound semiconductor of the zinc blend structure, in the holes H, and an active layer 4 to supply light to the photonic crystal layer 6, in which a principal surface of the basic layer 6A is a (001) plane and in which side faces of each hole H have at least three different {100} facets.
US08693512B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for referencing an optical frequency of a tunable laser. Light from a reference laser and the tunable laser is injected into a length of an optical waveguide from opposite ends thereof. When the optical frequency of the tunable laser is swept, SBS induced positive and negative peaks in the optical power of light transmitted through the waveguide are used to provide an accurate frequency change reference.
US08693510B2
An optical transmitter includes a laser configured to emit light, a power of the light increasing with temperature decreasing, a Faraday rotator configured to rotate a polarization direction of the light in accordance with the temperature, and a first polarizer that has a principal axis inclined at a given angle and inputs the light output from the Faraday rotator.
US08693503B2
A method for operating and managing memory is disclosed in present invention, during the whole transmission process of uplink data in transmission plane protocol layer of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), only the 1520-bytes global array of Subnet Dependent Convergence Protocol (SNDCP) layer and the 1560-bytes global array of Logic Link Control (LLC) layer are used, so the memory space can be saved effectively; also, because the SNDCP global array is used to store SNDCP data packets and the LLC global array is used to store the LLC data packets, so a dynamic process of memory application releasing on the transmission plane is avoided; moreover, only the data that need to be sent by the LLC are assembled with LLC frame format, thus avoiding useless work of LLC. Moreover, according to the present invention, the memory is operated and managed by way of global array without tedious memory pool operations.
US08693500B2
A Unified Bandwidth Manager that functions as a multi-service bandwidth manager to interface with and hierarchically manage a plurality of service-specific bandwidth reservation and session management systems is described. The Unified Bandwidth Manager includes at least a hierarchical control structure, and an interface for providing observed information relevant to policy, goal, and resource usage to the hierarchical control structure. The hierarchical control structure is provided with a plurality of feedback inputs that are responsive to associated ongoing observation information from each of an associated observation reporting element. The hierarchical control structure uses the plurality of feedback inputs, together with policy information or goal information, to produce at least one element of outgoing control information.
US08693492B2
A network switch includes a transmitter and a controller. The transmitter is configured to selectively terminate transmission of a first frame from the network switch. The controller is configured to, in response to the transmitter terminating the transmission of the first frame, increment respective attempt counts for a first class of service associated with the first frame and all classes of service lower than the first class of service, determine whether any of the respective attempt counts is greater than a predetermined attempt threshold, and, in response to any of the respective attempt counts being greater than the predetermined attempt threshold, discard frames having the first class of service and frames having any of the classes of service lower than the first class of service.
US08693491B2
A packet transmission device includes a receiver which receives an encapsulated packet obtained by adding a header to a packet which includes a user signal; a memory which stores an address of a transmission source of the user signal stored in the encapsulated packet with respect to an identifier that identifies a type of the user signal included in the header; a processor which controls a band, through which the encapsulated packet passes, based on a value obtained by multiplying a number of addresses of the transmission source stored in the memory with respect to the identifier by a guarantee band allocated for the identifier; and a transmitter which transmits the encapsulated packet to a first network based on the control by the processor.
US08693487B2
A transport LAN segment service is provided over a transport network. The transport network will include edge devices configured to support one or more transparent LAN segments. Configuration is simplified by advertising TLS-port-label information, layer 2 address learning, and multicasting when the needed configuration information has not yet been learned or discovered.
US08693484B2
A broadband gateway, which enables communication with a plurality of devices and handles at least one physical layer connection to at least one corresponding network access service provider, may be operable to identify one or more individuals with whom a user desires to engage in peer-to-peer communications. The user is associated with one or more of the plurality of devices. A directory may be generated by the broadband gateway for the peer-to-peer communications based on the identified one or more individuals. The directory may comprise name information, location information, contact information, communication device information, and/or content sharing information. The broadband gateway may communicate the directory to one or more network access service providers and/or one or more content providers. Peer-to-peer exchanges and/or network resource allocations for the peer-to-peer communications may be controlled and/or monitored by the network access services providers and/or the content providers based on information in the directory.
US08693482B2
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating performance of multi-media, and other communication, services at an Ethernet network. A bridge provides communication control operations at the Ethernet network. Audio-video bridge domains are defined at the network. Service discovery messages generated by communication devices of a particular domain are forwarded only to other communication devices of the same domain. Redefinition and reconfiguration of the domains is made, as needed, all best to facilitate performance of the communication service.
US08693479B2
A method and apparatus are described for implementing a reset procedure for radio link control (RLC) using radio resource control (RRC) signaling. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives a request for RLC reset. A processor at the WTRU comprises a RRC entity and a RLC entity. The RRC entity receives the request for a RLC reset in a radio resource control message. The RLC entity reassembles RLC service data units (SDUs) from any protocol data units (PDUs) that are received out of sequence at a receiving side of the RLC entity. The reassembled SDUs are delivered in sequence to a packet data convergence protocol entity (PDCP). At the receiving side of the RLC entity, any remaining PDUs that are not able to be reassembled are discarded. At a transmitting side of the RLC entity, all SDUs and PDUs stored in transmit buffers are discarded.
US08693478B2
In accordance with on example, a control packet from a first network device is received at a second network device. The control packet comprises, embedded in a source address field of the control packet, control information for a spanning tree associated with a root network device. The control information is extracted from the source address field of the control packet in order to populate a shortest-path forwarding table. A data packet from the first network is then received by the second network device. Based on the shortest-path forwarding table and a media access control (MAC) address table, a host device to which the data packet is directed is identified. Finally, based on the information in the shortest-path forwarding table and the MAC address table, the data packet is forwarded to a network device directed connected to the host device.
US08693473B2
A device identification server identifies a “household” to which a particular device belongs by associating the device with a LAN MAC address of the router through which the device connects to a wide area network such as the Internet because the LAN MAC address (i) is unique to the router and (ii) is not readily discoverable by interaction with the router through the wide area network, impeding spoofing by malicious entities. The device queries and receives the LAN MAC address of the router through the local area network. The device passes the LAN MAC address of the router along with its digital fingerprint to the device identification server. Devices that report the same LAN MAC address of the router through which they connect to the wide area network are determined to be from the same “household”, i.e., to be managed by one and the same entity.
US08693472B2
The present invention provides a cache processing method, a storing and forwarding method and apparatus of hybrid service flows. The cache processing method comprises: configuring at least one port cache area for each input port receiving the hybrid service flows, and configuring at least one type cache area for each service type of the hybrid service flows; storing control information of each data packet into the port cache area of the corresponding port according to a source port of the data packet; and indentifying the service type of the data packet from the control information of the data packet, and storing the acquired control information of the data packet into the type cache area of the corresponding service type according to the service type of the data packet. The present invention allows each type of data packets from each port to have an independent processing procedure.
US08693460B2
The invention relates to a technique for controlling a synchronization of a terminal device (10) with a wireless network, e.g. an LTE network, wherein data are transmitted as a continuous data signal on a radio interface (11, 12) while being processed block-wise in the terminal (10). A method embodiment of the technique for achieving at least a downlink (11) synchronization comprises establishing a time-address mapping (TAM, 36) indicative of an association of a reference time value of an internal clock (32) with a reference address in the reception data buffer (16); determining an address of data samples representing the received data block in the reception data buffer (16) based on the time-address mapping; and initiating a block-wise reading of the data block from the reception data buffer (16) based on the determined address.
US08693446B2
A WiMAX compatible base station (BS) includes: an allocator unit (10B, 10C) configured to allocate allocation information of the downlink burst (DL-MAP) as transmission information in a first region (MAP region), and to allocate the downlink burst as transmission information in the second region (downlink burst region); and a transmitter unit (10F) configured to transmit the allocation information of the downlink burst with a non-directional beam, and to transmit the downlink burst with a non-directional beam or a directional beam. When detecting an unused region (A) where no transmission information is allocated after allocating the transmission information in the first region and the second region in the frame structure, the allocator unit is configured to reallocate, by use of the detected unused region, the allocation information of the downlink burst as the transmission information in the first region.
US08693437B2
A method of handling at least one secondary cell of a mobile device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The mobile device is managed by a first network of the wireless communication system. The method comprises releasing the at least one secondary cell, after receiving a handover command from the first network, wherein the handover command indicates the mobile device to hand over from the first network to a second network of the wireless communication system; wherein the second network conforms to a 3GPP standard with a version equal to or earlier than the 3GPP Rel-9, and the first network conforms to the 3GPP standard with a version equal to or later than the 3GPP Rel-10.
US08693431B2
A method of operating a first wireless device includes receiving a grant from a base station for peer-to-peer communication with a second wireless device using time-frequency resources utilized by a third wireless device for WWAN communication with the base station. In addition, the method includes receiving a transmit power for the peer-to-peer communication with the grant. The transmit power is determined based on an interference that can be caused to transmissions received by the base station from the third wireless device. Furthermore, the method includes communicating with the second wireless device at a power less than or equal to the received transmit power using peer-to-peer communication on the time-frequency resources.
US08693423B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing enhanced mobile subscriber location register fault recovery are disclosed. According to one method, the method occurs at a signaling message routing node. The method includes storing, in a memory, mobile subscriber location information. The method also includes receiving a reset related message associated with a mobile subscriber from a recovering mobile subscriber location register. The method further includes extracting, from the memory, mobile subscriber location information and responding to the recovering mobile subscriber location register with the mobile subscriber location information.
US08693422B2
A method of scheduling a subband is provided. The method includes determining whether the eNodeB is in an overload state according to a used amount of a first radio resource of the eNodeB, receiving information on a used amount of a second radio source of at least one neighbor eNodeB from the at least one neighbor eNodeB, determining whether the at least one neighbor eNodeB is in the overload state, setting a number of total subbands to be used for a subband scheduling to a number lower than a number of total subbands used by the at least one neighbor eNodeB, setting a subband scheduling start order such that the subband scheduling is started from a subband having a farthest distance in frequency from at least one subband used by the at least one neighbor eNodeB from among the set number of subbands, and performing the subband scheduling.
US08693421B2
This invention is codebook sub-sampling of the reporting of RI, CQI, W1 and W2. If CSI mode 1 is selected RI and W1 are jointly encoded using codebook sub-sampling in report 1. If CSI mode 2 is selected W1 and W2 are jointly encoded using codebook sub-sampling in report 2.
US08693415B2
Method and apparatus for sending rank indication information, receiving method and apparatus thereof
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for sending rank indication (RI) information, and a method and an apparatus for receiving RI information, wherein the method for sending the RI information includes: carrying the RI information on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for transmitting scheduling request (SR) information when the RI information and the SR information are sent within a same subframe, and sending the RI information and the SR information by using the PUCCH for transmitting SR information. According to the present invention, the problem that the orthogonality of codes between PUCCHs is destroyed due to that the RI information and the SR information are sent within a same subframe is solved, the overall system performance thereby can be guaranteed.
US08693414B2
The present invention discloses a multi-user (MU) transmission method for a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmission system comprising a first station and a plurality of second stations. The MU transmission method includes the step of the first station performing simultaneous transmission to a first group of stations of the plurality of second stations in a first transmission interval.
US08693405B2
A method for allocating resources in a wireless communications environment comprises receiving a mapping between a first hop-port and frequency range, and determining whether to map a second access terminal to a second hop-port that is mapped to at least the same frequency range during a substantially similar instance in time, the determination made as a function of characteristics relating to a first access terminal associated with the first hop-port. The method can further include determining that the first access terminal is a candidate for employing Space-Division Multiple Access (SDMA), and mapping the second-hop port and associating the second access terminal with the second hop-port when the second access terminal is also a candidate for employing SDMA.
US08693402B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a data transmission method which includes: sending, by an REC, a first part of downlink data of a downlink period to an RE before the downlink period arrives; sending, by the REC, a second part of the downlink data of the downlink period to the RE in the downlink period, where the second part and the first part constitute all downlink data of the downlink period; receiving, by the RE, the first part and the second part of the downlink data of the downlink period; and sending, by the RE, the first part and the second part as the downlink data through an air interface in the downlink period. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present disclosure also disclose a base station which can effectively improve utilization of transmission bandwidth of a CPRI interface and utilization of spectrum resources of the air interface.
US08693397B2
The disclosed subject matter relates to employing a received signal strength indicator returned from a femto cell to optimize a multiple access wireless communication network. In particular, a method operable in a wireless communications network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a received signal strength indicator from a femto cell situated in a geographical area within a multiple access wireless communication network, and optimizing the multiple access wireless communication network as a function of the received signal strength indicator.
US08693395B2
An apparatus for controlling IEEE 802.15.4 physical layer operation state is provided. The physical layer operation state controlling apparatus defines an operation state of a physical layer including a Hardwired Low-MAC (HL-MAC) device in which functions of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC layer are hardwired, and includes a state module for controlling the operation state of the physical layer. The state module includes a Finite State Machine (FSM) for, when receiving an event for the operation state of the physical layer, transiting to a state module corresponding to the event and controlling the operation state of the physical layer; and an interrupt handler for converting an interrupt received from the physical layer to the event corresponding to a register of the state module and sending the event to the FSM. Hence, by means of the state machine for the IEEE 802.15.4 PHY, the IEEE 802.15.4 physical layer operation state can be controlled to optimize the operations of the upper MAC.
US08693388B2
A spaced based local area network system for providing dynamically allocated downlink services for spacecraft in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit. The system includes at least two client satellites which host an inter-satellite communications payload; a hub satellite which hosts an inter-satellite communications payload, a downlink communications payload, and an aggregator payload; and a ground station which transmits data to and receives data from the hub satellite. The hub satellite, using the aggregator payload, aggregates at least two data flows received from the at least two client satellites over an inter-satellite link, by the inter-satellite communications payload, into a data stream that is downlinked to the ground station, using the downlink communications payload, over a space-to-ground link.
US08693381B2
A method for discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration is disclosed, and the method includes: configuring DRXs for a plurality of component carriers, and selecting one or more component carriers as anchor component carriers; controlling the DRXs of other non-anchor component carriers by the anchor component carrier. A system for discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration is also disclosed, and the system includes: a selection and configuration unit, which is used to configure DRXs for a plurality of component carriers and select one or more component carriers as anchor component carriers; a control unit, which is used to control the DRXs of other non-anchor component carriers by the anchor component carrier. By the method and the system, the DRX solution based on the primary carrier is clarified, and the DRX solution based on primary carriers in the stage of conception is improved and concretely implemented.
US08693372B2
Methods and apparatus related to routing in communications networks are described. Various embodiments are well suited to wireless communications systems lacking centralized control, e.g., a mobile wireless communications system supporting the dynamic formation and/or maintenance of overlapping peer-to-peer ad hoc networks. A node can establish multiple links, e.g., with different links corresponding to different overlapping networks. Next hop packet routing information, e.g., forwarding tables, are maintained on a per network basis. A node determines the next hop routing for a received packet to be forwarded based on the link upon which the packet was received, which is associated with a particular network, and the included packet destination address. The same destination address may, and sometimes does, correspond to different next hop nodes for different networks.
US08693361B2
Various methods and devices are provided to address the need for improved multicast operation. In one method, a mobile device receives a multicast packet from a station, the mobile device being one of a plurality of mobile devices that includes a group of feedback mobile devices. The mobile device transmits an indication that it is volunteering to become a member of the group of feedback mobile devices and determines whether to begin operating as a member of the group of feedback mobile devices. If the mobile device is to begin operating as a member of the group of feedback mobile devices, the mobile device transmits an indication of channel quality and/or a level of interference observed by the mobile device.
US08693357B1
A system for automated testing of Ethernet signals of a unit under test (UUT) in a simulated Avionics Full Duplex (AFDX) network environment. The UUT may be any Ethernet device, including a 24 port Ethernet switch. Ethernet signal are received from a UUT by a measurement module that is adapted to modify the Ethernet signals according to a condition indicative of an AFDX network environment. Such modification includes attenuating the Ethernet signals with an RF attenuator or terminating the Ethernet signals with a 10 Base-T Ethernet simulation circuit. Modified signals are then monitored or evaluated to determine functionality of the UUT.
US08693356B2
A method, for determining a first amount of a plurality of high-throughput long training fields within a packet in a wireless communication system, includes determining a second amount of a plurality of space time streams needed by the wireless communication system transmitting the packet, and setting the first amount to be greater than or equal to 8 when the second amount is greater than 4.
US08693355B2
A technique for jitter buffer management for improved power savings in a wireless communication device (100) includes defining (202) a jitter buffer threshold for the wireless communication device, determining (204) that an amount of packets in the jitter buffer falls below the threshold, sending a trigger (206) to obtain queued voice packets from an access point, downloading (208) queued voice packets from the access point, and adding (212) the voice packets from the access point to the jitter buffer in the wireless communication device (100).
US08693354B2
Method for generation of cyclic shift amount set and method for generation of random access preamble
A method for generation of Ncs set is disclosed as: an upper limit value Ncs_max of Ncs is determined firstly, Ncs values which are less than or equal to the Ncs_max are selected to be elements of an initial Ncs set, a screening Ncs set is generated from the initial Ncs set, and then a final Ncs set is generated from the screening Ncs set. The final Ncs set can satisfy the maximal covering demand of the system, and when a random access preamble is generated by cyclic shift amount contained in the final Ncs set, the interference between and in cells can be decreased.
US08693349B2
A method for establishing a monitoring connection associated to a traffic connection established in a network e.g. of MPLS type, the method comprising the steps of:sending a connection establishment message from a first node (B) to a second node (D) of the communication network to establish a monitoring connection (6) between the first and second nodes, wherein the first and second nodes are disposed in a path of the traffic connection and the connection establishment message is sent along the traffic connection path, sending a make-before-break request from the first node (B) to an ingress node (A) of the traffic connection to cause the ingress node to re-establish the traffic connection along the traffic connection path using a make-before-break signaling procedure, at the first node, processing a re-establishment signaling message sent by the ingress node so as to encapsulate the re-established traffic connection (5) into the monitoring connection (6).
US08693347B2
The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers.
US08693344B1
Network policies that control the flow of traffic through a network may be implemented using a controller server that controls a network of switches. Based on network packet attributes, the controller server may identify network policies that are associated with the network traffic. The controller server may identify dependencies between the network policies based on priorities that are associated with the network policies and overlap between the network policies. The controller server may provide the switches with packet forwarding rules based on the identified dependencies between the network policies, network switch attributes, and network switch capabilities. The packet forwarding rules may implement network policies for current network traffic and future network traffic.
US08693343B2
According to an embodiment of the application, a relay apparatus includes a destination storage unit configured to store the information about a destination of a multicast packet in association with a multicast address; a determination unit configured to determine whether the destination of the multicast packet is a first physical machine on the basis of the destination information stored in the destination storage unit in a migration process in which a virtual machine operating on the first physical machine is migrated to a second physical machine; and an addition unit configured to add information about the second physical machine to the destination information in the destination storage unit, the destination information corresponding to the multicast address that indicates the destination of the first physical machine, if the determination unit determines that the destination of the multicast packet is the first physical machine.
US08693337B2
A reordering method in a communication system where a base station sends to a mobile station, packets to which numbers indicating a sequence are attached, the mobile station rearranges the packets in order of the sequence numbers, and a hard handover is performed. The method includes deciding whether a handover source base station forwards packets which have not yet been sent to the mobile station, out of packets received from a host station, to a handover target base station; controlling forwarding of the packets at the handover based on the decision, and sending forwarding execution information from the handover source base station to the mobile station to notify whether the forwarding of the packets has been executed; and at the mobile station, receiving the forwarding execution information, and executing reordering of the packets received from the handover target base station based on the forwarding execution information at the handover.
US08693335B2
Control packets received at a network element are pre-classified to enable out of profile traffic to be traced to an offending port. Pre-classified control packets are metered at a desired granularity using dynamically configured meters which adjust as ports are put into service or removed from service, and as services are applied to ports. CPU metering is implemented on a per-CPU core basis, but the per-CPU meters are used to perform flow control rather than as thresholds for ejecting errant control traffic. The combination of these three aspects provides robust CPU overload protection while allowing appropriate levels of control traffic to be provided to the control plane for processing, even in the event of a control traffic burst on one or more ports of the network element.
US08693333B2
A method, a network node, and a system for suppressing lost packet retransmission are provided. The method includes: generating retransmission suppression information, in which the retransmission suppression information includes identification information of data packets requiring retransmission suppression; and transmitting the retransmission suppression information to a receiving node, in which the retransmission suppression information is used to enable the receiving node not to request retransmission when data packets corresponding to the identification information in the retransmission suppression information are lost after the receiving node receives the retransmission suppression information. The network node includes a generating module and a transmitting module. The system includes an intermediate node and a receiving node.
US08693332B2
A packet network node and method of operating a packet network node are disclosed. Conventional packet network nodes react to congestion in the packet network by dropping packets in a manner which is perceived by users to be indiscriminate. In embodiments of the present invention, indiscriminate packet discards are prevented by causing packets to be discarded on lower priority flows and flow aggregates. A further action is taken to reduce the likelihood of packet discards. When an aggregate set of flows raises a congestion alarm action is taken to try to increase the capacity of the aggregate through taking capacity from pre-assigned donor aggregates. A donor aggregate may be carrying flows, for example flows classified as best effort. Another type of donor capacity is donor re-assignable unused capacity. Aggregates may have capacity added either up to a defined limit or, temporarily, exceeding any limit provided there is free capacity available, but removable back to the defined limit when other aggregates need increased capacity and are below their defined limits.
US08693328B2
A computer based system and method for distributing a global shaper rate implemented across multiple traffic processing devices. A controller distributes credits according to the demand (amount of traffic, or offered load) of each device, in such a way to achieve global targets, including the shaper rate, strict prioritization of traffic, WFQ weights and fairness between cloned channels, iteratively updated as changes occur in the quantity and makeup of the traffic across the devices.
US08693327B2
Techniques for privileged network routing are provided. As traffic is received at a gateway of a network backbone provider environment it is interrogated for predefined criteria. If the traffic satisfies the predefined criteria, then the information is routed within the network backbone provider environment to use a set of reserved and restricted resources to provide premium service for the traffic being routed through the network backbone provider environment.
US08693323B1
System and method for managing communications in an access network is provided. The system and method utilizes carrier-tagged paths established between communicatively coupled terminating elements, such as a service or customer edge and network elements, such as a building aggregator, layer 2 switch, or the like. The carrier-tagged paths may be nested within one another, and carrier-tagged paths may be aggregated together to simplify switching. Carrier-tagged flows carried over the carrier-tagged paths include one or more carrier tags prepended to terminating element traffic. For example, in an embodiment, inbound carrier-tagged flows from multiple sources destined for a common service edge may be merged by prepending a common carrier tag. In another embodiment, outbound carrier-tagged flows are nested within other carrier-tagged flows.
US08693322B2
Disclosed is a routing method named lock routing for a wireless multi-hop network, which can be based on next-hop routing and source routing and named next-hop lock routing and source lock routing respectively. The routing method utilizes traffic packets to monitor the link quality and utilizes local broadcast to help a source node keep track of the varying network topology in order to update a route path to a destination node. In local broadcast, routing control messages can be forwarded by path nodes and neighbors of an old route path, which reduces the routing control overhead and enhances the network scalability. A route update process can be triggered by the link quality and the path node state and is used to maintain ongoing traffic flows and extend the network lifetime.
US08693321B2
The invention relates to a technique for mobile assisted handover in mobile communications networks, e.g. Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, in a situation of an ongoing data reception or data transmission of a mobile terminal which hinders reception of system information from a candidate cell for handover. A method embodiment of such technique is performed in a mobile terminal and comprises the steps of accepting information related to an ongoing data reception/transmission from at least one data reception/transmission component of the mobile terminal; establishing if the ongoing data reception/transmission enables a reception of a unique cell identifier indicating a candidate cell for handover; selectively halting the ongoing data reception/transmission, receiving the unique cell identifier of the candidate cell, and resuming afterwards the data reception/transmission.
US08693307B2
A transmitter transmits a wireless signal produced by allocating data to component carriers for a plurality of communication bands, and a receiver receives the wireless signal and carries out a reception process for the received wireless signal with a predetermined reception sampling frequency are provided, and the component carriers are arranged at such positions that the data do not overlap with each other when the component carriers are superimposed on a frequency axis.
US08693306B2
The present invention proposes a method for transmitting data considering a non-contact state of a human body, while selecting a central frequency in various ranges in the human body communication system. To this end, a first embodiment of the present invention proposes a human body communication system in which a central frequency can be simply moved, and specifically, proposes a data transmission apparatus comprising a frequency shifter which shifts the output of a multiplexer into a specified frequency so as to enable the central frequency to be moved. In addition, a second embodiment of the present invention proposes a human body communication system which controls not only central frequency selection and transmission band minimization, but also a data rate, modulation, etc, and thus can perform stable communication in a non-contact state of a human body. Through this, it is possible to maximize the band efficiency, and to transmit data considering a non-contact state of a human body.
US08693292B2
The electronic timepiece has an external case; a time indicating section that indicates the time; a solar panel; and a battery housing section that is provided in a main plate, a positive side contact terminal that is electrically connected to a positive supply terminal of the indication controlling section and configured such that the positive side contact terminal can be brought into contact with a positive terminal of a battery housed in the battery housing section; a negative side contact terminal that is electrically connected to a negative supply terminal of the indication controlling section and configured such that the negative side contact terminal can be brought into contact with a negative terminal of a battery housed in the battery housing section; and a contact section is positioned such that the contact section is not in contact with a battery housed in the battery housing section.
US08693290B2
A wristwatch is provided with hand(s) and a disk-shaped indicating member disposed between a first dial and a second dial. The disk-shaped indicating member is structured such that a part of the disk-shaped indicating member is exposed from an opening portion of the first dial and that the disk-shaped indicating member indicates, at a region corresponding to the opening portion, one of a plurality of function display portions SPL, STP and RUN provided on the second dial. The hand(s) and the disk-shaped indicating member rotate about a common driving shaft.
US08693280B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with an ultrasonic image measuring unit configured to measure an ultrasonic image of an object to be examined, a display unit configured to display the ultrasonic image, an input unit configured to input parameters for controlling the ultrasonic image measuring unit and the display unit, and a control unit configured to control the ultrasonic image measuring unit and the display unit by means of the parameters.The control unit is characterized by generating first switch information for inputting relating to a first control parameter included in the parameters, controlling the display unit to display the first switch information, selecting the first control parameter from the first switch information and inputting thereof, generating second switch information relating to a second control parameter which is the item next to the first control parameter, and controlling the display unit to display the second switch information.
US08693278B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device comprising local bit lines, a global bit line, local switch control lines, main switch control lines, hierarchical switches controlling electrical connections between the local bit lines and the global bit line in response to potentials of the local switch control lines, local switch drivers driving the local switch control lines in response to potentials of the main switch control lines, and main switch drivers selectively activating the main switch control lines.
US08693273B2
A sense amplifier comprising a reference current developed from a programmed and a non-programmed reference cell is used to read a signal from a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) comprising magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cells. The average current is determined from reference cells in as few as one sense amplifier and as many as n sense amplifiers, and is an average current between the programmed reference cell and the non-programmed reference cell that approximates the mid point between the two states. The sense amplifier can be fully differential or a non differential sense amplifier.
US08693266B2
A method of trimming a reference cell in a semiconductor memory device comprises the steps of: generating a reference current based on a bias voltage applied to the reference cell; generating a first current and a second current based on the value of a control voltage and the resistance of a precision resistor disposed outside the semiconductor memory device; comparing the reference current with the first current; comparing the reference current with the second current; programming the reference cell if the value of the reference current is greater than that of the first current; and erasing the reference cell if the value of the reference current is less than that of the second current. The value of the second current is less than that of the first current.
US08693264B2
A memory device includes a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, and sensing circuitry coupled to bitlines associated with respective columns of the memory cells of the memory array. The sensing circuitry comprises, for at least a given one of the bitlines of the memory array, a sense amplifier configured to sense data on the given bitline, with the sense amplifier having at least one internal node and at least one output node. The sensing circuitry further comprises a latch circuit having a data input coupled to the output node and a control input coupled to the internal node, with the latch circuit being configured to latch sensed data from the output node responsive to a signal at the internal node.
US08693259B2
A method and system for performing wordline-to-wordline stress routines on a storage device is disclosed. Stress routines may be performed to reduce state widening in multi-level memory cells in the storage device. However, data retention problems may result if the stress routines are performed too often. In order to perform the stress routines at the proper times, a stress control variable is used. The stress control variable may be indicative of age of the storage device (such as the number of erase cycles performed on a memory block in the storage device). The stress control variable is input to a look-up table (or other logical construct), with the output of the look-up table indicating whether to perform the wordline-to-wordline stress routine. In this way, the stress routines may be performed to reduce state widening while reducing the ill effects of data retention.
US08693252B2
A method is provided for adjusting a read voltage in a flash memory device. The method includes storing first program count information when first pages of flash memory cells are programmed, the first program count information indicating a number of bits having a first logic value from among bits of data programmed in the first pages of the flash memory cells, and obtaining first read count information by counting a number of bits having the first logic value from among bits of data read from the first pages of the flash memory cells, while reading data from the flash memory cells using read voltages. The read voltages are adjusted based on the difference between the first read count information and the first program count information.
US08693251B2
In an embodiment, a processor includes a storage device. The processor is configured to request first data from a first location of a memory device. The storage device is configured to receive and to store the first data from the memory device. The processor is configured to attempt to write second data to the first location of the memory device. The processor is configured to write the first data stored in the storage device and the second data to one or more other locations of the memory device if the attempt to write second data to the first location of the memory device fails.
US08693249B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory array, a row selection circuit and a bit line selection circuit. The memory array is composed of a plurality of cell units, wherein each cell unit has memory cells connected in series. The row selection circuit selects the memory cells in a row direction of the cell units, and the bit line selection circuit selects a bit line from an even bit line and an odd bit line coupled to the cell units. The bit line selection circuit includes a first selection part including selection transistors for selectively coupling the even or odd bit line to a sensor circuit and a second selection part including bias transistors for selectively coupling the even or odd bit line to a voltage source providing biases, wherein the bias transistors and the memory cells are formed in a common well.
US08693248B2
Provided are methods of programming a nonvolatile data storage device including memory blocks sharing a block word line. The methods may include selecting the memory blocks, and the selected memory blocks may include a first memory block that is to be programmed and a second memory block that is to be program-inhibited. The methods may also include applying a program voltage to a selected word line of the first memory block. The methods may further include applying a bipolar prohibition voltage to word lines of the second memory block.
US08693233B2
A re-writable resistance-switching memory cell includes first and second capacitors in series. The first and second capacitors may have balanced electrical characteristics to allow nearly concurrent, same-direction switching. The first capacitor has a first bipolar resistance switching layer between first and second conductive layers, and the second capacitor has a second bipolar resistance switching layer between third and fourth conductive layers. The first and third conductive layers are made of a common material, and the second and fourth conductive layers are made of a common material. In one approach, the first and second bipolar resistance switching layers are made of a common material and have common thickness. In another approach, the first and second bipolar resistance switching layers are made of materials having different dielectric constants, but their thickness differs in proportion to the difference in the dielectric constants, to provide a common capacitance per unit area.
US08693228B2
A power transfer system provides power factor conditioning of the generated power. Power is received from a local power source, converted to usable AC power, and the power factor is conditioned to a desired value. The desired value may be a power factor at or near unity, or the desired power factor may be in response to conditions of the power grid, a tariff established, and/or determinations made remotely to the local power source. Many sources and power transfer systems can be put together and controlled as a power source farm to deliver power to the grid having a specific power factor characteristic. The farm may be a grouping of multiple local customer premises. AC power can also be conditioned prior to use by an AC to DC power supply for more efficient DC power conversion.
US08693227B2
An inverter controller comprising a current regulator unit, a voltage regulator unit coupled to the current regulator unit, an inverter unit coupled to the voltage regulator unit, and a drive unit controlled by the inverter unit.
US08693224B1
A cascade multiplier includes a switch network having switching elements, a phase pump, and a network of pump capacitors coupled with the phase pump and to the switch network. The network of pump capacitors includes first and second capacitors, both of which have one terminal DC coupled with the phase pump, and a third capacitor coupled with the phase pump through the first capacitor.
US08693218B2
A power adapter comprises a main power circuit, a feedback circuit, an ID detection circuit and a switch controller. The feedback circuit is coupled to the main power circuit for detecting the DC output voltage and issuing a feedback signal. The ID detection circuit is coupled to the feedback circuit for detecting an ID signal from the DC-powered electronic device and issuing a control signal to the feedback circuit to disable or delay the feedback signal for a specific time period, and comparing a dropping slew rate of the DC output voltage with a preset value to issue a hiccup mode control signal. The switch controller is configured for controlling the operations of the main power circuit in response to the feedback signal and controlling the power adapter to operate in a normal operation mode or a hiccup mode in response to the hiccup mode control signal.
US08693216B2
The present invention relates to a switch control device, a power supply device, and a switch control method. A switch control device controls a switching operation of a power switch by using a feedback voltage of an output voltage. In detail, the switch control device generates the feedback current according to the feedback voltage and the feedback signal corresponding to the feedback voltage by using the feedback current. The switch control device compares the sensing signal corresponding to the drain current flowing to the power switch and the feedback signal, and turns off the power switch according to the comparison result. The switch control device increases the feedback gain rather than the feedback current during the gain compensation period after a predetermined gain compensation period, and the gain compensation period is longer than a soft start period in which the output voltage is gradually increased.
US08693208B2
A PCIe bus extension system, method, interface card and cable for connecting a PCIe-compliant peripheral device to a PCIe bus of a computer system. The interface card includes a printed circuit board, an edge connector adapted for insertion into a PCIe expansion slot on a motherboard of the computer system for transmitting PCIe signals between the motherboard and the interface card, an interface port configured to mate with a connector of the cable, and a logic integrated circuit on the printed circuit board, the logic integrated circuit functionally connecting the edge connector with the expansion slot and amplifying and propagating clock and data PCIe signals therebetween that are compliant with a PCIe standard. The interface card and cable lacks the capability of transmitting power therethrough to a PCIe-compliant peripheral device connected to the interface card through the interface port.
