US08700920B2
Systems and methods for handling user interface field data. A system and method can be configured to receive input which indicates that the mobile device is to enter into a protected mode. Data associated with fields displayed on a user interface are stored in a secure form on the mobile device. After the mobile device leaves the protected mode, the stored user interface filed data is accessed and used to populate one or more user interface fields with the accessed user interface field data for display to a user.
US08700914B2
A system and method for changing safety-relevant data for a control device is provided wherein an authorized user inputs new or altered safety-relevant data, which is received on a data processing installation. A first checksum for the safety-relevant data is established and stored along with the safety-relevant data in at least one data record on the data processing installation. An enable code may also be stored in the at least one data record. This enable code may be produced by a code generator and encrypted by a key module. The data processing installation then reads back the safety-relevant data from a memory in the data processing installation, thereby allowing a comparison of the received safety-relevant data and the read back safety-relevant data. A second checksum is generated in a case where the comparison resulted in no differences. The second checksum may also be stored in the at least one data record. At least one new data record containing the safety-relevant data, the encrypted enable code and the first and second checksums is created and transmitted to the control device. The new data record is checked against prior data records and prior checksums stored on a storage medium to determine that the at least one new data record is known to the control device.
US08700909B2
A system, method and program product for generating a biometric reference template revocation message on demand. The method includes generating, using a biometric reference template revocation engine, a biometric reference template revocation message and loading the biometric reference template revocation engine onto a secure portable device for generating on demand of the individual the biometric reference template revocation message.
US08700907B2
In one embodiment, a method for using credentials for a mobile node to protect the transfer of posture data is provided. A network access device receives a message from a mobile node for access to a network. The message includes posture data encrypted using credentials for the mobile node. The credentials may be found in a storage card that is used to identify the mobile node. The network access device determines decryption information for the mobile node. For example, the credentials for the mobile node may be stored in a home location register (HLR) and are retrieved. The posture data is then decrypted using the credentials. The posture data is processed in a network admission control procedure for allowing access to the network. For example, a policy for access to the network may be installed based on the posture data.
US08700899B1
A first cryptographic device is configured to determine at least a key for a current epoch and a key for a subsequent epoch, and to transmit the keys for the current and subsequent epochs over a secure channel to a second cryptographic device. The second cryptographic device utilizes the key for the current epoch to decrypt an additional key that was encrypted for storage in a previous epoch, performs at least one cryptographic function using the decrypted additional key, utilizes the key for the subsequent epoch to encrypt the additional key for storage, and erases at least the key for the current epoch and the decrypted additional key. In such an arrangement, the additional key is initially locked under the key for the current epoch, then unlocked to perform the cryptographic function, and then locked again under the key for the subsequent epoch.
US08700894B2
Methods and systems for providing confidentiality of communications sent via a network that is efficient, easy to implement, and does not require significant key management. The identity of each node of the routing path of a communication is encrypted utilizing an identity-based encryption scheme. This allows each node of the routing path to decrypt only those portions of the routing path necessary to send the communication to the next node. Thus, each node will only know the immediate previous node from which the communication came, and the next node to which the communication is to be sent. The remainder of the routing path of the communication, along with the original sender and intended recipient, remain confidential from any intermediate nodes in the routing path. Use of the identity-based encryption scheme removes the need for significant key management to maintain the encryption/decryption keys.
US08700885B2
A semiconductor device correctly switches endian modes regardless of the current endian mode of an interface. The semiconductor device includes a switching circuit and a first register. The switching circuit switches an interface to be used in big endian or little endian mode. The first register holds control data of the switching circuit. The switching circuit sets the interface in little endian mode when first predetermined control information is supplied to the first register, and sets the interface in big endian mode when second predetermined control information is supplied to the first register. The control information can be correctly inputted without being influenced by the endian setting status.
US08700880B2
A method and apparatus for performing a function based on an executable code in response to receiving a request including function parameters are described. The executable code may be validated when loaded in a memory according to a signature statically signed over the executable code. A data location in the memory for storing the function parameters may be determined according location settings included inside the executable code. A target code location for storing a copy of the executable code may be determined based on the location parameters and the determined data location. A function is performed by executing the executable code from the target code location referencing the stored function parameters.
US08700870B2
The present invention transfers replication logical volumes between and among storage control units in a storage system comprising a plurality of storage control units. To transfer replication logical volumes from a storage control unit to a storage control unit, a virtualization device sets a path to the storage control unit. The storage control unit then prepares a differential bitmap in order to receive access requests. When the preparation is completed, the virtualization device makes access requests to the storage control unit. The storage control unit then hands over the access requests to the storage control unit. Subsequently, the storage control unit performs a process so that the access requests are reflected in a disk device and performs an emergency destage of storing data in a cache memory into disk device. When the emergency destage is ended, the storage control unit connects to an external storage control unit and hands over access requests to the external storage control unit.
US08700869B1
A multithreading memory system, and a processor that incorporates a multithreading memory system, includes a main memory element, plural auxiliary memory elements, and a selector. The main memory element may be configured to receive a data signal and a select signal. The auxiliary memory elements may be configured to receive an output signal from the main memory element. The selector may be configured to receive an output signal from one of the auxiliary memory elements and a scan input signal. The selector may select the output signal from the auxiliary memory element or the scan input signal based on an advance thread signal. The selected one of the output signal from the at least one special memory element and the scan input signal may be forwarded to the main memory element as the control signal.
US08700862B2
A compression status bit cache provides on-chip availability of compression status bits used to determine how many bits are needed to access a potentially compressed block of memory. A backing store residing in a reserved region of attached memory provides storage for a complete set of compression status bits used to represent compression status of an arbitrarily large number of blocks residing in attached memory. Physical address remapping (“swizzling”) used to distribute memory access patterns over a plurality of physical memory devices is partially replicated by the compression status bit cache to efficiently integrate allocation and access of the backing store data with other user data.
US08700861B1
A method is used in managing cache pages. A location pointer is maintained in a dynamic list of entries for cache page cleaning. The dynamic list includes a list of cache pages ordered from most recently used to least recently used. Based on flags associated with the cache pages, a count of the number of cache pages processed for cache page cleaning is maintained. In response to a change in the dynamic list, the location pointer and count are updated based on the processing status of an entry to which the change pertains.
US08700856B2
According to a prior art storage subsystem, shared memories are mirrored in main memories of two processors providing redundancy. When the consistency of writing order of data is not ensured among mirrored shared memories, the processors must read only one of the mirrored shared memories to have the write order of the read data correspond among the two processors. As a result, upon reading data from the shared memories, it is necessary for a processor to read data from the main memory of the other processor, so that the overhead is increased compared to the case where the respective processors read their respective main memories. According to the storage subsystem of the present invention, a packet redirector having applied a non-transparent bridge enables to adopt a PCI Express multicast to the writing of data from the processor to the main memory, so that the order of writing data into the shared memories can be made consistent among the mirrored memories. As a result, data can be read from the shared memories speedily by accessing respective main memories in the respective processors.
US08700853B2
A storage apparatus which is connected via a network to a host which issues data I/O requests comprises storage devices of a plurality of types of varying performance, and a control unit which manages each storage area provided by each of the storage devices of a plurality of types by means of storage tiers of a plurality of different types, and which assigns storage areas in pre-determined units to virtual volumes from any storage tier among the storage tiers of a plurality of types in accordance with a data write request from the host, wherein, if there is an I/O request from the host, the control unit stores data corresponding to the I/O request in predetermined units in the cache memory and determines the storage tier of the storage area assigned to the virtual volume storing the data according to the mode of writing to the cache memory.
US08700850B1
A data storage device (DSD) is disclosed comprising a SATA connector and control circuitry comprising a communication module for communicating with a host. At least one pin of the SATA connector is evaluated to detect a host type. When the host type is SATA, the communication module is configured to operate according to a SATA protocol, and when the host type is non-SATA, the communication module is configured to operate according to a non-SATA protocol.
US08700847B2
A method for managing read/write (R/W) operations on an electronic device with hard disks, includes: upon receipt of R/W operation information related to an intended R/W operation, configuring a processor to decide which of the hard disks will be read/written with reference to the R/W operation information and sets of pre-established performance information. The sets respectively correspond to R/W operation settings. Each set includes multiple pieces of information each containing a performance indication related to a corresponding one of candidate combinations of the hard disks under the corresponding R/W operation setting. The decision is made with reference to the set, the R/W operation setting corresponding to which matches the R/W operation information.
US08700846B2
The present invention is directed to a method and software for managing the host-to-volume mappings of a SAN storage system. The host-to-volume mappings of the SAN storage system are represented in mapping configuration components. The active mapping configuration component represents the current host-to-volume mapping for the SAN storage system. Only one mapping configuration component is active at a time. The host-to-volume mappings of a SAN storage system are changed by deactivating the active mapping configuration component and activating an inactive mapping configuration component that represents a different mapping configuration, effecting a repartition, repurpose, disaster recovery, or other business activity. This can be a scheduled task or performed in an on-demand manner. The mapping configuration components are managed and controlled through the management component of the SAN storage system.
US08700827B2
A matching device carries out data exchange between a processing unit and a wireless peripheral device and/or a communication object associated with the peripheral device. The matching device includes a communication interface with the processing unit; a wireless communication interface with the wireless peripheral device; information stating means for stating technical capacity information to the processing unit, enabling the latter to select an appropriate driver/communication means; and data-processing means. The data-processing means is capable of carrying out a matching of an exchange protocol and/or formats of data to be exchanged between the processing unit and the communication object. The technical capacities stated by the stating means pertains to the wireless peripheral device and/or to the communication object associated therewith, the technical capacities being considered to pertain to the matching device by the processing unit. The invention also pertains to a system and method for implementing the matching device.
US08700822B2
A parallel aggregation system includes a data analysis module to determine a unique key value of a record to be forwarded to a destination. A pre-processing module may determine existence of the record in a buffer and priority of the record in a priority queue. Based on the existence and priority, the pre-processing module may absorb the record in the buffer and selectively forward another record in the buffer to the destination.
US08700812B2
A method for a data card to identify an OS, an apparatus and a communication system thereof are provided according to the embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: receiving, by a USB device through a disc port, an SCSI command sent by the OS to be identified; and upon receiving an SCSI command carrying operation code 0XBB, identifying that the OS to be identified is Mac OS; upon receiving an SCSI command carrying operation code 0XA2, identifying that the OS to be identified is Windows Vista SP2 or later versions of Windows OS. With the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, no dedicated driver programs need to be developed for some OSs to identify these OSs.
US08700808B2
A hardware support system for implementing accelerated disk I/O for a computer system. The system includes a bus interface for interfacing with a processor and a system memory of the computer system, a disk I/O engine coupled to the bus interface, and a device interface coupled to the disk I/O engine for interfacing the disk I/O engine with a disk drive. The disk I/O engine is configured to cause a start up of the disk drive upon receiving a disk start up command from the processor. The disk I/O engine is further configured to execute a disk transaction by processing the disk transaction information from a bypass register coupled to the disk I/O engine.
US08700803B2
A method of serving a web page includes separating an original web page into a server-side executable portion and a server-side static portion. The server-side static portion is replaced with an identifier, and then a client-side executable program is created that will replace the identifier with the server-side static portion. The client-side executable program may be compressed in such a way that the server-side executable portion is stored in its original format. In response to a client request, the web server executes the resulting program and transmits the output to the requesting client. At the client, the response is decompressed if necessary and the client-side executable program is executed to integrated the server-side static portion with the server-side execution result.
US08700798B2
A system and method is provided for extending the capabilities of an UPnP AV network architecture with “Universal Follow-me” functionality to provide users of such networks with a capability to pause or stop the playing of media content at one location in the UPnP AV network (100, 700) and resume the playing of the media content at a later point in time at a different or the same location without loss of continuity.
US08700797B2
There is provided an apparatus for providing a smart streaming service connected to a plurality of unit services each providing a unit service through a network including: a service route selector configured to select at least one unit service server for providing at least one unit service suitable for composite context of a current user from the plurality of unit service servers, using composite context information including information on users, user terminals and unit services, and create service route information that indicates a combination of the at least one selected unit service server; and a service route processor configured to process unit service information provided by the at least one selected unit service server, based on the created service route information, and provide a smart streaming service to the user.
US08700784B2
A method and arrangement for enabling access to a home device in a private network from a remote device located outside the private network. The private network includes a multimedia gateway connected to a multimedia service network. A session invite message is sent from the remote device to the multimedia gateway. In response, connection parameters of a residential gateway in the private network are sent to the remote device, which are associated with the selected home device if a home device identification was included in the received message, or with a proxy function in the multimedia gateway capable of providing home device information, if no such identification was included in the received message. In this way, home devices in the private network can be easily and safely accessed remotely.
US08700783B2
Upon receipt of an access request from a Web terminal, a service providing server transmits a shop ID stored in an external information database to the Web terminal. When the shop ID is selected by the Web terminal, the service providing server acquires external connection destination information, and notifies a SIP proxy server of the information via the Web terminal. When notified of the information, the SIP proxy server identifies internal connection destination information in an internal information database, based on an IP address added at the time of the notification of the external connection destination information. After making a call to a telephone device with the use of the identified internal connection destination information, the SIP proxy server makes a call to the shop with the use of the external connection destination information. After that, the SIP proxy server establishes a connection between the telephone device and the shop.
US08700782B2
Selected modalities of a multimodal communication session may be diverted over different networks by an administrator or automatically to reduce burden on utilized networks. Modalities may be selected and diverted over different networks including the Internet for the same multimodal communication session based on network conditions, communication session attributes, participant attributes, and similar factors.
US08700779B2
A server system has, in addition to extensibility of scale-out type of a braid server system, extensibility of scale-up type by making SMP coupling among nodes. Each node has a unit for SMP coupling to other nodes. A module management unit responds to system configuration information to switch between a mode in which the node operates singularly as a braid server and a mode in which the node operates as a constituent module of an SMP server. Links among individual nodes are laid through equidistant wiring lines on a back plane and additionally a loop wiring line having a length equal to that of the inter-node link on the back plane is also laid in each node, thereby setting up synchronization among the nodes. Synchronization of reference clocks for SMP coupled nodes is also established.
US08700775B2
Systems and methods for routing communications to a platform service are provided. A message including payload data is received. The information in the payload data of the message is examined in order to determine the type of message. The message is then relayed to an appropriate platform service based on the type of message. Some embodiments assign numbers to the packets that make up the message.
US08700742B2
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system and method for prequeuing of files predicted to be desired by a user, through a telecommunications link, into a local cache, based on a list, wherein the prequeuing system is responsive to any change in the sequence of user review, such that predicted latencies for sequential file review from any given starting point are minimized. A system and method for reducing latency in a sequential record browser are provided, for defining a sequential list of records; selecting a record from the list for review; downloading the selected record, and records sequentially thereafter until interrupted; interrupting the downloading by selecting a non-sequential record; and downloading the a non-sequential record and records sequentially thereafter until interrupted.
US08700739B2
A portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system and method for selecting, requesting, downloading, and playing audio and/or video data content files from an Internet-based database server. The wireless link is preferably implemented in accordance with the WiFi protocol, which allows connectivity to the Internet by being in proximity with a local base station or WiFi hotspot (i.e., publicly available local wireless access hub connected to the Internet). The portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system preferably include a security means for monitoring and blocking unauthorized use of the player apparatus and system. The player apparatus further preferably has the capability to communicate with other neighboring player apparatus for the purpose of exchanging content data files, playlists and personal messages.
US08700732B2
A disc reproducing apparatus includes: program readout means for playing back a disc loaded therein to read a program recorded thereon; disc-content readout means for executing the read program to read a content recorded on the disc; network-content acquisition means for executing the read program to acquire a content stored in a device connected over a network; and display control means for executing the read program to control display of the content read from the disc, and the content acquired from the device connected over the network.
US08700708B2
In particular embodiments, a method comprising, by one or more computing devices, analyzing one or more elements of a displayed structured document to identify one or more objects from a plurality of objects within the displayed structured document, responsive to detected user interaction by a user with a first object of the one or more identified objects, generating data indicating an edge relationship from the first object and the user, and transmitting the data indicating the edge relationship to a social networking system.
US08700706B2
A method for ascertaining active communication sessions may include receiving a request to ascertain active communication sessions by a communication session information server; transmitting respective challenges to determine whether communication sessions are currently active from the communication session information server to at least two communication session servers; receiving respective challenge responses from the at least two communication session servers, which indicate one or more active communication sessions controlled by the respective communication session server or indicate that such communication sessions currently do not exist, by the communication session information server; and transmitting a first response, which indicates one or more active communication sessions controlled by the at least two communication session servers or indicates that such communication sessions currently do not exist, by the communication session information server.
US08700700B2
A display control technique that allows a latest screen shot to be displayed on a client apparatus regardless of a file update state in a server apparatus, in a network system that realizes a remote UI, is provided. When a file 105 on a server apparatus 100 has been updated during a period from a time of last end of an application to the current time, a first screen shot management section 102 transmits a screen shot 106 generated by the server apparatus 100, to a client apparatus 110. A display control section 116 displays the received screen shot 106 on a display screen when receiving the screen shot 106 from the server apparatus 100; and displays a screen shot 117 that is generated by the client apparatus 110 and stored in a second screen shot management section 114, on the display screen in the case other than the above.
US08700698B2
A state affinitized system comprises worker computing devices uniquely affinitized with one or more states such that only those worker computing devices maintain local copies of the states with which they are affinitized. Requests and data relevant to a state are directed to the worker computing device affinitized with that state, such as by front-end computing devices. A centralized persistent storage can maintain a copy of each state and can modify the states in response to newly received information in the same manner as the worker computing devices. Such maintenance can be performed by coalescer computing devices, which can also derive second order data from the states in the centralized persistent storage, which can be further added to the state and also communicated to the worker computing device affinitized with that state. Crawler computing devices can obtain additional information for incorporation into states from network-based information repositories and services.
US08700682B2
An abstraction layer is provided between databases of back office systems and a markup language based interface, which may allow Web access to data in the databases of the back office systems. Schemas, metadata and validation files are generated from an intermediary representation of the database, which may be flat, non-hierarchical files. Markup language based templates may be generated based on the schemas, metadata and validation files. Markup documents or “markup” may be generated using the templates and the schemas, metadata and validation files. Workflow may be defined and imposed on the generation of the markup.
US08700677B2
A method of facilitating customization of a software-implemented business process includes storing, within a mobile computing device, a subscription list of entities. The subscription list being defined by subscription metadata. Customized data is received. The customized data corresponds to the entities identified in the subscription list. The received customized metadata is stored on the mobile computing device.
US08700671B2
A system and methods for implementing tag synchronization routines providing automated tag definition and management functionalities. Tag configurations are highly configurable to obtain information from multiple back end systems and able to support data access from many different sources. Additionally, the tag configurations provide convenient mechanisms by which to control data access and preserve data integrity in an automated manner.
US08700664B2
An identification system that may be used in heterogeneous computing environments provides a fail-free path to providing identifiers from a single canonical namespace. Objects or gateways requiring an identifier for access are accessed using an identifier for the canonical namespace. If an entity requests access using an identifier from another namespace, an external database is consulted to determine if a mapping exists for the identifier to another identifier the canonical namespace. If no mapping exists, or the external database is unavailable, then an identifier is automatically generated in the canonical namespace and is used for the access. An internal database is updated with the automatically generated identifier, providing a mechanism to add mappings without administrative intervention. To access resources requiring an identifier from another particular namespace, a canonical namespace identifier may be mapped to another identifier in the particular namespace, or a generic identifier may be used.
US08700655B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products for location salience modeling for multimodal search
Computational models of dialog context have often focused on unimodal spoken dialog or text, using the language itself as the primary locus of contextual information. But as spoken unimodal interaction is replaced by situated multimodal interaction on mobile platforms supporting a combination of spoken dialog with graphical interaction, touch-screen input, geolocation, and other non-linguistic contextual factors, a need arises for more sophisticated models of context that capture the influence of these factors on semantic interpretation and dialog flow. The systems, methods, and computer program products disclosed herein address this need. A method for multimodal search includes, in part, determining an intended location of search query based upon information received from a remote mobile device that issued the search query.
US08700654B2
Methods, computer systems, and computer-readable storage media for dynamically correcting misspelled search queries are provided. A portion of a search query is received, and a data store is accessed. It is determined that the portion of the search query is absent from the data store and, thus, comprises a misspelled portion of a search query. Correctly spelled portions of search queries are dynamically determined for the misspelled portion of the search query using a trie data structure, and the misspelled portion of the search query is associated with the correctly spelled portions of search queries. Search suggestions are determined for the correctly spelled portions of search queries and are ranked based on a frequency of use and on a transformation cost of associating the misspelled portion of the search query with the correctly spelled portion of search queries. The ranked search suggestions are provided to a user.
US08700645B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for validating a developed application. These mechanisms and methods for providing such validation can enable embodiments to ensure that new versions of developed applications will operate in the same application environment of a previous version. The ability of embodiments to provide such validation may lead to an improved application migration development/runtime framework, etc.
US08700640B2
Embodiments of the invention disclose a method, identifier and a computer program product for identifying influential users among a group of users associated with a communication network. The disclosed method includes selecting two or more ranking models from a plurality of ranking models such that each ranking model provides scores to the users in the group based on a usage data of the users, calculating a weighing factor for each of the selected ranking models, generating an aggregate score for each user using the weighing factor and the score provided by each one of the selected model such that based on the aggregate score, the influential users among the group of users are identified.
US08700639B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining a context of the current search session. In one aspect, a method includes identifying query paths from previous search sessions, each query path defining a context and being a plurality of queries in an order in which the queries were provided for in a respective previous search session; identifying search session queries of a current search session; comparing the search session queries of the current search session to the queries in the query paths from the previous search sessions; and determining that a context of the current search session is related to a query path from the previous search sessions based at least in part on the comparison, the determining including: determining that two or more of the queries of the query path are similar to two or more of the search session queries.
US08700638B2
Resolving ambiguous variable names in processing of a computer application includes representing variable declarations with dynamic variable scopes of the computer application in a tree data structure where the nodes of the tree data structure are variable names of the computer application. Ambiguous variable names are resolved by calculating distances between a context node and two or more candidate nodes of the tree data structure where each of the candidate nodes contains the searched variable name. The weighted distance between the context node and each candidate node equals the number of downward steps from the context node to the candidate node multiplied by a first constant plus the number of upward steps from the context node to the candidate node multiplied by a second constant. The node having a desired weighted distance is selected and information from the selected node is returned to the computer application as the variable value.
US08700632B2
Methods of managing data. A master catalog of properties may be generated. An object model catalog containing a plurality of object models may be generated, each object model including at least one property listed in the master catalog. A data set including a plurality of data objects may be defined, each data object an instantiation of a respective object model from the object model catalog. Data may be collected in accordance with the data set definition. Data collection may be performed, at least in part, by an automatic data collection system.
US08700630B2
A method and system for generating a topic page for a search query on a search webpage includes receiving a query at the search webpage on a client. The query is transmitted from the search webpage on the client to a search engine on a server. A topic page generator available to the search engine analyzes the query to identify a plurality of dimensions. One or more content modules, including at least one interactive advertising module, that match one or more of the dimensions are selected from a plurality of sources based on a weight associated with each of the content modules. The weight defines the ranking of a content module. The content modules for the plurality of dimensions are glued together and presented on the topic page in the order of the corresponding weight of the content modules. The order of presentation identifies the relevancy of the content modules to the query. The presented topic page provides the most relevant content modules for the query, and for a user located in a specific geo location.
US08700629B2
Online abstract groups, in which members aren't explicitly connected, can be automatically identified by computer-implemented methods. The methods involve harvesting records from social media and extracting content-based and structure-based features from each record. Each record includes a social-media posting and is associated with one or more entities. Each feature is stored on a data storage device and includes a computer-readable representation of an attribute of one or more records. The methods further involve grouping records into record groups according to the features of each record. Further still the methods involve calculating an n-dimensional surface representing each record group and defining an outlier as a record having feature-based distances measured from every n-dimensional surface that exceed a threshold value. Each of the n-dimensional surfaces is described by a footprint that characterizes the respective record group as an online abstract group.
US08700628B1
A server system receives an annotation of a respective entity by an author. The respective entity has an entity identifier, and the annotation has a scope that identifies a range of access to the annotation. The system identifies one or more database entries in a database. A respective database entry includes a first value and a second value. Each database entry corresponds to a respective index key comprising an entity-scope combination. The entity-scope combination corresponds to a respective entity and a respective scope. The system updates the first value in each of the one or more identified entries, without updating the second value in each of the one or more identified entries. The system receives a request for one or more annotations, and sends information corresponding to an annotation value in response to the request.
US08700625B1
A product catalog system includes a product catalog having information regarding products for sale online by various merchants. The product catalog system transmits information regarding products in response to queries for a target product and also transmits information regarding products that serve as alternatives to the target product. The product catalog system includes a product alternatives module that identifies product alternatives based on information regarding a multitude of received queries and information regarding products that were selected from other products presented in response to the queries. The alternatives module computes an association weight for pairs of products that indicates the likelihood that the two products are alternatives. This association weight is based on the query and product information and further based on the number of times that the two products were the subject of a comparison query.
US08700622B2
A system, and computer program product for activity based dynamic data prioritization are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A user activity corresponding to a user is selected. A query is constructed corresponding to the user activity. The query is executed on a data source to obtain a result set of data. A prioritization rule is constructed using a feature of the query and a policy. Data items in the result set of data are prioritized according to the prioritization rule to form prioritized data. The prioritized data is presented relative to the user activity.
US08700618B2
A facility for tracking the sharing of distinguished content is described. When a user seeks to access the distinguished content from a client computer system using a URL associated with the distinguished content, the facility determines whether a user identifier is represented in the URL. If a user identifier is represented in the URL that is different from a user identifier that is persistently stored by the client computer system, the facility determines that the distinguished content has been shared with a user identified by the user identifier that is persistently stored by the client computer system by a user identified by the identifier represented in the URL.
US08700617B2
A system, method and computer program for managing resources within an integrated development environment for multiple users. The resources include both content resources and people resources. The method comprises: managing a plurality of nodes representing resources, the nodes including content nodes and person nodes, wherein the node contains a resource reference for referencing the resource; managing one or more links representing one or more relationships between the resources, the links including links between content nodes, between person nodes and between content and person nodes, each link comprising node references to identify the nodes in the relationships and an importance value to identify the importance of the relationship; providing an interface for selecting one of the plurality of content nodes or person nodes; adapting, in response to the user selected node, one or more importance values of certain links.
US08700610B1
A system provides news alerts. For example, the system may receive topics of interest to users and periodically obtain news articles that originate from multiple sources of news articles and relate to the topics of interest to the users. The system may generate news alerts that include information associated with one or more of the news articles and provide the news alerts to the users.
US08700609B2
An online advertising method which may allow advertisers to recruit a user of a websites to become an advertisement carrier, who may carry the advertiser's advertisements and display the advertisements to his fellow users in an online community. Since users in the advertisement carrier's online community have similar browsing interests, if an advertisement is related to the browsing interests of the online community, it may be better targeted at the users in the online community. The method may be used in, e.g., eCommerce, social networking and online photo albums.
US08700604B2
Methods, techniques, and systems for using natural language processing to recommend related content to an associated text segment or document. Example embodiments provide a NLP-based content recommender (“NCR”) which uses NLP-based search techniques, potentially in conjunction with context or other related information, to locate and provide content related to entities that are recognized in the associated material. NCRs may be embedded as widgets, for example on Web pages to assist users in their perusal and search for information, provided by means of browser plug-ins or other application plug-ins, provided in libraries or in standalone environments, or otherwise integrated into other code, programs, or devices. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08700601B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for managing electronic files in a document repository. An electronic file is associated to the document repository, and data is extracted from the electronic file. A document repository index is created. An overwrite protection function is implemented that appends a date and time to the electronic file when the electronic file already exists within the document repository, such that the date and time distinguishes the electronic file from other electronic files. The document repository index is stored in memory that points to a subfolder within an unchangeable primary folder.
US08700600B2
A method and system for identifying informative links of a web site for use in crawling the web site is provided. A forum crawler analyzes sample web pages of a web forum to identify informative links and then crawls the web forum by following links determined to be informative and not following other links. The forum crawler system determines whether links are informative based on whether they are part of the overall structure of the web site or are used to select sequential information that has been split onto multiple web pages.
US08700590B2
A method and system for grouping metadata search results associated with media on a computer network, such as multimedia and streaming media include binning and iterative masking. The media metadata has an associated media file, which has an associated uniform resource locator (URL). Each URL has at least one field, and each field has at least one character. Binning includes selecting, sorting, and putting URLs having a common attribute into the same bin. Masking includes creating a mask of masking characters. Each field in each URL in each bin is compare with the mask. If a masking character matches a character in a field, the character in the field is removed from the field. This produces at least one resultant URL. Identical resultant URLs are collapsing into one URL. Redundant and variant URLs are collapsed into a single URL.
US08700586B2
A method is disclosed for providing a map for displaying inventory. A clickable map interface allows users to view or purchase the inventory of a product at a particular location. A user can view the inventory of a product from retail stores within a particular region. Alternatively, a user can view a map with the inventory of advertisements available within a particular geographic region.
US08700585B2
In a file system shared by multiple servers, reservation of a data storage unit such as a LUN of a disk array to acquire locks in order to commit a transaction acting on data stored in the data storage unit is deferred until the transaction is completed in RAM and the locks can be acquired in parallel during a single instance of reserving the data storage unit.
US08700579B2
A method for applying adaptive data compression in a relational database system using a filter cascade having at least one compression filter stage in the filter cascade. The method comprises applying a data filter associated with the compression filter stage to the data input to produce reconstruction information and filtered data, then compressing the reconstruction information to be included in a filter stream. The filtered data is provided as a compression filter stage output. The method may comprise evaluating whether the compression filter stage provides improved compression compared to the data input. The filter stage output may be used as the input of a subsequent compression filter stage.
US08700577B2
Embodiments of the present invention solve the technical problem of identifying, collecting, and managing rules that improve poor quality data on enterprise initiatives ranging from data governance to business intelligence. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for producing data quality rules for a data set. A set of candidate conditional functional dependencies are generated comprised of candidate seeds of attributes that are within a certain degree of relatedness in the ontology of the data set. The candidate conditional functional dependencies are then applied to the data refined until they reach a quiescent state where they have not been refined even though the data they have been applied to has been stable. The resulting refined candidate conditional functional dependencies are the data enhancement rules for the data set and other related data sets. In another specific embodiment of the present invention, a computer system for the development of data quality rules is provided having a rule repository, a data quality rules discovery engine, and a user interface.
US08700570B1
Various systems and methods for migrating replicated storage arrays. For example, one method can involve transferring a set of data from a first storage device to a second storage device. The method also involves terminating a replication relationship between the first storage device and establishing a new replication relationship between the second storage device and either the third storage device or a fourth storage device. Between the time that the replication relationship with the first storage device is terminated and the new replication relationship with the second storage device is established, the second storage device receives a plurality of change operations. The method involves applying the change operations to either the third storage device or fourth storage device.
US08700568B2
A system and method identifying duplicate objects from a plurality of objects. The system and method normalizes name values of objects, groups objects into buckets based at least in part on the normalized name values, matches objects within the same bucket based on a selected matcher, and identifies the matching objects as duplicate objects.
US08700566B2
An IMS DEDB database restructure operation creates an empty offline DEDB having the desired structure. The offline database is populated with data from a source (online) database while keeping the source database online (i.e., available for access and update operations). Updates to the source database made during this process are selectively processed in parallel with the offline DEDB load operation. When the contents of the offline database is substantially the same as the source or online database, the source database is taken offline, final updates to the offline database are applied whereafter the offline database is brought online, thereby replacing the source database. It is significant to note that updates occurring to the source or online DEDB are applied to the offline DEDB.
US08700557B2
A computer-based system and method to improve the multimodal fusion output at the decision level is disclosed. The method proposes computation of a confidence weighted measure for the individual score values obtained for each modality and fuse these new updated scores to get the final decision. These confidence weights are the performance parameters (measured in terms of F-measure) during the offline training step. The process significantly increases the accuracy of the multimodal system.
US08700555B1
Systems and methods for facilitating pairing of semantic networks with knowledge sharing repositories, such as wikis, are described. Information from a semantic network may be transferred to a knowledge sharing repository, and either automatically or manually updated based on changes in the semantic network information. Likewise, information in a knowledge sharing repository may be transferred to a semantic network and automatically or manually updated based in changes in the knowledge sharing repository.
US08700553B2
An operation support apparatus includes: an operation record storage unit (303) in which an operation record of a user is stored; a target function candidate storage unit (309) which defines and stores target function candidates; an operation strategy determination unit (305) which determines that the user's operation strategy is an operation strategy which originates from content selection, in the case where the operation included in the operation record is a predetermined operation performed when the appliance is in a status in which content can be displayed or selected; a target function inference unit (308) which infers the target function according to a method suited to the operation strategy determined by the operation strategy determination unit (305); and an operation support determination unit (310) which determines an operation support method for the user, using the inferred target function.
US08700551B2
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for predicting one or more desired properties of external nodes or properties of their relations with internal nodes, based on a selected group of nodes about which it is known whether the nodes have the desired properties, or it is known whether they have a desired relation property with an internal node. The method comprises storing in one or more data structures a first data set regarding external nodes and a second data set regarding nodes with known properties in a selected group, each data set having one or more data items representing one or more events relating to or attributes of each node in the data set, the second data set including one or more types of data items not included in the first data set. The method then models the second data set to identify from the second data one or more modeled events or attributes of internal nodes in the selected group that are statistically likely to identify the nodes or their relations, that have the desired properties and predicts which of the external nodes are statistically likely to have the one or more desired properties, or desired relation property with internal node, based on the identified plurality of modeled events or attributes and the events or attributes in the first data set.
US08700541B2
A modeling method of neuro-fuzzy system including a rule-defining process and a network-building process is disclosed. The rule-defining process divides a plurality of training data into a plurality of groups to accordingly define a plurality of fuzzy rules, and the network-building process constructs a fuzzy neural network based on the fuzzy rules obtained by the rule-defining process. The provided modeling method of neuro-fuzzy system is capable of building a neuro-fuzzy system extremely similar to an original function that generates training data of the neuro-fuzzy system.
US08700538B2
A network based distribution system and method is disclosed for permitting subscribers to exchange playable media items, such as movies in a digital format. The exchange system includes a number of components that interoperate to improve a subscriber's experience, including an intelligent queue monitor which works on his/her behalf to identify potential items of interest for the subscriber. The system can thus automatically exchange for desirable titles, including other titles from other subscribers, under a set of programmed directives from the user, and/or in response to supply/demand requirements of other subscribers.
US08700536B2
A system for managing digital interactions comprising an identity module for creating an identity, wherein the identity includes a unique identifier associated with a first party and a plurality of proposed terms for a relationship with a second party; and a relationship module, in communication with the identity module, for receiving and evaluating the plurality of proposed terms, including accepting or rejecting the plurality of proposed terms and, if accepted, for allowing the first party to communicate with the second party in accordance with the plurality of proposed terms.
US08700530B2
Systems and methods are provided to process transactions initiated by users of mobile devices. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store phone numbers of users, and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The interchange uses the converters to transmit at least one premium message to a mobile phone at a first telephone number to provide an amount to the mobile phone using funds associated with a second telephone number, in response to a request initiated from a mobile phone at the second telephone number.
US08700526B1
Ranking payment requests includes a peer-to-peer payment system that employs a server configured for receiving a payment request from a requester computing device; receiving location data of the requester network device; receiving a request for a ranking of payment requests; searching social network information of the payor for occurrences of the requester of the payment request; receiving location data of the payor network device, the location data comprising a location of the payor computing device and a location history of the payor computing device; searching a transaction history of the payor; ranking the payment requests based at least in part on one or more of the location of the requester, a strength of social network connections to the payor for each of the payment requesters, and number of previous transactions between the payor and the requester; and providing the ranking of the payment requests to the payor.
US08700525B1
Systems and methods for settling funds from an account to one or more settlement accounts of a merchant. The merchant can have a plurality of settlement accounts, which may be the same or different settlement account types. The settling of the funds can be directed by one or more settlement rules defined by the merchant.
US08700524B2
Systems and methods are provided to selectively restrict payment transactions. In one aspect, a system includes: a data storage facility to store restriction data in association with a phone number; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with mobile controllers. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. In response to a payment request identifying the phone number and a merchant, the common format processor determines whether to reject the payment request based at least in part on the restriction data and the identity of the merchant. If the request is not rejected, the common format processor uses one of the converters to communicate with a telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the payment request.
US08700516B2
Construction of factor risk models that better predict the future volatility of returns of a portfolio of securities such as stocks, bonds, or the like is addressed. More specifically, improved factor-factor covariance estimation is made even when the covariances change rapidly over time. Methods and techniques for achieving better accuracy, responsiveness, and stability of factor risk models are addressed.
US08700505B2
The present invention provides an integrated time reporting and billing solution that facilitates billing and payment for time-related activities and manages contract workflow from end to end. The present invention can be employed in any industry for any employment relationship where in-house or supplemental contract labor is tracked by time. In one embodiment, the invention includes a contractor submission and tracking system (CSTS) and back office workflow management system (BOSS) to track and report vendor activity and contractor spend. The present invention can be used by employer-clients, contractors and contractor suppliers to facilitate contractor requisition, contract creation and modification, document tracking, business rule implementation, reporting, communications, timesheet entry, timesheet approval, and billing presentment, payment and other aspects of contract workflow management.
US08700501B2
A system and method for tracking and tracing items that in one aspect comprises generating a group of unique codes, where a unique code is a unique encrypted reference, transferring the group of unique codes to an item marking location, marking items with the unique codes. Further, for tracking the items, decrypting the unique codes of a marked item to obtain the unique reference, and creating and storing the tracking records in a unique storage location, where the unique reference refers to the unique storage location. A tree structure resembling the packaging hierarchy is disclosed, where the nodes are referenced by the unique reference, and tracing of entire sub-trees may be performed by entering a unique code. Storage locations and sub-trees may be assigned to tracking cells in a distributed system architecture.
US08700500B2
A method and system for computing the price for shipping goods. The method includes causing a computer to deliver first information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information about a rail transportation service for shipment of goods by one or more railcars. Information about a basic pool of railcars is received and filtered based on one or more filtering criteria to produce a filtered pool of railcars. The computer is then caused to deliver second information to the user prompting the user to select at the computer one or more railcars among the filtered pool of railcars for the shipment of goods. A price for the shipment of the goods is then computed at least in part on the basis of the rail transportation service and the one or more characteristics of the railcars in the filtered pool of railcars selected by the user.
US08700499B2
A system for providing products to a customer operates with an open purchase order having an acceptable inventory range bounded by a lower and an upper limit for each product supplied to the customer. The system includes a storage unit, a first processing unit that maintains a product inventory count, and a second processing unit that monitors the product inventory count. A system for transferring electronic files includes a first processing unit that stores and transfers the electronic file, generates a pointer associated with the transferred electronic file, generates a reference electronic file and thereafter includes the pointer in the reference electronic file. A second processing unit then displays the reference electronic file. A system for generating composite electronic files includes a first processing unit having composite locations including component electronic files, and generating the composite electronic files when the respective composite location is accessed from a second processing unit.
US08700495B2
A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for mapping product records according to attributes in a standard schema, the standard schema mapping product records from a plurality of content providers according to a product hierarchy from each respective content provider, the method including: receiving product data from a plurality of feeds including feeds from one or more content providers; identifying a plurality of product records received from each of the plurality of feeds; identifying a taxonomy of products received in each of the plurality of feeds; and storing product records and corresponding product attributes in a standard schema in a data set for each feed according to the taxonomy identified for each respective feed.
US08700494B2
A product catalog system includes a product catalog having product offers received from various merchants. The product catalog system includes an analysis module that determines, for each merchant that provides product offers, which product offers are for products that are likely to be variants of one another based in part on titles of the products and assigns sets of product offers that are likely to be variants a merchant cluster identifier. The analysis module groups the product offers into product catalog entries based on the particular product that the offers are for. The analysis module determines which products are variants based on associations between the product catalog entries and the merchant cluster identifiers of the product offers included in the product catalog entries.
US08700489B2
A server apparatus includes: a trend leader detecting portion that acquires purchaser identifying information for identifying a purchaser who purchased the product at an early stage satisfying a predetermined time condition, from at least two pieces of purchase history information; a recommended product acquiring portion that acquires at least one piece of product identifying information for identifying a product purchased by at least one purchaser identified with at least one piece of purchaser identifying information that has been acquired by the trend leader detecting portion; and a recommended product transmitting portion that transmits the at least one piece of product identifying information that has been acquired by the recommended product acquiring portion, to an information output apparatus. With this server apparatus, recommendation of a product can be provided based on the behavior in which a trend leader purchases a product.
US08700482B2
Various embodiments include an apparatus comprising a server operable to generate a customized virtual catalog including a plurality of composite images, wherein at least one of the plurality of composite images includes an image of a promotional product decorated using a decorative image associated with a client requesting access to the customized virtual catalog.
US08700481B2
A conditional purchase offer (CPO) management system is disclosed for receiving CPOs from one or more customers, such as airline passengers, and for evaluating the received CPOs against a number of CPO rules defined by a plurality of sellers, such as airlines, to determine whether any seller is willing to accept a given CPO. A CPO rule is a set of restrictions defined by a given seller, such as an airline, to define a combination of restrictions for which the seller is willing to accept a predefined price. The CPO rules may be securely stored by one or more servers. The CPO management system permits a seller to correct for forecasting errors, if necessary, or other competitive forces which have produced excess capacity, by providing inventory for sale to CPO customers.
US08700466B2
Exemplary methods and devices in accordance with the disclosure relate generally to networked provisioning of content to young users such as children, as well as providing user monitoring and customized feedback and other information to parents and others. More particularly, but not exclusively, embodiments in accordance with the disclosure relate to systems, methods, devices, and computer media for receiving user input associated with provided or available content, processing the input, and providing information such as text, video, audio, other media, advertising, and feedback associated with user inputs and preferences to a person associated with the user.
US08700461B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method. The method includes dynamically allocating a telephone number to an advertisement on a just-in-time basis; and if the telephone number is not called for a predefined period of time, then unallocating the telephone number.
US08700455B2
Advertising rewards and referrals are described, including detecting an interaction with an advertisement, recording the interaction, the interaction including an input being provided in response to the advertisement, generating a reward for the interaction, the reward being an action taken to provide a benefit in response to the interaction, analyzing data associated with the advertisement, the data including a plurality of documented interactions, and providing a result from analyzing the data.
US08700454B2
An interactive privilege supply system in which a user terminal device, a privilege supply device, and a product supply device are connected via a network, wherein the product supply device generates privilege data in which a privilege is interlocked with time; the user terminal device generates entry data within a predetermined period of time in accordance with the privilege data and with contingency data, which is contained in program data transmitted from the privilege supply device; and the privilege supply device generates result data, which contains validity period information about product privilege purchase, in accordance with the relationship between the contingency data and the entry data.
US08700449B2
A method for targeted advertisement includes storing a profile tag associated with each user in a device maintained by that user. Each profile tag includes the demographic information of its associated user. A multitude of target tags are also transmitted to the users. Each target tag is associated with an advertiser and includes the demographic information of the users. The advertisements and their corresponding target tags are transmitted and cached in the devices maintained by the users. The number of matches between the target tags and the user profiles are supplied to their respective advertisers. The advertisers use the matching number to modify the prices they are willing to offer for the commercial break. The target tags include information that is used to select one of the cached advertisement for playing during the commercial break.
US08700443B1
Systems and methods for supply risk detection are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method includes identifying fulfillment-related features corresponding to an item to be stored in inventory. The method also includes selecting a subset of the fulfillment-related features that is correlated with a supply constraint associated with the item. For example, in some cases the correlation is based on historical supply constraint data. The method further includes building a supply risk early detection model based, at least in part, upon the subset fulfillment-related features and evaluating the model to determine a probability that a third-party vendor will suffer a shortage of the item, as well as an expected duration of the shortage. Upon evaluation of the model, the method may include creating a purchasing plan for the item that takes into account the probability of the shortage and the expected duration of the shortage.
US08700435B2
A method of facilitating and performing the redemption and exchange of unused tickets includes steps of determining the availability of unused tickets, calculating a redemption value of an available unused ticket, and updating a status of the unused ticket. The availability is determined by querying a database containing information pertaining to unused tickets. The redemption value is calculated based on the application of validation rules. The status is updated after a decision as to whether to redeem the unused ticket has been made. The redemption value is obtainable by exchanging the unused ticket for a new ticket. The tickets may be for air travel.
US08700432B2
There is provided a system for cutaneous diagnosis including a first access device. The first access device includes a camera, a processor and a display of digital body map having an anatomical marker. The camera captures image data of a lesion and the processor tags a location of the lesion captured from the camera with the anatomical marker, yielding a first record. The first record is transmitted by the first access device via a network to the first database. The first database receives and stores the first record. The second access device is in communication with the database. The second access device retrieves the first record from the database via the network and attaches physician data to the first record, thus yielding a second record. The second record is transmitted via the network to a second database and is stored therein.
US08700425B2
Current patients in an emergency department of a hospital are described according to their quantity, their triage classification levels, and their wait times to calculate a current patient backlog. A sum of weight-adjusted triage classification levels of all of the current patients is calculated. Current patient arrival rates in the emergency department are tracked to calculate a current change in patient arrival rates, which are compared with historical changes in patient arrival rates. A size of an imminent influx of arriving patients into the emergency department is then predicted based on the current patient backlog, the sum of weight-adjusted triage classification levels of patients currently in the emergency department, and the current change in patient arrival rates.
US08700420B2
A method of tracking dispensed medical items for use by patients associated with a health care institution. The method includes storing in a data store in connection with a computer, data representative of patients and medical items prescribed for the patients. A record is included in the data store of prescribed medical items for patients that have been dispensed. The dispensed medical items are tracked to the point of giving the item to the patients using portable terminals that are carried to the bedside of the patients. The activity of giving the appropriate medical item to each respective patient is recorded in the portable terminal as the medical items are given to the patients. The data stored in the portable terminal is communicated to the data store to provide a record that the medical items dispensed for a patient were actually administered.
US08700419B2
Methods, systems, and products tailor content to users. Clickstream data is merged with a user attribute and content information. A merged record is compared to advertising attributes of advertisements. When the merged record matches an advertising attribute, an advertisement associated with the advertising attribute is retrieved and sent to the user.
US08700411B2
Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for encoding a compressed media stream are disclosed. A disclosed method encodes frames associated with one or more compressed media streams within the media signal on a frame-by-frame basis and releases for transmission an encoded version of the media signal containing the encoded frames on a packet-by-packet basis.
US08700393B2
A first gender-specific speaker adaptation technique may be selected based on characteristics of a first set of feature vectors that correspond to a first unit of input speech. The first set of feature vectors may be configured for use in automatic speech recognition (ASR) of the first unit of input speech. A second set of feature vectors, which correspond to a second unit of input speech, may be modified based on the first gender-specific speaker adaptation technique. The modified second set of feature vectors may be configured for use in ASR of the second unit of input speech. A first speaker-dependent speaker adaptation technique may be selected based on characteristics of the second set of feature vectors. A third set of feature vectors, which correspond to a third unit of speech, may be modified based on the first speaker-dependent speaker adaptation technique.
US08700382B2
A method and system of generating personalized annotated text of a core-text, the method and system directed for acquiring a personal data comprising data indicative of the reader's proficiency level for understanding text; and providing at least a gloss to accompany the requested text based on core-text and the reader's proficiency level.
US08700374B1
A system, method, distribution system, and computer readable medium for locating an element of a computing environment are described. The invention feature selecting a label within a state diagram associated with a graphical model and processing the selected label to generate a location identifier. The invention also features analyzing the location identifier to determine which element of a graphical model is associated with the location identifier and positioning the graphical model to display the element associated with the location identifier to a user viewing the graphical model.
US08700371B2
A system and method for controlling an advancing water front in a reservoir toward a wellbore is provided. The system has a production control unit. The production control unit has a reservoir unit for producing a reservoir model and a production path unit for producing a production path model that determines at least one pressure parameter about the wellbore during a life of the wellbore. The production control unit has a production optimizer unit for producing a well plan that optimizes a function of the wellsite. The production control unit may be for controlling an advancing fluid front in the reservoir with at least one control device, and wherein a production path is constructed based on the well plan.
US08700364B2
Methods of using computer based models for simulating the physical behavior of webs.
US08700363B2
A system and method for analyzing a risk of extended operations (ETOPS) dual independent engine in-flight shutdown (IFSD) using an ETOPS IFSD risk calculation means is disclosed. A two-engine aircraft/engine combination performance data set is provided to obtain flight specific data, and a user input variable array is also provided. Flight times are calculated based on the flight specific data and the user input variable array. Dual independent engine shutdown total thrust loss probability values for various phases of an ETOPS flight are calculated based on the user input variable array, the flight specific data, and the flight times. A calculated risk of dual independent engine in-flight shutdown on the ETOPS flight is calculated based on a sum of the dual independent engine shutdown total thrust loss probability values.
US08700356B2
Provided is a motion sensing apparatus that measures a first angle using at least one first rotational angle sensor, estimates a second angle using at least one second rotational angle sensor and at least one 2-axis angular velocity sensor that is different from the at least one first rotational angle sensor, and estimates a third angle using at least one third rotational angle sensor and the at least one 2-axis angular velocity sensor.
US08700354B1
A wireless motion capture test head system including at least one motion capture element, an isolator, mount and an external computer. The motion capture element(s) may include a memory, a wireless motion capture sensor, a radio and a microcontroller. The microcontroller may collect sensor values data from the wireless motion capture sensor, store the data in the memory, analyze the data, recognize an event within the data to determine event data, and transmit the event data associated with the event via the radio. The isolator may surround the at least one motion capture element to simulate physical acceleration dampening of cerebrospinal fluid around a human brain, in order to minimize translation of linear acceleration and rotational acceleration of the event data to obtain an observed linear acceleration and an observed rotational acceleration of the at least one motion capture element coupled in an inner portion of a headform.
US08700352B2
A method for determining interface temperatures for a dry dual clutch mechanism includes determining that a slipping event is occurring at a friction interface of a clutch in the dry dual clutch mechanism, and determining a heat flux generated by the slipping event. The method includes determining a flux bulk temperature from the determined heat flux and determining a flux interface temperature from the determined heat flux. The flux interface temperature is the temperature at the friction interface during the slipping event. The method calculates a delta interface temperature by subtracting the flux interface temperature from the flux bulk temperature. The method executes a control action with the calculated delta interface temperature.
US08700348B2
A contact-type object water content sensing device and method and a computer program product are presented. The device includes a power unit, a sensing unit, and an calculating unit. The sensing unit includes a substrate and a copper foil, and the copper foil is configured on the substrate. The sensing unit is used to contact a target object and a power unit is used to supply power to the copper foil. The copper foil when supplied with power forms an equivalent capacitor, and the equivalent capacitor has different capacitances in correspondence to a water content of the target object. The calculating unit is electrically connected to the sensing unit and is used to analyze the capacitance of the equivalent capacitor, so as to calculate the water content of the target object.
US08700341B2
Methods are disclosed for resolving measurement problems such problems in measuring chromosomal copy number. Some disclosed methods involve first selecting a primary assay element characteristic to partition. Such characteristic may be a source of experimental variability such as the GC content of measured DNA sequences. Additionally, the disclosed methods may employ an abundance or copy number function to transform the assay element frequencies into an abundance, dose, copy number score, or the like. In some cases, the disclosed methods estimate an amount of certain fetal DNA in a sample. The methods can further compare the estimated amount to a measured amount of fetal DNA in the sample. The comparison can be used to determine the fetal sex or aneuploidy.
US08700340B2
The invention provides a sequence calibration method, including: (a) obtaining a first reading sequence and a second reading sequence from an identical source by a receiving unit; (b) setting a comparison condition by a determining unit; and (c) comparing the first reading sequence with the second reading sequence according to the comparison condition to generate a sequence comparison result by the determining unit; and (d) outputting a calibrated sequence according to the sequence comparison result by the determining unit, wherein the comparison condition is set according to a first seed table of the first reading sequence and a second seed table of the second reading sequence.
US08700337B2
Methods and systems are provided for the computation and display of an individual's personalized health risk based on the genome sequence of the individual, known etiological interactions between diseases for which the individual is determined to have genetic risk factors, and environmental etiological factors associated with the same diseases that represent potentially modifiable disease risk modifiers.
US08700328B1
Configurations are disclosed for providing diversity in transit routes to determine optimal public transit routes for journeys or trips between a source station and a target station. The subject technology performs a forward and backward search of a generated query graph (based on a query between the source and target stations). An arrival label set is determined according to a specified queue order and domination function that takes into account different criteria, such as a duration time and an associated penalty of a label. The arrival label set is then filtered to remove dominated labels. The subject technology then determines one or more optimal paths from the source station to the target station based on the filtered label set.
US08700325B2
A marking system may hold a container from which markers are dispensed to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area. The container may identify a marker characteristic regarding the markers in the container. The marking system may receive activation of a trigger, dispense a marker from the container when the trigger is activated, and store the marker characteristic and time data when the trigger is activated. In other embodiments, the marking system may dispense a marker, determine location data and/or time data, and substantially simultaneously trigger the dispensing of the marker and logging of the location data and/or the time data. The location data identifies a geographic location where the marker is dispensed and the time data identifies the time when the marker is dispensed.
US08700322B2
A method and apparatus for using a predetermined portion of terrain elevation maps in a database for aiding in computing a three-dimensional position of a wireless station. Instead of using the entire terrain model of the earth or an entire country, the database consists of an incomplete model, which includes only the most populous areas or specific regions. This reduces the size of the information in the database, which in turn reduces the amount of time to compute the positions of the wireless device.
US08700321B2
A method of evaluating an attribute of a point of interest 150 comprises associating a region 152 with the point of interest 150; and evaluating 148 the attribute according to a comparison of position data 154,156,158 of a plurality of users with position data defining the associated region.
US08700316B2
Disclosed herein are tools and techniques for providing optional re-routing. In one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, a determination is made that a location of a computing device is not on a predetermined route between a start location and an end location. Based on the determining, a re-route option is provided. Also, while the re-route option is available, a determination is made that a subsequent location of the computing device is on the predetermined route, or a re-route is performed responsive to receiving a touch-anywhere input event on a touchscreen display.
US08700312B2
A location tagged data provision and display system. A personal communication device (PCD) with electromagnetic communication capability has a GPS receiver and a display. The 10 PCD requests maps and location tagged data from data providers and other for display on the PCD. The data providers respond to requests by using searching and sorting schemes to interrogate data bases and then automatically transmitting data responsive to the requests to the requesting PCD.
US08700309B2
In a vehicle-mounted navigation system, an operating unit that operates the driver's seat side image and an operating unit that operates the passenger's seat side image had to be provided separately, which increased the number of operation buttons and the size of the navigation system device. In a vehicle-mounted navigation system that displays images in multiple directions, an operating direction detector detects which direction an operation was performed from, and a controller controls the vehicle-mounted navigation system based on a detection result of the operating direction detector.
US08700303B2
An apparatus, method, computer program and user interface wherein the method comprises: a controller configured to determine locations of interest within a predetermined distance of a first location; a display configured to simultaneously present a map, a first bounded area of the map and a list of the determined locations of interest within the first bounded area; a user input device configured to enable a user to make a user input, wherein; the controller is configured to detect a user input and, in response to the detection of the user input, control the display to present a second bounded area of the map and update the list of the determined locations of interest so that locations of interest within the second bounded area are presented in the list.
US08700297B2
Disclosed are a vehicle group forming device and a vehicle group forming method capable of effectively using a priority lane. A vehicle group forming device which forms a vehicle group with a plurality of vehicles includes vehicle group forming means for selecting vehicles forming a vehicle group or determining the order of the vehicles on the basis of the degree of conformity to the traveling condition of a priority lane.
US08700296B2
Techniques are described for generating predictions of traffic conditions at one or more indicated times, such as by using probabilistic techniques to assess various input data while producing predictions for each of one or more road segments (e.g., in a real-time manner based on changing current conditions for a network of roads in a given geographic area). In some situations, one or more predictive Bayesian models and corresponding decision trees are automatically created for use in generating the traffic condition predictions for each geographic area of interest, such as based on observed historical traffic conditions for those geographic areas. Predicted traffic condition information may then optionally be used in a variety of ways to assist in travel and for other purposes, such as to plan optimal routes through a network of roads based on predictions about traffic conditions for the roads at multiple times.
US08700286B2
Embodiments relate to tire localization in tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). In embodiments, a TPMS includes a wheel unit and a control unit. Each wheel unit collects acceleration data and transmits that data to the control unit for processing. The control unit processes the data and, using additional data received from another vehicle system, for example an antilock braking system (ABS) or electronic stability control (ESC) system, correlates the data in order to localize each wheel unit to a particular wheel of the vehicle. Advantages include increased processing power at the control unit as compared to the wheel unit.
US08700283B2
Operating a trolley assist-capable mining truck having a regenerative braking mechanism and a friction braking mechanism includes receiving data indicative of a change in demand in an electrical power grid for regenerated electrical power from the mining truck, and commanding braking the mining truck such that application of the retarding torque is allocated to the regenerative braking mechanism in a manner responsive to the data. A mining truck and methodology relating to harvesting electrical power regenerated via application of retarding torque is also disclosed.
US08700278B2
An idle stop vehicle performs an idle stop to automatically stop an engine during a stop of the vehicle. The vehicle includes an idle stop condition determination unit for determining whether or not an idle stop condition holds, and an engine control unit for performing the idle stop when the idle stop condition holds before a stoppage time exceeds a specified time and prohibiting the idle stop after the stoppage time exceeds the specified time without the idle stop condition holding.
US08700276B2
The present disclosure provides a method for selectively controlling a work machine according to a current power device load response. The work machine includes a power device having a rotary output, a traction element, a transmission configured to provide a transmission ratio between the power device and traction element, an operator input device having a plurality of positions, and a control system. The method includes receiving selected range and a position of the operator input device, determining a no-load ground speed target as a function of selected range and input device position, and determining a desired ground speed load response as a function of the selected range. A desired transmission ratio is determined as a function of current machine ground speed and machine load. The method also includes determining a command to the power device as a function of a current transmission ratio and no-load ground speed target, determining a desired power device load response as a function of desired transmission ratio and desired ground speed load response, and selectively controlling the machine by switching between the current power device load response and the desired power device load response.
US08700273B2
This disclosure relates to a control system for a machine. The control system includes a sensor configured to provide an implement measurement signal indicative of a velocity of a machine implement, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the implement measurement signal, determine whether a main threshold condition is met, and to determine an adjusted implement command based at least in part on the implement measurement signal.
US08700257B2
A method and device for use in pedestrian-vehicular collisions in which an active hood lift system is deployed to a first elevated lift position and maintained at the deployed position for an interval after which it is lowered, thereby controlling pedestrian impact kinetics and reducing forces that can result pedestrian injuries.
US08700247B1
A hybrid powertrain includes an engine, an electric machine, and a transmission. A method to control the powertrain includes monitoring operation of the powertrain, determining whether conditions necessary for growl to occur excluding motor torque and engine torque are present, and if the conditions are present controlling the powertrain based upon avoiding a powertrain operating region wherein the growl is enabled.
US08700246B2
An electrically-operated construction machine with a battery charging operation. A lock switch provides a closed contact when a lock lever in a cab is placed in an unlock position. A feed port is disposed outside the cab to accept a cable from a commercial power source. The feed port is provided with a charge start switch. A control device has a motor control function for driving an electric motor with electrical power of a main battery when a signal is input from the lock switch. A charge control function is for charging the main battery with electrical power of the commercial power source when dictated by the charge start switch. The lock switch is wire-connected so as not to output the signal to the control device even if the closed contact is provided by the lock switch when the control device exercises charge control.
US08700245B2
In a motor vehicle having two, in particular electrical, drives, a partial torque is in each case intended to be assigned to the individual drives from a demanded total torque, to be precise taking account of the energy efficiency on the one hand and the stability of the vehicle on the other hand. A first controller is responsible for taking account of the energy efficiency, and predetermines a bandwidth of possible partial torques for an individual drive. This bandwidth may be restricted by a second controller, when driving stability requires this. The second controller is coupled to appropriate sensors (yaw rate sensor, lateral acceleration sensor, longitudinal acceleration sensor) and knows the steering angle φ. In the course of interchanging data signals with a first control device, the partial torques are defined with the involvement of the second control device, for which purpose the first control device emits control commands.
US08700243B2
It is provided a vehicle control device stopping an engine in operation when an automatic stop request is made and restarting the stopping engine when a restart request is made, wherein when the restart request is made while the engine is in transition to a rotation stop state in association with the automatic stop request, the engine is restarted if a crank position of the engine corresponds to a stroke other than a compression stroke while the engine is continuously stopped if the crank position of the engine corresponds to the compression stroke.
US08700234B2
A method of an aircraft communicating a current position status, a current movement status, a current intent, and/or an intended future path, position, or intent of the aircraft may include the aircraft generating explicit first ownship information related to the current position status and/or the current movement status, or current intent of the aircraft, and/or a flight management or other aircraft system of the aircraft generating information related to the intended future path, position, or intent of the aircraft. The aircraft may transmit the explicit first ownship information and/or the second information using an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast system transmitter. An airborne and/or ground receiver may receive the transmitted information related to the explicit first ownship information and/or the second information.
US08700230B1
A system is disclosed for tracking and controlling shopping carts and other types of human propelled vehicles. The system includes a wheel assembly that attaches to a cart. The wheel assembly includes a brake unit for inhibiting cart motion, and includes wireless communication circuitry. The wheel assembly is capable of activating the brake unit in response to one or more conditions, such as the receipt of an RF signal or command. In some embodiments, the system also includes a display unit that displays information to a user of the cart, including information regarding the cart's proximity to a lock zone in which the brake unit will become activated.
US08700228B2
A beam scheduler adds the maximum allowable waiting time until a beam is allocated to an irradiation chamber corresponding to an irradiation request when the irradiation request is received from one irradiation chamber of a plurality of irradiation chambers A to D; adds the irradiation request to the end of the order of a waiting list; determines whether or not the predicted waiting time until the beam is allocated to the one irradiation chamber exceeds the maximum allowable waiting time; and advances the order of the irradiation request on the waiting list, thereby allocating the beam to the irradiation chamber corresponding to the top irradiation request in the order of the waiting list, if it is determined that the predicted waiting time exceeds the maximum allowable waiting time.
US08700227B2
A system for monitoring thermal comfort of a room. Sensor data concerning temperature, relative humidity, air speed and air flow may be collected from the room. The sensor data may provide thermal comfort level information about the room. The level information may be quantified in terms of a thermal comfort level index, such as a predicted mean vote, which can be used to identify one or more thermal comfort levels in the room with a numerical measure. The one or more levels may be portrayed as a visualization in terms of a 3D plot of temperature, humidity and air speed, several 2D plots, a dashboard, or other items. The visualization may easily enable one to see where setpoint adjustment is possible in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to save energy while maintaining thermal comfort acceptable to occupants in the room, whether during a heating season or a cooling season.
US08700224B2
A standardized system, method and apparatus for connection of any combination of electric energy supply source including the Utility Power Grid, Auxiliary Generator, Wind Turbine, Fuel Cell, Storage Battery, Solar Panel Array, and an Electric Car which are collectively aggregated to feed into the main Service Panel of the Home or Small Business through a single plug-in connection to the Home or Small Business's electrical service entrance and provide for collective operational monitoring and management through an IP Networked Communication Link, commonly referred to as IP Networked Communication across the Internet, thereby providing bidirectional communication and control between the GTC and the Smart Load Management functionality resident on the Internet Cloud.
US08700220B2
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for optimizing oil and gas wells. Some embodiments may include optimizing a gas well based upon continuous measurements of the well's operating parameters, such as casing pressure draw down and/or line pressure surges. These continuous measurements of the well's parameters may be utilized to derive an empirical model of the well's behavior that is more accurate than conventional approaches with respect to the various stages of well production. In other words, by measuring the well's operating parameters continuously and measuring certain well parameters (like casing pressure draw down and/or surges in line pressure from opening the well), the empirical model derived therefrom may provide more accurate control of turn on criteria of the well than conventional approaches, such as during the mature production stage of production of the well.
US08700218B2
A manipulator for translating a load along an axis of translation is provided. The manipulator comprises an outer column and a telescoping column positioned adjacent the outer column. The telescoping column is attached to the load and configured to translate the load along the axis of translation. At least one guiding member is mounted between the outer column and the telescoping column, wherein the guiding member is configured to guide the telescoping column as the telescoping column translates along the axis of translation.
US08700207B2
A system and method provides for a pneumatic tube carrier tracking system having a system control module that captures and presents tracking information associated with sending and receiving carriers. The pneumatic tube carrier tracking system comprises sending and receiving stations connected by pneumatic tubing, and which are configured to securely send carriers, with receiving users optionally being restricted from unauthorized access of carriers. The sending and receiving stations have identifying tag readers configured to scan identifier tags to read carrier delivery, carrier receipt and receiving user information. Destination and intended recipient information are entered at the sending station when sending a carrier and are transmitted to a system control module, which routably delivers and secures the carriers in response the destination and intended recipient information.
US08700198B2
Systems, devices, and methods are provided for orthopedic implants. The implants may include a base member, such as an acetabular shell or an augment, that is configured to couple with an augment, flange cup, mounting member, or any other suitable orthopedic attachment. Any of the implantable components may be include one or more porous surfaces. The porous surface may be textured by protrusions that connect to and extend from the surface. The sizes and concentration of the protrusions may be varied for specific applications to accommodate different implants and patient anatomies. A porous implant may also include one or more internal or external solid portions that strengthen the implant.
US08700197B2
In the case of a robot interaction system comprising a robot (1) having a robot controller with types of operation and operating modes which influence an associated man-robot interface, the aim is to provide a solution which allows flexible matching of a robot or robot system to different degrees of a man-robot interaction. This is achieved in that the robot controller is equipped with types of operation and operating modes which influence an associated man-robot interface and are designed to be matched and/or to be capable of being matched to different automation degrees of the robot (1) and/or to different time and/or physical positions of the man and robot as interaction partners in a working area.
US08700189B2
A method for maintaining a technical plant including several components is provided. The method provides a system for planning the use of an enterprise resources system and a control system, with the enterprise resource system connected to the control system and structures of the technical plant are automatically set up in the enterprise resource system.
US08700182B2
A medical pacing wire comprising a clamp that is adapted to be moved between an open position and a closed position and further adapted to allow a user to attach an electrode to a living tissue. In particular embodiments, the medical pacing wire may include a memory shape alloy having a memory state, which is adapted to cause the clamp to move from the closed position toward the open position when the memory shape alloy is caused to move from a non-memory state to the memory state. Also, in some embodiments, the clamp may comprise a superelastic material, and the medical pacing wire may be adapted to allow a user to remotely cause the clamp to substantially release the living tissue that has been closed within the clamp without substantially damaging the living tissue.
US08700170B2
A cochlear implant system comprising an external component having an external speech processor unit, and an internal component. The speech processor unit monitors one or more parameters, and the speech processor unit is configured to reduce the power consumption of the cochlear implant system in the absence of one or more parameters.
US08700162B2
Devices and methods of use for identification, treatment and/or management of heart failure and/or associated conditions. An exemplary device may include a first sensor configured to monitor a parameter indicative of a fluid level in a pulmonary circulation of a patient, a second sensor configured to monitor a parameter indicative of a fluid level in a non-pulmonary circulation of a patient, and a control system coupled to the first sensor and second sensor. The control system is configured to provide a baroreflex therapy to the patient based at least in part on the parameter indicative of a fluid level in a pulmonary circulation and the parameter indicative of a fluid level in a non-pulmonary circulation. The baroreflex therapy adjusts at least one of the fluid level in the pulmonary circulation and the fluid level in the non-pulmonary circulation.
US08700158B2
An interface device for facilitating transfer of medical information between a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and a remote network server via public network infrastructure is disclosed, the interface device using any of a plurality of generic network access devices having disparate communication protocols. First communication circuitry is configured to receive medical information from a patient implantable medical device (PIMD), and second communication circuitry configured to effect communication with the first communication circuitry and a generic network access device. A processor is coupled the first communication circuitry and the second communication circuitry. The processor is configured to control transmission of the medical information to the generic network access device and condition the medical device data in compliance with a predetermined medical information regulatory standard governing the PIMD. A method is also disclosed.
US08700142B2
A portable EEG (electroencephalograph) instrument, especially for use in emergencies and brain assessments in physicians' offices, detects and amplifies brain waves and converts then into digital data for analysis by comparison with data from normal groups. In one embodiment, the EEG electrodes are in a headband which broadcasts the data, by radio or cellular phone, to a local receiver for re-transmission and/or analysis. In another embodiment, the subject is stimulated in two modes, i.e., aural and sensory, at two different frequencies to provide the subject's EPs (Evoked Potentials), assessing transmission through the brainstem and thalamus.
US08700141B2
Systems and methods for assessing a patient's neurologic state based on auditory evoked responses are provided.
US08700139B2
A late potential detecting system has an implantable medical device connected to at least one cardiac lead having implantable electrodes positioned at different sites of a ventricle myocardium. A sampling unit of the implantable medical device records electrogram samples for the different implantable electrodes to get different sample sets. The electrogram samples of the sample sets are time synchronized and magnitude potential representations of the potential data of the electrogram samples are determined. The magnitude potential representations of the time synchronized electrogram samples are then co-processed and used for determining a parameter that is indicative of any late potentials of the monitored ventricle.
US08700130B2
Apparatus is provided, including a sensor for sensing a phase of cyclic activity of a subject's body system. A tool modulator includes a gate configured: in a first cycle of the cyclic activity, to allow movement of a tool, in response to the cyclic activity being at a first given phase thereof, following the given phase in the first cycle and prior to an occurrence of the given phase in a subsequent cycle of the cyclic activity, to inhibit the movement of the tool, and in a second cycle of the cyclic activity, subsequent to the inhibiting of the movement, to allow movement of the tool, in response to the second cycle of the cyclic activity being at the given phase thereof. An accumulation facilitator facilitates an accumulation of the tool in the tool modulator, and/or an accumulation of energy in the tool.
US08700106B2
A smart phone device is fitted with a dual mode communications interface device having a housing wherein the housing provides access via an exterior of the smart phone device to both an infrared communications pathway and an electrical communications pathway each of which are coupled to one or more processing devices carried within the smart phone device. To this end, the communications interface device may be in the form of an audio jack having a plug receiving opening wherein the plug receiving opening is in communication with the electrical communications pathway and wherein at least a portion of the housing surrounding the plug receiving opening forms a light pipe for the infrared communications pathway.
US08700100B2
A headset, a method and a system for operating the headset, and a portable terminal using the same are provided. A method for operating a headset, includes: receiving one of a voice call connection request message or an image call connection request message requested from another portable terminal through a mobile communication system by a portable terminal; generating a call connection request signal corresponding to the received call connection request message by the portable terminal; transmitting the generated call connection request signal to a headset connected through a near distance communication channel by the portable terminal; receiving the call connection request signal indicating a voice call or an image call from the portable terminal through the near distance communication channel by the headset; and outputting an alarm specified according to a type of the received call connection request signal by the headset.
US08700098B2
A mobile terminal includes a terminal body; a window coupled to the terminal body, including a display region for displaying an image, and including a print region which encompasses the display region; a display unit including a display panel disposed in the terminal body and having a first touch detection layer therein, and including a driver integrated circuit (IC) mounted to the display panel so as to face the print region of the window; and a second touch detection layer formed on the print region of the window facing the driver IC, and configured to detect a touch signal. The mobile terminal may have a small size and an enhanced design.
US08700097B2
A method of controlling a screen of a mobile terminal having a projector function and an apparatus permits outputs of common screen data and dual-processed data output by a display screen and an external screen. A method of outputting screen data in a mobile terminal having a projector function includes: activating a projector module; generating screen data for a display unit displayed on a display unit and screen data for a projector based on the projector module; and performing dual-processing of the generated screen data and outputting the dual-processed screen data to the display unit and the projector module.
US08700096B2
A system and method for pushing a service book to a mobile device is provided. A service book includes a plurality of fields relating to a host service. At least one mobile device is identified that is to receive the service book. Wireless propagation information is provided that identifies an address for the mobile device to receive the service book. The service book is transmitted over a wireless network using the address for the mobile device, and is received by the mobile device.
US08700092B2
A method is provided which allows a service to be enjoyed through a mobile telephone terminal without the need of paying for this service. This can be achieved by allowing a first subscriber to use the credit or subscription of a second subscriber. The subscriber identification cards at least of the two subscribers involved are provided with short range radio communication transceivers and establish a short range communication channel between them so that one card may request the other card to pay for this service and the other card may grant this request through this channel. Then the mobile telephone networks of the cards are informed of the granted request. Before, during and after the grant of the request, the subscriber identification cards remain active and operative in communicating together and with the associated terminals.
US08700091B2
A mobile phone (1) in accordance with the present invention includes: a transmission setting database (50); a transmission setting section (21) for registering, on the transmission setting database (50), a piece of image data to be transmitted to a data receiving device; and an image data transmitting section (12) for transmitting, to the data receiving device, the piece of image data registered on the transmission setting database (50), the image data transmitting section (12) transmitting the piece of image data to the data receiving device in response to a transmission request received from the data receiving device. Therefore, according to a data transmission device in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to transmit a desired piece of additional-information-containing data to the data receiving device without forcing a user to again carry out operation of transmitting the piece of additional-information-containing data to the data receiving device, even in a case where the user cannot transmit the desired piece of additional-information-containing data to the data receiving device.
US08700090B2
A system for enhancing functionality of a mobile device comprising: the mobile device, wherein the mobile device includes: a radio subsystem; a processor adapted to interact with the radio subsystem; a user interface; a short range communications system; and a battery adapted to power the mobile device; and an accessory adapted to communicate with the mobile device, the accessory including: at least one processor; a radio subsystem communicating with the processor; and a short range communications system adapted to communicate with the short range communications system of the mobile device, wherein the radio subsystem of the mobile device differs from the radio subsystem of the accessory.
US08700089B2
An apparatus includes a code division multiple access (CDMA) antenna that is configured to transmit and receive communication signals. The apparatus includes a memory that is configured to store multiple mobile equipment identifiers (MEIDs), multiple activation protocols and instructions, where each MEID includes an identifier that is uniquely recognizable on one of multiple networks and where the activation protocols include protocols for uniquely activating the apparatus on one of multiple different networks each of which have different communication protocols. The apparatus includes a processor that is coupled to the CDMA antenna and to the memory and that is configured to execute the instructions to enable a user to select a network from the multiple different networks on which to activate and operate the apparatus and activate and operate the apparatus on a selected network using an MEID recognizable by the selected network and the activation protocol for the selected network.
US08700081B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to determining whether to switch between group calls based on priority within a wireless communications system. In an embodiment, an announce message is received at a given access terminal that announces a second group session when the given access terminal is participating in the first group session. The given access terminal acquires one or more priority levels associated with one or more of the first and second group sessions. The access terminal determines whether to switch from the first group session to the second group session based on the one or more priority levels. The access terminal selectively switches from the first group session to the second group session based on the determination.
US08700079B2
Various methods and apparatus are directed to communicating peer discovery information in an efficient manner. A wireless device which has received peer discovery information from multiple peer devices in its vicinity combines received peer discovery information and transmits a signal communicating the combined information. In some embodiments, the combining includes performing a linear combination. The transmitted signal including the combined peer discovery information corresponding to multiple devices facilitates the recovery of peer discovery information by peer devices which may be out of direct peer to peer communications range to one of the devices whose information was used to produce the combined signal. Different peer devices may be able to recover different peer discovery information from the same combined signal. Thus the wireless device may effectively relay a first peer discovery message to one peer device and a second peer discovery message to another peer device via the same combined signal.
US08700073B2
A method and computer readable medium for providing a mobile messaging event planning service in a communications network are disclosed. For example, the method assigns a mobile messaging identification code for an event, receives a text message including the mobile messaging identification code for the event and provides information associated with the event in response to the text message.
US08700062B1
A system may be configured to compute an estimated location of a user device based on an estimation coefficient and a measured distance between the user device and a base station. The estimation coefficient may be based on: an actual distance between a reference device and the base station, and a measured distance between the reference device and the base station. The system may store or output the information regarding the estimated location of the device.
US08700059B1
In systems and methods of selecting a carrier, tracking area update messages for a wireless device communicating over a first carrier are monitored to determine that a number of tracking update messages meets a traffic threshold. A first tracking area configuration for the first carrier and a second tracking area configuration for a second carrier are determined, and a location and a mobility of the wireless device relative to the first tracking area configuration and the second tracking area configuration are ascertained. Based on the first tracking area configuration, the second tracking area configuration, the determined location, and the determined mobility a handover of the wireless device from the first carrier to the second carrier is performed.
US08700056B2
An embodiment concerns the field of real-time location systems (RTLS) based on RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) measurements. An embodiment is based on determining the distances between wireless device of a network based on a model that describes the relation of the RSSI value relative to the packet exchanged between nodes as a function of the distance, wherein said model depends on at least one characteristic parameter of the transmission channel and wherein at least said characteristic parameter of the transmission channel is determined periodically and automatically, exploiting the known distances among fixed nodes. In this way, the errors relative to possible time-variability of the transmission channel are reduced and the accuracy and stability of the location measurements are increased.
US08700055B2
When a user equipment engaged in mobile communications transfers from a network with one radio access technology (RAT) to another network with a different radio access technology, maintaining continuity of location based services can improve system performance. A user equipment may perform a series of checks when undergoing inter-RAT transfer to determine if a location based services protocol used with the source network is operable on the target network. The UE also determines if location based services sessions are at a point where they can be continued following inter-RAT transfer. Where possible, protocols and sessions are maintained to preserve location based services continuity.
US08700054B2
A mobile computing device may be localized in an indoor area based on the strength of wireless network signals accessible in the indoor area from different access points. For efficiency, the localization may be performed in stages. In a first stage, a general geographic area, such as an “island” as will be described below, in which the mobile device is located is identified. In a second stage, an altitude or building level of the mobile device is identified. In a third stage, a position of the mobile device on the identified building level is determined. At least some of these stages of localization may utilize information received at the mobile device from surrounding access points. For example, the island on which the user is located may be determined by identifying at least one access point on that island. Further, decision trees may be executed using input related to a received signal strength from the surrounding access points, and outputs of the decision trees may indicate the device's location.
US08700053B2
Systems and methods are provided for determining a measure of likelihood that an estimated geographic location of a designated wireless device is not its accurate present location includes determining a set of reference points associated with the device, which are a geographic position at which signals from the device were detected and/or other devices having a relationship with the designated device. The existence of the relationship is based on the devices being within signal reception range of a same position within a selected period of time. The method includes retrieving attributes of the reference points and/or of the relationships and determining a measure of likelihood that an estimated geographic location associated with the designated device is not its present location based on the attributes of the reference points of the set and/or of the relationships.
US08700047B2
A method for customizable flow management in a cellular basestation is disclosed. The method includes configuring a framework on a cellular basestation; and executing customized flow management functions through the framework by an external entity. Other methods, apparatuses, and systems also are disclosed.
US08700043B2
Disclosed is a method of connecting a radio link of a UE in a wireless communication system including a first cell and a second cell partially or completely overlapping the first cell, the method including the steps of, when the UE fails in connecting a radio link to the first cell for a given time, performing measurement for the second cell by using prestored radio link connection information for the second cell; and if a result of the measurement satisfies given cell selection conditions, selecting the second cell.
US08700037B2
A method including detecting a preference of a user terminal for a predetermined service, detecting that the current RAT does not provide the predetermined service; monitoring whether another PLMN or RAT of the first PLMN is available; upon detecting that no other PLMN or RAT of the first PLMN is available, maintaining connection to the first RAT of the first PLMN until another PLMN or RAT in the first PLMN becomes available; upon detecting that another PLMN or RAT is available, considering the first RAT of the first PLMN as disabled, and generating an information element to a memory according to which the first RAT of the first PLMN has been marked as disabled, wherein the information element is valid until a predetermined criterion is met and at least beyond a point of time when the user terminal switches to another PLMN and/or to another RAT.
US08700036B2
A method for resolving conflict between network searching and traffic includes: determining if a service request corresponds to mobile originated traffic or mobile terminated traffic, when a second user card receives the service request during a process of the network searching of a first user card; temporarily suspending the mobile originated traffic and continuing to perform the network searching of the first user card, when the service request corresponds to the mobile originated traffic; and temporarily suspending the network searching of the first user card, firstly processing the mobile terminated traffic, and continuing to perform the network searching of the first user card after completing the mobile terminated traffic, when the service request corresponds to the mobile terminated traffic. A multi-card multi-standby mobile phone of the present invention includes at least two types of user card, a communication unit for transmitting communication information, a microcontroller unit and a determining unit. The present invention avoids impact of the network searching to the mobile originated traffic and the mobile terminated traffic.
US08700023B2
In a telecommunications network including a mobile terminal in communication with a network base station, and at least one relay node that assists the base station with downlink data transmissions towards the mobile terminal, a method is provided of enabling coherent demodulation of a scheduled data block transmitted in the downlink by the base station and the at least one relay node. A reference signal is provided in the scheduled data block which is configured to change the mobile terminal from using cell specific reference signalling to using mobile terminal specific reference signalling to enable the mobile terminal to demodulate the scheduled data block transmitted in the downlink by the at least one relay node and the base station. Further, a method of performing synchronous retransmission of data includes transmitting pre-scheduling information for any required synchronous retransmission of a first data transmission by the relay node and the transmitting entity.
US08700018B2
A method for modifying an application framework devised for network-based telephony to operate in a local telephony, comprising adapting the application framework to interact with a communication device operable cooperatively with a local base, and emulating a functionally of the network related to the application framework according to an operation of the local base, at least partially, and an apparatus for using the modified application framework.
US08700017B2
A system for transmitting and receiving an event message is provided. The system comprises a transmitting terminal that generates an event message, and that transmits the event message and caller information, an event message service server that stores phonebook data after receiving the phonebook data transmitted from at least one terminal, that searches for a receiving terminal including the caller information in the phonebook data among receiving terminals included in the phonebook data of the transmitting terminal when receiving the event message, and that transmits the event message to the searched receiving terminal, and a receiving terminal that receives an event message transmitted by the event message service server, and informs its user of reception of the event message.
US08700012B2
Through status awareness, a handheld communications device may determine the location, activity, and/or physical or emotional state of the user. This information may in turn be used for various purposes, such as 1) determining how to alert the user of an incoming communication, 2) determining what format to use for communicating with the user, and 3) determining how to present the user's status to another person's communication device.
US08700010B2
A communications device comprising one or more communication input/output (I/O) ports, at least one of the one or more communication I/O ports being a wide area network port configured to connect the communications device to a wide area network; one or more secure data path processing agents configured to execute in a secure execution environment, monitor a device data communications activity through at least one of the one or more communication I/O ports, generate a device data record comprising information about the device data communications activity through at least one of the one or more communication I/O ports, and send the device data record to the network element over a trusted communication link between the one or more secure data path processing agents and the network element; and a trusted data path between the one or more secure data path processing agents and the wide area network port.
US08700008B2
Voice enabling mobile services leverage existing PTT infrastructure. Initiation of a service request and navigation through PTT service functions is accomplished by voice direction, rather than by reading choices and texting or clicking through options. A mobile phone includes a dedicated push-to-talk service button for generating a signal for initiating a voice enabled service session, a speaker and microphone for transducing sounds and electrical signals, a display for displaying visual information to a user, memory for storing data, a transceiver for receiving and transmitting data and a processor. The processor receives a signal generated by the PTT service button for initiating a voice enabled service session, communicates a prompt to a user to begin speaking, stores voice data from a user and transmits the stored voice data to a service server for transforming the voice data to a result satisfying the spoken voice service request.
US08700003B2
A system and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for authenticating votes or transactions received from a mobile device comprising a computer programmed with a set of computer-readable instructions and a database accessed by mobile device reading a durable computer readable medium stored in a computer server or mobile communications device module, the database comprising a registered geographical location and corresponding postal mail delivery address, means to receive a vote in an election or a transaction over a wireless carrier network, means to determine geographical location of a device which transmitted the transaction over the wireless network comprising cell tower triangulation or Assisted-GPS and means to reject vote or transaction if geographical location of the device which transmitted the vote or transaction is not within a predetermined distance range from the geographical location for the registered postal mail delivery address latitude or longitude coordinates embodied and executable in a physical medium.
US08699993B2
A method, device and system are provided for wireless device-initiated automatic replenishment of internally-stored account parameters associated with an amount of authorization for usage of the wireless device (e.g., prepaid amount of airtime minutes, data usage, messages, etc.). Upon determining within the wireless device that the account parameter(s) should be replenished, the wireless device transmits a message to a control server indicating that the wireless device intends to perform the determined replenishment according to the replenishment parameters stored within the wireless device. The wireless device delays performance of the replenishment for a predetermined period of time to determine whether the control server provides a response containing updated replenishment parameters. Depending upon whether the wireless device receives a response from the control server during the time period, the wireless device then replenishes the internally-stored account parameter(s) using either the previously stored replenishment parameters or the updated replenishment parameters.
US08699982B2
A remote antenna unit includes an uplink integrated circuit (IC) and a downlink IC. The uplink IC includes an uplink synthesizer that provides an uplink oscillating signal; an uplink mixer stage that mixes an uplink radio frequency signal with the uplink oscillating signal to produce an uplink intermediate frequency signal; and an uplink control interface that receives uplink commands that control the frequency of the uplink oscillating signal. The downlink IC includes a downlink synthesizer that provides a downlink oscillating signal; a downlink mixer stage that mixes the downlink intermediate frequency signal with a downlink oscillating signal to produce a down link radio frequency signal; a downlink control interface that receives downlink commands that control the frequency of the downlink oscillating signal. The antenna unit also includes a clock that provides a reference frequency to the uplink and downlink synthesizers.
US08699981B2
A receiver (10) for a telecommunications system, the receiver (10) comprising a channel impulse response estimator (12) for producing an initial estimated channel impulse response of an overall multipath channel of the telecommunications system and a processing unit (16) for calculating, from the initial estimated channel impulse response, an estimate of the gain of each component of a propagation channel impulse response represented by the initial estimated channel impulse response.
US08699969B2
An access network is wirelessly coupled to an access terminal. The access network comprises a plurality of communication modules, a transmitter and a channel estimator. The plurality of communication modules coupled to the access terminal and configured to transmit a plurality of signals. The transmitter coupled to the access terminal and configured to send an index which indicates number of the plurality of signals. The channel estimator, configured to adjust and modulate a channel state information into the plurality of signals.
US08699964B2
According to one embodiment, an antenna apparatus comprises a first antenna element, a first lumped constant element, a first lumped constant element, a switch and at least one second lumped constant element. The first antenna element comprises a forward part, a folded part and a backward part, the forward part includes a start point connected to a feeding point, and the backward part includes an end point connected to ground. The first lumped constant element is inserted in the backward part. The switch is configured to select a current path in accordance with a control signal. The at least one second lumped constant element is to be selectively connected in parallel to the first lumped constant element through the switch.
US08699956B2
Polyphase sequence generation is provided for sequences having good aperiodic correlation properties. The sequences can allow lengths not attainable by other types of sequences (such as Frank sequences) and can yield increase merit factors and more desirable peak-to-side-peak ratios (and therefore decreased sidelobe energy) than other sequences (such as Chu sequences). Perfect root-of-unity sequences of lengths up to 32, achieving the minimum phase alphabets and the maximum merit factors and/or peak-to-side-peak ratios, are searched, and the results are tabulated. Comparing the merit factors and peak-to-side-peak ratios of the best search results to other sequences, a common construction pattern of the improved sequences of length 2m2 are obtained. The improved sequences can be utilized in a variety of configurations, including spread spectrum communication, radar, channel estimation, system identification, and/or the like.
US08699953B2
A network of processing devices includes a medium for low-latency interfaces for providing point-to-point connections between each of the processing devices. A switch within each processing device is arranged to facilitate communications in any combination between the processing resources and the local point-to-point interfaces within each processing device. A networking layer is provided above the low-latency interface stack, which facilitates re-use of software and exploits existing protocols for providing the point-to-point connections. Higher speeds are achieved for switching between the relatively low numbers of processor resources within each processing device, while low-latency point-to-point communications are achieved using the low-latency interfaces for accessing processor resources that are external to a processing device.
US08699945B2
The invention relates to the establishment of a radio link using at least two spatial modes (in other words at least horizontal and vertical or right and left circular modes) by means of corresponding antennae or a line link using at least three conductors and the use of at least one transmission oscillator and no oscillator on the reception side, wherein the transmitter has amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency modulation and the at least two different polarized modes are received by means of at least two antennae and processed by one or more multipliers, mixers, phase comparators, frequency comparators, or power detectors.
US08699943B2
A repeater system and method for implementing within a mobile platform includes repeater circuitry configured for repeating signals between devices and signal sources such as base transceiver stations. The repeater circuitry has a plurality of configurable settings for controlling operation of the repeater circuitry. Movement sensors sense the movement of the mobile platform and controller circuitry is configured to use inputs from the movement sensors to determine a current path of the mobile platform and to compare the determined current path to the known path information for the mobile platform for determining the location of the mobile platform and repeater system to vary the configurable settings of the repeater system based upon the determined location. Other information such as identification information from a signal source or information from the mobile platform are also used to vary the configuration and configurable settings of the repeater system.
US08699941B1
One or more learning map interfaces are displayed. The learning map interfaces include a selection control configured to allow a user to select a subset of assessments from a set of assessments. The subset includes less assessments than the set. Performance information for a student is determined based on the subset of assessments. A learning map is populated with the performance information for the student. The learning map includes a plurality of cells. Each cell corresponds to a learning objective. The plurality of cells is arranged in a manner that reflects a relationship between the learning objectives corresponding to the cells. One or more learning map interfaces are displayed. The learning map interfaces are configured to display the learning map populated with the performance information.
US08699939B2
An educational recommender system and a method are provided. The method includes receiving a request to recommend a course of action related to a plurality of current students; accessing a computer database storing student data that corresponds to the plurality of current students; clustering in a computer process the plurality of current students into at least two clusters based at least on granular assessment data associated with student data corresponding to respective current students; and outputting the results of the clustering to a user. The granular assessment data includes a result of an assessment administered to respective students of the plurality of current students, and each assessment includes a plurality of questions for assessing one of the current students. The associated result includes an independent evaluation of each respective question of the plurality of questions.
US08699917B2
An image forming apparatus and a cartridge for use therewith are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main body; a cartridge that stores a developer; a supporting member that receives the cartridge; and a side cover that covers the supporting member, where the supporting member is rotatably supported by the main body. The supporting member pivots between a reception position at which the cartridge is received into the main body and an exposure position at which the cartridge is exposed from the main body.
US08699912B2
A developing cartridge having a simplified mounting/separation configuration and an image forming apparatus having the same. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, a developing cartridge unit provided in the main body to form an image, a tray unit configured to accommodate the developing cartridge unit and movably mounted in the main body, a first link member movably coupled to the tray unit, and a second link member provided in the main body to be moved simultaneously with the first link member. The first link member includes a pressure piece to press the second link member such that the second link member does not interfere with the developing cartridge unit during movement of the first link member.
US08699911B2
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, wherein a cartridge including at least a photosensitive drum is detachably mountable to said image forming apparatus, said image forming apparatus includes a first abutting portion, provided in an upstream side with respect to a mounting direction in which the cartridge is moved in its longitudinal direction to be mounted to said apparatus; a first urging means, provided in an upstream side with respect to the mounting direction, for urging, when the cartridge is mounted to said apparatus, the cartridge, in a direction crossing with a center axis of the photosensitive drum to position the cartridge in the crossing direction; a second abutting portion, provided in a downstream side with respect to the mounting direction; and a second urging means, provided in a downstream side with respect to the mounting direction, for urging, when the cartridge is mounted to said apparatus, the cartridge, in a direction crossing with the center axis of the photosensitive drum to position the cartridge in the crossing direction, wherein said first abutting portion and said second abutting portion are disposed opposite from each other with respect to a plane including the center axis.
US08699909B2
An image forming apparatus having an image carrier that carries a toner image; an opposed member that is provided so as to be opposed to the image carrier; an application device that applies a bias to the opposed member; and a control device that controls the application device to apply a first bias and thereafter a second bias to the opposed member so as to remove toner from the opposed member. The first bias has an absolute value that is large enough to cause discharge from the opposed member into air. The second bias has an absolute value that is too small to cause discharge from the opposed member into the air, and has a reverse polarity to the first bias.
US08699908B2
A cleaning device including a rotatable cleaning member contacting a rotatable image carrier bearing a toner image to electrostatically remove toner from the image carrier while rotating, and a control unit to control rotation of the cleaning member to satisfy a relation of (60/R)>(L/V) during removal of a toner pattern formed on the image carrier at a predetermined timing and remaining attached to the image carrier without being transferred from the image carrier onto a transfer member using the cleaning member, where R (rpm) is a number of rotations of the cleaning member, L (mm) is a length of the toner pattern in a direction of rotation of the image carrier, and V (mm/s) is a speed of the image carrier.
US08699906B2
A printing system includes a first printing apparatus, a second printing apparatus, and a control device. The second printing apparatus is provided at a rear stage of the first printing apparatus, and includes a second preheating unit that preheats a recording medium from one surface before thermally fixing a toner image to another surface, and a temperature control unit that increase the temperature of the second preheating unit from a normal temperature to a target temperature, in response to a printing preparation instruction received in a temporary printing stop state from the control device. The control device starts printing, when the temperature of the second preheating unit reaches the target temperature. The temperature control unit decreases the temperature of the second preheating unit from the target temperature to the normal temperature, when the recording medium is conveyed by a length from a deformed portion to the second preheating unit.
US08699905B2
A toner coverage determination system and method are described. The toner coverage determination system may include a memory storing a module comprising machine readable instructions to receive an input image, and generate a grid including a plurality of points corresponding to pixels to be sampled on the input image. The machine readable instructions may further sample the pixels corresponding to the plurality of points, evaluate pixel intensity values for the sampled pixels, and determine a toner coverage value based on the evaluated pixel intensity values.
US08699904B2
A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member to form a fixing nip portion between the first nip formation member and the second nip formation member. The first heater heats the first nip formation member. The second heater heats the second nip formation member. The controller supplies a portion of power to the second heater and the remainder of power to the first heater when a plurality of sheets having a sheet weight not greater than about 100 g/m2 passes through the fixing nip portion continuously.
US08699903B2
An image forming apparatus includes a first forming unit that forms a color image on a first image-carrier using a color toner, a first transfer unit that transfers the color image formed on the first image-carrier to a transfer medium at a first transfer bias, a second forming unit that, using an invisible toner absorbing infrared light or ultraviolet light, forms on a second image-carrier a code image representing information by an arrangement of dots, and a second transfer unit that transfers the code image formed on the second image-carrier to the transfer medium at a second transfer bias higher than the first transfer bias.
US08699898B2
An image forming apparatus including a setting memory storing multiple voltage settings; two or more voltage applying members each contacting a voltage applied member at respective contact positions close to each other, which are simultaneously being applied with respective voltages selected from the voltage settings; two or more current detectors each detecting a current flowing in the respective contact positions; and a setting changer performing a setting changing processing in which the voltage applied to one of the voltage applying members is changed based on the current detected by the corresponding current detector while a predetermined voltage is applied to the other voltage applying members, so that an optimum current flows in the corresponding contact position.
US08699897B2
Image forming apparatus capable of saving energy, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus which makes it possible to save energy during the operation of a temperature rise control mode, and is capable of realizing energy saving without degrading performance by making the image forming apparatus ready for printing when returning from the temperature rise control mode. A temperature sensor detects internal temperature of the image forming apparatus. When the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus has reached a temperature at which the apparatus should shift to the temperature rise control mode during execution of printing, the printing operation is stopped. In stopping the printing operation, the image forming apparatus is shifted to an energy saving mode.
US08699895B2
An image forming apparatus including a developing device corresponding to a color component, comprises: a conversion unit configured to accumulate, for each color component, values of respective pixels for each color component that fall within a predetermined range of image data, and to convert the accumulated value into a count value of the color component; an addition unit configured to add, to the image data, the count value of each color component that has been converted by the conversion unit; and a control unit configured, when forming an image based on the image data, to supply toner to the developing device of each color component in accordance with the count value of the color component that has been added by the addition unit.
US08699889B2
Systems and methods of polarization demultiplexing are disclosed. One such method receives a transmitted polarization-multiplexed optical signal The polarization-multiplexed has multiple polarizations, each of which represents an independent data stream. The method converts the polarization-multiplexed optical signal to a corresponding polarization-multiplexed electrical signal. The method determines an inverse transformation matrix that meets an independent component analysis (ICA) criterion. The method applies the inverse transformation matrix to the polarization-multiplexed electrical signal, which produces a polarization-demultiplexed electrical signal. The method phase estimates the polarization-demultiplexed electrical signal to recover the data stream.
US08699885B2
There are disclosed techniques for power control in an Optical Network Unit (ONU) of a Passive Optical Network (PON). In one embodiment, the supply of power to an optical transmitter is controlled in accordance with information defining a plurality of transmission windows during which data can be transmitted from the ONU, in order to achieve the following: (1) to provide power to the optical transmitter beginning at a predetermined time in advance of a transmission window to ensure a laser in the optical transmitter is ready to begin transmitting the data at the start of the transmission window; and (2) to refrain from providing full power to the optical transmitter between transmission windows when the duration of time between the transmission windows is greater than a predetermined length.
US08699877B2
A wavelength division multiplexer terminal with a multiplexer arrangement with a first switching matrix, and a demultiplexer arrangement with a second switching matrix allows flexibility for connection transceivers to ports of the wavelength division multiplexer and wavelength division demultiplexer respectively. Optical monitoring receivers are connected upstream the wavelength division multiplexer and downstream the wavelength division demultiplexer for managing and supervising connections.
US08699874B2
A mechanism for adjusting or shutting off an optical signal within a network system is provided. The system may include a generating element for providing an optical signal and a bi-directional coupler for transmitting the optical signal to downstream components and fiber links and for transmitting a reflected optical signal based on the reflection characteristics of the downstream components to a converter element. The converter element converts the reflected optical signal to an electrical trigger signal that is used by a processing element to monitor the degradation or operational conditions within the network system. Based on the electrical trigger signal the processing element may adjust or shut off the optical signal at the generating element or at another element within the network system or another network system. The processing element may also send a communication signal to other elements or an operator to indicate unacceptable noise within the network system.
US08699871B2
Method and apparatus for operating for operating an optical network including a shared laser array are disclosed. An example apparatus includes include a first plurality of N lasers. Each laser of the first plurality of N lasers is configured to output a respective optical seed signal having a respective wavelength. The example apparatus further includes a first optical coupler coupled with the first plurality of N lasers. In the example embodiment, the first optical coupler is configured to multiplex the respective optical seed signals of the first plurality of N lasers onto a plurality of N optical fibers. In this example, each optical fiber of first plurality of N optical fibers transmits each of the respective optical seed signals produced by the plurality of N lasers to a respective distribution node for distribution to N respective optical network units, where the optical network units use the optical seed signals to seed respective optical transmitters located at the N optical network units.
US08699867B2
An aerial digital camera comprises a housing 15, a lens, a frame 45, an image sensor 35 mounted on the frame, at least three flexure bearings 51 connecting the frame and the housing, the flexure bearings allowing a displacement of the frame relative to the housing in a displacement direction 67 parallel to a light receiving surface of the image sensor, a spring 69 providing a biasing force between the housing and the frame oriented in the displacement direction; and an actuator 71 for displacing the frame relative to the housing against the biasing force of the spring.
US08699861B2
A recorded content management system determines when recorded content maintained in a television-based entertainment and information system has been watched by a viewer. When a segment or percentage of the recorded content for a particular program is displayed for viewing, it is determined whether the program has been watched so that the recorded content, or a portion of the recorded content, can be queued for deletion, or maintained for additional viewing.
US08699859B2
An information storage medium includes application information for performing reproduction with reference to metadata stored in a reproduction apparatus; and additional information for providing the metadata as a user interface provided by a content producer.
US08699849B2
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for recording three dimensional audio. According to an example embodiment of the invention, the method may include orienting a three-dimensional (3-D) microphone with respect to a predetermined spatial direction, selectively receiving sounds from one or more directions corresponding to directional receiving elements, recording the selectively received sounds in a 3-D recorder having a plurality of recording channels, recording time code in at least one channel of the 3-D recorder; and mapping the recorded channels to a plurality of output channels.
US08699833B2
A microstructured optical fiber for generating broadband white light having a core doped with germanium and silica cladding surrounding the core, the cladding including a plurality of holes arranged in the form of a regular mesh, wherein the diameter F of a hole in the cladding, the pitch L between the respective centers of two neighboring holes in the cladding, and the refractive index difference Dn between the germanium-doped fiber core and the silica of the cladding are such that the fiber can generate white light on the fundamental mode over a wavelength band having a width of at least 1000 nm.
US08699831B2
A method includes fabricating a circuit element and a connection to the circuit element for a photonic integrated circuit. The method includes associating a configurable material with the circuit element and activating the configurable material via a poling rail and the connection to the circuit element during production of the integrated circuit.
US08699826B2
Displaying objects from a search is disclosed, including receiving a search color, using a processor to search through a collection of one or more objects to obtain a resulting set of one or more objects based at least in part on the search color, determining, for each of the resulting set of objects, a display parameter based at least in part on an amount of the search color in the object, and displaying the resulting set of objects in a collage based at least in part on the display parameters, wherein the objects are sized and placed such that they substantially fill a predefined collage area.
US08699824B2
An apparatus for providing multi-feature based sampling for relevance feedback may include a user interface element. The user interface element may be configured to receive a query image, provide a first set of images determined to be relevant with respect to the query image, and provide a second set of images in which each image of the second set of images comprises a first relevance determination with respect to a first feature of an image and a second relevance determination for at least a second feature of the image. Each image of at least the second set of images may include an associated user interface item to enable a user to provide relevance feedback with respect to each image of the second set of images.
US08699821B2
Some embodiments provide a method of aligning a pair of images. The method defines multiple different pairs of images at multiple different resolutions. The method hierarchically aligns the original pair of images by first aligning the pair of images at the lowest resolution and then aligning each pair of images at each higher resolution based on the alignments of the pair of images at the lower resolutions. For some of the resolutions, to perform the hierarchically alignment, the method identifies, for at least one image at each resolution, portions that are suitable for performing the alignment and portions that are not suitable for performing the alignment. The method compares each pair of images at a particular resolution by using the suitable portions while excluding the unsuitable portions from the comparison.
US08699819B1
Aspects of the present disclosure propose techniques for reconstructing a document mosaic using video streams of the document. The streams provide information identifying a layout that relates sequential frames of a video to each other. Once the streams are captured using a mobile device, it is then possible to reconstruct a virtual view of the entire document as though it were taken with a single camera shot. The reconstructed virtual view of the document will be suitable as input to an optical character recognition engine, which can be used for translating the document.
US08699812B2
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to acquire an image comprising image data reconstructed from an imaging device. The instructions further cause the computer to apply a bloom reduction algorithm to the image configured to iteratively reduce a blooming of high-density objects in the image.
US08699811B2
An imaging system includes a two-dimensional detector having a plurality of cells wherein each cell is configured to detect energy or signal passing through an object. The imaging system includes a computer programmed to acquire imaging data for the plurality of cells, identify a cell to be corrected, based on the imaging data, interpolate Ix and Iy for the identified cell based on neighbor cells, and calculate local gradients gx and gy between the identified cell and its neighbor cells based on the interpolation. The computer is further programmed to calculate weighting factors wx and wy based on the local gradients, calculate a corrected final value I(0,0) for the identified cell, and correct the identified cell with the corrected final value.
US08699809B2
A labeling unit that extracts a character included in raster format image data and finds the size of the extracted character, and an approximation method determination unit that determines whether or not to use curve approximation to convert the character based on the found size, are provided. In the case where it has been determined to use curve approximation, the character is converted into a vector format by performing straight-line approximation or curve approximation on each of the various parts of the contour of the character, whereas in the case where it has been determined not to use curve approximation, the character is converted into a vector format by performing straight-line approximation and not performing curve approximation on each of the various parts of the contour of the character.
US08699786B2
An image processing apparatus comprising: an input unit configured to input a plurality of images obtained by capturing a target object from different viewpoints; a detection unit configured to detect a plurality of line segments from each of the plurality of input images; a setting unit configured to set, for each of the plurality of detected line segments, a reference line which intersects with the line segment; an array derivation unit configured to obtain a pattern array in which a plurality of pixel value change patterns on the set reference line are aligned; and a decision unit configured to decide association of the detected line segments between the plurality of images by comparing the pixel value change patterns, contained in the obtained pattern array, between the plurality of images.
US08699782B2
A component presence/absence judging apparatus judges the presence/absence of components through a registration step and an inspection step. The registration step includes an ante-mounting feature acquisition step, a post-mounting feature acquisition step and a classifier configuration step. At the ante-mounting and post-mounting feature acquisition steps, ante-mounting features and post-mounting features are respectively acquired from an ante-mounting image and a post-mounting image taken at each of predetermined places on an ante-mounting board and a post-mounting board. At the classifier configuration step, a classifier is configured by registering the ante-mounting features and the post-mounting features as training data to a support vector machine. Then, at the inspection step, the presence/absence of a component at each of the predetermined places on each post-mounting operation board to be inspected is judged by inputting post-mounting operation features acquired from each of the predetermined places on each post-mounting operation board to the support vector machine configured as the classifier.
US08699776B2
The invention described provides a method of quantitatively evaluating one or more of the likelihood. severity and progression of a disease from medical images comprising processing medical images of a test subject to derive one or more feature space values characteristic of a disease-dependent image attributes, comparing the feature space values to those of a previously established database from medical images of known health} and known diseased subjects, wherein the comparing is based on feature space values that best discriminate between health and diseased subjects, summing a weighted distance of discriminant feature space values of the test subject to those of at least one of the mean feature space value of the healthy subjects and the mean feature space value of the diseased subjects, and providing from the summing a single number which is indicative of at least one of disease likelihood. severity and progression.
US08699774B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a storage unit configured to store tomographic images in relation to the fundus of an examined eye; a detection unit configured to detect a boundary of retinal pigment epithelium and an inner limiting membrane from each of the images and to detect a part where the boundary is discontinuous; a determination unit configured to determine a surface of a sclera model for each of the images by use of the detected boundary and the inner limiting membrane; a generation unit configured to generate a sclera model including an optic papilla periphery by use of the surface of the sclera model and the part where the boundary is discontinuous; a combining unit configured to combine each of the images and the sclera model to generate a combined image; and a display unit configured to display the combined image generated by the combining unit.
US08699767B1
Described is a system for optimizing rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). A similarity metric is computed for RSVP images, and the images are sequenced according to the similarity metrics. The sequenced images are presented to a user, and neural signals are received to detect a P300 signal. A neural score for each image is computed, and the system is optimized to model the neural scores. The images are resequenced according a predictive model to output a sequence prediction which does not cause a false P300 signal. Additionally, the present invention describes computing a set of motion surprise maps from image chips. The image chips are labeled as static or moving and prepared into RSVP datasets. Neural signals are recorded in response to the RSVP datasets, and an EEG score is computed from the neural signals. Each image chip is then classified as containing or not containing an item of interest.
US08699763B2
A biometric information processing device includes, a biometric sensor configured to acquire a plurality of different biometric information elements; an authentication feature extracting unit configured to extract an authentication feature for use in authentication for each of the plurality of different biometric information elements acquired by the biometric sensor; a supplemental feature extracting unit configured to extract a supplemental feature relating to the authentication feature for each of the plurality of different biometric information elements; and a combined feature extracting unit configured to extract a combined feature in which a plurality of the supplemental features extracted by the supplemental feature extracting unit are reflected.
US08699761B2
A method for evaluating quality of image representing a fingerprint pattern is provided, the method including performing a filtering process on a region of the image including a digital filtering of the selected region successively performed a certain number of times. According to the method, convergence of said filtering process is determined, and the image within the region is classified as an image with identifiable pattern if the filtering process is convergent, whereas the image within the region is classified as an image with unidentifiable pattern if the filtering process is nonconvergent. The digital filtering is performed using a filter adapted to at least one of the following local image parameters: curvature of dermal ridges, scale and tilt angle of dermal ridges.
US08699760B2
An image processing apparatus comprises an image processing unit configured to execute image processing which involves a change in a boundary shape of image data; a face detection unit configured to detect a face region included in the image data; a setting unit configured to set a parameter of the image processing; and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not to execute the image processing or whether or not to output a warning in accordance with the parameter of the image processing set by the setting unit and a position of the face region detected by the face detection unit.
US08699753B2
An object detection device is provided with a plurality of processor units each detecting an object included in an image. The object detection device generates divided images by dividing the image, taking into consideration both the processing load for detection of an object by each processor element and the transfer load for transfer of the divided images to the processor elements. Independently of each other, the processor elements detect an object in each of the divided images.
US08699735B2
The invention relates to an identification element for a hearing device unit of a hearing device system, with the hearing device system comprising a hearing device unit provided for the left ear of a wearer and a hearing device unit provided for the right ear of a wearer, with the identification element) visibly identifying the hearing device unit from the outside, characterized in that the identification element visibly identifies the hearing device unit as a left or right hearing device unit and comprising a means for assigning a function as a left or right hearing device unit to a signal processing facility of the hearing device unit. The assigning means can be mechanical, electrical and/or magnetic assigning means.
US08699728B2
A vibrating electrode plate 24 that senses a sound pressure faces a counter electrode plate 25 to form a capacitance type acoustic sensor. Acoustic perforations are opened in the counter electrode plate 25 in order to allow vibration to pass through. The acoustic perforations opened in the counter electrode plate 25 include plural acoustic perforations 31 having a relatively small opening area and one acoustic perforation 36 having a relatively large opening area. The acoustic perforations 31 and 36 are disposed into a lattice shape at equal intervals. Assuming that L is a width of a diaphragm 28, in the counter electrode plate 25, the acoustic perforation 36 having the large opening area is provided within a circular region a having a radius r=L/4 around a position facing a center of the diaphragm 28.
US08699725B2
An acoustic processing apparatus includes: a connecting unit to which an instructing device is connected; a situation obtaining unit obtaining information indicative of whether a number of apparatuses connected to the instructing device is a plural number or not, from the instructing device; a receiving unit receiving an instruction value from the instructing device; a storage unit in which a set value is stored; a determining unit, in a case where the information indicates that the number of apparatuses connected to the instructing device is a plural number, comparing the instruction and set values, and determines correspondence relationship between the values in accordance with a result of comparison; a changing unit, when the receiving unit receives a instruction value after the correspondence relationship is determined, specifying a set value which corresponds to the instruction value, based on the correspondence relationship, and changes the set value stored in the storage unit to the specified set value; and an acoustic processing unit which applies an acoustic process on an input audio data in accordance with the set value.
US08699722B2
A method and system to reduce the noise floor of a communications system is disclosed. The system may be incorporated into any device that provides binary samples from a datastream, such as a cordless telephone system. The system is configured to determine a number of bits of the binary samples that are affected by noise. The system is then able to remove the noise by setting those bits to a fixed value. The fixed value may depend on whether the sample is positive or negative. The value to set may be chosen so that the least significant bits of each sample come as close as possible to 0 for that particular numerical representation system. The system can be integrated with other known signal processing methods.
US08699716B2
The conference device (EMCU) according to the invention has several monaural HRTF filters (HRTF1, . . . , HRTFN), each of which is to be allocated to a conference participant. The abbreviation HRTF stands for “Head Related Transfer Function”. A corresponding HRTF filter (HRTF1, . . . , HRTFN) is used for filtering a monaural audio signal coming from the conference participant to whom it is allocated. An individual, monaural HRTF filter coefficient set is responsible in this case for defining the filter characteristics of a particular HRTF filter. The conference device (EMCU) also has a conference mixing device (MP) coupled to the HRTF filters (HRTF1, . . . , HRTFN), for mixing the individually filtered audio signals from various conference participants and for transferring the mixed audio signals to conference participants.
US08699701B2
The method of performing XZ-elliptic curve cryptography for use with network security protocols provides a computerized method that allows for the encryption of messages through elliptic polynomial cryptography and, particularly, with the embedding of either a symmetric secret key or a public key in the message bit string. The method of performing XZ-elliptic polynomial cryptography is based on the elliptic polynomial discrete logarithm problem. It is well known that an elliptic polynomial discrete logarithm problem is a computationally “difficult” or “hard” problem.
US08699698B2
Communication requests (i.e., voice, video, text) are received at a contact center. The communication requests are presented to a contact center agent. The agent selects one of the communication requests. In response to the agent selecting the communication request, a communication is established between the agent and an initiator of the communication request. The communication requests can also be presented to multiple agents to allow each agent to select a specific communication to handle. Alternatively, in an out-bound call center, communication requests are generated in the call center. The communication requests are presented to the agent and the agent selects one of the communication requests. In response to the agent selecting the communication request, a communication is initiated to an address of the communication request. The out-bound communication requests can also be presented to multiple agents to allow each agent to select a specific communication to handle.
US08699690B2
An inbound traffic allocation module is configured to store, in a database, data received from a plurality of site-services, and to determine a route capacity based at least in part on the received data, data received from each of the site-services including data related to at least one of a health and a busyness of the site-service. A traffic manager module is configured to retrieve the data from the site-services and to provide the data to the inbound traffic allocation module. A service selection engine module is configured to receive a request to route a call, and to route the call to one of the site-services based at least in part on the route capacity associated with the site-service.
US08699689B2
A mid-point call management node subject to monitoring through a workstation communicatively coupled thereto, provides call services (e.g., through extensible markup language (XML), and in particular call control extensible markup language (CCXML) and/or voice extensible markup language (VXML), instructions) for an inbound call received from an originating network at an originating point-of-presence (POP) associated with multiple, disparate call centers, the call services being provided in response to call management application instructions issued according to enterprise-specific strategies for optimizing call handling between the originating POP and domestic and/or international ones of the disparate call centers communicatively coupled thereto. Call center information (e.g., call load information) received at the management node from the multiple call centers may be used in connection with providing the call services. The enterprise-specific strategies may be instantiated as processes for: call routing, load balancing, work force management, and/or customer relationship management.
US08699685B2
The present invention relates to managing communication events in a Communication System at least comprising a first communication device (1), associated with a first user named Caller; a second communication device (2), associated with a second user named Callee; a central component, named Gatekeeper (3), being connected to said first and second communication devices (1, 2) to mediate communication connections between the Caller and the Callee, wherein said Gatekeeper (3) is also connected to said users' workstations (1, 2). A method is provided for reducing or preventing a negative impact of communication-based interruptions on a user's work.The invention relates to the case that a communication connection is established and, therefor, proposes to initiate state-saving actions on the workstation (1, 2) of at least one user involved in said communication.
US08699684B2
The present invention provides a method, system, and program product for managing conference calls. Specifically, prospective conference call participants (e.g., moderators and/or invitees) will initially provide user profiles. A participant's profile will include, among other things, a set of contact numbers at which the participant can be reached. Thereafter, a moderator and a set of invitees of a conference call to be held are identified. This is typically done based on synchronization with a calendar application used to send and accept an invitation to the conference call. When the moderator later initiates the conference call, the present invention will access the profile of each invitee that accepted the invitation, and then call the invitees at the respective contact numbers set forth therein. When contact is made with an invitee, the call will be merged into the conference call with the moderator.
US08699675B2
The present invention provides a method for exchanging information in a voice communication system, which includes a first communication device establishing a communication connection with a second communication device, and the first communication device exchanging digital data with the second communication device for achieving a specific function in a specific interval; wherein the specific interval is an interval that the first communication device does not exchange voice signals with the second communication device.
US08699670B2
In a method for geometrically correct association of at least two 3D image data of a patient, a marker field that defines a reference and is dimensionally stable and can be imaged in an x-ray image, is fixed in a stationary position relative to the patient. An x-ray apparatus is brought into first and second 3D acquisition positions. In each of the 3D acquisition positions, the x-ray apparatus acquires first 2D x-ray images for the associated 3D image data in various positions. The first and second 3D acquisition positions are selected such that a second 2D x-ray image that includes an image of at least a portion of the marker field is acquired in at least one respective position. The respective attitudes of the 3D acquisition position and the 3D image data in the reference system are determined from the image of the marker field in the second 2D x-ray image. First and second image data are geometrically correctly associated with one another according to their respective attitude.
US08699667B2
A system for applying a target track material to an x-ray tube target includes a controller configured to direct a beam of energy toward an x-ray tube target, and direct a solid stock material toward the beam of energy to cause the solid stock material to melt and deposit as a melted material on the x-ray tube target.
US08699666B2
A device for generating x-rays has an enclosing vessel having a structure suitable to provide an enclosed space at a predetermined fluid pressure, wherein the enclosing vessel has a window portion and a shielding portion in which the shielding portion is more optically dense to x-rays than the window portion; a mechanoluminescent component disposed at least partially within the enclosing vessel; and a mechanical assembly connected to the mechanoluminescent component. The mechanical assembly provides mechanical energy to the mechanoluminescent component while in operation, and at least some of the mechanical energy when provided to the mechanoluminescent component by the mechanical assembly is converted to x-rays.
US08699659B2
Systems and methods for focal spot motion correction are provided. One system includes a radiation source configured to project radiation from a first focal spot onto an object and a plurality of radiation detectors disposed around at least a portion of the object. The plurality of radiation detectors measure received radiation along a path projected from the first focal spot to the plurality of detectors. The imaging system further includes an imaging region from which the detectors provide image information for image reconstruction and a plurality of collimators positioned between the object and the plurality of radiation detectors. At least one collimator at a first end of the plurality of collimators and at least one collimator at second end of the plurality of collimators are aligned to a second focal spot different than the first focal spot and having a different location.
US08699657B2
The present invention relates to an examination apparatus and a corresponding method to realize a Spectral x-ray imaging device through inverse-geometry CT. The proposed examination apparatus comprises: an X-ray source unit (14) comprising a plurality of X-ray sources (15) for emitting X-rays (24) at a plurality of locations, an X-ray detection unit (18) for detecting X-rays emitted from one or more of said X-ray sources (15) after penetration of an examination area (19) between said X-ray source unit (14) said X-ray detection unit (18) and for generating detection signals, a processing unit (36) for processing the generated detection signals, and—a control unit (26) for controlling said X-ray sources (15) to subsequently, alone or in groups emit X-rays at least two different energy spectra such that in the time interval, during which a particular X-ray source (15a) or said group of X-ray sources (15a,15d, 15g), is switched over to emit X-rays at a different energy spectrum, said particular X-ray source (15a) or said group of X-ray sources (15a, 15d, 15g) is switched off and one or more other X-ray sources (15b, 15c) or groups of X-ray sources (15b, 15e, 15h; 15c, 15f, 15i) are subsequently switched on to emit X-rays.
US08699655B2
The present invention relates to tubular elements, such as fuel assembly tubes, which are designed to be used in high pressure and high temperature water in nuclear reactors, such as pressurized water nuclear reactors. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of improving wear resistance and corrosion resistance by depositing a protective coating having a depth of from about 5 to about 25 μm on the surface of the tubular elements. The coating is provided by nitriding the tubular element at a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 440° C. The nitridation of the tubular element can be carried out for a duration of from about 12 hours to about 40 hours.
US08699651B2
A capsule for holding, irradiating, and eluting a material is provided. Methods of fabricating and using the capsule are also provided. The capsule may include a multidiameter tube with a first end region, a second end region, and a middle region. Washers and filters are provided in the end regions and the end regions may be sealed using various methods and materials with the end caps press fit into the end regions. The middle region is designed to store a material to be irradiated by a neutron flux source. The capsule components may be made from materials having a low nuclear cross section so that the capsule may be handled safely after an irradiation step is performed. The capsule is also designed to have a symmetric configuration as an elution and irradiation column so that the same capsule may be used to elute the material within the middle region of the capsule after an irradiation step is performed.
US08699650B2
A fractional-type phase-locked loop circuit is proposed for synthesizing an output signal multiplying a frequency of a reference signal by a fractional conversion factor, the circuit including means for generating a modulation value, means for generating a feedback signal dividing the frequency of the output signal by a dividing ratio, the dividing ratio being modulated according to the modulation value for providing the conversion factor on the average, means for generating a control signal indicative of a phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal, means for controlling the frequency of the output signal according to the control signal, and means for compensating a phase error caused by the modulation of the dividing ratio; in the circuit of an embodiment of the disclosure, the means for compensating includes means for calculating an incremental value, indicative of an incremental phase error, according to the conversion factor and the modulation value, means for calculating a correction value accumulating the incremental value, and means for conditioning the control signal according to the correction value.
US08699648B1
One embodiment relates to a method of offset cancellation for a receiver in an integrated circuit. The receiver is set to a phase-detector offset-cancellation mode so as to determine offset cancellation settings for the phase detector. The offset cancellation settings are applied to the phase detector. The receiver is then set to a receiver-driver offset-cancellation mode so as to determine an offset cancellation setting for the receiver driver. This offset cancellation setting is applied to the receiver driver. Another embodiment relates to an integrated circuit configured to perform receiver offset cancellation. The integrated circuit including a receiver driver configured to receive a differential input signal, a phase detector including a plurality of latches, a calibration controller, a voltage source, and first and second pairs of switches. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.
US08699645B2
The described aspects include a user equipment (UE) apparatus and corresponding method of equalizing samples of received signals in wireless communication. A plurality of samples of a signal received in wireless communication can be obtained, and on-time samples and late samples of the plurality of samples are independently equalized to respectively generate equalized on-time samples and equalized late samples. In addition, a preference factor can be applied to at least the equalized on-time samples to generate preferred equalized on-time samples, which are combined with the equalized late samples to generate a set of equalized samples for decoding.
US08699639B2
A signal generator outputs a signal whose frequency is uniquely decided by frequency data set therein. A control section can set first data in the frequency generator as frequency data. The control section can transition among an access unimplementing state, an access stand-by state, and an access implementing state. A signal processing section can set second data in the signal generator as frequency data. The signal processing section can transition between an access allowed state and an access inhibited state. The control section transfers, to the signal processing section, a signal indicative of a desire to transition to the access implementing state and a signal indicative of transition of the control section from the access implementing state. The signal processing section transfers, to the control section, a signal indicative of transition of the signal processing section between the access allowed state and the access inhibited state.
US08699635B2
A method of WLAN frame detection in a received signal, wherein the frame comprises first and second training sequences and the method comprises auto-correlating the signal with a delayed version of itself to establish a first frame boundary estimate based on behavior of the autocorrelation result due to the inclusion of the first training sequence in the frame, cross-correlating the signal with a copy of the second training sequence at a range of time offsets in order to generate a first cross-correlation profile, classifying the first cross-correlation profile into one of a number of categories, establishing a second frame boundary estimate from the first cross-correlation profile in a manner dependent upon the category assigned to the first cross-correlation profile and determining a refined frame boundary estimate on the basis of a consideration of the first and second frame boundary estimates. Apparatus for performing the method is also described.
US08699634B2
A wireless communications device includes a receiver, and a decoder coupled downstream from the receiver and using a modulation having memory for a received signal and to decode the received signal. The decoder decodes the received signal by at least determining a channel estimate for the received signal, generating partial sum tables based upon the channel estimate and possible values of a transmitted signal, correlating actual values of the received signal to the possible values from the partial sum tables to generate branch metrics associated with the modulation, and demodulating the received signal based upon the branch metrics using an iterative process based upon exchanging extrinsic information with an outer forward error correction (FEC) code.
US08699630B2
Systems and methods for handling data rate changes within a packet or frame are described. In an embodiment, a system may include a radio frequency (RF) circuit operable to receive a message having a plurality of segments, including a first segment that is modulated according to a first modulation data rate. The system may also include a demodulator circuit coupled to the RF circuit and operable to demodulate the first segment into a first demodulated segment having a demodulation data rate, wherein the demodulation data rate is greater than the first modulation data rate. The system may further include a de-mapper circuit coupled to the demodulator circuit and operable to convert the first demodulated segment into a first converted segment having the first modulation data rate.
US08699626B2
A general purpose hybrid includes a first input port in communication with a first dual vector generator, a second input port in communication with a second dual vector generator, a first active combiner receives a first signal from the first dual vector generator and a third signal from the second dual vector generator, where the first and second dual vector generators independently apply phase shifting and amplitude control to the first and third signals; a second active combiner receives a second signal from the first dual vector generator and a fourth signal from the second dual vector generator, where the first and second dual vector generators independently apply phase shifting and amplitude control to the second and fourth signals; a first output port provides a first composite signal from the first active combiner; and a second output port provides a second composite signal from the second active combiner.
US08699620B1
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes generating a digital transmit signal; receiving a digital receive signal that is based on an amplified analog version of the digital transmit signal, where the amplified analog version is produced by a power amplifier having a nonlinear characteristic(s); storing signal samples; determining gain coefficients based on the signal samples, the gain coefficients being associated with respective first operational ranges of the power amplifier; determining predistortion values, and using the predistortion values to predistort digital signals to compensate for the nonlinear characteristic(s) of the power amplifier. The predistortion values can include first values based on the gain coefficients, the first values being associated with the first operational ranges, and a second value(s) based on an extrapolation of at least two of the gain coefficients, the second value(s) being associated with a respective second operational range(s) of the power amplifier.
US08699619B2
An amplification unit reduces a duty cycle of a digital signal at a carrier radio frequency to optimize the efficiency of the RF power amplifier that amplifies the reduced duty cycle signal. An exemplary amplification unit includes a duty cycle controller and a digital power amplifier. A delay unit in the duty cycle controller applies a delay to an input digital signal at the carrier radio frequency to generate a delayed signal at the carrier radio frequency. A logic gate in the duty cycle controller logically combines the input digital signal with the delayed signal to generate a modified digital signal at the carrier radio frequency, where the modified input digital signal has a reduced duty cycle relative to that of the input digital signal. Amplifying the modified digital signal in the digital RF power amplifier generates an amplified analog signal at the carrier radio frequency while improving amplifier efficiency.
US08699618B2
The present invention relates to a method for generating a plurality of demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) sequences, a communication terminal device using same, and a base station using same, which generate N DM-RS sequences by adding additional parameters having N (≧2) values or N numbers of cases after designing a basic DM-RS sequence for one or more layers. Thereby, each terminal can easily obtain layer information assigned thereto except for basic precoder information from DM-RS and can further predict interference and the like among terminals by obtaining layer information of other terminals.
US08699614B2
An apparatus in a wideband radio transceiver for mitigating interference between a wideband radio operating in a wide frequency band and a narrowband radio operating in a narrow frequency band within the wide frequency band. The effects of transmissions by the wideband radio on the narrowband radio are reduced by creating by the wideband radio, a transmitter notch of decreased transmit power centered at a frequency in the wide frequency band that is fixed in relation to the wideband carrier frequency. The wideband carrier frequency is then adjusted so that the transmitter notch is aligned with the second radio's narrow frequency band. The effects of transmissions by the narrowband radio on the wideband radio are reduced by creating by the wideband radio, a fixed receiver notch of decreased receiver gain in the wideband receiver, and aligning the narrowband signal with the fixed receiver notch.
US08699612B1
Techniques are described herein that receive communications transmitted according to different operation modes at a multi-mode, programmable receiver system. The multi-mode, programmable receiver system may receive communication signals from transmit antennas in “cells” (e.g., base station transceivers and/or the like) according to one or more operation modes, using receive antennas. The received signals may be converted and processed by various modules of the multi-mode, programmable receiver system to produce an output signal. The multi-mode, programmable receiver system includes modules that are programmable to be selectively enabled or disabled according to an operation mode in accordance with which the multi-mode, programmable receiver system operates.
US08699603B1
The present invention allows a wireless communication system, such as a base station or user element to iteratively select precoding sets to apply to signals for transmission based on effective channel conditions.
US08699600B2
A frequency and data synchronization control system through the 8VSB SFN DTx modulation prevents the deterioration of the digitally broadcasted receiving sensitivity caused by a discrepancy of the frequency or data between the receiver of the digital broadcasting signal and the distributed translator or between distributed translators.
US08699594B2
In a method for interleaving information bits in a physical layer (PHY) data unit, a channel bandwidth to be used for transmitting the PHY data unit is determined and a frequency rotation parameter NROT corresponding to the channel bandwidth is selected. A spatial stream constant is selected for each spatial stream from the set [0, 5, 2, 7, 3, 6, 1, 4] or a subset thereof depending on a number of spatial streams to be utilized, wherein each constant in the set corresponds to a respective spatial stream. Information bits are interleaved according to the selected frequency rotation parameter NROT and the selected spatial stream constant.
US08699593B2
A communication medium determining apparatus determines a communication medium in use for communication between two devices on a network. The apparatus includes a communication performance obtaining unit which obtains values indicating transmission speeds in a given communication path when a device which decreases transmission speed in a specific communication medium when activated, is active and when the device is inactive. The apparatus further includes a communication medium determining unit which determines whether or not the communication through the given communication path is performed using the specific communication medium. This determination is based on a speed decrease value indicating a decrease amount of the transmission speed in the specific communication medium caused by activation of the device, and a speed difference value which is a difference in the transmission speed obtained by the communication performance obtaining unit between when the device is active and when the device is inactive.
US08699591B2
A method and apparatus to reduce the level of quantification noise when transmission power varies with frequency. Power variation is carried out in the analog domain by filtering a frequency band and attenuating a complementary band in two signal analog-processing paths. More precisely, the method for reducing the quantification noise for transmitting a multi-carrier signal comprises an IFFT conversion step, a digital-to-analog conversion step and an analog-processing step of the signal frequencies on a band having a maximal frequency. Moreover, the analog processing step includes at least two processing paths in parallel to the analog signal, in which: for at least one first path, the signal is filtered so as to retain only the frequencies of a low-frequency band and, in parallel in at least one second path, the signal is subjected to gain, amplification or gain attenuation and, in a final step, the signals from the paths are summed.
US08699590B2
An efficient method of OFDM peak reduction is described. In an embodiment, a set of the most significant peaks in a symbol of an OFDM signal are identified and then, for each identified peak, a shifted and scaled version of a template cancellation signal is subtracted from the OFDM signal. The template cancellation signal is shifted such that its peak aligns with the identified peak and it is scaled such that it has the opposite phase to the identified peak. No iterative peak search and cancellation is involved in peak reduction, i.e. a cancellation step is not followed by another peak search for the same OFDM symbol. The process is repeated for each symbol in turn and in some embodiments the OFDM signal is up-sampled before it is analyzed to identify the most significant peaks.
US08699589B2
A system and method for multi-cell joint codebook feedback in wireless communications systems are provided. A method for operations at a communications device receiving joint transmissions from a plurality of communications controllers includes estimating a channel between the communications device and each communications controller in the plurality of communications controllers, thereby producing a plurality of channel estimates, computing feedback information based on the plurality of channel estimates, transmitting the feedback information, and receiving simultaneous transmissions from the plurality of communications controllers. The computing is based on a phase adjustment for the plurality of channels or a joint optimization of the plurality of channels, and the simultaneous transmissions are precoded based on the feedback information.
US08699580B2
A method for scanning MacroBlocks in video compression and selecting alternative sized Large Macroblocks accordingly. The scanning pattern is divided into scanning fragments with a size corresponding to different possible Large Macroblocks. This allows for varying the size of the selected Macroblocks, based on minimizing distortion and/or bit rate consumption.
US08699571B2
A video decoder system receives a user request for non-linear decoding of at least one video frame from a video stream encoded using an Intra macroblock refresh process. The request includes a first frame offset corresponding to a user requested first decoding frame within the video stream for commencing the non-linear decoding. The decoder system: determines an Intra-refresh period corresponding to at least one encoded Predictive frame in the video stream during which all macroblocks in the user requested first decoding frame are Intra encoded at least once; determines a second frame offset as a function of the Intra-refresh period and the user requested first frame offset, the second frame offset corresponding to a second decoding frame within the video stream. Finally, the decoder system decodes the video stream starting at the second decoding frame and suppresses the display of the video stream until the first decoding frame.
US08699569B2
A CODEC compresses and encodes a motion picture captured at a high speed of 240 fps frame rate in MPEG format. The CODEC divides pictures in each frame into I pictures and the main frame P pictures and the other sub frame P pictures. In encoding P pictures of the main frame, the CODEC uses I pictures that are adjacent on the time axis or P pictures of other main frames as a reference picture. With a playback device, etc., of its motion picture playback performance of 60 fps, to perform an actual speed playback with the playback time being equal to the picture-capturing time, only the main frame alone is to be subjected to playback, in that case the decoding process of P pictures of the sub frames is not required.
US08699566B2
Adaptive and integrated visualization of spatiotemporal data from large-scale simulation, is provided. A simulation is performed utilizing a simulator comprising multiple processors, generating spatiotemporal data samples from the simulation. Each data sample has spatial coordinates with a time stamp at a specific time resolution, and a tag. The data samples are assembled into data streams based on at least one of a spatial relationship and the corresponding tag. Each data stream is encoded into multiple formats, and an integrated and adaptive visualization of the data streams is displayed, wherein various data streams are simultaneously and synchronously displayed.
US08699562B2
A method of processing a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes obtaining a current macroblock type, obtaining skip or direct mode indication information on a partition of the current macroblock according to the current macroblock type, deriving a motion vector of the partition according to the skip or direct mode indication information, and predicting a pixel value of the partition using the motion vector. Accordingly, the present invention obtains a pixel value of a reference block close to an original video using a motion vector, thereby enhancing a reconstruction ratio of the macroblock. As a macroblock uses skip or direct prediction indication information, it is unnecessary to separately code skip mode indication information and direct mode indication information on the macroblock, whereby an information size to be coded can be reduced.
US08699559B2
A decision feedback equalizer includes a correction circuit to correct a sampled value of an incoming bit based on intersymbol interference of at least one preceding bit, and to generate a received bit. The correction circuit includes a first multiplexer and a first pair of latches coupled thereto. The first multiplexer is controlled by a clock signal to generate a digital level representative of a sign of a first correction coefficient to be subtracted from the sampled value of the incoming bit for deleting the intersymbol interference. The first pair of latches receives as input the received bit and is clocked in phase opposition by the clock signal to generate respective latched replicas of the received bit during respective active phases of the clock signal. The respective latched replicas are input to the first multiplexer.
US08699555B2
An adaptive equalizer circuit, set forth by way of example and not limitation, includes a plurality of paths receiving an input signal. One or more equalizers are each provided on one of the paths and are operative to equalize signal amplitude. An equalizer selector receives the input signal and is operative to output a selection signal based on higher-frequency content and lower-frequency content of the input signal. The selection signal is operative to select one of the paths to output an output signal that is based on the input signal.
US08699554B2
In at least some embodiments, a receiver for a wireless communication system is provided. The receiver includes an equalizer that provides an equalized channel matrix. The receiver also includes scaling logic coupled to the equalizer, the scaling logic selectively scales coefficients of the equalized channel matrix. The receiver also includes a decoder coupled to the scaling logic. The decoder decodes a signal based on the equalized channel matrix with scaled coefficients.
US08699548B2
A VCO of a PLL outputs a first differential signal of frequency FVCO. A first divide-by-two circuit local to the VCO divides the first differential signal and outputs a first quadrature signal of frequency FVCO/2. Two of the component signals of the first quadrature signal are routed to a second divide-by-two circuit local to a first mixer of a first device. The second divide-by-two circuit outputs a second quadrature signal of frequency FVCO/4 to the first mixer. All four signals of the first quadrature signal of frequency FVCO/2 are routed through phase mismatch correction circuitry to a second mixer of a second device. In one example, FVCO is a tunable frequency of about ten gigahertz, the first device is an IEEE802.11b/g transmitter or receiver that transmits or receives in a first band, and the second device is an IEEE802.11a transmitter or receiver that transmits or receives in a second band.
US08699544B2
System and method for enabling the cohabitation of licensed and unlicensed communications devices. A method comprises at a receiver, receiving transmitted data, demodulating the transmitted data to produce spread symbols, despreading the spread symbols to produce received data, wherein the despreading comprises using an orthogonal sequence selected from a list of orthogonal sequences for use by all transmissions in the wireless network, and processing the received data.
US08699525B2
The present invention relates to a method for confirming the delivery of a data packet in a mesh network by sending an acknowledgement (ACK) to an ingress mesh point (IMP). A mesh network comprises a plurality of mesh points that are wirelessly linked together. A data packet sent by a station (STA) is received by an IMP. A MAC frame is generated for transmission of the data packet and the frame is forwarded to an egress mesh point (EMP) in order to provide a service by the mesh network. The MAC frame includes a field comprising an IMP address and an EMP address. When the EMP, (or optionally an intermediate mesh point), receives a data packet successfully, the EMP or the intermediate mesh point sends an ACK to the IMP or preceding mesh point.
US08699516B2
An interworking function (IWF) for a first and second protocol based network, for example, an H.323 protocol based network and an SIP protocol based network comprises an interworking gateway server including a state machine for defining each call processing state and a translation table for use in translating addresses formatted in each protocol. A method of interworking for use in interworking between said first protocol based network and said second protocol based network comprises the steps of receiving at said interworking gateway server serving said first and second protocol based networks a request from an endpoint in the first or second protocol based networks, establishing a state machine in memory whereby, for each state of said state machine, a message associated with that state is categorized as one of a triggering message, a non-triggering message and an error message, establishing a translation table in said memory whereby an address formatted in said first protocol has a one-for-one correspondence with an address formatted in said second protocol, processing said request in accordance with said translation table and said state machine and permitting communication between said first and second endpoints utilizing a realtime transport protocol. In the event media is terminated at said interworking gateway server, the interworking gateway server, in one embodiment, comprises a media switching fabric for switching media terminated at the gateway to an addressed endpoint capable of receiving it.
US08699508B2
A base station poll mobile devices with the same multicast poll, and the polled mobile stations may respond separately at different times based on an assigned delay period for each mobile station that was specified in the poll message.
US08699507B2
The invention relates to a scheduling of data transmissions in multi-carrier data transmission systems, e.g. multi-carrier W-CDMA systems. A method embodiment of performing one or more data transmissions in a multi-carrier data transmission network (100) comprises, in a transmitting device (102), the steps of requesting transmission resources from a resource granting device (106); receiving, in response to the request (120), one or more transmission grants (gr1-gr3) from the resource granting device (106), wherein each transmission grant (gr1) indicates a data rate (dr1) and a data class (CI1) granted for a specific transmission carrier (Cr1); and initiating one or more transmissions (122-126) of data associated with one or more of the granted data classes on one or more of the granted transmission carriers.
US08699500B2
A method and apparatus to route information over a network is described.
US08699495B2
A method and apparatus for performing tunneling signaling over an IP tunneling path connected to an end-to-end path on an IP network are provided, in which an end-to-end signaling flow is received from a sender or a receiver on the end-to-end path, a tunnel signaling flow is generated corresponding to the received end-to-end signaling flow, and the generated tunnel signaling flow is transmitted through the IP tunneling path, the end-to-end signaling flow is forwarded between an entry node and an exit node of the IP tunneling path, and the forwarded end-to-end signaling flow is transmitted to at least any one node on the end-to-end path, wherein the forwarding is simultaneously performed with the transmitting of the tunnel signaling flow, and the transmitting of the end-to-end signaling flow is suspended until the transmitting of the tunnel signaling flow is completed.
US08699491B2
A method for communication, in a network element that includes multiple ports, includes buffering data packets entering the network element via the ports in input buffers that are respectively associated with the ports. Storage of the data packets is shared among the input buffers by evaluating a condition related to the ports, and, when the condition is met, moving at least one data packet from a first input buffer of a first port to a second input buffer of a second port, different from the first port. Respective output ports, via which the buffered data packets are to exit the network element, are selected from among the ports. The buffered data packets are forwarded to the selected output ports.
US08699475B2
A wireless terminal which newly joins a wireless communication system transmits a message containing its identification data to an access point in the wireless communication system at a communication parameter setting start. Upon receiving the message, the access point determines whether or not the wireless terminal has been registered. If it is determined that the wireless terminal has not been registered, the access point determines whether or not the wireless terminal is a setting target device of communication parameters based on the identification data contained in the message. If it is determined that the wireless terminal is a setting target device, the access point sets communication parameters for the wireless terminal.
US08699465B2
In a synchronous application to control forward link (FL) data rates in a satellite system, user equipment (UE) repeatedly transmits a quality control measurement (QCM) index during a QCM period. During this QCM period, the data rate cannot change. The associated satellite transmits at a new rate corresponding to the QCM index. The UE knows that it will begin receiving new data at the new rate after a QCM delay. In an asynchronous application, a satellite transmits a rate change signal over a FL rate indication channel (RICH). A UE monitors the FL RICH for this signal. When the signal quality is to be low, the satellite sends only a single bit of the QCM index over a first orthogonal channel. When the signal quality is not low, the satellite transmits each bit of the QCM index in a separate orthogonal channel of the FL RICH.
US08699459B2
A method for a handover in a wireless access system supporting multi-carrier operation includes transmitting a handover request message to a serving base station (BS) assigning multi-carriers to the MS through a primary carrier, the multi-carriers including the primary carrier and at least one secondary carrier; receiving, from the serving BS, a handover response message including a BS list and temporary carrier information indicating one of the at least one secondary carrier as a temporary carrier; transmitting, to a target BS selected from the BS list, a ranging request message for synchronizing with the target BS through the temporary carrier while maintaining link connection with the serving BS using the multi-carriers excluding the temporary carrier; receiving, from the target BS, a ranging response message through the temporary carrier; and transmitting, to the serving BS, a handover indication message indicating completion of the handover through the primary carrier.
US08699458B1
When a mobile node hands off to a new network access server/foreign agent (NAS/FA) and establishes a data link layer connection with the new NAS/FA, the NAS/FA will determine whether the mobile node is registered with a preferred home agent. If not, the NAS/FA will force the mobile node to hand off to the preferred home agent, while maintaining the data link layer connection with the mobile node.
US08699456B2
To improve network coverage or reduce false handover triggering, at least one client terminal is set to operate as a virtual access point (VAP) in a first wireless network by an AP controller. If a mobile device detects that a signal quality estimate of communications via an AP of the first wireless network is below a first value, the mobile device performs a handover procedure to the VAP. While maintaining the call via the VAP, if the mobile device detects that the signal quality estimate is back above the first value, the mobile device performs a handover procedure back to the AP of the first wireless network. On the other hand, if the mobile device detects that the signal quality estimate is below a second value which is less than the first value, the mobile device performs a vertical handover procedure from the VAP to a base station of a second wireless network.
US08699453B2
A radio frequency receive chain of an access point is reused for different functions. For example, the same RF receive chain may be used to receive on a downlink at certain points in time and on an uplink at other points in time. An RF receive chain that is used to derive synchronization from downlink signals received from a macro system also may be used to receive uplink signals from an access terminal to provide assistance for hand-in of the access terminal. Accelerated searching for hand-in may be provided through the use of a relatively small search window for hand-in of an access terminal to a small coverage access point. In some aspects, the search window may be defined based on the distance between access points or calibration of synchronization error between access points.
US08699451B2
A method for updating a connection relationship of a wireless relay station, comprises the following steps of: (a) a wireless relay station RS1 already connecting to a wireless communication network group comprising a base station and wireless relay stations subjected to the base station, and if determining that the connection relationship of RS1 needs to be changed, selecting a target node; (b) instructing RS1 to update the connection to the target node, and after receiving the instructions, RS1 starting a connection update, establishing a wireless link to a new node and releasing no longer used resource in an existing data tunnel. The present invention can fulfill the update of the connection relationship of a wireless relay station, and can take steps to further guarantee the service suspension time of the terminals and RSs subjected to the wireless relay station is the shortest.
US08699449B2
A base station transmits first scheduling information on a first control channel for a first packet communicated with a first wireless device. First radio resources of the first control channel start from the first OFDM symbol of each subframe. The base station transmits a radio resource control (RRC) message causing configuration of second radio resources of a second control channel in a second wireless device. The second radio resources comprise resource blocks in a subset of subframes. The base station transmits second scheduling information on the second control channel for a second packet communicated with the second wireless device.
US08699445B2
A method of operating a communication system comprises exchanging initial communications between a wireless communication device and a communication network over a wireless connection between the wireless communication device and a network access system and a network connection between the wireless communication device and the communication network. The method further comprises performing a plurality of ranging processes to monitor a status of the wireless connection. Upon successfully completing a ranging process of the plurality of ranging processes, the method comprises determining a duration elapsed since the last successful ranging process and processing the duration to determine if the duration satisfies a criteria. The method further comprises, if the duration does not satisfy the criteria, then setting the indicator to indicate that a partial entry process is required to regain the network connection, and in response to the deterioration of the wireless link, processing the indicator to determine if the partial network entry process is required to regain the network connection.
US08699444B2
A method and transceiver in a secondary system for utilizing channel bandwidths allocated to a primary system. A secondary system transceiver receives a primary system signal, re-transmits a delayed version of the primary system signal, and communicates with secondary system equipment utilizing secondary system signals within at least part of a bandwidth of at least one channel of the primary system. The re-transmission of the primary system signal allows the use of primary system channels by the secondary system without adversely affecting the primary or secondary system users.
US08699435B2
A method for wirelessly transmitting data and control information using a plurality of transmission layers includes determining a number of bits in one or more user data codewords to be transmitted during a subframe and calculating a number of control vector symbols to allocate to control information during the subframe. The number of control vector symbols is calculated based at least in part on the number of bits in the one or more user data codewords to be transmitted during the subframe and an estimate of the number of vector symbols onto which the one or more user data codewords will be mapped. The estimate of the number of vector symbols depends, at least in part, on the number of control vector symbols to be allocated to control information. The method also includes mapping one or more control codewords to the calculated number of control vector symbols and transmitting vector symbols carrying the one or more user data codewords and the one or more control codewords over the plurality of transmission layers during the subframe.
US08699428B2
The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for obtaining efficient radio resource utilization over a radio interface in a communication network comprising a transmitting entity (18) transmitting data over said radio interface to a receiving entity (15), said transmitting entity (18) comprising at least an upper layer utilizing an automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol on top of a lower layer utilizing a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol, whereby a timer in said upper layer is arranged to supervise operation of said upper layer. Said timer is set based on an indication of receipt status of the transmitted data in said receiving entity (15) according to said lower layer hybrid automatic repeat request protocol.
US08699419B2
A method, system and apparatus for providing access mode selection to multimode terminal are disclosed. After selecting an access mode according to a certain policy, a routing decision entity correspondingly instructs a routing execution entity to perform a call connection in the selected access mode. The method for providing access mode selection to multimode terminal includes the following steps: (1) when establishing a registration connection, a terminal notifies related information of a current access network type to a network side; and (2) when performing a call connection to a called party, a routing decision entity on the network side selects the access mode and correspondingly instructs a routing execution entity to perform the call connection according to the related information and the selected access mode.
US08699418B2
Band steering for multi-band wireless clients. In a wireless digital network having at least one central controller and a plurality of access nodes connected to the central controller, and wherein some of the access nodes support a preferred wireless band and at least one non-preferred wireless band, the central controller identifies wireless client devices capable of multi-band operation, and encourages them to connect to the preferred wireless band. Client devices may be identified as multi-band capable by tracking probe requests. The central controller keeps a list of multi-band capable clients, for example in a database. This information is provided to other central controllers, and to access nodes attached to the central controller. Multi-band capable clients are encouraged to connect on the preferred wireless band for example by having the access nodes not respond to probe requests on the non-preferred wireless bands. Connections made on the non-preferred wireless bands may be moved to the preferred wireless band.
US08699410B2
Techniques for sharing routing information over a network include determining whether the scale of a flooding domain exceeds a threshold. If so, then a router announcement message is sent over a particular link. The message indicates the local router is a flooding domain border router (FDBR). Summary routing information is determined with less than a certain level of detail used in the flooding domain for routers connected to the local router through links different from the particular link. The summary routing information is sent over the particular link in a link state message that includes type data that indicates summary routing information that crosses a FDBR. These techniques allow automatic favorable scaling of domains of shared routing information as the size of a mobile ad hoc network grows.
US08699407B2
This invention discloses a method and apparatus for scheduling radio resources among service flows for services supported in a MIMO-OFDM wireless communication system. Preferably a portion of radio resources for allocation is expressed as bandwidth or slots in different units. The method comprises a first stage and a second stage of scheduling. The first stage guarantees supporting minimum data rates for different services. The second stage aims to satisfy a requirement of not exceeding maximum data rates for different services as well as to optimize the spectrum efficiency. Each stage comprises: selecting a primary flow according to prioritization of service flows; allocating a portion of resources for the primary flow; selecting one or more secondary flows if there is resource remaining available, so as to optimize spectrum efficiency when transmitting with the primary flow in the same SDMA region; and allocating a portion of resources to each secondary flow.
US08699404B2
A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a satellite-based communications network that includes a plurality of satellites, at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs, a plurality of satellite antennas in the aircraft, and a satellite transceiver. The satellite transceiver is coupled to the satellite antennas, and cooperates with the at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs. At least one selection controller is for selecting a satellite among the plurality of satellites, and for selecting a satellite antenna among the plurality of satellite antennas for the selected satellite.
US08699400B2
The present invention relates to a source antenna switching scheme for a non-orthogonal protocol; and more particularly, to a source antenna switching scheme for a non-orthogonal protocol, which transmits a signal of a source node to a destination node through a relay node. The present invention provides a source antenna switching scheme for a non-orthogonal decode-and-forward protocol that can acquire a greater diversity than the conventional NDF protocol. In other words, the present invention provides a source antenna switching scheme for a non-orthogonal decode-and-forward protocol that can increase a diversity order by adding a reasonable priced antenna instead of expensive hardware such as an RF chain when there are a plurality of antenna in the RF chain.
US08699398B2
Dynamically switching mobile stations between point-to-point and point-to-multipoint operating modes
A method and apparatus is provided for dynamically switching mobile stations between point-to-point (PTP) and point-to-multipoint (PTM) operating modes. For example, a particular mobile station can determine whether reception of information over a downlink PTM bearer is inadequate or adequate. Upon determining that the reception of the information over the downlink PTM bearer is inadequate, the particular mobile station can generate and transmit a complaint message to a controller. It can then be determined whether the particular mobile station is to switch between the PTP operating mode and the PTM operating mode. A signal can be processed at the particular mobile station. When the signal is to switch to the PTP operating mode, the particular mobile station can switch from the PTM operating mode to the PTP operating mode and start receiving downlink transmissions over a PTP bearer.
US08699397B2
A method and apparatus are described for providing multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS) service feedback. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may receive an MBMS service query message over an MBMS control channel and transmit an MBMS service response. The MBMS service query message and MBMS service response message may be radio resource controller messages. The MBMS service query message may include MBMS service identifiers which identify MBMS services that the WTRU is receiving or intending to receive. The WTRU may generate a report with MBMS service identifier index values, where each MBMS service identifier index value indicates a position of a service identifier corresponding to an MBMS service in the original query list that the WTRU is currently receiving or intending to receive. The MBMS service status query message may be received alone or along with a MBSFNAreaConfiguration message. The WTRU may respond within a predetermined or configured time limit.
US08699395B2
A stream of multicast messages is forwarded through a network to a plurality of subscriber devices (18). The stream is inverse multiplexed and transmitted distributed over a plurality of communication channels (14). A plurality of inverse demultiplexers (16) is provided, to reassemble a plurality of copies of the stream from the multiplexed streams from the communication channels at different locations. Preferably, the final communication channels to a plurality of subscribers (e.g. telephone lines to different homes) are used as communication channels for said inverse multiplexing and the inversely multiplexed data is communicated locally (17) between the subscribers to enable reassembly of copies of the stream.
US08699388B2
A bidirectional wireless communication system includes: a first wireless communication apparatus for bidirectional communication configured to multiplex a modulated signal obtained by modulating an input signal by a reference carrier signal having a predetermined carrier frequency, and transmit a resultant transmission signal; and a second wireless communication apparatus, having an oscillator configured to oscillate a signal having a free-running oscillation frequency, configured to inject a reception signal received from the first wireless communication apparatus into the oscillator, receive the reception signal while variably controlling the free-running oscillation frequency of the oscillator of the second wireless communication apparatus, detect whether the free-running oscillation frequency of the signal of the oscillator of the second wireless communication apparatus has entered the frequency range up to the injection locking to be frequency-locked with a carrier frequency of the injected reception signal, and generate a communication enable signal.
US08699387B2
A device (D) dedicated to control of bandwidth used by a work station (3-j) that can be connected to a network allowing the user to access a service that doesn't require feedback, this network being a frequency division duplexing network which accommodates at least one frequency bundle branch block of the first type, dedicated to transmission of data bundles, and a second type district from the first type. This device has i) the capacity to analyze at least signalling information received from the work station on the first type block, and ii) a switchover feature which is activated if the analysis device detects signalling information signalling the availability of a service on a second type frequency block range, to receive second type data stream on the second type frequency block.
US08699375B2
Method and apparatus for conveying feedback reports from a data receiving party (300) for data received from a data sending party (302) in a wireless connection. A plurality of feedback resources (304) assigned to different feedback information codes are allocated to the data receiving party for transmitting feedback reports. After checking whether the data was received correctly or not, the data receiving party selects a feedback resource (FR2) with a feedback information code that corresponds to one or more feedback reports on the received data. The data receiving party then sends feedback information on the selected feedback resource to the data sending party, thereby conveying the corresponding feedback information code. In this way, multiple feedback reports can be conveyed in a single feedback resource to the data sending party while still retaining single carrier properties.
US08699355B2
A method, comprising detecting a problem associated with a network communications link of a primary communications medium, performing one or more actions on a first network element communicatively coupled to the network communications link in response to detection of the problem, and transmitting data associated with the problem from the first network element to a second network element utilizing a secondary communications medium.
US08699353B2
A system and method for propagating fault information in an Ethernet OAM network having multiple levels of OAM domains. An Alarm Indication and Suppression (AIS) frame is generated by a Maintenance Intermediate Point (MIP) node upon detecting a fault condition in a first OAM domain, which is transmitted to one or more Maintenance End Points (MEPs) of the first OAM domain. Upon receiving the AIS frames, the MEP nodes are operable generate another AIS frame for propagating to an adjacent higher level second OAM domain. Responsive to the AIS frame from the lower level first OAM domain, any alarms caused in the second OAM domain due to the fault condition in the first OAM domain are suppressed.
US08699352B2
Multicast to unicast conversion may be provided. First, a request for a data packet may be received at a conversion device. The conversion device may determine that the requested data packet has not yet been received using a multicast transmission protocol. Next, the conversion device may wait a time period to receive the data packet using the multicast transmission protocol. When the data packet has not been received within the time period, conversion device may then request the data packet using a unicast transmission protocol.
US08699338B2
A signal data source supplies signal data of a stored signal that is defined relative to a original time base. The signal data is processed by adding or removing samples to adapt a reproduction rate to an adapted time base. The samples of the signal with the adapted reproduction rate are passed through a delaying buffer and the signal is rendered after it emerges from the buffer. A time converter determines time values relative to the original time base and the adapted time base. Commands are provided to control the rate used for reproduction rate adaptation. Normally, each command is accepted and used to change the rate. Information is stored after the commands have been used to change the reproduction rate. Acceptance of further commands is disabled when a predetermined number of accepted commands is stored, until at least one of the stored commands have emerged from the buffer.
US08699335B1
A method for determining a quality of a wireless data connection including receiving a thruput of the wireless data connection, a data round trip time, a number of clicks needed to receive a predetermined data value and a packet loss percentage. A determination of a data quality index value for the wireless data connection is made responsive to the thruput of the wireless data connection, the data round trip time, the number of clicks needed to receive the predetermined data value and the packet loss percentage. The data quality index value for the wireless data connection is then provided.
US08699333B2
In one embodiment, a device in a shared-media communication network determines a priority of a packet to be queued at the device, and based on the priority determines a length of time the packet is allowed to be queued before being successfully transmitted. After attempting to successfully transmit the queued packet within the shared-media communication network, in response to reaching a threshold amount of the length of time without having successfully transmitted the queued packet, the device may transmit a “shaping” request to one or more reachable neighbors in the shared-media communication network. Specifically, the shaping request is for a temporary reduction in bandwidth utilization by the reachable neighbors for traffic having a comparatively lesser priority than the priority of the packet.
US08699324B2
The present disclosure relates to a method, apparatus and system for processing a configuration update failure, belonging to the field of communications. The method includes: setting a times threshold for receiving an eNB configuration update failure message; sending an eNB configuration update message to an MME or a neighboring eNB after configuration information is updated; receiving, from the MME or the neighboring eNB, an eNB configuration update failure message including a Time-To-Wait IE; calculating the times for receiving the eNB configuration update failure message; comparing the calculated times for receiving the eNB configuration update failure message with the set times threshold to determine whether the calculated times exceed the set times threshold; and stopping sending the eNB configuration update message if the calculated times exceed the set times threshold. The apparatus includes: a first sending module, a first receiving module, a first counting module, a first threshold setting module, a first comparing module and a first notifying module. The present disclosure can relieve the load of the system and improve the robustness and stability of the system.
US08699322B1
A method includes assigning a port identifier to a first port on a node and communicating data on a first path between the first port and a logical unit on an active/passive storage array. The port identifier is registered in a persistent reservation scheme for the logical unit. The method also includes detecting a failure of the first path, de-assigning the port identifier from the first port, assigning the port identifier to a second port on the first node, and resuming communications between the node and the logical unit. One implementation of a system includes a first port configured to communicate with a storage device, a second port configured to communicate with the storage device, and an identifier management block. The identifier management block executes a failover with N_Port ID Virtualization commands that transfer a world wide port name from the first port to the second port.
US08699321B2
A system and method for determining a state of a communications system. A determination is made whether a communications path is fully functional, impaired, or non functional. A maximum capacity available to the communications path is determined in response to deterting the communications path is impaired. The communications path is limited to a maximum capacity available in response to determining the maximum capacity of the connection as impaired.
US08699315B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for transmitting/receiving signals by using a preset frame structure in a wireless communication system. As there are difficulties ensuring the link capacity and quality for a high speed moving object with the existing frame structure and the antenna arrangement and communication system based on the existing scheme, a new frame structure needs to be proposed. According to one example of those newly proposed frame structures, one frame is composed of 8 subframes, each of the 8 subframes being composed of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) symbols in a range of 11 to 14, and the cyclic prefix (CP) length of the frame is 1/8 or less of an effective symbol length (e.g., 1/8, 1/16, 1/31, 1/64).
US08699305B2
A solar cell electronic device includes a cover glass fitted into a case opening of an exterior case via a glass packing, and a solar panel disposed on the back face of the cover glass with a predetermined distance from the cover glass. The case opening has a base portion on the inner periphery thereof for mounting an outer peripheral portion of the cover glass and for positioning the solar panel in a plane direction. The glass packing includes a packing main body interposed between the case opening and the cover glass, and a flange portion that extends from an end on the base portion side of the packing main body and that is interposed between the cover glass and the base portion. The base portion has a base opening through which at least a part of the flange portion is exposed.
US08699304B2
An electronic device includes a primary power supply portion generating power by converting a first energy into electric energy as a second energy; a secondary power supply portion storing the electric energy obtained by the power generation; a charge detection portion detecting a state where the secondary power supply portion is not charged with the electric energy; a clocking portion clocking time and stopping display of clocked time when an operation input is detected; and a low power consumption state control portion which measures a time of a state where the operation input is detected and the charging is not performed, and stops the operation of the clocking portion when the measured time exceeds a preset time.
US08699291B1
Circuits and techniques for operating a memory circuit are disclosed. A disclosed circuit includes a memory circuit and a sleep circuit with an output terminal coupled to the memory circuit. The sleep circuit is operable to receive a control signal and further operable to place the memory circuit in different modes of operation. The memory circuit may be placed in either a first mode of operation, a second mode of operation or a third mode of operation based at least partly on the control signal. An input terminal of the sleep circuit is coupled to an output terminal of the control circuit. The control circuit is operable to receive an enable signal and is operable to supply the control signal to the sleep circuit at first, second and third voltage levels during the first, second and third modes of operation, respectively, based on the enable signal and a clock signal.
US08699290B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. An anti-fuse is formed at a buried bit line such that the area occupied by the anti-fuse is smaller than that of a conventional planar-gate-type anti-fuse, and a breakdown efficiency of an insulation film is increased. This results in an increase in reliability and stability of the semiconductor device. A semiconductor device includes a line pattern formed over a semiconductor substrate, a device isolation film formed at a center part of the line pattern, a contact part formed at both sides of the line pattern, configured to include an oxide film formed over the line pattern, and a bit line formed at a bottom part between the line patterns, and connected to the contact part.
US08699288B2
A system includes a voltage generator to produce a pre-charge voltage signal for pre-charging one or more signals in a memory circuit. The one or more signals can be data bus lines used to access memory. The voltage generator can include an input indicating whether the memory circuit is set to a power-saving mode. According to one embodiment, the input adjusts a magnitude of the pre-charge voltage signal produced by the voltage generator. Such an embodiment is useful over conventional methods because adjusting the pre-charge voltage can result in power savings. As an example, when in the power-saving mode, the voltage generator circuit can adjust the pre-charge voltage to a value that reduces an amount of leakage current associated with a pre-charge voltage. Reducing the leakage with respect to the pre-charge voltage means that the saved power can be used for other useful purposes.
US08699272B2
For one embodiment, a programming method includes programming one or more memory cells of a memory device during a programming operation, determining, internal to the memory device, a number of program pulses required to program a sample of the one or more memory cells of the memory device during the programming operation, and adjusting a program starting voltage level of one or more program pulses applied to the one or more memory cells during a subsequent programming operation in response, at least in part, to the number of program pulses required to program the sample of the one or more memory cells programmed during the prior programming operation.
US08699269B1
A state set module arranges states of a memory cell in a first and a second sequence in a first and a second state set, respectively. The memory cell stores first and second bits when programmed to a state. When the states in the first and second state sets are accessed respectively in the first and the second sequence, the first and second bits of the states in the first and second state sets exhibit different number of logical transitions. A write module receives first and second sets of bits to be written as the first and second bits in a plurality of memory cells, and selects states from the first and second state sets in an alternating pattern to write the first and second sets of bits as the first and second bits in the plurality of memory cells.
US08699263B2
In a method of erasing data, a wordline of the DRAM array is set active, and signals develop on bitlines according to flows of charge between memory cells coupled to the wordline and the respective bitlines. Sense amplifiers connected to the respective bitlines can remain off such that the sense amplifiers do not amplify the signals to storable signal levels. Thereafter, when the wordline is set inactive again, insufficient charge remains in the memory cells coupled to the wordline to represent data such that the data stored in memory cells coupled to the wordline are erased. These steps can be performed using each of the wordlines of a selected range of the DRAM array or all of the DRAM array so as to erase the data stored in the selected range or in all of the DRAM array.
US08699259B2
A reversible resistance-switching metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stack is provided which can be set to a low resistance state with a first polarity signal and reset to a higher resistance state with a second polarity signal. The first polarity signal is opposite in polarity than the second polarity signal. In one approach, the MIM stack includes a carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material such as a carbon nanotube material. The MIM stack can further include one or more additional reversible resistivity switching materials such as metal oxide above and/or below the carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material. In another approach, a metal oxide layer is between separate layers of carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material.
US08699256B2
A bit memory circuit of an antifuse element set includes two antifuse elements of which logical states are changed from an insulation state to a conductive state when a program voltage is applied. 1-bit data is represented by the logical states of the two antifuse elements. The two antifuse elements are collectively controlled by one decoder circuit. When writing data, the decoder circuit simultaneously performs insulation-breakdown on the two antifuse elements by simultaneously connecting the two antifuse elements to program voltage lines, respectively.
US08699255B2
A memory array includes a plurality of word lines extending along a first direction; a plurality of memory cells coupled to a first sub-bit line (SBL) extending along a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction; a first selector region disposed substantially in the middle of the first SBL thereby dividing the plurality of memory cells into two sub-groups, wherein the first selector region comprises at least one selector transistor that is coupled to the first SBL; and a main bit line (MBL) extending along the second direction and coupled to the selector transistor.
US08699246B2
For a more stable start-up procedure, a switch mode power converter has at least one inductive component including an output inductor L1 and a synchronous rectification element, said power converter comprising a control device and being characterized in that the control device is arranged, at startup of the power converter, to determine a duty-cycle of the control signal, including a normal pulse width of the control pulse, and provide an initial control signal to the at least one switch element that is designed to balance the current in the at least one inductive component of the converter. The initial control signal preferably has a duration of 50% of the normal pulse width.
US08699238B1
A modified power converter circuit utilizes an RLC circuit tuned to the frequency of any instability in the power converter circuit in order to remove the instability in the circuit output. In one embodiment, a pair of RLC circuits are connected in parallel across the input capacitor and output capacitor of the power circuit topology, respectively. The capacitor and inductor of each RLC circuit act as filters having a period with the same value as the instability created by interaction of the respective input or output capacitor with the isolation transformer inductance and expose the resistor within each the RLC circuit to only the frequency of instability.
US08699235B2
The Mobile Phone/PDA Security Masking Box is a sound insulated box for use as a temporary storage location for cellular and other mobile devices in locations at which confidential and sensitive conversations and discussions are being conducted. A pink/white noise generating device within the box generates a masking noise such that the cellular or other mobile devices inside the box are unable to pick up or record conversations outside the box.
US08699226B2
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to active cooling or removing heat generated by a processor in a computing device. More specifically, a cooling system in a computing device may include a heatpipe which moves heat along a fin pack. The fin pack may include top and bottom ends as well as a plurality of fins. The fins may extend only a portion of the way between the ends thus creating an air duct. The air duct may allow debris to move along an edge of the fin and out of the computing device. The fins may also be curved to promote the forcing of debris through the fin pack while still allowing the heat to be expelled through the fins.
US08699224B2
The present disclosure relates to a computer peripheral device. The computer peripheral device includes a housing whereon an opening is formed, and a fixing module installed inside the opening in a reversible manner. The fixing module includes a base installed inside the opening, a locking head passing through the locking plate and fixed on the base at one end. The locking head includes a latching part for inserting into a slot on a casing of a portable computer when the base turns to a first position relative to the housing so that the latching part protrudes outside the housing. When the locking plate is pressed down so as to separate the latching part from the locking plate and the locking head rotates relative to the locking plate, the latching part cannot separate from the slot. The fixing module further includes a resilient component for pushing the locking plate.
US08699219B2
An electronic device is provided, which includes a bottom casing, an electronic module, at least a positioning part and an upper cover. The electronic module is disposed in the bottom casing. The positioning part is connected to the electronic module. The upper cover includes a cover body and a positioning portion. The cover body is assembled to the bottom casing. The positioning portion is connected to the cover body. A structural interference between the positioning portion and the positioning part makes the electronic module positioned. In addition, an assembling method of electronic module and a disassembling method of electronic module are also provided.
US08699186B1
A dual stage microactuated (DSA) suspension has two microactuators which are located approximately mid-load beam, and which are close to the stiffening edge rails of the load beam. A vertically extending C-spring is formed in the rails adjacent the microactuators in order to allow the microactuators to expand and contract.
US08699176B2
A storage apparatus includes a medium storing shelf having a plurality of cells for storing a recording medium, a recording and reproducing device for performing a recording and reproducing process on the recording medium, a transporting device for transporting the recording medium between the medium storing shelf and the recording and reproducing device, a flag provided on the cell and used for obtaining position information for transporting the recording medium, and a flag moving mechanism for moving the flag to retracted position which does not hinder mounting of recording medium into the cell.
US08699171B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a plurality of disk surfaces, and a head actuated over each disk surface. When a write command is received, the data is written to a selected disk surface in response to a measured environmental condition. For example, the heads may exhibit different write performance based on the ambient temperature, and therefore the head to write data may be selected based on a measured ambient temperature at the time of the write operation.
US08699170B2
A virtual tape device includes a first drive group of virtual tape drives, a first determination unit, and a first instruction unit. The first drive group is assigned to a first information processing apparatus. The first determination unit determines, upon receiving a first cleaning instruction for cleaning a first virtual tape drive included in the first drive group from the first information processing apparatus, whether the first cleaning instruction is to be output to a physical tape device connected to the virtual tape device. The first instruction unit instructs, when the first determination unit determines that the first cleaning instruction is to be output to the physical tape device, a first physical tape drive corresponding to the first virtual tape drive to perform cleaning. The first physical tape drive is included in the physical tape device.
US08699167B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes an equalizer circuit and a data detection circuit. The equalizer circuit is operable to filter a series of samples based at least in part on a filter coefficient and to provide a corresponding series of filtered samples. The data detection circuit includes: a core data detector circuit and a coefficient determination circuit. The core data detector circuit is operable to perform a data detection process on the series of filtered samples and to provide a most likely path and a next most likely path. The coefficient determination circuit operable to update the filter coefficient based at least in part on the most likely path and the next most likely path.
US08699163B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a method of temporarily storing data in a buffer. The method determines whether data written based on sequential writing is of a first type or a second type in data type. The method stores the written data in association with the determined data type in the buffer. The method further controls the buffer so that the data of the first type stored in the buffer may be held in the buffer for a length of time twice as long as time T1 corresponding to one revolution of a disk and the data of the second type stored in the buffer may be held in the buffer for the time T1.
US08699157B2
A variable focus prism has a first transmissive solution body, a second transmissive solution body that has a different refractive index to that of the first transmissive solution body, and a reflective solution body. The variable focus prism varies the shape of the transmissive surface and the reflective surface by electrical control of the transmissive surface formed on the interface between the first transmissive solution body and the second transmissive solution body, and the reflective surface formed on the interface between the second transmissive solution body and the reflective solution body.
US08699153B2
A device may include a magnifying lens having a focal length that defines a focal plane, a light source providing visible light directed toward the focal plane, and a controller. The controller may be programmed to receive a signal indicative of the distance from the device to an object, cause the light source to emit light at a first brightness if the distance is at least substantially equal to the focal length of the lens, and cause the light source to emit light at a second brightness, dimmer than the first brightness, if the distance is not at least substantially equal to the focal length of the lens.
US08699140B2
Examples of the present invention include methods and apparatus for modification of electromagnetic waves, including lenses with generally parallel flat surfaces. Lenses may comprise metamaterials, dielectric materials (such as glass), plastics, and the like. Lenses may have an index profile corresponding to a coordinate transformation for the desired effect on the electromagnetic waves.
US08699134B2
An alt-az mount for supporting and orienting optical instruments comprises: a generally horizontally extending arm couple to a level surface by an azimuthal pivot joint which permits pivotal movement of the horizontally extending arm with respect to the level surface about a vertical azimuthal axis; a generally vertically extending arm pivotally coupled to the horizontally extending arm by an inter-arm pivot joint which permits pivotal movement of the vertically extending arm with respect to the horizontally extending arm about a vertical inter-arm axis; and an instrument coupling mechanism for coupling the mount to an optical instrument, the instrument coupling mechanism comprising an altitude pivot joint which permits pivotal movement of the optical instrument with respect to the vertically extending arm about a horizontal altitude axis.
US08699132B2
A microscope capable of forming a beam spot in a desired shape on a focal plane is provided.The microscope is provided with a modulation optical element (38) having a plurality of regions for spatial modulation of illumination light and an adjustment element (37) for adjusting an optical property of the illumination light modulated by the modulation optical element.
US08699129B2
A microscope system improves the operability of a user in performing a microscope observation. The microscope system attains the improvement by including: a microscope apparatus including a plurality of drive units; a display unit for displaying an operation screen for operation of the microscope apparatus; a pointing device for inputting by a pointer an operation instruction to the microscope apparatus on the operation screen; and a control unit for switching the drive units depending on the position of the pointer on the operation screen, and controlling the operation of the switched drive units depending on the operation of the pointing device.
US08699124B2
A method of optimizing parametric gain in a nonlinear optical crystal that in response to application of a pump beam generates through a parametric generation process signal and idler beams, wherein the signal beam is non-collinear with the pump beam and the signal beam is subject to absorption due to the nonlinear material, the method involving shaping the pump beam to have an elliptical cross section, wherein the method further involves determining the width w of the pump beam depending on the absorption co-efficient of the optical crystal.
US08699123B2
A wavelength conversion laser light source 100 has: a laser light source configured to generate fundamental wave laser light; and a wavelength conversion element 101 provided with a periodic polarization reversal structure configured to convert the fundamental wave laser light which is incident onto the periodic polarization reversal structure into different laser light in wavelength wherein the wavelength conversion element includes different polarization reversal regions in period; and a polarization reversal axis 102 of at least one of the polarization reversal regions is inclined with respect to an incident optical path of the fundamental wave laser light on the wavelength conversion element.
US08699122B2
In a delay line interferometer inside a demodulator, with respect to polarization states of two split beams of light to be interfered with each other, p polarization and s polarization are reversed by a half beam splitter and, further, again multiplexed by the half beam splitter used for splitting so that interference beams of light are generated.
US08699120B2
A display apparatus capable of implementing high luminance and high contrast ratio (C/R) may include a first substrate, a second substrate disposed on the first substrate so as to face the first substrate and having a plurality of pixel regions defined therein, and a plurality of color filters formed on the plurality of pixel regions of the second substrate, each color filter having one or more holes formed therein.
US08699107B2
A method of printing a high density image on a transparent medium. In some examples, the method includes calculating an expected optical density for an input pixel value, using a first function configured to output an optical density which produces a substantially linear relationship between the input pixel value and the output optical density as substantially perceived by a human eye. The method may also include calculating an L* value which represent a parameter in a CIELAB colorspace using the expected optical density. In some examples, the method includes calculating a response function that describes the relationship between L* and an output pixel value, the output pixel value specifying the amount of ink to deposit onto the transparent medium. In other examples, the method includes using the response function to solve for an output pixel value for the L* value; and creating a look up table.
US08699105B2
A group of spectral data of print mediums and a group of laminating film spectral data are stored, which correspond to a plurality of colors on a color chart. The type of print medium and the type of laminating film are entered. From the group of spectral data of print mediums and the group of laminating film spectral data, spectral data corresponding to the entered type of print medium are entered as first spectral data, and spectral data corresponding to the entered type of laminating film are entered as second spectral data. Colorimetric value data of the colors are calculated using the first spectral data and the second spectral data.
US08699102B2
A reading apparatus includes a movable guide that is able to switch an attitude of a supporting surface thereof relative to a reading unit between a first attitude and a second attitude, and the second attitude is a state where a side to which the sheet is discharged is downwardly open more in the gravity direction than in the first attitude. The movable guide is set to the first attitude during reading of a test pattern by the reading unit, and to the second attitude during discharge of the sheet from below the reading unit.
US08699098B2
A scanner comprises a first gear assembly on a frame, a stationary scan surface having a first width, and a scan module having a length substantially less than the first width. The scan module includes a second gear assembly configured to move the scan module, in a first orientation generally perpendicular to the first width, in a first scanning path relative to a first width portion of the scan surface and in a second, non-duplicative scanning path relative to a second width portion of the scan surface. The second gear assembly is releasably engageable to the first gear assembly to selectively shift the scan module, in a second orientation generally perpendicular to the first orientation, between the respective first and second scanning paths.
US08699092B2
An optical component mounting structure includes an elastic member and a mounting portion. The elastic member applies pressure to an optical component toward a flat surface portion of a base. The mounting portion is provided at the base and mounts the elastic member. The elastic member has a pressing portion, a holding portion, and a positioning hole. The pressing portion has a tongue piece shape and elastically comes in contact with a light guide member. The holding portion supports one end of the pressing portion and holds elastically the mounting portion of the base. The positioning hole is formed through the holding portion and is to be engaged with each of a pair of positioning convex portions provided at the mounting portion of the base.
US08699090B1
During an image-capture technique, a user of the electronic device may be instructed by an application executed by the electronic device (such as a software application) to point an imaging sensor, which is integrated into the electronic device, toward a location on a document. For example, the user may be instructed to point a cellular-telephone camera toward a field on an invoice. Then, when spatial-position information associated with the electronic device (such as spatial-position information associated with an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope integrated in the electronic device) remains within a predefined range for a predefined time duration, the electronic device communicates a signal to the imaging device to acquire the image. Note that the image may be acquired without additional action by the user.
US08699089B2
An image watermarking method includes a color transform on RGB image data to derive CMYK image data that define a constant K image. Variable infrared (IR) mark data defining an IR mark are received and a sparse two-dimensional pattern of black pixels is defined that corresponds to the variable IR data, e.g., using Gold codes or pseudorandom binary sequences. A watermarked black separation K″ is defined by embedding the sparse two-dimensional pattern into the constant K black separation K′ while maintaining local average levels. A watermarked image includes the watermarked black separation K″ in combination with the CMY separations of the constant K image. A decoding process includes using an IR microscope fitted with IR LEDs and an IR pass filter to capture an IR image, which is subjected to exposure correction, thresholding, and dilation operations to extract the two-dimensional pattern for subsequent correlation processing.
US08699079B2
An image forming apparatus is provided which realizes an adequate operation of a paper dust removing device. The image forming apparatus has a storing portion which stores the likelihood that paper dust is produced upon previous image formation as previous paper dust production information according to the type of sheet. Further, the image forming apparatus has a CPU which adjusts paper dust removing performance upon current image formation to increase based on previous paper dust production information when the likelihood that paper dust is produced upon previous image formation is higher. Consequently, it is possible to realize an adequate paper dust removing operation of the paper dust removing device and prevent problems of images from occurring due to paper dust.
US08699072B2
An image forming apparatus comprises: conveyance rollers for conveying paper to an image forming unit; a curved paper path for guiding paper conveyed by the conveyance rollers; and registration rollers, which are located at a downstream side of the paper path in a paper conveyance direction, for regulating the tip of paper to be conveyed to the image forming unit. The paper path has an outer guide part which constitutes an outer periphery side of the paper path, and an inner guide part which constitutes an inner periphery side of the paper path. The outer guide part is provided with an outer recess, which is depressed outward from the paper path, formed across the full width of paper. The inner guide part is provided with an inner recess, which is depressed in such a manner that the paper path expands, formed across the full width of paper.
US08699067B2
In a pull printing system, a plurality of information devices configured to create print jobs individually, a pull printing server, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to one another via a network. Each of the information devices acquires, from the pull printing server, port information used for communication with the image forming apparatuses, stores the port information therein. If the pull printing server can perform communication with the subject information device at a time point when the port information is stored and onward, each of the information devices sends a print job created after the time point to the pull printing server. Otherwise, each of the information devices sends the print job to any one of the image forming apparatuses based on the port information.
US08699065B2
A display operation device has a display-integrated operation panel with a display screen, on which a monochrome copy start key and a color copy start key are displayed. When black-toner-out or color-toner-out occurs, on the monochrome copy start key and the color copy start key, another UI component such as black-toner-out key and color-toner-out key is displayed. Such a UI component is displayed at the display position of the monochrome copy start key and the color copy start key, being superposed on these keys.
US08699063B2
According to the present invention, a user can properly acquire a desired print product with a few procedures in front of an output device. An information processing apparatus includes a print job output unit configured to output a print job, wherein, if the print job output unit receives a request for pull printing from an output device related apparatus for a first time, the print job output unit compares a capacity of an output target device with a print setting, selects a print job including a print setting matching with the capacity of the output target device from stored print jobs, and outputs the selected print job, and if the print job output unit receives a request for pull printing from the output device related apparatus consecutively, the print job output unit outputs the stored print jobs.
US08699061B2
In one example, a control panel system for a printer includes a portable control panel configured to receive user input to control printer functions and a stationary control panel configured to receive user input to control printer functions. In this example, the portable control panel has a wireless connector for making a wireless connection to the printer. In another example, a control panel system for a device (for example a printer) includes: a portable control panel; a stationary control touch panel; a dock configured to receive the portable control panel; and a feature configured to inhibit the portable control panel from triggering touch sensitive buttons on the stationary control panel during docking and undocking. In this example, the stationary control touch panel is hidden from view by the portable control panel and inaccessible to the user when the portable control panel is docked.
US08699058B2
A method for processing an electronic document file for printing may include receiving an electronic document file at a print driver for a select printer; determining the electronic document file includes different print parameter information for a different printer based on configuration data; identifying and transforming the different print parameter information to select print parameter information based on mapping information; processing document print parameter information associated with the electronic document file, where a portion of the document print parameter information was transformed from the different print parameter information; and sending a print stream to the select printer for printing the electronic document file consistent with the different print parameter information. A related system may include a storage device and a processor. The storage device may include the print driver and configuration data with the mapping information. The print driver may include input; filter; mapping; processing; and output modules.
US08699033B2
A method for detecting a three dimensional object smaller than 300 nm includes providing a light source producing a first light beam (1), the light source being at least partially coherent; and splitting the first light beam (1) into an object beam (2) and a reference beam (6) by a first beam splitter (BS1). An image of the light source is produced in a light source image plane by a first microscope objective (L1), in the optical path of the object beam (2). The three dimensional object to be detected in an object cell (3) is positioned in the optical path of the object beam (2), between the first beam splitter (BS1) and the first microscope objective (L1). The object beam (2) and the reference beam (6) are recombined into a recombined beam (8) by use of optical devices. An optical stop (4) is placed in the light source image plane of the microscope objective (L1) on the optical axis of the microscope objective (L1). Interferometric signals produced by the interaction between the reference beam and the object beam are recorded with a recording device (5). The recombined beam (8) is focused onto the recording device (5) with a focuser (L3). A three dimensional picture of the three dimensional object is reconstructed to be detected from the interferometric signal, thereby detecting the three dimensional object.
US08699030B2
The instant invention provides apparatuses for measuring the level or concentration of chlorine dioxide gas in a sample and methods of using the same. One aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for measuring a concentration of a chlorine dioxide gas in a sample. The apparatus includes a light emitting diode (LED), a light sensor, and a flow path between the LED and the light sensor, and a filter configured to remove chlorine dioxide from a reference stream. The flow path is capable of containing a sample. The sensor is capable of measuring the level of chlorine dioxide in the sample and the reference stream.
US08699027B2
Multiple measurement techniques including focused beam scatterometry for characterization of samples
A system for monitoring thin-film fabrication processes is herein disclosed. Diffraction of incident light is measured and the results are compared to a predictive model based on at least one idealized or nominal structure. The model and/or the measurement of diffracted incident light may be modified using the output of one or more additional metrology systems.
US08699026B2
A detector for detecting a birefringent object near a skin surface of a human body part or an animal body part includes a source for emitting optical radiation having first and second wavelengths and an incident polarization state. An imaging unit is configured to image the birefringent object near the surface includes a detection unit for detecting optical radiation scattered and/or reflected by the birefringent object and/or the surface at the first and second wavelengths. A control unit is configured to process a signal from the detection unit for discrimination between the birefringent object and the surface. The detection unit is configured to detect scattered and/or reflected optical radiation coming from the birefringent object and/or the surface, having a first polarization state corresponding to the incident polarization state and a second polarization state being different from the first polarization state.
US08699024B2
A tunable optical filter is disclosed having an input port, a beam translator for translating input and output optical beams, an element having optical power for collimating the translated beam, a reflective wavelength dispersive element, and an output port. The beam translator can include a tiltable MEMS mirror coupled to an angle-to-offset optical element. An output port can be extended into a plurality of egress ports, each receiving a fraction of the scanned optical spectrum. A multi-path scanning optical spectrometer can be used as an optical channel monitor for monitoring performance of a wavelength selective switch, or for other tasks.
US08699022B2
This disclosure relates to a method for analyzing a sample of material. The method includes (a) converting a portion of the sample into a plasma multiple times; (b) recording a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted in response to each of the sample conversions to define a sequence of spectra for the sample, in which each member of the sequence corresponds to the spectrum recorded in response to a different one of the sample conversions; (c) using an electronic processor to compare the sequence of spectra for the sample to a sequence of spectra for each of at least one reference sample in a reference library; and (d) using the electronic processor to determine information about the sample based on the comparison to the reference samples in the library.
US08699020B1
This invention discloses a handheld Raman spectrometer. The handheld Raman spectrometer comprises: (i) a handheld enclosure; (ii) a volume Bragg grating stabilized laser mounted in the handheld enclosure for producing laser light; (iii) a Raman probe for delivering the laser light to a subject to produce Raman scattered light from the subject and collecting the Raman scattered light; (iv) a spectrometer mounted in the handheld enclosure for measuring the Raman scattered light and obtaining a Raman spectrum; (v) a high brightness display mounted in the handheld enclosure for displaying the obtained Raman spectrum; (vi) a multi-touch screen mounted on top of the high brightness display for receiving user inputs; (vii) a central processing unit mounted in the handheld enclosure for processing user inputs and controlling operation of the handheld Raman spectrometer; and (viii) a user interface based on the high brightness display, the multi-touch screen, and the central processing unit, the user interface is programmed to be capable to respond to user inputs incurring at least two points of contact with the multi-touch screen.
US08699019B2
A method for inspecting an edible oil includes obtaining a first Raman spectrum from an edible oil sample, discovering an unhealthy, unsanitary, unsafe, or adulterated content in the edible oil sample in part by the intensity level of the fluorescence background in the first Raman spectrum, introducing the edible oil sample to nano-scale surface structures to allow molecules of the edible oil sample to be adsorbed to the nano-scale surface structures, illuminating the edible oil sample and the nano-scale surface structures by a laser beam, obtaining a second Raman spectrum from light scattered by molecules of the edible oil sample adsorbed to the nano-scale surface structures, and identifying the unhealthy, unsanitary, or unsafe content in the edible oil sample using one or more first spectral signatures in the second Raman spectrum.
US08699007B2
A device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, which is designed as a laser scanner, with a light emitter, which emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam which is reflected from an object (O) in the environment of the laser scanner or scattered otherwise, and with a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points (X), determines at least the distance to the object (O), the laser scanner has a swivel-axis module which, as a pre-assembled assembly, on the one hand is provided with a base resting in the stationary reference system of the laser scanner and, on the other hand, with parts which can be fixed to a carrying structure of the measuring head which is rotatable relative to the base.
US08699003B2
A method for determining an illumination source with optimized depth of focus includes the following steps. First, a simulated optimal correlation and a simulated defocus correlation of each illumination source are provided. Second, an optimal peak is determined, a defocus peak is determined, and an optimal correlation slope and a defocus correlation slope are determined. An optimal correlation ratio and a peak variation are calculated. A correlation variation is calculated from the optimal correlation ratio and the defocus correlation ratio. Next, a weighted variation is determined from the peak variation and the correlation variation. An illumination source of a lowest weighted variation among a plurality of the illumination sources is determined to be an illumination source with optimized depth of focus.
US08699001B2
A substrate is held by adsorption by a substrate holding frame that is formed into a frame shape and is lightweight, and the substrate holding frame is driven along a horizontal plane by a drive unit that includes a linear motor. Below the substrate holding frame, a plurality of air levitation units are placed that support by levitation the substrate in a noncontact manner such that the substrate is substantially horizontal, by jetting air to the lower surface of the substrate. Since the plurality of air levitation units cover a movement range of the substrate holding frame, the drive unit can guide the substrate holding frame (substrate) along the horizontal plane at high speed and with high precision.
US08698992B2
Disclosed is an active matrix liquid crystal display device including: an active matrix liquid crystal display device of a normally black mode which includes an active matrix substrate and an opposed substrate and in which a black matrix is not provided on the opposed substrate, wherein a gap between opaque electrodes which are closely located and whose electric potentials are different from each other in a frame portion around a display area of the active matrix substrate is covered with a constant-potential transparent electrode arranged in an upper layer of the gap.
US08698986B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of suppressing alignment disorder of liquid crystal and having satisfactory VR characteristics. According to the present invention, a liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates, the liquid crystal display device having a reflective region and a transmissive region. One of the pair of substrates includes a longitudinal projecting portion and a liquid-crystal-layer-thickness adjusting portion for setting a liquid crystal layer thickness in the reflective region to be smaller than a liquid crystal layer thickness in the transmissive region. At least a part of the projecting portion is arranged without a gap along at least a part of a step portion of the liquid-crystal-layer-thickness adjusting portion.
US08698983B2
An LCD device is disclosed which includes: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer inserted between the first and second substrates; a cholesteric color filter layer disposed on the first substrate; and an auxiliary color filter layer disposed on the cholesteric color filter layer and formed to transmit a fixed wavelength band of light progressing in a front viewing direction of the cholesteric color filter layer and filter every wavelength band of light progressing in a side viewing direction of the cholesteric color filter layer except the fixed wavelength band of light.
US08698978B2
A display including an electroluminescent layer, a liquid crystal layer, and a first electrode and a second electrode arranged such that the electroluminescent layer and the liquid crystal layer are disposed between the first and second electrodes and arranged to apply an electric field across both the electroluminescent layer and the liquid crystal layer.
US08698975B2
The embodiments of present disclosure disclose a prism sheet, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display device thereof. The prism sheet comprises a first sub-prism sheet and a second sub-prism sheet with faces being closely bonded with each other, the first sub-prism sheet having a plurality of protrusions on the surface being bonded with the second sub-prism sheet, and the second sub-prism sheet having recesses on the surface being bonded with the first sub-prism sheet corresponding to the protrusions, wherein the first sub-prism sheet and the second sub-prism sheet are made of materials having different refractive indexes.
US08698971B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device with a built-in touch screen, which facilitates enhanced driving performance, and reduces manufacturing cost by a simplified manufacturing process, and a method for manufacturing the same. The device comprises a first substrate with a plurality of pixel regions defined by gate lines and data lines; an active layer in each pixel region of the first substrate; a gate pattern including a plurality of gate electrodes, a portion of the gate electrodes overlapping with a predetermined portion of the active layer with an insulating layer interposed in-between; a plurality of channel regions in the areas of the active layer overlapped with the plurality of gate electrodes; a plurality of lightly doped drain regions in the active layer and directly adjacent to the plurality of channel regions; and a data electrode electrically connected to the active layer.
US08698966B2
A screen device for three-dimensional display with full viewing-field comprises a display screen (2), a rotation device (3) for the display screen, and an optical device (1) disposed in front side of the display screen (2). The optical device (1) may be a two dimensional diaphragm array (5) with inclined openings, a vertical lenticular lens array (6), a combination of a two dimensional diaphragm array (7) with vertical openings and a lens (8), or a combination of a two dimensional micro-lens array (9), a vertical diffusion screen (10) and a cylindrical lens (11).
US08698953B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and configurations to determine, by a digital image capture device, that lens calibration data is to be downloaded for a lens assembly of the digital image capture device and to download the lens calibration data. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08698948B2
An image pickup apparatus includes an object detection unit configured to detect an object, a brightness value acquisition unit configured to obtain a brightness value of each division region of an object field, an object photometric-value generation unit configured to generate a photometric value of the object from information of the object and a brightness value of each division region, a region selection unit configured to select a high brightness region, and an exposure-control photometric-value generation unit configured to generate a photometric value used for an exposure control from a photometric value of the object and a photometric value of the high brightness region.
US08698947B2
A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same may reduce a photographing time by performing an operation of reading out data, an operation of closing an iris, and an operation of opening a shutter in parallel.
US08698938B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising: a semiconductor chip having a principal face including a pixel region; a protruding portion disposed on the principal face to surround the pixel region; a cover member disposed over the pixel region; and an adhesive material surrounding the pixel region and bonding the cover member and the protruding portion, is provided. The protruding portion has top and first side faces facing the space, a first edge line being formed by this two faces. The adhesive material bonds the top face of the protruding portion and the cover member. The adhesive material has a first face facing the interior space, and the first face extends from the first edge line toward the cover member. Perimeters of the interior space, in planes parallel to the principal face become shorter in a direction from the top face of the protruding portion toward the cover member.
US08698936B2
Provided are a digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the apparatus, by which a setting item designated by a user and a setting status of a setting value for the setting item are displayed together, thereby allowing the user to efficiently set items necessary for a photographing operation and/or other operations. The apparatus includes a body and a display unit on the body where setting information is displayed, in which a display screen displayed on the display unit includes a selection region where at least one setting item is displayed and an adjustment region where a currently set current setting value is displayed together with candidate setting values that can be set for at least one of the at least one setting item, and in which the at least one setting item is designated as candidate items that can be displayed on the selection region and display items selected from among the candidate items are displayed on the selection region.
US08698924B2
A technique is provided for generating sharp, well-exposed, color images from low-light images. A series of under-exposed images is acquired. A mean image is computed and a sum image is generated each based on the series of under-exposed images. Chrominance variables of pixels of the mean image are mapped to chrominance variables of pixels of the sum image. Chrominance values of pixels within the series of under-exposed images are replaced with chrominance values of the sum image. A set of sharp, well-exposed, color images is generated based on the series of under-exposed images with replaced chrominance values.
US08698921B2
In an audio-accompanying moving-image taking apparatus, a noise period setting unit sets a second period with respect to an audio signal acquired by image-taking. The second period is a period between the endpoint of a first period which is a predetermined period starting from the timing when a drive instruction is made to a drive unit for driving a lens and the point in time when the drive unit stops driving according to the drive instruction. A noise level estimation unit estimates a noise level using the signal present in the second period set by the noise period setting unit. A noise suppression unit suppresses noise from the signal present in the second period using the noise level estimated by the noise estimation unit.
US08698912B2
Methods, apparatus and systems for determining a power spectral density (PSD) of a signal, in which modulation of the signal is employed to facilitate determination of one or more PSD values over a wide range of frequencies. In some implementations, the signal may represent a wide-sense stationary random process. In one example, the signal is measured/sampled during a plurality of measurement windows, during which an intensity of the signal is modulated at one or more modulation frequencies. A variance of a set of quantities determined from the signal samples is calculated and used to determine respective values of the power spectral density (PSD) for the signal at the one or more modulation frequencies. The one or more modulation frequencies may be chosen in excess of the Nyquist frequency of the sampling process, such that the signal may be characterized for one or more frequencies above the Nyquist limit.
US08698911B2
A sound recording device includes an input unit, a timing detection unit, a section setting unit that sets a first section including a section in which an operation unit operates in a sound signal, a reference signal determination unit that determines, as a first reference signal, the sound signal corresponding to a second section following the first section, a signal detection unit that detects, as a second reference signal, a sound signal with the highest correlation with the first reference signal, an interpolation signal detection unit that detects, as an interpolation signal, a sound signal that follows the second reference signal detected by the signal detection unit in the sound signal and has the same time length as the first section, a signal replacement unit that replaces the sound signal in the first section with the interpolation signal, and a recording unit that records the sound signal replaced by the signal replacement unit.
US08698910B2
An apparatus for improving the quality of a captured image may include a first computing unit, a second computing unit, and an advice generating unit. The first computing unit may be configured to compute a first value representing a first aspect of the quality of a first image. The second computing unit may be configured to compute a second value representing a second aspect of the quality of the first image. The advice generating unit may be configured to generate advice for capturing a second image based on at least one of the first and second computed values.
US08698896B2
An apparatus for tracking the use of at least one destination location, the apparatus including multiple cameras and one or more processors configured to identify a vehicle by use of identification images captured by an identification camera, such as by processing of images of license plates, determine characteristics of the vehicle visible in the identification images, and determine usage of a destination location, such as a parking spot, based on a camera monitoring the destination location capturing images of the vehicle having characteristics corresponding to those determined for the identification images.
US08698881B2
An assay system includes an optical imager to acquire high resolution images of assay strips (e.g., lateral flow immunochromatographic test strips) and performs image processing to identify individual assay strips and determine results for each assay strip, by quantifies the presence or absence of test signal line(s) and control signal line(s). Assay strips may be in a holder or carrier contained in a specimen container also holding a specimen. The assay system automatically logs all results and data to a database that stores a high resolution image of the original immunochromatographic assay, the values of test line(s) and control line(s), and the test result. A user interface directs an end user through operation.
US08698880B2
A time multiplexed stereo display system is provided. The system includes a video player to output a sequence of image frames with respect to multiple stereo-displayed images. Each of the stereo-displayed images is formed by a first-view image and a second-view image with a parallax therebetween. The sequence of the image frames is sequentially displaying all of the first-view images and then sequentially displaying all of the second-view images to symmetrically transmitting first-view/second-view images. Further, a display panel receives the sequence of image frames for accordingly displaying the image frames. Multiple shutter eyeglasses, are controlled by the video player to transmit the stereo-displayed images, respectively, in accordance with the sequence of the image frames. Each of the shutter eyeglasses has a first-view glass and a second-view glass to accordingly transmit one of the first-view images and the second-view images in each display of the image frames.
US08698877B2
An image information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a scene change detection unit that detects a scene change in content. The information processing apparatus also includes a depth value correction unit that corrects a depth value for stereoscopic display so as to allow a change of the depth value to transition at a predetermined display speed before and after the scene change.
US08698872B2
A computer implemented method is disclosed, the method including but not limited to detecting an event of interest in video conference data for a plurality of video conference participants and notifying an end user of the event of interest. A computer readable medium is also disclosed for containing a computer program for performing the method. A computer implemented method is also disclosed for receiving at an end user device, a notification of an event of interest in a video teleconference, the method including but not limited to receiving at an end user device from a notification indicating a detection of the event of interest in video conference data from the video teleconference for a plurality of video conference participants; and sending data from the end user device to the server requesting a transcription of comments from the speaker in video teleconference.
US08698864B2
A driver apparatus drives aligned light emitting thyristors. Each thyristor includes an anode, a cathode, and a gate. The driver apparatus includes a common terminal, a first resistor, a second resistor, and a switch. Each thyristor is disposed at a first position where the anode is connected to the first potential and the cathode is connected to the common terminal, or a second position where the anode is connected to the common terminal and the cathode is connected to the second potential. The first resistor is connected between the first potential and the common terminal. The second resistor is connected between the common terminal and the second potential. The switch is connected at a third position where the switch is connected between the between the first potential and the common terminal, or a fourth position where the switch is connected between the common terminal and the second potential.
US08698859B2
A display device including: a display screen having first region and second region, the first region having a first pixel density and the second region having a second pixel density, the second pixel density being higher than the first pixel density, an input for receiving image data, a power source; and wherein the display screen is operable in a full screen mode in which an image is displayed in both the first region and the second region and a reduced screen mode in which power to the first region is turned off and the image is displayed in the second region.
US08698858B2
A transmissive display apparatus includes a transparent display panel, a display unit which projects a display light toward a display area of the transparent display panel, a ratio change unit which is provided to the display area, is configured to be capable of changing a light transmittance, and is configured to be capable of changing a ratio of a light quantity of a rear face reflected light reaching a viewpoint relative to a light quantity of a front face reflected light reaching the viewpoint, and a control unit which alternately switches the ratio change unit between a first state and a second state. The ratio change unit lowers, in the first state, the ratio by reducing the light quantity of the rear face reflected light that reaches the viewpoint in comparison to the second state. The light transmittance increases in the second state in comparison to the first state.
US08698848B2
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus, including a plurality of pixel circuits disposed in a matrix at positions at which a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of scanning lines cross each other and individually including a light emitting element, a light emission driving section adapted to apply a signal value to each of the pixel circuits to cause the pixel circuit to emit light of a luminance corresponding to the signal value, and a light detection section including a light detection element which functions as a switching element by switching the light detection element between an on state and an off state and functions as a light sensor for detecting light from the light emitting element in the off state, the light detection section further including a detection signal outputting circuit formed in the light detection section for outputting light detection information from the light detection element.
US08698847B2
According to the image display method, apparatus, and program of the present invention, when a user moves a display location to partially display text that is described in an image over a wide area, the burden of the user in performing return operations with respect to the screen display can be reduced by freely selecting and storing a return destination of the screen from among displayed partial regions in accordance with a user instruction, and thereafter returning to the display of the stored partial region in accordance with an instruction of the user.
US08698846B2
An information processing apparatus includes a designation unit which designates an object, a sensing unit which senses a change which exceeds a threshold value in at least a part of the object when a user zooms in on the object, and a zoom unit which zooms in on the object at the zoom rate which is just less than that when there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object if there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate, and which zooms in on the object if there is no change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object even when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate.
US08698844B1
A method for processing a selected item in a GUI of a multimedia application is provided. The method includes receiving a hot key input that specifies a function that is to be applied to the selected item and displaying a set of control guidelines associated with the hot key input. The set of control guidelines indicates cursor movement inputs needed to specify particular aspects of the function. A method for transforming a received cursor movement in a first coordinate system to a transformed cursor movement in a second coordinate system is provided. The received cursor movement specifies a particular manner (e.g., aspect and extent) of a function to be applied to an item in a workspace of a multimedia application. The first coordinate system displays a particular view of the workspace.
US08698843B2
A computer-implemented augmented reality method includes receiving one or more indications, entered on a mobile computing device by a user of the mobile computing device, of a distance range for determining items to display with an augmented reality application, the distance range representing geographic distance from a base point where the mobile computing device is located. The method also includes selecting, from items in a computer database, one or more items that are located within the distance range from the mobile computing device entered by the user, and providing data for representing labels for the selected one or more items on a visual display of the mobile computing device, the labels corresponding to the selected items, and the items corresponding to geographical features that are within the distance range as measure from the mobile computing device.
US08698835B1
A computing device includes a user interface module operable by at least one processor to output, for display, a graphical user interface of an application, the graphical user interface including a plurality of elements, each respective element of the plurality of elements being associated with one of a plurality of application features, determine an age for a first application feature of the plurality of application features, the age being a period of time that has elapsed since the first application feature was enabled in the application, generate, based on the age, a visual characteristic that modifies at least one of a chrominance value and a luminance value associated with a first element of the plurality of elements associated with the first application feature, and output, for display, the visual characteristic.
US08698832B1
A method for increasing the perceived quality of a digital image. The method includes receiving a first luminance value associated with a pixel located at a first pixel location in the digital image; generating a second luminance value based on a random number; blending the first luminance value and the second luminance value to generate an output luminance value; and displaying on a display device at the first pixel location or storing in a memory an output pixel having a brightness based on the output luminance value.
US08698831B2
This invention provides an image processing device and an image processing method capable of generating synthetic image data containing effective image information without being influenced by the variation of the photographing environment. A correcting portion updates (shifts) a “brightness” upper and lower limit range according to a deviation ΔE received from a deviation calculating portion. The correcting portion accepts an initial value Emax0 of the “brightness” upper limit and an initial value Emin0 of the lower limit in advance, so that the “brightness” upper limit and lower limit after update is (Emax0+ΔE) and (Emin0+ΔE), respectively. The “brightness” upper and lower limit range after the update calculated by the correcting portion is provided to a tone mapping unit.
US08698829B2
Output textures may be generated by synthesizing an input texture comprising discrete elements with a set of boundary conditions. Elements of the input texture are copied from the input texture to an output texture that is defined by a set of boundary conditions and are then refined. The elements of the output texture are refined by assigning domain and/or attribute information to the elements of the output texture element by minimizing an energy function measuring a similarity between output neighborhoods of the output texture and a corresponding best matching input neighborhood of the input texture.
US08698826B2
A screen has four main regions located in a cross direction and respectively assigned to four operation images. The screen has an outer periphery region around a center region. The outer periphery region includes an unfilled outermost circumference region, a boundary region, which is between operation images adjacent to each other, and a remaining region, in which the four operation images are paved. At least one of the four operation images is located over a corresponding one main region and an adjacent region, which is adjacent to the corresponding one main region in a circumferential direction around the center region. Each of the four operation images has an image region including a largest rectangle region surrounded by sides being in parallel with sides of the screen. The largest rectangle region has an area greater than 50% of a total area of the image region.
US08698822B1
A system is configured to: conduct asynchronous updates, of a display, based on a fixed rate when operating in an asynchronous state; determine whether to switch to a synchronous state from the asynchronous state based on the asynchronous updates; conduct synchronous updates, of the display, after switching to the synchronous state; receive a lock request, and conduct updating of the display based on the lock request. The synchronous updates may be performed independent of the fixed rate.
US08698817B2
A video processor for executing video processing operations. The video processor includes a host interface for implementing communication between the video processor and a host CPU. A memory interface is included for implementing communication between the video processor and a frame buffer memory. A scalar execution unit is coupled to the host interface and the memory interface and is configured to execute scalar video processing operations. A vector execution unit is coupled to the host interface and the memory interface and is configured to execute vector video processing operations.
US08698809B2
The present invention relates to a method for the creation of large hierarchical computer graphics datasets. The method comprises combination (401) of one or more primitive computer graphics data objects (400) into larger data objects, and simplifying each of the said combined data objects (402). The simplified objects are then reused (405) in further combination steps in order to increasingly create higher order objects. The created hierarchical computer graphics data set is inherently optimized for fast rendering, and a method of rendering such data is also described.
US08698805B1
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for calculating volumetric obscurance. Volumetric obscurance is an alternative approach to screen-space ambient occlusion that can be efficiently evaluated on graphics processing units (GPUs). In one embodiment, to calculate the volumetric obscurance at a particular pixel location, an integral is calculated that sums distances between depth values in a depth buffer relative to a surface of a sphere centered at the pixel location. In alternative embodiments, a statistical model of the depth buffer can be used to calculate the volumetric obscurance.
US08698799B2
Methods and apparatus for hidden surface removal with soft occlusion. Soft occlusion methods are described that treat surfaces as having a degree of uncertainty in depth. The soft occlusion methods may, for example, be used to remove artifacts from rendered images due to nearly coplanar surfaces or to render novel effects such as soft intersections between objects including consistent shadows and other global illumination effects. The soft occlusion methods may compute the ‘expected’ or average image given depth probability density functions. This has the effect of visually blending together surfaces that are close together in depth, leading to soft intersections. The computation of soft occlusion may be achieved analytically, for certain probability density functions, or stochastically. The stochastic soft occlusion methods extend the approach to a probability distribution of models, which allows for the effects of shadows and other global illumination effects to be included.
US08698786B2
A gate start pulse signal for a next frame is output at (m−n+k+1)-th line from a beginning of display period for a previous frame in a case where m denotes the number of the display lines, n denotes the number of extra outputs from the gate driver at a side from which the scan is performed, k denotes a positive integer, and a scan of a gate driver is performed from a side at which there is an extra output from the gate driver; k pulses of gate driver clock signals are output during a vertical blank period; and input of a gate driver clock signal is restarted from a beginning of a display period for the next frame.
US08698784B2
A buffered stylus includes a barrel that has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and a staff that extends through the barrel. A front end portion of the staff has a part that extends outwardly of the first end of the barrel, and further has a rear end. A staff body portion is connected to the rear end of the front end portion, and has an elastically deformable segment capable of being extended and contracted in a longitudinal direction so as to absorb shock force. A rear end portion of the staff is connected to a rear end of the staff body portion, and is secured to the second end of the barrel.
US08698780B2
An optical touch apparatus is disclosed. The optical touch apparatus comprises a light emitting module, a noise suppressing module, a light sensing module, and a processing module. The light emitting module emits at least one sensing beam, and the at least one sensing beam comprises a plurality of sensing rays. If an emitting angle of a specific sensing ray among the plurality of sensing rays toward a light sensor of the light sensing module is larger than a default value, the noise suppressing module will block the specific sensing ray from emitting into the light sensor. After the light sensing module generates a sensing result according to the condition of the light sensing module receiving the at least one sensing beam, the processing module will determine the position of a touch point according to the sensing result.
US08698779B2
A touch panel comprises a substrate and a transparent conductive layer including a plurality of groups of first conductive patterns, second conductive patterns, and third conductive patterns, and a plurality of first wires, second wires, and third wires. Each group of first conductive patterns is arranged along a first direction. Each group of second conductive patterns is arranged along a second direction and located at a first side of the second direction. Each group of third conductive patterns is arranged along the second direction and located at a second side of the second direction. Each group of first conductive patterns, each group of second conductive patterns, and each group of third conductive patterns are electrically insulated to each other. Each second conductive pattern among each group of second conductive patterns has different areas, and each third conductive pattern among each group of third conductive patterns has different areas.
US08698773B2
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method is performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. The method can include: displaying graphics on the touch screen display, detecting a finger contact on the touch screen display, and, in response to the detected finger contact, inserting an insertion marker in the graphics at a first location. The method can further include detecting a finger movement on the touch screen display and, irrespective of initial distance from finger to insertion marker on the touch screen display, moving the insertion marker in accordance with the detected finger movement from the first location to a second location in the graphics.
US08698769B2
A dual mode capacitive touch panel includes a sensor substrate, an electrode layer comprising an array of sensor electrodes arranged over the sensor substrate, the array of sensor electrodes including a plurality of drive electrodes and a plurality of sense electrodes, each sensor electrode corresponding to a location on the sensor substrate, and a shield layer arranged over and spaced apart from the electrode layer. The shield layer includes a predetermined resistance that permits transmission of an electric field at a first frequency and prevents transmission of an electric field at a second frequency, wherein a spacing between the shield layer and the electrode layer is deformable as a result of a force applied to the shield layer due to a user touch, wherein the deformation alters a capacitance between the shield layer and a sensor electrode of the array. A controller is operatively coupled to the array of sensor electrodes, the controller configured to drive the shield layer and at least some sensor electrodes of the sensor electrode array at the first frequency in a first mode to measure a location of an object relative to the sensor substrate, and drive the shield and the at least some sensor electrodes at a second frequency in a second mode different from the first mode to measure a force applied toward the sensor substrate.
US08698768B2
A touch screen panel comprises a first sensing pattern provided with first sensing cells arranged on one row along a first direction on a transparent substrate, and a first connection pattern through which adjacent first sensing cells are electrically connected to each other. A second sensing pattern is provided with second sensing cells arranged so as to be spaced apart from the first sensing cells on one column along a second direction on the transparent substrate, and a second connection pattern through which adjacent second sensing cells are electrically connected to each other. The first connection pattern includes at least two pairs of metal patterns arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another, and a transparent pattern formed in the shape of an island in the second sensing pattern so as to be electrically connected to one or the other end of each of the metal patterns.
US08698765B1
Techniques for associating concepts found within content items rendered by electronic devices. By associating concepts in this manner, a user of an electronic device is able to view how these concepts interrelate with one another across various content items stored on or accessible by the electronic device. For instance, a user may associate a first concept with a second concept in an index of the electronic device. Thereafter, the user may conduct a search for the first concept and, in response, the electronic device may reference the index and determine that this first concept is in fact associated with the second concept. As such, the electronic device may return results that include both the first and second concepts, possibly within a certain specified distance of one another within a content item. The user is therefore able to see how the first concept and the second concept interrelate with one another.
US08698742B2
The present invention includes: a display/optical sensor section (300) that displays an image and captures an object image located in the vicinity of the display/optical sensor section (300); a browser processing section (11) that causes a window including a placement area to be displayed on the display/optical sensor section (300), the placement area being an area for placing an object; an API processing section (12) that converts first area information into second area information, the first area information indicating the location of the placement area in the window, the second area information indicating the location of the placement area in the display/optical sensor section (300); and a driver processing section (15) that derives a captured image, the captured image being an image of the object located in the vicinity of the display/optical sensor section (300) and captured through an area defined by the second area information.
US08698738B2
A position detection device includes an electromagnetic conversion element and a magnetic field generator. The electromagnetic conversion element is arranged on a given plane. The magnetic field generator is arranged facing one side of the electromagnetic conversion element in a direction vertical to the given plane and generates a magnetic field covering the electromagnetic conversion element. A relative position between the electromagnetic conversion element and the magnetic field generator is detected when a relative displacement parallel to the given plane is made by the electromagnetic conversion element and the magnetic field generator based on an output signal of the electromagnetic conversion element. The magnetic field generator has an opposed face that tilts to the electromagnetic conversion element, and generates the magnetic field from the opposed face.
US08698731B2
A backlight module driving system and a driving method thereof are applied to a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). In the LCD, a timing controller obtains a three-dimensional (3D) image signal provided by a graphics processor, generates a Liquid Crystal (LC) driving control signal, and generates a corresponding light adjusting signal according to a data writing time and a Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) time of the LC driving control signal. A backlight driver obtains and analyzes the light adjusting signal, so as to disable a backlight module during the data writing time, and enable the backlight module during the VBI time.
US08698730B2
An inspecting method for an electrophoretic display device includes applying first signals into all pixel regions in a display region of the electrophoretic display device to inspect defects on an image; applying second signals into a first part of the pixel regions and maintaining the first signals at second and third parts of the pixel regions; and applying third signals into the first part of the pixel regions and fourth signals at the second part of the pixel regions and maintaining the first signals at to the third part of the pixel regions.
US08698728B2
Integrated backlight unit (BLU) and liquid crystal systems and circuits in liquid crystal display (LCD) systems are described. An LCD system can include a BLU to emit light at different intensities, and a BLU controller coupled to the BLU and configured to control the intensities. An LCD unit can receive the emitted light, and emanate light at a selected luminosity. The LCD unit can include pixels corresponding to: a liquid crystalline medium to provide a transmittance of the light emitted or to transmit a color light; and transistors adapted to modulate reference voltages. An LCD unit controller can be coupled to the LCD unit and configured to control luminosity of the light emanated from the LCD unit. The BLU and the LCD unit, which can be integrated in a single integrated circuit, can be controlled during concurrent time periods for contrast enhancement of images displayed from the LCD unit.
US08698725B2
Example embodiments presented herein may be directed towards an antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) device and a method for writing greyscale in the AFLC device. The device may comprise two electrode substrates confining an antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) material. The method may comprise driving the AFLC device with an electrical signal, where the electrical signal does not comprise a direct current holding voltage for a writing of at least a portion of written levels of grey. The method may also comprise inducing a greyscale configuration in the AFLC device as a function of the driving, wherein the inducing is temperature independent. The method may also comprise applying a high-frequency signal, to stabilize a well-defined horizontal tilt plane of the antiferroelectric or, in particular, of the orthoconic antiferroelectric. The examples embodiments presented herein provide for fast and precise writing of greyscales in orthoconic antiferroelectrics.
US08698710B2
The display device including pixels has formed therein at least two drive blocks each made up of pixel rows. Each of the pixels includes: a drive transistor; a capacitor element, a luminescence element; and a first switching transistor which causes conduction between the source of the drive transistor and a fixed potential line. Each of the pixels further includes a second switching transistor which connects a pixel in a k-th drive block and a first signal line or a third switching transistor which connects a pixel in a (k+1)-th drive block and a second signal line. A first control line for controlling conduction of the first switching element is connected to each of the pixels in a same one of the drive blocks.
US08698707B2
An electroluminescent display panel has pixel circuits for the active matrix driving system. Each pixel circuit has a thin-film transistor in which a portion of a pattern of a metal wiring material above the channel layer of the thin-film transistor is so laid out as to shield the channel region of the thin-film transistor.
US08698706B1
An organic electroluminescent display system comprising at least one organic-light-emitting diode (OLED), a zener diode in series to the organic light-emitting diode, a rectification diode, and a capacitor used as a memory device. During a frame period of the display device, there are address and light emission periods. A reverse bias voltage is applied across the organic light-emitting diode during the address period to prevent metal migration into the organic layers of the OLED. Current mode data programming is used to address the display device. During the light emission period, charge previously stored in selected capacitors during the address period supplies a forward current for the OLEDs. A ramp waveform applied to the row electrode during the light emission period, forces the capacitor to discharge through the OLED and controls the forward current level. This keeps the operation of the OLEDs in their area of maximum performance.
US08698704B2
An electro-optical device including: first display elements divided into at least a first region and a second region, for displaying a first image, and second display elements each divided into at least a third region and a fourth region, for displaying a second image, the first and second display elements being arranged such that each third region is disposed between the first region and the second region of the adjacent first display element and each second region is disposed between the third region and the fourth region of the adjacent second display element; a parallax barrier layer provided on a side of the display elements adjacent to a viewer, the parallax barrier having light transmitting regions at positions thereof corresponding to boundaries between adjoining first and third regions as well as between adjoining second and fourth regions; and a spacer layer separating the display elements from the parallax barrier layer.
US08698700B2
Metamaterial antenna devices having one or more mechanical connection units made of electrically conductive materials to provide both mechanical engagement and electrical conduction for the antenna devices.
US08698698B2
A portable electronic device is provided that is capable of reducing the degradation in the characteristic of an antenna caused by the orientation direction of the antenna being fixed. The device includes a circuit board disposed in the vicinity of an antenna, a conductive switch terminal that is provided to the circuit board and detects an operation to an operation unit, a reference potential part provided to the circuit board to be opposite to the switch terminal, a conductive part provided to the circuit board to be opposite to the antenna, and a switch unit capable of switching whether the reference potential part and the conductive part are electrically connected.
US08698695B2
An antenna system for use in an agricultural field or work area comprises a base having an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side. A stake extends from the lower side. The stake is capable of mounting into the ground. A spring extends from the upper side of the base. A mast above the base is movably, resiliently mounted to the base by the spring. A lateral dielectric guard is mounted at or the near a top of the mast. An antenna is associated with the top of the mast, the antenna coupled to a transmission line that is secured to or by the mast.
US08698685B2
An antenna device includes a circuit board and an antenna coil that includes a flexible board on which plural coil conductors are formed and a magnetic core inserted into through holes provided in the flexible board. In each of the plural coil conductors, a first conductor portion is adjacent to a first principal surface of the magnetic core and a second conductor portion is adjacent to a second principal surface of the magnetic core and are positioned so as not to overlap each other in a normal direction with respect to the first or second principal surfaces. The second conductor portion is located farther from the center of the circuit board than the first conductor portion.
US08698678B2
A mobile wireless communication device may include a multiple-band antenna on an antenna carrier and connected to a wireless transceiver. The multiple-band antenna may include an elongate base conductor having opposing first and second ends and opposing first and second sides extending between the first and second ends. The elongate base conductor may have a first L-shaped slot with a proximal end opening outwardly at the first side of the elongate base conductor adjacent the first end thereof and having a distal end adjacent a medial portion of the elongate base conductor. The elongate base conductor may have a second L-shaped slot with a proximal end opening outwardly at the first side of the elongate base conductor adjacent the medial portion thereof and having a distal end adjacent the second end of the elongate base conductor. The distal end of the second L-shaped slot may extend closer to the second end of the elongate base conductor than the distal end of the first L-shaped slot.
US08698674B2
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by the portable housing, and wireless transceiver circuitry carried by the PCB. The mobile wireless communications device also may include an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver circuitry. The antenna may include a loop conductor, a first conductor body coupled to the loop conductor and extending into the interior thereof to define a first slotted opening with adjacent portions of the loop conductor, and a second conductor body coupled to the loop conductor and extending into the interior thereof to define a second slotted opening with adjacent portions of the loop conductor. The antenna may further include a conductor arm coupled to the loop conductor and extending outwardly therefrom. The first and second conductor bodies may be spaced apart to define a third slotted opening therebetween.
US08698672B2
According to the invention, the system comprises: at least three position beacons (3) arranged about said location (2) and emitting in the long-wave range, and an apparatus associated with the user (1) and including means for receiving, processing and displaying the information transmitted by said beacons (3).
US08698671B2
Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized to facilitate or otherwise support one or more processes or operations in connection with defining and determining a plurality of venue types and binning a plurality of venues into categories based, at least in part, on signal propagation characteristics associated with such venues.
US08698670B2
A high speed high dynamic range and low power consumption analog correlator for use in a radar sensor. The analog correlator combines various pulse replication schemes with various parallel integrator architectures to improve the detection speed, dynamic range, and power consumption of conventional radar sensors. The analog correlator includes a replica generator, a multiplier, and an integrator module. The replica generator generates a template signal having a plurality of replicated pulse compression radar (PCR) pulses. The multiplier multiplies a received PCR signal with the plurality of replicated PCR pulses. The integrator module is coupled to the multiplier and configured to generate a plurality of analog correlation signals, each of which is based on the multiplying between the received PCR signal and one of the replicated PCR pulses.
US08698669B1
Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to an altitude system for an aircraft. The aircraft radar system includes a processor configured to determine an altitude of the aircraft using runway position information, and an angle to the runway associated with a radar beam to the runway. The angle to the runway is being determined using a pointing angle of the antenna adjusted with an angular offset. The angular offset is determined from phase processing.
US08698663B2
Embodiments of a digital-to-analog conversion system that utilizes a specialized clock signal to reshape an analog impulse response of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) are disclosed. Preferably, a shape of the specialized clock signal is such that Nyquist images resulting from digital-to-analog conversion are controlled in a desired manner. In one embodiment, the digital-to-analog conversion system includes a DAC that converts a digital input signal into an analog output signal. A specialized clock signal is applied to the analog output signal of the DAC such that an analog impulse response of the DAC is reshaped according to a shape of the specialized clock signal, thereby providing a modified analog output signal. The specialized clock signal reshapes the analog impulse response of the DAC such that Nyquist images resulting from digital-to-analog conversion are controlled in a desired manner.
US08698648B2
A method for communicating utility data includes receiving a voice signal and a data signal via a utility network, combining the voice signal and the data signal to form a communication signal, and transmitting the communication signal to a plurality of utility asset controllers and handheld devices via the utility network.
US08698646B2
Light-based systems for communicating information associated with the formation of social connections are disclosed. One or more lighting controllers controlling individually controllable luminaires are used in conjunction with communication networks in order to identify and form remote light-based social connections. Additionally, visualization controllers are used in conjunction with visualization infrastructures, visualization actuators, localization systems and identification systems to visually identify proximally present potential social connections.
US08698643B2
Seat-occupancy-detection-sensor-element featuring double-body/compression/spring (DBCS) in a recess of a base-member (BM); and slidable-member (SM) having a force-application-side (FAS) and inside facing the BM; measuring-coil (MC) arranged in the recess and surrounded by the DBCS and having wound-coil-wire (WCW); and current-generating/measuring/evaluating-unit (CGMEU) connected to the WCW; the DBCW abutting the BM on one side and being fixed to the SM on the side of the SM compressed by a force on the FAS, from a spring length either uncompressed or compressed by a predetermined extent; spring wire ends connected and electrically forming a spring-coil (SC); MC and SC coils constituting an inductively-coupled coil assembly (ICCA); and the CGMEU applying AC to the MC inducing AC in the DBCS, measuring voltage on the MC proportional to the ICCA's impedance, and ascertaining force on the SM's FAS.
US08698641B2
The present subject matter relates to absorbent articles and signaling devices for use therewith. The signaling device can be configured to detect the presence of an insult in the absorbent article and/or in an undergarment. The signaling device can be further configured to determine whether the insult is a urine insult or a feces insult. The signaling device can provide a notification to a user that an insult has occurred and can inform the user whether the insult is a urine insult or a feces insult.
US08698626B2
A door blocker includes a wireless transmitter coupled to a forced entry sensor. In response to sensing a stressed blocking element the transmitter emits an alarm indicator. At the same time, the blocking element continues to limit movement of the door relative to the frame to exclude an intruder.
US08698625B2
Systems and methods for providing security at a vehicle yard are provided. A communicator may collect data associated with a plurality of vehicles or trailers during completion of a guard tour, and a processing station may receive the collected data from the communicator. The processing station may compare the collected data to expected data in order to generate one or more instructions that are returned to the communicator. The one or more instructions may include an instruction to collect additional data associated with a vehicle or trailer.
US08698614B1
Techniques are described for handling an event where a control panel or an alarm signaling device is tampered with or destroyed by a disablement tactic, e.g., a “crash and smash intrusion”.
US08698609B2
A switch-on/off vibrating alert device, particularly the device capable of producing a vibrating alert when a switch turns on or off a power supply, and the device comprises: a touch device installed onto a switch casing and provided for a human hand to touch in order to turn on/off the switch, and the casing includes a vibrator for generating a vibration when a control for an operation of turning on/off the switch is received from the touch device, and driving the casing and the touch device to vibrate synchronously, and users can know whether or not the switch has turned on or off the power through the vibration, and thus improving the convenience of the use.
US08698603B2
Methods and systems for automatic provisioning of RFID devices in an RFID network are described. A device, such as a Reader, has within its read field a special EPC Identity (ID) Tag that is specifically encoded for that Reader. When the Reader boots up, it reads the special ID Tag. The Tag has fields formatted according to the EPCglobal standards and certain bits within one of the fields indicates that the Tag is an EPC ID Tag and the data contained in the Tag will be used to provision the Reader. The Reader transmits an IP multicast packet containing data from the Tag to a network device referred to as a personality class appliance which receives the IP multicast packet. Thus, the Reader is an IP multicast sender and the appliance is an IP multicast receiver. Upon receiving the packet, the appliance retrieves configuration parameters for the Reader. These parameters collectively make up a personality class for the Reader. The personality data are transmitted back to the Reader via a unicast message. Once the Reader receives the configuration data, it provisions itself, becomes connected to the RFID network, and is ready for operation. RFID Readers and other devices can be provisioned automatically for a specific role when turned on, without requiring any manual configuration or data entry.
US08698600B2
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag access method and a circuit applied to an RFID tag to determine whether to respond to a command sent by a reader are provided. According to the access method, an extra reference value is used for adjusting a parameter or a count value, so as to increase or decrease the probability of generating a condition matching with a command sent by the reader. Therefore, the probability of the tag being accessed is adjusted, and the tag carrying urgent information shall be accessed prior to the tag without urgent information.
US08698597B2
System and method for associating an electronic device with a remote device having a voice interface
The disclosure provides a system and method for associating an electronic device with a remote electronic device. In the method at the remote device, an authentication process is initiated to authenticate the remote device to the electronic device. The authentication process includes: generating a pass key according to an authentication protocol followed by the remote device; and providing the pass key to a user through an output device on the remote device. The method also includes: waiting for the user to provide the pass key to the electronic device; and if the remote device receives a timely message from the electronic device indicating that the remote device has been authenticated, activating additional applications on the remote device to allow it to communicate with the electronic device.
US08698596B2
Access to one or more storage areas is controlled. An indication that a packaged asset is available for delivery to an intended recipient, an indication of a size of the asset, and an identity of the intended recipient are received. An available storage space is determined based at least in part upon the size of the asset and the identity of the intended recipient. When a storage space is determined to be available for the packaged asset, an access code is transmitted to the intended recipient allowing the intended recipient to access the available storage space using the access code.
US08698588B2
There is provided a thin transformer capable of being used in a thin display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a light emitting diode (LED) display device. The transformer includes: a bobbin part including a plurality of bobbins, each including a pipe shaped body part having a though-hole formed in an inner portion thereof, a flange part vertically protruding outwardly from both ends of the body part, and a terminal connection part protruding from one side of a lower flange part formed at a lower end of the body part and having external connection terminals connected thereto; a core inserted into the through-hole of the bobbin to thereby form a magnetic path; and a coil part including coils each wound around the plurality of bobbins, wherein the bobbin part includes an outer bobbin and an inner bobbin inserted into the through-hole of the outer bobbin to thereby be coupled thereto, and the terminal connection part of the inner bobbin protrudes in an outer diameter direction thereof.
US08698585B2
A high power inductance device enables a large ferrite magnetic core to be manufactured at low cost and with ease and improves heat radiation efficiency to reduce an increase in the temperature of the core. The inductance device has a ferrite magnetic core and a winding wire wound around the ferrite magnetic core and is mounted on a heat radiation structure through at least one of the front surfaces of the ferrite magnetic core. The ferrite magnetic core is made of a core aggregate obtained by arranging side by side a plurality of ferrite cores 10 having a completely-closed magnetic path structure or a quasi-closed magnetic path structure with a magnetic gap such that an interval is placed between the ferrite cores and magnetic paths are parallel to each other. The inductance device is mounted such that at least one plane surface of the peripheral surfaces of each of the ferrite cores is brought into direct or indirect contact with the heat radiation structure 18 with a metal plate 12 inserted into the interval between the ferrite cores and the common winding wire 14 wound around all the ferrite cores.
US08698581B2
A frequency tunable filter is disclosed. The disclosed filter comprises a filter unit having a sliding member so as to be capable of tuning a frequency band of a frequency signal being filtered; a communication module configured to receive a control signal for controlling the tuning of the frequency band; and a control unit configured to control the tuning of the frequency band by moving the sliding member based on the control signal. With the disclosed filter, the tuning of the filter may be performed automatically by way of control signals transmitted from a remote location.
US08698579B2
Common mode (CM) and differential mode (DM) components of multi-phase conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise emanating from electronic circuits such as power converters/inverters are separated by respective coupled inductors connected to each phase of three or more phases and which are coupled to each other differently for CM and DM noise of the respective phases. The inductors of the DM separation unit are coupled such that a substantially ideal zero impedance is presented to DM noise while a high impedance is presented to CM noise. Conversely, the inductors of the CM separation unit are coupled such that a substantially ideal zero impedance is presented to CM noise while a high impedance is presented to DM noise.
US08698575B2
An antenna switching arrangement with a quadrature arrangement of transmission lines through which a desired signal path may be configured via switches selectively grounding junctions of the switching arrangement. The desired path routing a signal from an input port to one or both of first and second output ports to generate a signal with vertical linear polarization, horizontal linear polarization or circular polarization. The selected polarization may be changed as desired and/or multiple antenna switching arrangements applied to enable simultaneous signals with different polarizations.
US08698568B2
An automatic self-calibrated oscillation method and an apparatus using the same are provided. After a static time tuning (STT) table and a run time tuning (RTT) table have been established, the apparatus converts an output clock signal to generate a current RTT value at every predefined time and then compares the current RTT value with a reference RTT value generated in response to a STT value of the STT table, or with an interpolated result generated in response to the reference RTT value to generate a deviation value. Thus, through the deviation value, the output clock signal may be calibrated to address the target frequency without the assistance of external reference clock unit or locked loop unit after the STT table and the RTT table are established.
US08698566B2
An inductor-capacitor phase locked loop (LCPLL) includes an inductor-capacitor voltage controlled oscillator (LCVCO) that provides an output frequency. A calibration circuit includes two comparators and provides a coarse tune signal to the LCVCO. The two comparators respectively compare the loop filter signal with a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage that is higher than the first reference voltage to supply a first and second comparator output, respectively. The calibration circuit is capable of adjusting the coarse tune signal continuously in voltage values and adjusts the coarse tune signal based on the two comparator outputs. A loop filter provides a loop filter signal to the calibration circuit and a fine tune signal to the LCVCO. A coarse tune frequency range is greater than a fine tune frequency range.
US08698565B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for voltage-controlled oscillator selection in a multi-mode system having multiple voltage-controlled oscillators. Part of oscillator selection is a calibration operation that utilizes maximum and minimum capacitance limits for a voltage-controlled oscillator, which translates to a frequency range, to calculate overlap regions. Overlap regions comprise frequency ranges that overlap such that the overlap region may be generated by two voltage-controlled oscillators with adjacent frequency ranges. One voltage-controlled oscillator selection routine comprises a real time voltage-controlled oscillator calibration and selection routine that executes every time the system requests a new frequency. Another selection routine comprises a start-up routine that executes only at power up or periodically. Another selection routine comprises a successive voltage-controlled oscillator routine that executes every time a frequency is requested by comparing a requested frequency to different frequency thresholds without executing a calibration operation.
US08698562B2
A reduction is achieved in the primary-side input impedance of a transformer (voltage transformer) as an output matching circuit without involving a reduction in Q-factor. An RF power amplifier includes transistors, and a transformer as the output matching circuit. The transformer has a primary coil and a secondary coil which are magnetically coupled to each other. To the input terminals of the transistors, respective input signals are supplied. The primary coil is coupled to each of the output terminals of the transistors. From the secondary coil, an output signal is generated. The primary coil includes a first coil and a second coil which are coupled in parallel between the respective output terminals of the transistors, and each magnetically coupled to the secondary coil. By the parallel coupling of the first and second coils of the primary coil, the input impedance of the primary coil is reduced.
US08698552B2
An electronic device comprises a first component susceptible to a wearout effect, operation of which first component depends on an operating parameter, and a second component having an on-state and an off-state. The electronic device further comprises a time estimator for updating an estimate of an accumulated time the second component was in the on-state; and a controller for controlling the operating parameter on the basis of the accumulated time estimate so as to respond to the expected wearout effect. The first component and the second component may be the same, or the first component may have an on-state correlated to the on-state of the second component. The operating parameter may, for example, be a level or amplitude or correction value of one of the following: a voltage applied at the first component, an electric current fed to the first component, and a power provided to the first component. A method of operating such an electronic device is also disclosed.
US08698540B2
A switched-mode level-shifter shifts a differential voltage superimposed on a common-mode voltage. In the level shifter, a common-mode inductive reactor has at least two windings, and at least one of the differential voltage and the common-mode voltage are applied to at least one of the windings of the reactor. A switch charges the inductive reactor when caused to be in a first state, where the inductive reactor when charged experiences a change of flux according to the applied voltage. The switch also actuates a reset of the charged inductive reactor when caused to be in a second state, where the inductive reactor when reset reverses the change of flux experienced thereby. A source of a chopping signal is provided to alternately drive the switch between the first and second states, where each of the first and second states is one of in and out of conduction.
US08698538B2
A level converter circuit is disclosed. The level converter circuit includes a first level converter that generates a first output signal, and a second level converter that generates a second output signal. The level converter circuit further includes an edge selector coupled to the first level converter and the second level converter that selects a rising edge of either the first output signal or the second output signal, and selects a falling edge of either the first output signal or the second output signal to generate an optimized output signal.
US08698537B1
In at least one aspect, an apparatus includes a plurality of inverter groups and a plurality of bias current sources. The plurality of inverter groups is configured to amplify a signal. Each of the inverter groups has one or more inverters and is in communication with at least one other inverter group of the plurality of inverter groups. Each of the bias current sources is configured to provide a bias current to a different inverter group of the plurality of inverter groups to perform signal amplification.
US08698535B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes a plurality of one-shot pulse generation circuits connected in series between an input node and an output node. Each of the one-shot pulse generation circuits receives an input clock signal supplied from previously connected one-shot pulse generation circuit to output an output clock signal to subsequently connected one-shot pulse generation circuit. Both of a rising edge and a falling edge of the output clock signal are controlled based on one of a rising edge and a falling edge of the input clock signal. A time period from one of the rising edge and the falling edge of the output clock signal to the other of the rising edge and the falling edge of the output clock signal being variable.
US08698531B1
An integrated circuit with automatic configuration is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises a plurality of controllers and a clock detection device. The controllers share a plurality of common pins. The clock detection device coupled to a specified common pin for performing clock detection operations on an external clock signal through the specified common pin according to a plurality of predetermined thresholds and generating a plurality of control signals to the controllers so that only one controller is enabled and performs signal transmission through the common pins.
US08698527B2
The present invention relates to a false lock prevention circuit and method which is used to cause a delayed locked loop (DLL) to escape from false lock such as harmonic lock or stuck lock, when the false lock occurred in the DLL, and a DLL using the same. The false lock prevention circuit includes a harmonic lock detector configured to detect harmonic lock and a stuck lock detector configured to detect stuck lock. The harmonic lock detector includes a plurality of flip-flops configured to sample a plurality of delayed clocks and a logic unit. The harmonic lock detector compares a reference clock signal with the plurality of delayed clock signals, and detects whether or not the positive edges deviate from one cycle of the reference clock signal.
US08698525B2
A clock divider circuit. The clock divider receives m input clock signals each of the same frequency. Each input clock signal after the first has a phase offset of 2π/m from the previous input clock signal. The clock divider divides the frequency of the input clock signals by an integer of division K. The clock divider includes a counter that receives the first input clock signal and provides one or more count signals. The clock divider also includes m flip-flops, of which a first flip-flop receives the first input clock signal at its clock input and provides a first clock output signal. Each flip-flop after the first receives an input clock signal at its clock input and provides a clock output signal, each clock output signal after the first having a 2πK/m phase offset from the previous clock output signal.
US08698504B2
A method is provided for detection of a ground fault in a high resistance network in a voltage source power conversion circuit comprising a power converter that converts incoming AC power to DC power applied to a DC bus and an inverter that converts DC power from the DC bus to output AC power. The method includes detecting a midpoint-to-ground voltage between a low side of the DC bus and a ground potential and detecting the presence of a ground fault in a high resistance network based upon the detected midpoint-to-ground voltage.
US08698495B2
A magnetic resonance method includes performing a plurality of magnetic resonance excitation operations each using a different sub-set of a set of radio frequency transmit coils (30), each sub-set including more than one radio frequency transmit coil, acquiring magnetic resonance data responsive to each said magnetic resonance excitation operation, and computing a B1 or flip angle map for each radio frequency transmit coil of the set of radio frequency transmit coils based on the acquired magnetic resonance data. A magnetic resonance method includes performing an actual flip angle mapping (AFI) sequence using a radio frequency transmit coil (32) with a ratio TR1:TR2 of the TR times of the AFI sequence selected to be rational, acquiring magnetic resonance data responsive to said AFI sequence, and computing a B1 or flip angle map for the radio frequency transmit coil based on the acquired magnetic resonance data.
US08698494B2
A biological detector includes a conduit for receiving a fluid containing one or more magnetic nanoparticle-labeled, biological objects to be detected and one or more permanent magnets or electromagnet for establishing a low magnetic field in which the conduit is disposed. A microcoil is disposed proximate the conduit for energization at a frequency that permits detection by NMR spectroscopy of whether the one or more magnetically-labeled biological objects is/are present in the fluid.
US08698487B2
Components of an electric service may be identified by measuring voltage signals relating to the connection of an electrical energy meter connected to the electric service. The voltage signals that may be measured include line to neutral voltages and line to line voltages. The values of the measured voltage signals may be compared to reference information comprising tabulated values that may be tabulated as ratios of nominal service voltages associated with different service types.
US08698485B2
An exemplary current sensor operating in accordance with the principle of compensation includes a primary winding creating a magnetic field based on a current to be measured, a secondary winding generating a magnetic field compensating the primary winding based on a compensation current. The current sensor also includes a magnetic core, a terminating resistor connected in series to the secondary winding, and sensor means. A booster circuit is connected downstream of the sensor means and feeds the compensation current to the secondary winding via the terminating resistor. The booster circuit includes a switched mode amplifier with a pulse width and density modulator that operates based on pulse width and density modulation, turning the compensation current into a pulse width and density modulated current. The switched mode amplifier having a switching frequency that is high at when the compensation current is small and low when the compensation current is high.
US08698484B2
An over-voltage and over-temperature detecting circuit includes a voltage-limiting circuit, a temperature sensing circuit, a current source, a first comparing circuit and a second comparing circuit. The equivalent resistance of the temperature sensing circuit varies with the temperature. The current source provides a first current to a detecting terminal, so that a detecting voltage is generated at the detecting terminal. By comparing the magnitude of the detecting voltage with the first reference voltage value, the first comparing circuit generates a corresponding temperature status signal. By comparing the magnitude of the detecting voltage with the second reference voltage value, the second comparing circuit generates a corresponding voltage status signal. If the temperature exceeds the temperature upper limit, the temperature status signal is in an enabling status. If the first voltage exceeds the voltage upper limit, the voltage status signal is in an enabling status.
US08698480B2
Example reference current distribution circuitry described herein include current mirrors having resistive elements of varying sizes between gate nodes of sense amplifier transistors along a voltage distribution line. Examples of counter coupling capacitances which may be coupled to the gate nodes of sense amplifier transistors are also described.
US08698470B2
A buck switching voltage regulator, with high side and low side switching transistors, includes mode control circuitry for switching between PWM and PFM modes based on sensing inductor current through the low side switch during switching cycle OFF times (inductor discharge). Mode switching is based on comparing a an integrated inductor current sense signal with an integrated reference signal corresponding to a predefined average inductor current IAVE. In one embodiment, a mode switching condition is based in part on [IVALLEY=21AVE−IPEAK], where IPEAK is a detected peak inductor current at the beginning of an OFF time, and IVALLEY is an inductor current value determined by IAVE and IPEAK.
US08698457B2
A battery pack includes a current control device that has a thermostat and a positive temperature coefficient device whose resistance increases as the temperature rises connected in parallel, the current control device being inserted into a discharge current path of a battery cell and a protection circuit that detects a voltage of the battery cell, detects an overcharge and over-discharge of the battery cell, and generates an overcharge detection signal and an over-discharge detection signal. In a normal state, a discharge current of the battery cell flows through the thermostat of the current control device. When the discharge current is large enough to damage the battery cell, the thermostat turns off and the discharge current flows through the positive temperature coefficient device. When the positive temperature coefficient device produces heat, a resistance of the positive temperature coefficient device increases and the discharge current is limited or interrupted.
US08698451B2
An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.
US08698436B2
A relay device includes: an electromagnet constituted by a metallic core and an electrical winding associated therewith; and a mobile anchor associated with a traction spring and suitable for oscillating around a respective axis of oscillation in response to the combined action of an electromagnetic attraction force, generated by the electromagnet and intended to attract the anchor towards the core, and an elastic recovery force, exerted by the spring and intended to move the anchor away from the core and make it return to an initial position, so as to open or close selectively via the anchor a contact or switch of an external electrical circuit, wherein the anchor has a balanced or equilibrium configuration in which its center of gravity is arranged substantially along the axis of oscillation, and thereby the masses of various portions anchor portions are distributed in a balanced manner around the same axis of oscillation.
US08698433B2
A current control module generates a voltage request based on a d-axis current (Idr) demand. A switching control module controls a motor based on the voltage request and generates an out-of-volts (OOV) signal based on a comparison of the voltage request and an available voltage. An Idr injection module generates the Idr demand based on a direct current (DC) bus voltage, a rotational speed, and a demanded torque and selectively applies a first adjustment to the Idr demand. The Idr injection module identifies whether an improvement resulted from the first adjustment, wherein the improvement is identified based on at least one of (i) a measured current of the motor and (ii) the OOV signal. The Idr injection module selectively applies a second adjustment to the Idr demand based on whether the improvement is identified.
US08698431B2
A drive signal generating unit generates a drive signal used to alternately deliver a positive current and a negative current to a coil. A driver unit generates the drive current in response to the drive signal generated by the drive signal generating unit and supplies the drive current to the coil. After the drive termination of a linear vibration motor, the drive signal generating unit generates a drive signal whose phase is opposite to the phase of the drive signal generated during the motor running. The driver unit quickens the stop of the linear vibration motor by supplying to the coil the drive current of opposite phase according to the drive signal of opposite phase.
US08698419B2
A circuit for driving a light-emitting diode (LED) light source includes a converter, a saw-tooth signal generator, and a controller. The converter includes a switch which is controlled by a driving signal. The converter provides a sense signal indicating the current through said LED light source. The saw-tooth signal generator generates a saw-tooth signal based on the driving signal. The controller generates the driving signal based on signals including the saw-tooth signal and the first sense signal to adjust the current through the LED light source to a target level and to correct a power factor of the driving circuit by controlling an average current of the input current to be substantially in phase with said input voltage.
US08698408B2
A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) includes a thyristor coupled between the source and the load, a gate coupling circuit coupled between a first main load terminal and the gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit coupled to a control input of the gate coupling circuit. The control circuit generates a drive voltage for causing the gate coupling circuit to conduct a gate current to thus render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle of the AC power source, and to allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current at any time from the firing time through approximately the remainder of the half cycle, where the gate coupling circuit conducts approximately no net average current to render and maintain the thyristor conductive.
US08698402B2
The invention relates to a pumped electron source (1) that includes an ionization chamber (4), an acceleration chamber (2) with an electrode (3) for extracting and accelerating primary ions and forming a secondary-electron beam, characterized in that the pumped electron source (1) includes a power supply (11) adapted for applying to the electrode (3) a positive voltage for urging a primary plasma (17) outside the acceleration chamber (2), and a negative voltage pulse for extracting and accelerating the primary ions and forming a secondary-electron beam.
US08698401B2
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the dielectric discharge chamber of a generally axially symmetric ion source has a hollow cylindrical shape. One end of the discharge chamber is closed with a dielectric wall. The working gas is introduced through an aperture in the center of this wall. The ion-optics grids are at the other end of the discharge chamber, which is left open. The inductor is a helical coil of copper conductor that surrounds the cylindrical portion of the dielectric discharge chamber. The modification that produces uniformity about the axis of symmetry is a shorted turn of the helical-coil inductor at the end of the inductor closest to the ion-optics grids.
US08698389B2
By repeating a purification process of a light-emitting organic compound several times, a thin film made of the light-emitting organic compound to be used in an EL display device contains ionic impurities at the concentration of 0.1 ppm or lower and has a volume resistivity in the range of 3×1010 Ωcm or larger. By using such a thin film as a light-emitting layer in the EL device, a current caused by reasons other than the carrier recombination can be prevented from flowing through the thin film, and deterioration caused by unnecessary heat generation can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an EL display device with high reliability.
US08698388B2
A lighting module includes a plurality of solid state light emitting components configured to collectively emit light having a desired white point and a color rendering index (CRI) of greater than about 90. The module further includes at least one additional solid state light emitting component configured to individually emit light having a white point substantially similar to the desired white point. The at least one additional light emitting component may increase a lumen output of the lighting module without substantially altering the desired white point of the light collectively emitted by the plurality of light emitting components.
US08698385B2
In at least one embodiment, an optoelectronic semiconductor component includes at least two optoelectronic semiconductor chips, which are designed to emit electromagnetic radiation in mutually different wavelength ranges when in operation. The semiconductor chips are mounted on a mounting surface of a common carrier. Furthermore, the optoelectronic semiconductor component contains at least two non-rotationally symmetrical lens bodies, which are designed to shape the radiation into mutually different emission angles in two mutually orthogonal directions parallel to the mounting surface. One of the lens bodies is here associated with or arranged downstream of each of the semiconductor chips in an emission direction.
US08698384B2
This invention provides a sintered electrode for a cold cathode tube in a cylindrical form having a bottom part on one end and an opening part on the other end, characterized in that a lead-in wire is joined integrally to the bottom part and a requirement of d2/d1>1 is satisfied wherein d1 represents the density of the sintered electrode; and d2 represents the density of the lead-in wire. According to the sintered electrode for a cold cathode tube, the bonding strength between the sintered electrode and the lead-in wire is high, and the handleability is good. The main component of the sintered electrode is particularly preferably identical to the main component of the lead-in wire. Enhancing the density of the lead-in wire can contribute to a further improvement, for example, in reliability.
US08698374B2
An actuator system includes an actuator device comprising at least one piezoelectric member, a driving system, and an actuator controller. The driving system drives the at least one piezoelectric member at a driving frequency. The actuator controller monitors at least one parameter of the actuator device and the direct driving system to determine an operational mechanical resonant frequency of the actuator device based on the at least one parameter. The actuator controller adjusts the driving frequency based at least in part on the determined operational mechanical resonant frequency.
US08698372B2
A power-generating device is disclosed that includes a pyroelectric material having first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the pyroelectric material. The device also includes a first conductive electrode coupled to a first support element that is configured to intermittently bring the first electrode into proximity with the first surface and a second conductive electrode proximate to the second surface at least while the first electrode is proximate to the first surface. The device also includes a power module that is electrically coupled between the first and second electrodes. The power module is configured to capture power from an electrical current flowing between the first and second electrodes.
