US08714689B2
An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet by discharging ink droplets from nozzles provided in a print head on the recording sheet includes: a light emitting unit that generates detection light intersecting a discharge path of the ink droplets; a discharge signal output unit that outputs a discharge signal used to discharge the ink droplets from a detection target nozzle; a first light receiving unit that receives scattered light generated by irradiating the ink droplets with the detection light and outputs a first detection signal; a second light receiving unit that receives the detection light having passed through the discharge path of the ink droplets without irradiating the ink droplets and outputs a second detection signal; a determination unit that determines whether the detection target nozzle is a defective nozzle; and a correction unit that corrects a determination result of the determination unit.
US08714687B1
A printing system includes one or more lineheads that jet ink onto a first side of a print media. At least one roller supports a second side of the print media as the print media is transported through the printing system. A roller deformation adjustment mechanism abuts at least one roller and is configured to apply a force to the roller to deform the roller. The deformation of the roller compensates for web skew by changing the relative timing of ink flight times from the linehead to the first side of the print media. The linehead can be disposed on a movable support. The printing system can also include one or more linehead skew adjustment mechanisms configured to move the movable support to adjust a skew of the linehead.
US08714686B2
The present invention includes a stopper that regulates movement of the material onto which the recording will be performed, preventing the material from moving from a cassette to a guide surface when loading the cassette in a loading section, and a sensor that detects that the stopper is in the retracted position.
US08714685B2
A printing control apparatus configured to execute printing using continuous sheets stored in a plurality of storage portions includes a determination unit configured to determine a continuous sheet usable by each print job in a print queue, and a decision unit configured to decide a use order of the continuous sheets stored in the plurality of storage portions based on a result of determination by the determination unit, wherein the decision unit decides the use order so that a continuous sheet with a smaller remaining amount is used preferentially.
US08714684B2
There is provided a printing apparatus including: a printing section; a transport mechanism in which a transport route and a re-transport route are formed, the transport mechanism including an install section to which a transport unit is to be installed; and a print control section which controls the printing section and the transport mechanism to execute a plurality of kinds of double-sided printing processes having different maximum numbers of sheets present at the same time in the transport mechanism from each other so that in a case that the transport unit is installed to the install section, a double-sided printing process in which a maximum number of sheets is large as compared with a case in which the transport unit is not installed to the install section is executed.
US08714679B2
A print control device includes a processor operating as a determining unit and a direction setting unit. The determining unit determines that a condition is satisfied for a boundary block when an index value of the boundary block indicates that an estimated amount is larger than a first value, and that the condition is satisfied for an internal block when an index value of the internal block indicates that the estimated amount is larger than a second value. The second value is larger than the first value. The direction setting unit sets, for each part data, a direction of main scanning to a specific direction when the part data includes the block that satisfies the condition. The direction setting unit sets the direction of main scanning to a direction opposite to a previously set direction when the part data does not include the block that satisfies the condition.
US08714676B2
A liquid stream is caused to jet from a nozzle. A small or large drop waveform applied to a drop forming mechanism causes the liquid stream to break up into a small or large volume drop, respectively. The small drop waveform includes a pulse having a pulse energy Es, and a period XS, where XS≈1/fR, and where fR is the Rayleigh frequency of the liquid. The large drop waveform has a period XL, where XL=NXS, with the large volume drop being N times the small volume drop. The large drop waveform includes a first pulse having a pulse energy EL1, where EL1≧ES and a second pulse occurring within a time period X2, where X2≦XS, of an initial pulse of a subsequent small or large drop waveform, the second pulse including a pulse energy EL2, where EL2
US08714672B2
The present invention relates to a door for an appliance. The door has a front panel and a rear panel and edges extending between the front panel and rear panel to create an internal cavity between the front panel and the rear panel. A filler material is contained in the internal cavity, and an intermediate material is interposed between a rear surface of the front panel and the filler material. The intermediate material or front panel is adapted to retain the front panel relative to the filler material by a magnetic field and release a portion of the front panel relative to the filler material upon excessive localized deformation of the filler material.
US08714670B2
A mounting apparatus is used for slidably mount a chassis of an electronic device to a shelf. The mounting apparatus includes two spaced gears pivotably attached to the chassis and a slide rail fixed to the shelf. The slide rail includes a rack to mesh with the gears.
US08714663B2
A target braking-driving force Fvn and a target yaw moment Mvn of the entire vehicle are calculated, and when the target braking-driving force Fvn and the target yaw moment Mvn cannot be achieved by the braking-driving forces of the front wheels, a target braking-driving force Fvft and a target yaw moment Mvft of the front wheels are adjusted such that the magnitudes of the braking-driving force and yaw moment of the vehicle produced by the braking-driving forces of the front wheels become the maximum at a ratio between Fvn and Mvn. A target braking-driving force Fvrt and a target yaw moment Mvrt of the rear wheels are calculated on the basis of Fvn, Mvn, Fvft, and Mvft, and similar adjustment is performed for them when necessarily.
US08714659B2
A bit arrangement for fastening to a plough-body element of a mining plough for underground mining, particularly of a coal plough for the excavation of steeply disposed coal seams, having a plurality of bit pockets for accommodating, preferably demountably, respectively one bit per bit pocket. In order thereby to create a bit arrangement and a mining plough that can be used advantageously for the excavation of steeply disposed mineral deposits and that render possible economic excavation of such mineral deposits, at least two bit pockets are locked in recesses on a front side of a bit strip, which is provided, on a back side, with at least one groove indentation for the positive engagement of a locking projection on the plough-body element and is detachably fastenable to the plough-body element by means of detachable fastening means.
US08714658B2
A hopper for transportation of mineral or aggregates which prevents the material from falling off due to movements or slope, and which improves load performance and facilitates the download. In the joining areas between the front and the floor and between the sides and the floor there are folded or cylindered pieces giving curvature to such joining points, thus adding anti-adherent features to this hopper. The front is folded with a wide radius, also achieving an anti-adherent feature. There are also folds in the front and the shield to avoid beams in those areas of the hopper, thus decreasing the total weight of such hopper and reducing the appearance of cracks and lessening the amount of welding. Additionally, the area of release is wider than the front and shield portions to allow for a better sliding of the material during unloading.
US08714656B2
There are provided an axle housing, a rotational shaft provided to axially extend in a spindle of the axle housing, a wheel mounting cylinder which is mounted on an outer peripheral side of the spindle through wheel support bearings and to which wheels are mounted, and a planetary gear reduction mechanism for decelerating rotation of the rotational shaft, which is transmitted to the wheel mounting cylinder. A carrier forming a part of the planetary gear reduction mechanism is mounted in a non-rotating state on an open end side of the spindle. A cylindrical coupling member is provided between the spindle and the carrier, and provided with an axial one side outer periphery splined-coupled to an open end inner peripheral side of the spindle and an axial other side outer periphery spline-coupled to an inner peripheral side of the carrier.
US08714655B2
A divider for a rear seat of a motor vehicle is formed as a single, free-standing element having a block that is compressible and has shape memory, wherein the block has a pliable covering and has a base and a back surface. A lap restraint belt interface has a first slot that extends through the block for accepting an inserted lap restraint belt and the first slot is oriented for compressively urging at least a portion of the base against a bottom surface of the rear seat and a portion of the back surface toward a backrest when the inserted lap restraint belt is engaged. A second interface accepts a second restraint device and is oriented for adding a compressively urging force at least toward the backrest of the rear seat when the second restraint device is engaged.
US08714651B2
An armrest for a chair having a first member connected to the chair; a second member selectively rotatable relative the first member; means disposed between the first and second members for resisting the rotational movement between the first and second members.
US08714650B2
A seat assembly having a seat back and a head restraint assembly disposed on the seat back. The head restraint assembly includes a support post and a headrest disposed on the support post. The headrest is inhibited from moving away from a head of a seat occupant until the headrest is actuated toward the head of the seat occupant.
US08714646B2
A mobile task chair with a control mechanism with adjustment mechanisms and setting indicators. The mobile task chair has a mobile base structure, a control mechanism supported by the base structure, a seat bottom structure supported by the base structure, a seat back structure supported by the base structure, a mechanism for adjusting a physical setting of the mobile task chair, such as the pivoting resistance of the back structure, and a mechanism for providing a visual indication of the pivoting resistance of the mobile task chair.
US08714640B2
A seat attachment device is provided that uses a single bolt to secure the seat rails to the seat attachment device and the seat attachment device to a post.
US08714638B2
A reclining seating unit includes: a base that rests on an underlying surface; a seat; a backrest; an ottoman; and a reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links and attached to the base, seat, backrest and ottoman. The reclining mechanism moves the seat, backrest and ottoman relative to the base between (a) an upright position, wherein the backrest is generally upright, the seat is generally horizontal, and the ottoman is positioned beneath the seat and faces generally downwardly, (b) a TV position, wherein the backrest is generally upright and the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat, and (c) a fully reclined position, wherein the ottoman remains generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest takes a shallower angle relative to the seat than in the upright and TV positions. The ottoman is between about 8 and 12 inches in length.
US08714634B2
A floor member includes a floor member front arranged at a front side and a floor member rear arranged at a rear side. A member rear upper is mounted on the floor member front. The floor member front and the floor member rear respectively have a front upper bead and a rear lower bead that extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle.
US08714633B2
The invention provides a laminated floor panel for a vehicle cabin. The panel comprises a core (1) shaped as a honeycomb and wrapped in outside metal walls (2, 3, 4). A fastener element (5) for fastening vehicle cabin equipment is set back in the panel, being made integrally in a traffic wall (2) of the panel by machining, the traffic wall (2) being derived from a metal plate (9) from which the fastener element (5) and the side walls (4) of the panel are formed by removing material from the metal plate (9).
US08714630B2
A flat vehicle body component made of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic has at least one interconnecting web that protrudes from the flat vehicle body component and that is made entirely of the matrix material epoxy resin. A mounting part at least partially envelops the interconnecting web in a force locking manner, so that the mounting part is clamped securely on the interconnecting web. The mounting part has at least one hole that can be used for fastening another component. An additional component may be fastened in the hole in a conventional manner, so that the carbon fiber reinforced plastic component does not need corresponding holes. The interconnecting web may be integrally molded on the vehicle body component during its manufacture so that practically no additional engineering effort is needed.
US08714629B2
A canopy (23) is provided to rise in an upper revolving structure (3) for covering an upper side of an operator's seat (19). A bend portion (25B) extending in the left-right direction and projecting upward is provided in a front end side of a roof plate (25) in the canopy (23). A plate-shaped left front lifting bracket (26) is provided in a left front connecting portion (24J), and a plate-shaped right front lifting bracket (27) is provided in a right front connecting portion (24L). The left and right front lifting brackets (26, 27) sandwich the bend portion (25B) from both sides in the left-right direction. Further, the left and right front lifting brackets (26, 27) are provided with lifting holes (26A, 27A) and also discharging notches (26B, 27B).
US08714617B2
In one embodiment, a vehicle floor console is provided that includes a support structure and a retaining feature pivotally biased toward the support structure. The retaining feature is configured to secure cargo between the support structure and the retaining feature.
US08714614B2
An instrument panel allows increase in the strength of supporting a striker, and improvement of the rigidity of an opening part formed in a front wall of an instrument panel body, thereby easily maintaining a constant gap at a joint between the opening part and a glove compartment, even if the instrument panel or the glove compartment is made larger. An opening part is formed in a front wall of an instrument panel body, a glove compartment is provided on a back side of the opening part, a lower end portion of the opening part is fixed to brackets extending from a steering member, a reinforcement including a striker is fixed to a back surface of an upper end portion of the opening part, one end portion, on the inner side of the vehicle interior, of a cover panel that covers an upper portion of an article storage part is fixed to the reinforcement, and an opposite end portion of the cover panel is fixed to the brackets.
US08714613B1
A console assembly includes a console housing with first and second compartments. Each compartment includes one or more track members disposed on an interior portion of each compartment. A tray assembly includes engagement tabs which are adapted to couple to the track members of the first compartment in a first configuration, and further adapted to couple to the track members of the second compartment in a second configuration. Thus, the tray assembly is removable and can be positioned in either the first compartment or the second compartment. The tray assembly is adapted to move between fore and aft positions along the track members, and the tray assembly is also operable between forward and rearward tilt positions in either compartment in assembly.
US08714607B1
A hand shovel assembly facilitates emptying of the shovel with minimal lifting. The assembly includes a shaft having an upper end and a lower end. A pan is coupled to the lower end of the shaft. The pan has a bottom wall, a back wall which extends upwardly from the bottom wall, and a pair of side walls coupled to and extending forwardly from opposite ends of the back wall defining an interior space of the pan. An upper wall is coupled to the pan over the bottom wall. A motivator is coupled to the pan between the bottom wall and the upper wall. The motivator selectively urges the upper wall away from the bottom wall wherein the upper wall is configured to urge material in the interior space of the pan out of the interior space.
US08714604B1
A sanitary pet feces retrieval system having a disposable liner features a feces scoop having an elongated handle with a first scooping jaw and a mated, opposing second scooping jaw pivotally located on a handle second end. A lever pivots the first scooping jaw away from the second scooping jaw into an open position for retrieving feces from a ground surface. The system features a bag dispenser located on the handle. Disposable bags are sequentially located on a bag roll. A bag fully covers a scoop inner surface and wraps around to fully cover a first jaw outer surface and a second jaw outer surface. A bag upper lip is located at a first jaw posterior opening and a second jaw posterior opening via attachment to a plurality of jaw eyelets located on a jaw posterior lip.
US08714603B2
An energy absorber for a vehicle includes a structure with an I-shaped cross-sectional structure, preventing collision energy from causing a buckling phenomenon. Particularly, the wiring for an electric wire connected to a sensor can be realized by making use of extra space.
US08714600B2
A highly-tight screw joint comprising internal and external mating elements with conical surfaces used in connection with oil and gas wells. The internal and external elements are provided with a thread with supporting and embedded faces. A sealing unit is made in the form of a wedge on the side of a small diameter. The sealing unit is provided on the internal and external elements and consists of parts of the internal and external elements. The internal and external elements are formed by conical radial and conical supporting faces. The conical radial face is made at an angle of 25°-35° to the normal to the thread axis. The conical supporting surface is made at the angle of 10°-25° to the normal to thread axis.
US08714596B1
A binding structure for binding a bundle of sheets and that includes a base and a pair of opposed position legs that are integrally formed with and extend from respective sides of the base. The pair of legs and base together defines a retention area in which the bundle of sheets is held. The pair of legs is constructed and arranged with a resilient bias toward each other, but separable to enable the bundle of sheets to be held therebetween under a biasing force. The legs each have at least one inwardly directed rib arranged for contact with opposed sides of the bundle of sheets, and a thermal adhesive layer is disposed on the base and upon which the bundle of sheets rests, to be later formed in a thermal binding machine.
US08714593B2
A human powered vehicle with four unpowered wheels. Front and rear wheel bearing sections are joined by a top frame structure. A swing suspended from the frame structure supports a driving rider in either a prone or a sitting position. In the prone position, the rider is oriented, heard first, along the axis of travel, and positioned beneath the frame structure. The vehicle has a steering mechanism and a braking system, both situated to be operative by the rider when the rider is positioned to be in any of a standing, sitting or prone position.
US08714579B2
A binding is adapted for coupling footwear, such as a boot, to a sports board. The binding permits easy adjustment of the binding's position on the board, while also allowing for removal of the binding from the board for improved utility of storage or transport. Adjustment, engagement between binding and board, and removal functions may be accomplished without the use of tools or ancillary components. The binding includes a movable coupler element or elements that removably couple to a retaining disc to secure the binding to the retaining disc and the board.
US08714574B2
A swivel bearing of a wheel suspension is connected to a longitudinal control arm via two joints at different heights viewed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in an articulated manner such that the joints determine a steering axis of rotation extending primarily perpendicularly when viewed from the side, and which has a negative scrub radius. Each transverse control arm is attached to the longitudinal control arm via one rubber mount or joint having a minimal degree of rotary freedom. The swivel bearing is guided by a tie rod, which is supported on a soft rubber bearing. The tie rod is connected to an actuator adjuster element, whose actuator is arranged substantially in a center of the vehicle and acts for the two rear wheels thereof. The tie rod is moveable substantially in the transverse direction to minimally steer the rear wheel.
US08714572B1
A vehicle front lowering suspension system includes a main support structure made from a metal plate having front and side walls. A spindle support tube is fixedly connected to the main support structure having oppositely positioned first and second upturned ends. First and second shock absorber mounting arms are each fixedly connected at a connecting end to a first or second free end of a forward facing wall of the main support structure. The forward facing wall defines an integral extension of a plate material of the main support structure. A forward face of the spindle support tube is fixed to a rearward face of the forward facing wall.
US08714569B2
The instant disclosure relates to a modular cart, which includes a base and a tower. The tower can be assembled and disassembled. The base has a mounting seat supported on wheels. The wheels allow the mounting seat to move on a working surface. The mounting seat further defines an axis extending away from the working surface. The tower is mounted on the mounting seat and has N number of main bodies and N−1 number of couplers. With N≧2, the main bodies and the couplers are interconnected into a predetermined length. Each coupler is connected between two main bodies.
US08714561B2
To improve durability of a seal lip (4) of an oil seal (1) in slidably contact with the peripheral surface of a shaft (23), a lubricating oil supply section (11) for collecting adhered oil and dropping it on the shaft (23) is provided at a forward end portion of an installation section (2), the lubricating oil supply section (11) has projections (12) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the installation section (2) to collect oil on the surface thereof, the surface of each projection (12) has a recess (13) for temporarily accumulating oil, guidance projections, or a slope for collecting the oil, and dams are formed on a forward end face (2a) of the installation section (2) to block the oil flowing down along the circumferential direction on the forward end face (2a) and guides the oil toward each projection (12).
US08714560B2
A seal assembly for use with valves is described. An example seal assembly includes a first seal and a second seal opposite the first seal. The first and second seals are to sealingly engage a closure member of a valve and a sealing surface opposite the closure member. A spacer ring is disposed between the first and second seals to prevent the first and second seals from contacting each other. Additionally, the spacer ring is sized so that the spacer ring does not contact the closure member or the sealing surface.
US08714543B2
The present invention relates a sheet feeding apparatus with a lifting and lowering mechanism in a sheet deck 2, which includes abutting portions 101a to 101d which makes wire hanging portions 64a to 64d of a sheet stacking table 52 abut thereon and makes the sheet stacking table 52 lockable with respect to a storing portion 61. The mechanism also includes a pulse motor 27 and a one-way clutch 40. A controller 5 drives the pulse motor 27 to be rotated in a lifting direction of the sheet stacking table 52, further drives the pulse motor 27 to be rotated in the same direction even after the wire hanging portions 64a to 64d abut on the abutting portions 101a to 101d to cause the pulse motor 27 to step out, and renders the pulse motor 27 non-conductive. Thus, the wire hanging portions is locked to abut on the abutting portions.
US08714531B2
A spring assembly includes telescopically adjustable inner and outer members biased in an extension direction by a coil spring. A non-stretch fabric sleeve fitted about an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the coil spring is closed at its opposite ends to apply a compression preload to the coil spring. The fabric sleeve prevents transmission of the preload to the inner and outer telescoping members, thereby eliminating stickiness and the popping sound that are drawbacks of the prior art, and the fabric sleeve also provides general noise reduction when the spring assembly changes length.
US08714528B1
A lever system for actuating a plunger pin on a trailer jack includes a lever, an attachment member for attaching the lever to the plunger pin and an engagement member which limits the movement of the lower end of the lever toward the trailer jack.
US08714527B2
A deceleration device includes a driving device and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes a driving member, a first active subassembly, a second active subassembly, a first transmission member, a second transmission member and two regulatory mechanisms. The driving member is connected to the driving device. The first transmission member connects the driving member to the first active subassembly, and is driven by the driving device, and rotates the first active subassembly. The second transmission member connects the first active subassembly to the second active subassembly, and is driven by the first active subassembly, and rotates the second active subassembly. The two regulatory mechanisms elastically resist the first transmission member and the second transmission member, respectively.
US08714525B2
A manipulator for lifting conductors of an energized electrical line from a first pole to a second pole. The manipulator has a vertical lifting assembly on which a transverse displacement assembly is mounted. The vertical lifting assembly is attachable to one of the poles by a fastening assembly. The transverse displacement assembly has a mobile element provided with a number of insulators on which conductor holders for receiving the conductors of the electrical line to be lifted are mounted. The transverse displacement of the mobile element and the displacement of another mobile element of the lifting assembly are achieved by motor units controlled by a control unit.
US08714524B2
A belt-driven transportation system including a first set of pulleys rotatably attached to a first member and a second set of pulleys rotatably attached to a second member. The first and second members have relative movement to each other. The system further includes a unitary belt that is guided through a path defined by the first and second sets of pulleys. A plurality of flange members maintain a proper positioning of the belt on the pulleys.
US08714523B2
Provided is a valve for vacuum process, including: a first valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port; a sealing unit configured to move forward to and backward from the inlet port so as to have a closed position and an open position; a shaft covered with a bellows, and configured to move the sealing unit between the closed position and the open position; a cover for shielding the bellows from corrosive gas when the sealing unit is in the open position; and a cover guide unit configured to guide the cover to move along the shaft.
US08714520B2
A unidirectional ceramic control valve includes a valve shell, a shaft, a ring unit, an upper ceramic piece, a lower ceramic piece, a valve base and at least one anti-leak ring. Lower section of the valve shell has two hook holes, and two notches are formed therebelow. A receiving trough is formed at an inner portion of lower section of the shaft to provide a space for the ring unit and the upper ceramic piece. The ring unit is a ring-shaped body with low friction coefficient, and when the ring unit is disposed between the shaft and upper ceramic piece, it prevents the shaft from directly contacting the upper ceramic piece to generate wear. The upper ceramic piece has two symmetric water holes, while the lower ceramic piece has two symmetric circulating holes. A first protruding unit and a second protruding unit are correspondingly formed at the valve base.
US08714506B2
A mounting assembly and method are provided for mounting an electrical fixture to a ceiling structure. The mounting assembly includes a mounting plate and a cover plate overlying the mounting plate. The mounting plate includes a plurality of strengthening ribs and a plurality of fastener holes for receiving fasteners to mount the mounting plate directly to the ceiling support structure. The mounting plate has a dimension to overlie the support structure and a portion of an electrical box mounted adjacent the support structure to define an open area of the electrical box. Mounting bolts extend downwardly from the mounting plate for attaching to a bracket which supports an electrical fixture such as a ceiling fan. The mounting bolts and the bracket supporting the electrical fixture are cantilevered with respect to the ceiling support. The mounting assembly can be used as a retrofit and mounted over an existing ceiling substrate with screws that can pass through the ceiling substrate into the ceiling support. The cover plate has a dimension to cover the mounting plate and the open area of the electrical box.
US08714501B2
A mounting bracket may include a base plate, at least one stationary clip disposed on the base plate, a push releasing plate disposed in spaced apart relation to the at least one stationary clip, and at least one movable clip operatively coupled to and movable with the push releasing plate. The stationary clip or clips and movable clip or clips are disposed and configured to mate with cavities in respective ends of a pump when the push releasing plate is in a non-pivoted position.
US08714499B2
This invention relates to an adjustable foot support including a mount housing and lower housing. The mount housing is configured to be externally mounted to a piece of furniture and includes an internal, threaded column. The lower housing also includes an internal threaded column with the column configured to mate with the mount housing.
US08714495B2
This invention allows attachment of strut channels 2, pipes, conduit, and mounting of equipment to the interior of buildings and other structures. Attachment to structures such as I-Beams, channels, structural angles, purlins and truss structures are improved. Extended use of self tapping screws 28 and commonly used metal strapping are enabled. The use of dimpled holes 7 facilitate insertion of self tapping screws 28 thus expanding their function. Tab cut outs 6 in attachment hardware that allow strapping to pass and hook provide new and efficient methods for using standard strapping. New mounting hardware in combination with beam clamps, another invention of mine, use the beam clamps along with appropriate accessories, which are part of that invention, to provide new methods of attachment. Strut channels 2 are changed to integrate the use of these improvements.
US08714494B2
A railway vital or critical application system substitutes commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and/or software for railway-domain specific product components, yet is validated to conform with railway vital system failure-free standards. The vital system uses a pair of COTS personal computers and operating systems with asymmetric communications capability. Each computer and operating system may differ for additional redundancy. Both computers receive and verify vital systems input message data and security code integrity and separately generate output data responsive to the input message. The first computer has sole capability to send vital system output messages including the output data and an output security code, but only the second computer has the capability of generating the output security code. A failure of either computer's hardware, software or processing capability results failure to transmit a vital system output message or an output message that cannot be verified by other vital systems.
US08714486B2
A hybrid frame is fabricated by initially forming a stack of fibrous layers in an annular pattern. An annular metal trim is separately formed to conform with the annular pattern. The trim is trapped in a lower mold having a complementary lower mold channel. The stacked layers are trapped atop the trim in the lower mold channel. An upper mold is pressed atop the stacked layers for compression co-molding together in the lower mold the stacked layers and trim to co-form the hybrid frame.
US08714485B2
A structure may comprise a skin member and a hat stringer. The hat stringer may include a base portion and first and second webs extending outwardly from the base portion. Each one of the first and second webs may be comprised of a wrap laminate having wrap plies and a cover laminate having cover plies. The first and second webs may be interconnected by a cap. The hat stringer and skin member may be co-cured.
US08714484B2
An aircraft seat assembly structure (4) comprises at least one seat structure (5) that supports at least one seat, with which seat assembly structure is associated a reference frame that is defined by a longitudinal X-axis according to which the seat structure (5) comprises a front part and a rear part, by a Y-axis that is perpendicular to the X-axis, and that forms with said X-axis a horizontal XY plane when at least one seat is horizontal, and by a Z-axis that is perpendicular to the XY plane. In the front part, the seat structure (5) comprises a torsion bar (50) that is essentially parallel to the Y-axis that is equipped at a first lateral end (502) with a front lateral fastening device (500) that is designed to be made integral with lateral attachment means (26) of a shell structure (2) of an aircraft. The invention also relates to a fuselage that comprises said shell structure that is equipped with said lateral attachment means, whereby the aircraft comprises said fuselage and the seat assembly structure (4).
US08714478B2
A gas turbine engine is supported on an aircraft fuselage by a pylon which carries a mounting ring. The mounting ring is releasably coupled to an engine ring on the casing of the engine, centered on the engine axis. A further member extends from the pylon and is secured to a location on the engine which is axially spaced from the mounting ring. The arrangement enables the engine to be on the pylon in different orientations, to suit different mounting configurations on the aircraft.
US08714477B2
An aircraft support pylon designed to attach a turbomachine housed in a nacelle to an aircraft fuselage is disclosed. The pylon includes a cooler, located substantially in the vicinity of a leading edge of the pylon, and able to be heated by a hot fluid, the hot fluid intended to be cooled by heat exchange with cold air outside the cooler. The pylon also includes at least one air evacuation duct, at the exit from the cooler and extending longitudinally in an internal volume of the pylon to a trailing edge of the pylon.
US08714474B2
An aircraft includes at least one net for reducing aerodynamic noise from a structural element of the aircraft. The flexible net associated with the structural element is retractable and capable of occupying at least one position located between the following two end positions: a deployed position, in which the net is placed in a turbulence area, and a retracted position, in which the net is at least partially outside the turbulence area. The net may be automatically moved between positions based on an aircraft parameter such as speed or altitude.
US08714473B2
An aircraft landing gear is arranged such that in its deployed position it is configured to reduce, during the approach on landing, the noise generated by the interaction of the landing gear and the air flowing past the landing gear. Various means are described to reduce the amount of turbulent air flow generated in the region of the landing gear, including inverting and fairing the nose-gear shock-absorbing leg, providing faired twin in-line oleos and providing fairings that produce shielding air curtains.
US08714458B2
Disclosed herein is a tracking system configured to track a product and/or an activity. The tracking system comprises a tracing device and a verification server. The tracing device is coupled with the verification server by means of communication means configured to allow exchange of data between the tracing device and the verification server. The tracing device is coupled with a first satellite localization receiver which is configured to receive signals from a satellite localization system, process the received signals to obtain satellite localization observables, and compute locations based on the satellite localization observables. The tracing device is configured to acquire from the first satellite localization receiver positioning data. The tracing device is further configured to provide the verification server with the positioning data and the satellite localization observable acquired from the satellite localization receiver. The verification server is configured to perform a location consistency check.
US08714457B2
A networked card for identifying and tracking animate and inanimate objects and personnel, the card including: a radio frequency modem operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding one megahertz, the modem including a full duplex transmitter and receiver; a loop antenna operatively coupled with the radio frequency modem, the antenna operable within a range of hundreds of feet; a programmable microprocessor operatively coupled with the radio frequency modem and fully programmable within a network; a memory operatively coupled with the programmable microprocessor, the memory holding identification data; and a battery for providing power to the microprocessor.
US08714453B2
A multi-functional cable apparatus for a barcode reader supplies electrical power to the barcode reader, provides data communication capability for the barcode reader, and performs at least one additional function that is relevant to the operation of the barcode reader. The at least one additional function may include supporting the barcode reader in a fixed position without a user having to hold the barcode reader in place. Alternatively, the at least one additional function may include facilitating efficient cable management.
US08714446B2
An automated banking machine is operative to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records, such as user cards. The machine includes a reader device operative to read data usable to identify a financial account authorized for use in conducting a transaction through the machine. An authorized machine user is able to use the machine to perform transactions, including financial transfers, cash dispensing, and other actions associated with financial accounts. The machine includes a safe having two sections separated by a shared wall structure. A cash handling arrangement is operative to transport cash between the two sections through a slot in the wall structure.
US08714443B2
An information entry and reporting system and method for tracking data associated with retail transactions at the point of sale. Transaction data is converted into a machine readable dataform pattern and printed onto a sales receipt provided to the purchaser. Subsequently, the purchaser uses a suitably configured scanning device to read the dataform pattern into his or her computer. Software algorithms decode the scanned dataform pattern, extract the transaction data and store it for subsequent analysis and reporting. The system includes a computer, software adapted to retrieve selected data, assemble the retrieved data in a format suitable for encoding and encode the data in a dataform pattern, a printer to print the encoded transaction data, a scanning device to capture the encoded data, software to decode the transaction data and software to display the data in human readable form.
US08714440B2
A method for a municipality to control, track, and monitor waste or refuse receptacles requires a permit for use of a waste receptacle. An issuing organization issues a permit associated with a discreet receptacle identifier. An RFID tag is provided with the permit and attached to a discreet receptacle. The RFID tag transmits a signal carrying data associated with the discreet receptacle identifier. The signal may be read by a portable reader carried by municipal personnel to record violations of municipal code associated with the use of the discreet receptacle.
US08714435B2
An end-loaded collapsible carton is provided and includes a first pair of side walls extending substantially perpendicularly from a second pair of side walls. The first and second pair of side walls form a first end opening and a second end opening opposite the first end opening. The carton further includes a first carton closure extending from the first and second carton walls for covering the first end opening, and a second carton closure extending at an opposite end of the first and second carton walls for covering the second end opening. The first carton closure is formed from a first plurality of lid panels, and the second carton closure is formed from a second plurality of lid panels. The carton further includes scores for creating pleats fashioned in the carton side walls and lid panels for collapsing the side walls and lid panels in a uniform manner.
US08714420B2
A spring-loaded receptacle designed to accept and reversibly link a stringer spike to an angler or watercraft to collect and combine fish. The sheath is a dual lumen device comprised of an outer tubular shell, a vertically movable, hollow inner stem, and a helical spring about the lower portion of the inner stem. The inner stem manifests three holes drilled at 120 degrees from one another and beads placed in these holes for engaging and securing the spike. A conically shaped bead deflector skirts the inner stem, surrounds the bead system, and exhibits a widening circumference as it descends into the outer shell. Spike insertion is accomplished by depressing the stem, compressing the spring, and allowing bead movement downward and outward away from the sheath center. The beads grip the spike when the stem is released, the spring expands, and the beads move into the bead deflector's tapered angle.
US08714411B2
An apparatus and method for dispensing fluid to large numbers of people are disclosed. One embodiment of a portable apparatus for treating and dispensing fluid includes a housing that is fluidly attached to a fluid source. Several fluid delivery components are disposed within the housing to dispense fluid to a user. The fluid delivery components may include a pressure regulator, a backflow preventer, filters, cooling misters and dispensing valves such that the such that the fluid source integrity is protected, the fluid purity is improved, and the air within the housing is cooled which in turn provides cooling to the fluid delivery components and the fluid itself. This embodiment also includes a mechanism for providing ballast in the lower portion of the housing in order to stabilize the device and keep it from moving when bumped into by people (accidentally or intentionally) or in windy conditions, and a mechanism to empty the ballast for removal of the system.
US08714409B2
A dispensing cartridge, particularly for dental impression materials, comprises a locking member for locking a tip to the dispensing cartridge and/or to a container accommodated in the dispensing cartridge. The locking member has a first end and a second end, and is pivotally connectable with the dispensing cartridge at the first end. The second end of the locking member is adapted for releasable locking engagement with the tip. Furthermore, the locking member comprises a first portion that provides a grasping feature for the user for manipulating the dispensing cartridge at the locking member.
US08714407B2
Devices for dispensing material from a deformable tube comprise a shell having a top portion and a bottom portion. The shell comprises two shell pieces, the shell defining a compartment adapted for receiving a deformable tube and having an aperture in its top portion. Each shell piece comprises a press portion having a groove surrounding the press portion and a hinge located in the bottom portion connecting the press portion to the shell piece. The inner surfaces of the press portions have pressing features configured to squeeze a deformable tube from the bottom of the tube to the top of the tube.
US08714399B2
Provided are plate designs that enable a user to hold a plate in one hand, together with a drinking cup in the same hand. The subject designs find use in various situations in which a user desires to hold a plate and a drinking cup simultaneously. The subject designs also find use in various situations in which a user desires to hold a plate securely, in the presence or absence of a drinking cup.
US08714383B2
Compound bung-type stopper assemblies for wine and spirits barrels, comprising a body having an enlarged head portion, a reduced, tapered neck portion and a tapered, disposable elastomeric cup that snugly fits over the neck. The taper permits the inventive compound bung to be universal in fit and the elastomeric material of the cup grippingly conforms to bunghole irregularities. The body can be re-used with multiple cups, each being dedicated to a different wine or spirit, or after the cup has worn out. Body materials are selected from any essentially low- or non-resilient material, including glass, hard plastic (such as polycarbonate), wood, metal or ceramic, and may be colored. The head may be domed or flat, and may be decorated, as by etching, embossing or painting with the winemakers or winery mark. The inventive compound bungs/bodies that are identified by such marks may be sold as collectibles or as commemorative devices.
US08714382B2
A composite synthetic cork is provided, wherein the synthetic cork is operatively coupled with a cap via an interlocking contour. In an exemplary embodiment, the interlocking contour(s) is molded on or within an otherwise flat bottom portion of the cap. In other exemplary embodiments, the cap and the cork are assembled via co-injection molding.
US08714376B2
A heavy-duty pivot plate adjusting joint for railroad freight cars connects multi-part car sections. To this end, the adjusting joint is configured such that each drawbar end is provided with only one end coupling rod part having a spring column, and the drawbar is connected by way of the drawbar end plates to the support bearing plates of an under frame provided on a car side. Each adjusting joint is provided with an adjusting point pivot plate, wherein a pivot plate roll surface is present directly at the pivot plate or at the adjoining contact surfaces transmitting pressure force, the surfaces having a spherical or two-dimensional shape. A configuration of the adjusting joints in a “regular embodiment” is proposed, wherein the distance of the transmission end points of balance is smaller than the distance of the spring travel limiters.
US08714361B2
Materials in battery and electrochemical cells are separated in a form suitable for recycling by employing froth flotation techniques. Bulk materials, such as casings, are removed from converted battery scrap and the resultant pulp is subjected to froth flotation. Froth flotation agents, including frothers, collectors and/or depressants, are used to manipulate the hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature of the materials in the scrap. Hydrophobic materials are entrained in the air bubbles of the froth and float out of the froth flotation vessel while those that are hydrophilic remain in the vessel, thereby separating battery grid materials without resort to pyrometallurgical, energy intensive or other environmentally undesirable processes.
US08714356B2
A cushioning air bag with automatically adjustable clamping pressure includes an air cylinder sheet and an adjustable air sac sheet, where the air cylinder sheet includes a first air valve and a plurality of air cylinders, one end of the first air valve is positioned in the plurality of air cylinders, and an adjustable air sac sheet, includes a plurality of cushioning adjustment zones attached to wall surfaces of the plurality of air cylinders, a bag is formed when the air cylinder sheet and adjustable air sac sheet are filled with air, an accepting space is included among the plurality of cushioning zones positioned in the bag, used for clamping a different size of object when the object is received in the accepting space.
US08714355B2
A container system includes a plurality of containers, a plurality of container receiving regions, a plurality of base unit latches, and a base unit. Each base unit latch is arranged to latch an associated one of the containers at least partially within an associated one of the container receiving regions. The containers may be transported separately from the base unit, and may be used to store tools and other accessories. In one embodiment of the container system, each base unit latch comprises a resilient latch member connected to the base unit. The resilient latch member is biased into a lock position to engage a lock engagement portion on an associated one of the containers. The resilient latch member may be movable against the bias to a release position wherein the associated container is able to be removed from the associated container receiving region.
US08714347B2
A case for an electronic device with a retractable stand may support the case for an inserted electronic device when disposed in a horizontal and/or vertical position. The case may be transitioned from the horizontal and/or vertical disposition and vise-versa without changing the relative positions of the case and the stand to one another.
US08714341B2
Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
US08714334B2
An extendable boom loader and system. The extendable boom loader includes a distal boom element and a package tray. The boom element includes a package stop that moves to a first position blocking passage of packages and a second position allowing passage of packages, and a securing mechanism that holds the package stop in the first position. The package tray moves to first and second positions, respectively retracted within and extending from the boom element. The tray includes a tray package stop apparatus that prevents packages from sliding off a distal end of the tray. The distal boom element further includes a drawer unit that moves to first and second positions, respectively retracted within and extending from the tray. The drawer unit is configured to pivot down, while in its second position, to reach a floor of a container being loaded using the extendable boom loader.
US08714333B2
The present invention provides a friction plate having a friction surface formed by sticking an annular friction material to a substantially annular core plate and wherein the friction surface is provided with a first oil groove having an opening portion opened to an inner peripheral edge of the friction plate and an end terminating at a point between the inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge, and a second oil groove having an opening portion opened to the outer peripheral edge of the friction plate and an end terminating at a point between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge.
US08714310B2
A work vehicle includes a frame and an axle assembly coupled to the frame, including a first axle shaft and coil substantially disposed in an axle housing. A first wheel couples to the first axle shaft of the axle assembly. An axle lubricating fluid is disposed within the axle housing. A cooling circuit fluidly coupled to the axle assembly circulates cooling fluid therethrough. The coil conducts cooling fluid through the first axle housing separately from the lubricating fluid. A cooling fluid circuit is selectively fluidly coupled to the first coil to circulate the cooling fluid therethrough.
US08714309B2
An improved lubrication system for use in connection with high pressure processing and particularly useful for LDPE processing. The lubricating system utilizes flow meters to monitor and control the supply pressure and oil flow to a machine lubrication point. Furthermore, two different types of oil may be used so as to alleviate down time and repair often associated with use of food grade oil as the lubricate for the camshaft and other working components of the lubrication system.
US08714298B2
A pump apparatus includes a pump housing; a drive shaft; a pump element; a cam ring arranged to vary an inherent discharge amount based on the eccentric amount of the cam ring; a steering state sensing section configured to sense or estimate a steering angle, a steering angular speed or a steering angular acceleration, and to output the steering angle, the steering angular speed or the steering angular acceleration as a steering state sensing signal; and a solenoid configured to be controlled to suppress the eccentric amount of the cam ring so as to decrease the inherent discharge amount with respect to the steering state sensing signal when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a first predetermined vehicle speed, relative to the inherent discharge amount when the vehicle speed is smaller than the first predetermined vehicle speed.
US08714297B2
A single-wheel suspension of a non-steerable driven wheel of a two-track vehicle is provided. The suspension includes two longitudinal control arms that pivot in a vertical plane. The first control arm is supported by a vertical pendulum support and supports a wheel bearing. The second control arm is supported with one rotational degree of freedom on the vehicle and is connected to the first control arm with one rotation degree of freedom by a connecting member between the wheel bearing and the pendulum support. At least a section of the first control arm between the wheel bearing and the connecting member is located inside the wheel rim space. A gear mechanism at least partially inside the wheel rim includes two transmission stages laterally offset from one another. The rotational axes of a connection shaft connecting first and second transmission stages and the connection element between the two control arms coincide.
US08714296B2
In a vehicle input device having a position detection portion configured to output a detection signal and a controller (control section) configured to receive the detection signal, the position detection portion operated by a driver is provided near an end side of the vehicle input device, and a contact operation surface on which the driver performs a contact operation is an end surface of an operation member of the position detection portion. Thus, the driver is capable of operating the vehicle input device with a finger while holding a steering wheel. In addition, by the controller determining the position of an operation of the driver on the basis of the detection signal from the position detection portion, it is made possible to detect various operations and various devices can be operated.
US08714294B2
A pedestrian protection apparatus for a vehicle is provided that can sufficiently protect a pedestrian and can advantageously improve aerodynamic performance at a lower region of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a reinforcing portion at a front section thereof. The reinforcing portion includes a plurality of cylindrical structures that extend in a front to back direction of the vehicle and are arranged in a line in a vehicle width direction. The cylindrical structures include: vertical ribs that are opposed to each other in the vehicle width direction and extend in the front to back direction of the vehicle; an upper connecting plate that extends across upper ends of all of the vertical ribs so as to integrally connect the upper ends; and a lower connecting plate that extends across lower ends of all of the vertical ribs so as to integrally connect the lower ends.
US08714278B2
A soil treatment apparatus (10) comprises an endless band (12) of resilient material with soil treatment teeth (14) projecting radially therefrom. The teeth are replacably attached to the band (12).
US08714263B2
The present invention discloses apparatus and methods for a lightweight subsea intervention package that may be installed using vessels with a smaller lifting capacity than semi-submersible platforms so that the subsea intervention package can be transported, installed, and removed from a subsea well in less time and with less cost. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a lower riser package for controlling the subsea well which utilizes two hydraulically activated gate valves. An emergency disconnect package is secured to the lower riser package utilizing a disconnect mechanism. The emergency disconnect package is operable to seal the bottom of a riser if the disconnect mechanism is activated to thereby minimize environmental leakage of fluid from the riser.
US08714260B2
An apparatus for cleaning the inner wall of wellbores and for capturing downhole wellbore debris. An elongated, tubular central mandrel is provided with recesses on its outer surface. Various service elements are interchangeably mounted over the split rings. The various service elements include stabilizers, brush assemblies, junk baskets and magnets.
US08714259B2
An apparatus for modifying the wall surface of a borehole drilled through an underground formation. The apparatus comprises a tool body that can be introduced into the borehole using a conveyance system so as to be moveable along the borehole, and one or more members arranged so as to be able to be urged against, and moved across at least part of the borehole wall in order to work the surface thereof and modify its properties. A method of modifying the wall surface comprises positioning the tool body in the borehole at a location of interest using the conveyance system, urging the members against the borehole wall with sufficient force to modify the properties of the surface thereof, and moving the members across the surface of the borehole wall.
US08714257B2
A pulse fracturing device includes a normally open first valve and a normally closed second valve in a housing. The first valve is configured to close at a predetermined level of hydrodynamic force exerted on the first valve and to open when the force drops below the predetermined level. The first valve, when open, is configured to allow fluid flow out from the housing. The second valve is configured to open at a predetermined pressure within the housing and to close when pressure drops below the predetermined pressure. The second valve, when open, is configured to allow fluid flow out from the housing.
US08714245B2
A technique facilitates control over the orientation of a bottom hole assembly. A planetary gearbox assembly incorporates a sun wheel which cooperates with planet wheels at a plurality of levels along the planetary gear box assembly. The sun wheel and the planet wheels cooperate to convert rotational input to rotational output through an output carrier. Torsional rigidity characteristics of the sun wheel and the output carrier are selected to distribute torque loading across the plurality of levels of the planetary gear box assembly. The distributed forces reduce the potential for component failure.
US08714244B2
A method for preparing a formation surrounding a wellbore to bear hydrocarbons through a borehole is disclosed. In one step, a bottomhole assembly is inserted into the borehole. The formation is drilled with the bottomhole assembly. The formation may be characterized with logging tools, probes, sensors, seismic system and/or the like to create first information. One or more fractures are placed in the formation without removal of the bottomhole assembly from the wellbore. Further, continuous drilling of the formation is performed with the bottomhole assembly after/during placing the fractures. Further characterizing of the formation with the probes, sensors/systems or the like is performed to produce second information. Another fracture is placed with feedback from the second information. Repeating the drilling, characterizing and placing of fractures as necessary during the formation preparing process.
US08714243B2
An expansion tool for use in a wellbore includes an expansion surface made up of a concave portion, a convex portion and a straight section therebetween. The straight section is formed according to a formula Y=(1.26) (X)−0.13, where X is the wall thickness of a tubular and Y is the length of the straight section. The concave portion and the convex portion have an arc length extending the concave portion to a trailing edge of the tool. The concave and convex portions are radius-shaped. The arrangement of the shapes and their relation to each other reduces relatively high and low contact pressures and lessens the effects of axial bending in a tubular or a connection.
US08714235B2
A high-temperature die casting die includes a first die plate with a first recess and a second die plate with a second recess, the first and second recesses defining a main part cavity and gating. A grain selector is in fluid communication with the main cavity, and an in situ zone refining apparatus is adapted to apply a localized thermal gradient to at least one of the first and second die plates. The localized thermal gradient and the at least one die plate are movable relative to each other so as to apply the localized thermal gradient along a first direction extending from the grain selector longitudinally across the main part cavity.
US08714233B2
A casting process for producing metal alloy castings, facecoats and apparatuses suitable for carrying out the process, and castings produced by the process. The casting process entails the use of a mold having a cavity with a continuous aluminum-containing solid facecoat on its surface. A molten quantity of a metal alloy is introduced into the mold cavity so that the molten alloy contacts the solid facecoat. The mold is then allowed to cool to solidify the molten alloy and form a cast product. During the casting process, aluminum in the solid facecoat diffuses into the cast product to form an aluminum-containing surface region at the casting surface. Following removal of the cast product from the mold, an alumina-containing scale grows on the casting surface as a result of oxidation of the casting surface region.
US08714231B2
An aluminum-and-amorphous alloy composite includes an aluminum part and an amorphous alloy part. The aluminum part has an aluminum oxide film formed on a surface thereof. The aluminum oxide film defines nano-pores. The amorphous alloy part is integrally bonded to the surface of the aluminum part having the aluminum oxide film. A method for manufacturing the composite is also described.
US08714227B2
A chip sorting apparatus comprising a chip holder comprising a first surface and an second surface opposite to the first surface; a wafer comprising a first chip disposed on a first position of the first surface; a first chip receiver comprising a third surface and an fourth surface opposite to the third surface, wherein the third surface is opposite to the first surface; a pressurization device making the first chip and the third surface of the first chip receiver adhered to each other through pressuring the second surface at where corresponding to the first position; and a separator decreasing the adhesion between the first chip and the first surface.
US08714226B2
A system comprises an automated fiber placement (AFP) machine and a layup mandrel tool supported by the AFP machine. The mandrel tool includes a truss core and a plurality of mandrel panels attached to the truss core to form a layup surface.
US08714220B2
A transmission assembly and a wheel thereof are presented, and the wheel includes a wheel frame and a tire skin. The wheel frame has a ring-shaped joint surface surrounding the wheel frame, and the joint surface is disposed with at least one slot. The slot has two opposite side walls and at least one stopping wall, and the stopping wall is located between the two side walls. The tire skin is ring-shaped. The tire skin is sleeved on the wheel frame, and attached to the joint surface. The tire skin has at least one protruding rib, and the protruding rib is located in the slot. The stopping wall limits displacement of the protruding rib in a direction of a wheel shaft, and the two side walls limit displacement of the protruding rib in a direction of rotation, thus achieving a good combination effect between the tire skin and the wheel frame.
US08714217B2
A non-pneumatic wheel assembly includes a wheel, a shock absorbing member coupled to an outer periphery of the wheel and absorbing or attenuating noise and vibration due to external shock, a plurality of resilient members arranged around and coupled to an outer periphery of the shock absorbing member in a radial direction and having a plurality of resilient rings that are resiliently deformed in response to an external force, resilient links respectively coupled to the resilient rings to evenly transmit external shock to the resilient rings, rail plates to which sliders formed at both ends of the resilient links are slidably coupled, and a tire having a plurality of coupling grooves formed along an inner periphery such that the rail plates are inserted into the coupling grooves.
US08714214B2
A mis-fuel inhibitor in an inlet neck assembly of a vehicle fuel system discriminates between nozzle diameters, allowing entrance of nozzle diameters at or greater than a predetermined minimum diameter while inhibiting entrance of nozzles having diameters less than the predetermined minimum diameter. An actuator responsive to nozzle diameters engages and disengages locking arms that are associated with a primary shutoff valve flapper door.
US08714209B2
Filling element for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filler, comprising a liquid channel which is formed in a filling-element housing and which has a connection for delivery of the liquid filler into the liquid channel and has a discharge opening for discharging the liquid filler into a container that is to be filled, and comprising at least one liquid valve, which is arranged in the liquid channel and controls the discharging of the liquid filler, said liquid valve having a valve body provided on a gas tube that can be moved in a controlled manner in a filling-element axis in order to open and close the liquid valve and that acts as valve plunger.
US08714202B2
A repair device for repairing a leaking section in a pipe includes a sealing member of resilient material which fully surrounds the leaking section. The sealing member includes first and second annular sealing faces arranged for sealing engagement with the pipe about a full circumference thereof on opposite sides of the leaking section, and an envelope section fully spanning between the first and second annular sealing faces. The envelope section, the first annular sealing face, and the second annular sealing face are formed of resilient sealing material integrally joined with one another A rigid housing surrounds the sealing member and a clamp compresses the sealing member between the rigid housing and the leaking section of the pipe about the full circumference.
US08714197B2
The present invention provides a valve for water faucet including an outlet pipe seat having a connecting seat via a first injection molding, an outlet pipe connector assembled to the connecting seat, and a hot water valve seat and a cold water valve seat integrally wrapping around the outlet pipe seat and the outlet pipe connector via a second injection molding. Each water valve seat includes a copper pipe sleeve secured to a water inlet pipe. The outlet pipe seat is formed with leak-proof rings on an outer surface thereof. Each water valve seat is formed with a water inlet pipe having a positioning post thereon and an annular wall set around the water inlet pipe. The copper pipe sleeve defines a positioning hole for receiving the positioning post when the copper pipe sleeve is positioned in the chamber between the annular wall and the water inlet pipe.
US08714180B2
A thermal triggering element for sprinklers, valves or the like including an enclosed compartment with a container filled with a highly temperature-sensitive shattering fluid for precise and reproducible adjustment of a triggering temperature within the range of a few degrees Celsius. The invention increases the accuracy of the triggering temperature and identifies shattering liquids that allow precise sensitive triggering action in terms of temperature of the triggering element and open up further triggering temperatures ranges. The triggering fluid contains or consists of a hydrocarbon compound selected among one of the following substance groups or a mixture thereof: d) a heterocyclic hydrocarbon having a OH, NH or NH2 group bonded to a carbon atom; e) a hydrocarbon having at least one benzene ring with an OH group bonded to one of the carbon atoms of the benzene ring; f) a phosphate with at least one hydrocarbon moiety.
US08714173B2
A walking aid for use on a support surface is provided. The walking aid includes an elongated member having an upper end and a lower end and defining an interior cavity and a longitudinal axis, a stopper coupled to the lower end of the elongated member, and a support apparatus for supporting the walking aid. The support apparatus is translatable through the stopper and the interior cavity to a retracted position within the stopper and interior cavity, and to an extended position projecting from the stopper. The support apparatus is also biased radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis, and configured to extend away from the longitudinal axis and contact the support surface in the extended position.
US08714168B2
The invention relates to a high-pressure cleaning appliance, comprising a heatable heat exchanger for heating a liquid that can be discharged by the high-pressure cleaning appliance, a motor having a drive shaft that defines a drive axis, a pump unit for increasing the liquid pressure, a blower wheel for generating a combustion air flow, and a fuel pump for delivering a fuel to the heat exchanger, wherein the pump unit, the blower wheel, and the fuel pump are disposed along the drive axis and can be driven by means of the drive shaft and form an assembly together with the motor. In order to improve such a high-pressure cleaning appliance in such a manner that it has a more compact construction and a smaller space requirement, the assembly of the high-pressure cleaning appliance according to the invention, with regard to a height direction thereof, is disposed below the heat exchanger.
US08714167B2
A dishwasher is provided that effectively cleans a filter. The dishwasher may include a rack positioned in a washing space and at least one nozzle that directs washing fluid into the washing space, a sump that receives washing fluid to be supplied to the washing space, and a filter device provided in the sump, including a first filter and a second filter. A driver rotates the first filter or the second filter so as to separate foreign materials from the filter device and prevent the filter device from clogging.
US08714152B2
A method of operating a ventilator that includes steps of (a) providing a specified ventilation therapy to a patient through a ventilator according to a specification; (b) determining and storing a backup parameter relating to the operation of the ventilator or the breathing of the patient during the step of providing the specified ventilation therapy; (c) determining that an alarm condition exists that indicates a problem with the ventilator that would prevent the ventilator from providing the specified ventilation therapy to the patient according to the specification; and (d) responsive to determining that the alarm condition exists, providing backup ventilation therapy to the patient through the ventilator that is based at least partially on the stored backup parameter. Also, a ventilator that is adapted to perform the method just described.
US08714137B2
In order to provide a carburettor unit for motorized equipment, in particular hand-operated motorized equipment such as a chain saw, a trimmer, a lawn-cutting appliance, a foliage clearing appliance or suchlike, having a housing , in which a throttle valve and a choke valve are held so as to be movable respectively between a closed position and an open position, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and in which an incorrect position between the throttle valve and the choke valve is avoided, it is proposed that a locking element is provided, which is adjustable through the movement of the throttle valve and cooperates with the choke valve such that a movement of the choke valve into the closed position is locked when the motorized equipment is set in operation.
US08714129B2
A multi-part piston for an internal combustion engine has a piston upper part and a piston lower part. The piston upper part comprises a piston head, a continuous fire land and a continuous ring part. The piston upper part and the piston lower part are connected together by securing means and form a continuous cooling channel. According to the invention, the connecting means connecting the piston upper part and the piston lower part are embodied as cooling elements that are arranged in the cooling channel and that are made of heating-conducting material.
US08714126B2
A motor oil heating system for a vehicle comprising one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; one or more heaters thermally coupled to the motor oil, wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heaters and power the heaters based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heaters warm the engine oil.
US08714121B2
A split-cycle air hybrid engine with improved efficiency is disclosed in which the centerline of a compression cylinder is positioned at a non-zero angle with respect to the centerline of an expansion cylinder such that the engine has a V-shaped configuration. In one embodiment, the centerlines of the respective cylinders intersect an axis parallel to, but offset from, the axis of rotation of the crankshaft. Modular crossover passages, crossover passage manifolds, and associated air reservoir valve assemblies and thermal regulation systems are also disclosed.
US08714120B2
A new and improved combustion-powered fastener-driving tool utilizes a new and improved single component in-take/exhaust valve member which integrally defines both the intake and exhaust valves thereon. The intake/exhaust valve member is axially movable within the combustion chamber, and operatively cooperates with wall structure of the combustion chamber. When the intake/exhaust valve member is disposed, for example, at a first upper position, both the intake and exhaust ports defined within the wall structure of the combustion chamber are closed so as to permit the ignition and combustion phases of the tool-firing cycle to proceed, whereas, conversely, when the intake/exhaust valve member is disposed, for example, at a second lower position, both the intake and exhaust ports within the combustion chamber are open so as to permit incoming air to scavenge combustion exhaust products and to subsequently mix with injected fuel in preparation for the commencement of another tool-firing cycle.
US08714116B2
A fan cooling system and method are provided to control fan speed for cooling vehicle motor components while minimizing power consumption by the fan and reducing engine fuel consumption for an engine partially powering the fan. The fan cooling system raises engine coolant temperature of a vehicle in motion to derive a fan speed demand so that fan speed may be reduced. The fan cooling system selects a maximum fan speed demand from one or more fan speed demands to command fan speed based on various sensed inputs, including engine coolant temperatures. The fan cooling system also improves cooling efficiency by incorporating slipheat protection for the fan so as not to overdrive the fan for cooling.
US08714109B2
In order to provide an animal fixation device and an animal fixation method which are able to euthanize and fix the animal instantaneously and steadily, a columnar cage in which animal is arranged, a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the cage, an euthanizing gas supply mechanism configured to supply euthanizing gas into the cage, and a solid refrigerant supply mechanism configured to supply a solid refrigerant into the cage are provided. The euthanizing gas supply mechanism includes a gas manifold for euthanizing which is connected to the cage so that the euthanizing gas flows on an inner wall of the cage along a circumferential direction. The solid refrigerant supply mechanism includes a solid refrigerant supply line which is connected to the cage so as to be able to supply the solid refrigerant during rotation of the cage.
US08714101B2
A powder spray for lengthy parts includes a booth wall structure comprised primarily of doors. A moveable roof may be raised and lowered to clean powder overspray from the interior surfaces of the booth. A cleaning process may be performed with a sideways extraction mode and a downward extraction mode. The mode change occurs when a bulkhead that travels with the moveable roof blocks the inlet duct to the recovery system. The recovery system may be a cyclone system for example. The doors of the booth are hinged so that they can be positioned for spraying operations and cleaning operations. Live hinge designs are provided and hose stress relief designs are also provided. The roof may carry accumulators for pressurized air that feed cleaning nozzles as the roof descends. In addition, exhaust air may be used to assist cleaning the interior surfaces as the roof descends. All of the energy provided for cleaning and color change may be provided by accumulators.
US08714098B2
A shock absorbing docking spacer for connecting a vessel to a mooring structure and which includes first and second sections relatively telescopically movable longitudinally relative to one another so as to define a variable effective overall length for the docking spacer and wherein one section contains an airtight air bag and the air bag is connected to the other section such that as the first and second sections move relatively inwardly relative to one another the air bag provides a buffer for absorbing impact forces between the first and second sections brought about by ambient conditions.
US08714096B2
A pulverized coal boiler of the present invention is structured so as to form, among upper and lower after-air nozzles, an opening serving as an outlet of the lower after-air nozzle positioned on the upstream side is formed in a rectangular shape, a cylindrical section for defining a minimum flow path area of combustion air flowing through a flow path of the after-air nozzle is installed inside of the lower after-air nozzles along the flow path of the lower after-air nozzle, and a swirl blade for giving a swirl force to the combustion air flowing through the flow path of the after-air nozzles is installed inside of the cylindrical section, and the flow path of the lower after-air nozzles is formed so that a flow path area of the flow path of the after-air nozzles through which the combustion air flows from a position where the cylindrical section is installed toward the opening of each of the lower after-air nozzles is expanded.
US08714089B2
An activation unit for explosive masses or explosive bodies includes an ejector tube and high-performance heating elements mounted around the ejector tube, each made of at least one heating wire supplied with electrical power by a control unit. Each heating wire is enclosed in a casing and embedded in a material minimizing heat loss. When the explosive body is passed through the activation unit, the jacket surface of the explosive body contacts the individual elements of the activation unit in a direct or non-contact manner. Thermal energy is transferred to the explosive body by means of the heating wires, and the body ignites at the contact points. A further activation unit includes heating elements in the ejector tube, at least partially fed longitudinally through the ejector tube, made of heating wire clad with CrNi steel and contact plates soldered thereto.
US08714087B2
Image forming apparatus and methods are disclosed which include an intermediate transfer member to transfer images to media, an impression roller including a gripping device to receive the media, and a determination module to determine the length of the media held by the at least one gripper unit based on respective detections by first and second set of sensors.
US08714086B2
This invention pertains to a method for making a cylindrically-shaped element, and particularly a cylindrically-shaped element for use as a base sleeve for printing or as a support for a print form. The method includes wrapping a sheet of a material having a first end and a second end to bring the second end adjacent the first end to form a base sleeve having an axial seam of the first and second ends. The first end has a non-linear edge having an amplitude. Portions between the first end and the second end overlap and form the axial seam. The method can include applying an imageable material adjacent an exterior surface of the base sleeve that covers at least a portion of the axial seam.
US08714080B2
The invention is a trash compacting device with a handle configured horizontally so a person can grip the handle with the palm of their hand facing downward to maximize compression force and minimize slippage. The frame supports one or more smite plate receivers that may extends horizontally from the frame to increase the distance between center regions of two smite plates. Each smite plate receiver may extends downward at different heights to ensure that bulky trash, such as boxes, does not impede the downward movement of every smite plates. The frame may houses a telescoping tube to ensure ergonomic operations when a garbage can is less than full. Smite plates of different shapes and sizes may be attached to the smite plate receiver to further ensure more uniform compaction of trash. Smite plates and handle grips are pivotally attached to allow for portable transport and compact storage.
US08714079B2
An apparatus for making cheese including a whey conduit, a milk conduit, and a heat exchange device between the whey conduit and the milk conduit. Preferably, the heat exchange device includes a heat transfer circuit including a heat transfer conduit, heat transfer medium in the heat transfer conduit, a whey heat exchanger between the whey conduit and the heat transfer conduit, and a milk heat exchanger between the heat transfer conduit and the milk conduit. A thermal storage device can be in thermal contact with the heat exchange device to allow heat energy from the whey to be accumulated and stored for future use in heating incoming milk. The thermal storage device includes a thermal storage conduit, a thermal storage heat exchanger between the heat exchange device and the thermal storage conduit, thermal storage medium in the thermal storage conduit, and a thermal storage tank.
US08714073B2
A weapon assembly includes a weapon (1) having a weapon barrel (2) which has a barrel bore axis (A), and has a trigger device (3), in which case an aiming device can be attached to the weapon (1) via a weapon-side attachment device (4, 7). A microcontroller (10) is provided, in which a deviation in the alignment of the barrel bore axis (A) of the weapon (1) with the weapon-side attachment device can be stored and can be read by an aiming device. The invention furthermore relates to a method for a weapon assembly, a weapon system and a method for a weapon system. The invention makes it possible to change fire control systems quickly from one weapon assembly to the other.
US08714071B2
Overpressure absorbing material is positioned on the exterior of an enclosure. When an explosion occurs adjacent the enclosure, the overpressure absorbing material absorbs a large portion of an incoming overpressure wave from the explosion. The overpressure absorbing material cushions the impact of the overpressure wave against the enclosure and may prevent the incoming overpressure wave from penetrating the enclosure in sufficient magnitude to cause injury to the enclosure's occupants. The overpressure absorbing material may also be positioned on the interior of the enclosure. The overpressure wave from the explosion may enter the enclosure via a breach or other opening and may resonate within the enclosure, causing injury to the enclosure's occupants. The interior overpressure absorbing material also prevents a significant magnitude of the overpressure wave from being reflected off the interior walls of the enclosure, resonating within the enclosure, and causing injury to the enclosure's occupants.
US08714054B1
A tractor-trailer tire chain installation tool that includes a rod having a handle portion, a midsection, and a flattened head section configured for wielding within the wheel well of a tractor-trailer, wherein a plurality of chain hooks disposed depending from the rod are spaced apart at a correct distance along the rod to span the width of each tire of a double tire of the tractor-trailer, whereby a tire chain is releasably attachable to each of said chain hooks and positional to correctly align the tire chain for expedient installation around the double tire during inclement weather.
US08714049B2
A control system for a work vehicle includes an armrest having a first support and a control grip having a second support. The first support is configured to permit selectable movement of the armrest. The second support is configured to permit selectable movement of the control grip. The armrest and the control grip are independently movable from each other. The first support and the second support are configured to receive a common fastener to secure the first support and the second support to a surface of the work vehicle.
US08714047B2
A steering device is provided that prevents an inner column from coming out from an outer column even when the inner column is released from being telescopically clamped by the outer column in a state before mounting a vehicle body attaching bracket. Front ends of the telescopic position adjusting long grooves and are brought into contact with an outer peripheral face of a fastening rod at a rear end of a telescopically adjusting position. The fastening rod is moved to a rear side of the vehicle body and an engaging member outwardly fitted to the fastening rod is brought into contact with the collar. The fastening rod cannot be moved to a rear side of the vehicle body further, and the outer column and the vehicle body attaching bracket are prevented from coming out of the inner column.
US08714043B2
An intermediate gear device for a traction drive and/or spur gear drive of an internal combustion engine is provided, having an intermediate gear that has an at least two-track construction with a drive gear and a driven gear, an axle, and a needle bearing by which the intermediate gear is radially mounted on the axle. At least one supporting disk is provided on which the intermediate gear is axially supported, and a duct, that is connectable to the lubricant circuit of the internal combustion engine, to supply lubricant to the needle bearing. The support disk and the axle contact one another at the end faces, the mouth of the lubricant duct that opens toward the needle bearing is formed by one or more recesses on the contact surface of the support disk and/or on the contact surface of the axle.
US08714039B2
The present invention relates to a stroke-restricting device of a linear actuator and a wire-reeling mechanism thereof. The linear actuator includes a base and a telescopic pipe. The stroke-restricting device includes a box, a movable member, a block, a pair of switches, and a wire-reeling mechanism. The box is fixed to the base and has a wall plate. The wall plate is provided with a through-hole. The movable member includes a rod penetrating the through-hole and movable with respect to the box. The block is fixed to the rod. The pair of switches is fixed to the box to correspond to the block. Each of the switches has a trigger portion for generating electrical signals by means of contact of the block. Each of the trigger portions is located at two opposite ends of a moving path of the block. The wire-reeling mechanism includes a wire disposed in the telescopic pipe and moving therewith. One end of the wire is connected to the movable member. By this structure, only a small space can be used to control a limit position of a long distance.
US08714033B2
A catcher pin assembly for attachment to a catcher link of an aircraft frame, the catcher pin assembly having an engine mounting element, a catcher pin, a compressible element, and a nut, which is lockable to the catcher pin, the compressible element being compressed between the pin and the mounting element and/or between the mounting element and the nut, in the assembled condition of the assembly, such that the compressible element applies a predetermined resistance to rotation of the catcher pin relative to the mounting element. The invention also relates to a method of testing a catcher pin assembly to determine if the catcher pin is carrying load from the catcher link, the method including applying a predetermined torque to the catcher pin sufficient to overcome the resistance to rotation of the catcher pin when it is unloaded, and determining whether the catcher pin rotates relative to the mounting element.
US08714023B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for assessing a surface using a piezoelectric element. In one aspect, the method includes applying a device to the surface, wherein the device includes at least one piezoelectric element and at least one EMS device, wherein the EMS device includes a conductive first layer separated from a conductive second layer, and wherein the piezoelectric element is electrically coupled to the EMS device such that a force applied to the piezoelectric element results in a voltage applied across the first and second layers.
US08714016B2
A method and apparatus for generating a tension wave. A beam of coherent light is directed to an absorber surface of a transducer structure. A compression wave is generated within the transducer structure. The compression wave is reflected on a reflecting surface of the transducer structure to form the tension wave. The tension wave is directed through a test object in a desired direction using a configuration of the reflecting surface relative to the test object.
US08714006B2
The invention relates to a sensor device (4) for measuring a direction of incident flow (2) with which a flowing medium flows against the sensor device (4), having a flow body (1) which is set up to have the flowing medium flow around it, the flow body (1) having a plurality of pressure-sensitive or force-sensitive sensor elements (3) which are arranged on the outer surface of the flow body (1) or are arranged in the flow body (1) and are connected to the outer surface of the flow body (1), and the sensor elements (3) being arranged behind one another along the intended course (30) of the flow around the flow body (1). The invention also relates to an evaluation device for such a sensor device.
US08713984B2
Apparatus and methods for use of synchronized plural epicyclical transmissions to stabilize and to drive an output gear of a machine capable of bending tubing, conduit, and pipe requiring high torque, as well as swaging, cutting, and threading. One embodiment of the apparatus includes multiple transmissions encircling and engaged with a centrally mounted motor. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes multiple transmissions, each engaged with a mounted motor. Transmissions can be equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of an output gear.
US08713975B2
A control system for a fabric treating appliance configured to determine one or more operating parameters of a cycle of operation as a function of a user-selected performance goal weighting.
US08713967B2
A process for making glass sheet with low compaction suitable for high temperature applications, such as low-temperature polysilicon-based TFT displays, and glass sheets thus made. The glass sheet desirably has an anneal point of at least 765° C., a CTE at most 42×10−7/° C. The process involves cooling the glass melt form a temperature corresponding to a viscosity of 1.0×1010 poise to a temperature corresponding to a viscosity of 1.0×1015 poise at a cooling rate CR, where CR≧5° C./second. The absolute value of the measured compaction of the glass sheet desirably is at most 175 ppm upon being re-heated to 675° C. for a period of time.
US08713952B2
An optimizer for modulating the speed of an indoor fan and first and second stage compressors of a two staged refrigeration system with a plurality of relays and an already existing power source. The optimizer is comprised of a speed modulation device, a supply air temperature sensor, and a controller. The speed modulation device is located in proximity to the existing power source and configured to collect current and power related information from the refrigeration system and power source to send to the controller. The supply air temperature sensor is linked to the indoor fan of the two staged refrigeration system and operable to obtain supply air temperature values. The controller is linked in communication with the speed modulation device and supply air temperature sensor and is operable to generate a system mode based on the power, current, and supply air temperature information. Speed commands are then sent to the speed modulation device to modulate the speed.
US08713951B2
There are provided a plurality of use-side heat exchangers, inter-heat-medium heat exchangers, heat medium flow path switching devices, which switch flow paths, and pumps, which feed heat media to these paths; the inter-heat-medium heat exchangers heat or cool a heat medium by exchanging heat between the heat medium and a heat source fluid fed from a heat source apparatus. About half of the plurality of use-side heat exchangers are preheated or precooled, and the remaining use-side heat exchangers which are not preheated or precooled exchange heat media with use-side heat exchangers that have been preheated or precooled and that are not yet started to operate, suppressing energy consumed for preheating or precooling.
US08713944B2
A fuel manifold for distributing fuel to a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of interconnected manifold segments. Each manifold segment extends between a pair of fuel injector inlet fittings. Each manifold segment includes a fuel liner defining an internal fuel passage therethrough fluidly connecting a pair of fuel injector inlet fittings. A wire braid layer surrounds the fuel liner, a fire sleeve surrounds the wire braid layer, and a flexible thermal shield surrounds the fire sleeve. An insulation space is defined between the fire sleeve and the thermal shield to thermally isolate the fire sleeve from conditions external to the thermal shield.
US08713935B2
A control system for a turbo charged natural gas engine. A butterfly valve used for fuel control upstream of a carburetor provides non-linear flow response during opening and closing and a flow compensator compensates for the non-linear response. A throttle valve position sensor acts in association with a controller which compares the throttle valve position signal with a predetermined set point and thereby opens or closes the waste gate of the turbo charger which affects oxygen content in the exhaust. A compensator for a throttle valve used with electronic engine controllers is also provided.
US08713933B2
An apparatus and process for capturing mechanical work from the kinetic energy of a moving vessel driven by buoyancy and gravitational forces. The apparatus comprises a moving vessel, gas compression means, force transfer means, a conduit, and a force recovery means. In use, the submerged moving vessel receives compressed gas, generating a buoyancy force in the moving vessel. As the moving vessel rises in water and approaches the top of its upstroke, the moving vessel releases the gas, causing the moving vessel to sink. A first component of the buoyancy force is transmitted from the moving vessel, through the force transfer means, to the gas compression means, where it compresses gas. The compressed gas is channeled through the conduit into the charging valve while the moving vessel sinks. The charging valve releases the compressed gas from the conduit into the moving vessel, and the moving vessel's vertical oscillation cycle repeats.
US08713932B2
A hydraulic module with two inclined-axis drive systems. The hydraulic module comprises a yoke (1) which, by virtue of a pin (5) that is in active connection with a piston (6), is pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis (4) so as to adjust the stroke volume of the two inclined-axis drive systems.
US08713931B2
A working vehicle, wherein flows of hydraulic oil delivered under pressure from two or more hydraulic pumps are joined together and the joined hydraulic oil can be taken out. A working vehicle is provided with two hydraulic pumps independent of each other and adapted to deliver hydraulic oil under pressure, a mode switching valve (230) capable of being switched to a flow joining position (K) at which flows of the hydraulic oil delivered under pressure by the two hydraulic pumps are joined together, PTO ports (260, 261) out of which the hydraulic oil is taken, and a PTO switching valve (240) provided downstream of the mode switching valve (230) and switching flow of the hydraulic oil so that the oil can be delivered under pressure to the PTO ports (260, 261).
US08713918B2
The invention relates to a device for purification of exhaust gases for the exhaust gas line of an internal combustion engine, with an exhaust gas channel which is made multi-flow in a specified region and has several component exhaust gas lines, and with a metering device by means of which a specified amount of a reducing agent can be metered into the exhaust gas channel in the region upstream from the catalytic converter arrangement at specified times. According to the invention, a metering channel which branches off from the single metering device is assigned to each of the component exhaust gas lines, and a specified proportion of the amount of metered reducing agent can be supplied to each component exhaust gas line via the metering channels.
US08713915B2
A catalyst overheat prevention apparatus has a temperature obtaining portion that estimates a convergence temperature of a catalyst provided in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and the present temperature of the catalyst. The catalyst overheat prevention apparatus also has a fuel increment calculation portion, a comparison portion, a correction portion, and a fuel increment setting portion, which are used to execute OT fuel increase control when the convergence temperature and present catalyst temperature obtained by the temperature obtaining portion are equal to or higher than an OT determination temperature. The catalyst overheat prevention apparatus also has a present temperature correction portion that corrects the present catalyst temperature to be equal to the OT determination temperature when the present catalyst temperature is equal to or higher than the OT determination temperature and the convergence temperature is equal to the OT determination temperature.
US08713908B2
An arrangement for a combustion chamber the arrangement comprising a combustion chamber, an injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber and an igniter for supplying a spark for igniting fuel so injected, wherein the injector has a passage through which air is supplied to the combustion chamber in use, the igniter being positioned upstream of the combustion chamber such that a spark generated by the igniter is conveyed along the passage by the injector air.
US08713907B2
A system includes a sulfur recovery unit including a thermal reactor having an acid gas inlet and an air inlet. The acid gas inlet is configured to receive a flow of acid gas, and the air inlet is configured to receive an air flow of pressurized air extracted from a gas turbine compressor of a gas turbine engine.
US08713902B2
A bag-making and packaging machine includes a forming mechanism, a vertical sealing mechanism, a transverse sealing mechanism and a receiving member. The forming mechanism is configured to roll a sheet-shaped packaging material into a cylindrical shape to form a cylindrical packaging material. The vertical sealing mechanism is configured and arranged to seal an overlapping portion of the cylindrical packaging material with heat vertically along a direction in which the cylindrical packaging material extends. The receiving member is attached to the forming mechanism in a position facing the vertical sealing mechanism, and configured and arranged to sandwich the overlapping portion together with the vertical sealing mechanism. The receiving member has elasticity with which the receiving member presses the overlapping portion toward the vertical sealing mechanism.
US08713895B2
A structural member such as a strut includes a composite material tube having metal end fittings that are attached to the tube by co-bonded, double shear joints. The double shear bond joint construction reduces the residual stress on the bonds that result from mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the composite tube and the metal end fittings. The ends of the fittings that are bonded to the tube may include a stepped profile that functions to limit the peak stresses in the bonds.
US08713888B2
A roof panel structure having a purlin comprising a truss, the truss having a substantially horizontally disposed top surface. A nailer board is attached to the top surface, and a first subpurlin is attached to the nailer board and is extends at least partly along the top surface such that the first subpurlin is arranged to be supported by the top surface. The nailer board is arranged vertically on the top surface.
US08713885B2
The housing of a panel fastener is provided with pockets along the upper edge of the elongated recess that receives a hook assembly or a pin assembly and pairs of locking elements are mounted in selected pairs of oppositely disposed pockets to engage adapters used in the foamed-in-place molding of a wall panel.
US08713883B2
A roofing shingle includes an underlay sheet, an overlay sheet, and a structural lattice layer bonded between the underlay sheet and the overlay sheet.
US08713881B2
A solar panel securing system is provided. In another aspect, a solar or photovoltaic panel assembly is mounted to a building roof in a screw-free manner. Another aspect employs a snap-in connection between a member pre-assembled to a solar panel and a roof-mounted bracket. A further aspect adhesively bonds a bracket directly to a glass surface of a solar panel. A method of securing a solar panel is additionally provided.
US08713879B2
Disclosed is a waterproofing membrane that bonds to concrete cast against it (i.e., post-cast concrete). The membrane includes a flexible carrier sheet, a pressure sensitive adhesive, and reflective particles on the surface of the adhesive. The reflective particles should have an average diameter equal to or greater than the thickness of the pressure sensitive adhesive. Preferably, the reflective particles are ground white cement or ground white hydrated cement. The membrane does not have a removable release sheet that is typically used to prevent the adhesive portion of the membrane from adhering to the carrier sheet or other portion of the membrane when the membrane is rolled up.
US08713871B2
A pre-cast panel has forms mounted thereon for forming post-like flanges and a footing. Upon erection of an array of panels, the flanges and footing may all be cast on-site, with appropriate reinforcing/coupling means present within the form core volumes, by filling such forms with binder material such as concrete. Optionally, an upper beam may also be formed in a similar manner, the pre-cast panel being provided with an upper beam form which is attached to the wall portion of the panel and interconnected to the previously described forms.
US08713865B2
A shrapnel containment system is provided which is adapted to be installed at an interior of a building wall to contain shrapnel from a blast, the system including a panel made of a layer of elastomeric material and fastener elements to fasten the layer to a wall of a structure, with the panel optionally including a fabric reinforcing layer. A method for producing the panel is also provided.
US08713861B2
Roof tile systems for structures are provided. A representative system (100) includes a solar panel tile (102) having a top side (121) for facing away from a structure, a bottom side (122) for facing lower side (126) for facing the downslope direction, the solar panel (150), the solar panel tile (102) having a first rib (131, 132, 133, 134) extending across the cavity (128); and a solar panel (150) mounted within the cavity (128) and supported by the first rib (131, 132, 133, 134) such that the solar panel tile (102) being a first of multiple solar panel tiles (102), with the multiple tiles being operative to engage in a side-by- side arrangement to form at least a partial course of tiles of the system (100).
US08713860B2
A solar insert for shingled roofs includes an insert with a generally wedge-shaped body designed to be installed beneath a shingle and a face that is exposed and extends along a lower edge of the shingle. The face preferably is angled with respect to the shingle and a solar collector in the form of a thin-film solar strip is mounted to and extends along the face. The inserts of multiple shingles are electrically coupled together to form an electrical grid for aggregating the electrical energy of the individual solar collectors and delivering it to a remote location for storage or use. In a second embodiment, a shingle has a solar collector strip mounted to its surface extending along a forward edge of the shingle, and in another, the solar collector surrounds the tabs of their shingles. The solar collectors not only generate electrical energy from the sun; they also enhance the appearance of a shingled roof by providing a look of increased thickness and texture.
US08713849B2
A method of controlling pests includes applying a trap (10) to a plant. The A trap (10) includes a tube (12) of resilient material with a longitudinal slit (16) in its outer wall (14) for at least part of the length of the tube (12) and a number of apertures (18) in the outer wall. The resilience of the outer wall (14) urges edges of the outer wall on opposing sides of the slit (16) towards each other. The trap (10) is installed by extending the tube (12) around a trunk (20) of the plant, so that its two opposing ends (22, 24) face each other, and inserting one end of the tube (22) inside the opposing end (24) by urging open the slit (16) at the outer end to enlarge the outer end and gripping the inner end by an inward resilient load from the outer wall of the outer end.
US08713847B2
The present invention deals with unique fishing lure that functions by means of an artificial lure fluttering in the water to simulate natural bait movement. The elements of the complete system interact to maximize the flutter effect through use of the particular fishing lure hook assembly, the fishing lure, the fishing line, and the knot system employed on the fishing line.
US08713842B1
A firearm barrel protective cover to prevent outside elements from entering a firearm barrel including a convex body partially surrounding the barrel end, the body having an outer wall, an opening disposed between first and second outer ends of the outer wall to accommodate a site member therethrough, and a channel disposed longitudinally within the wall. A disc-shaped flap is disposed abuttingly against a front end of the flap; and a continuous outside wall disposed between the forward end and the rearward end. An attachment member, including a hinge, pivotally attaches the flap to the body to allow gravity to swing and pivot the flap outwardly and downwardly away from the end of the barrel.
US08713837B2
A light weight stiffened gun stock is disclosed herein. The gun stock utilizes structural members oriented in a grid pattern resulting in a high strength-to-weight ratio. The grid pattern can be an isogrid, orthogrid, hoop-grid pattern, or a combination thereof. The structural members define the form of the gunstock, and provide recoil absorption to reduce the amount of recoil experienced by the shooter.
US08713834B2
A reinforcement device for reinforcing a locating pin aperture in a firearm magazine. The reinforcement device includes a front panel with an aperture adapted to be coaxially aligned with the locating pin aperture. The reinforcement device also includes a clamp adapted to secure the front panel to the firearm magazine to ensure accurate alignment of the front panel aperture with the locating pin aperture.
US08713832B2
A magazine release device is affixed to a firearm and operable from either side of the firearm. The device includes a shaft extending between opposite sides of the lower receiver and movable longitudinally between an engaged and a disengaged orientation. A spring biases the shaft into the engaged orientation. A plate, affixed to one end of the shaft, includes an inwardly directed catch that engages with a magazine when the shaft is in the engaged orientation and disengages from the magazine when the shaft is moved to the disengaged orientation. A right hand actuation button is affixed to the shaft on the right side of the lower receiver and a left hand actuation button is affixed to the plate on the left side and each actuation button controls the shaft and plate between the disengaged orientation and the engaged orientation.
US08713830B2
A cover member includes: a cover body that is located such that a reverse surface of the cover body faces an engine; a sticker that has a sticker body and an adhesive layer, the sticker body being formed such that the sticker body covers an aesthetically-designed concave portion that is formed on a top surface of the cover body, the adhesive layer being provided on a reverse-surface side of the sticker body to adhere the sticker body to the cover body; and a communication path that communicates an interior of the aesthetically-designed concave portion with the atmosphere.
US08713826B1
A rack system for displaying products comprises a rack unit supporting some of the products so as to be accessed at a forward facing product dispensing face. The rack unit has a side portion facing generally perpendicular to the dispensing face. A corner member is supported on the side portion and comprises a first wall portion extending generally forwardly to a vertical edge adjacent the product dispensing face, and a second wall portion extending generally laterally outward from the side portion to a second vertical edge. The first and second edges each have a retaining portion extending vertically. A flexible signage member is supported on the corner member in a flexed condition between the retaining portions with a signage surface that is concave outwardly between the retaining portions. The signage member is supported and retained on the corner member by a biasing of the signage member to extend wider than a distance between the retaining portions.
US08713824B2
An oil-storing electric iron comprises: a flat ironing part including a stainless steel soleplate, a top casing plate, an electric heating tube and a heating conducting oil; and an adjustable temperature controller. The stainless steel soleplate and the top casing plate form an enclosed casing in which the electric heating tube and the heating conducting oil are provided. The thermal capacity of the electric iron soleplate can be effectively increased and the problem of instability and nonuniformity of the electrical iron soleplate temperature can be solved, so as to be uniform in temperature, easy to operate, safe in use and energy saving.
US08713821B2
The present invention relates to the upper U of an athletic shoe comprising a first opening 1 out of which the foot sticks upwards during wearing and a second opening 2 which is closed with a tongue. The two openings 1, 2 are continuous with each other, and the upper U comprises a medial side stretchable part 51 which covers a part of a medial side face of an arch of the foot, a lateral side stretchable part 50 which covers a part of a lateral side face of a ball of a little toe (a fifth toe), a front part 3 located forward of the two stretchable parts 50, 51 and a rear part 4 located backward of the two stretchable parts. Each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is provided so as to essentially cross one of side faces of the upper U from a top surface of a sole S to the second opening 2. Young's modulus along the lengthwise direction L of the foot of each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is set smaller than that of the front part 3 and the rear part 4.
US08713820B2
Lacing systems are disclosed for use with footwear or other articles. The lacing system can comprises flexible webbing lace guides. In some embodiments, a lace guide can include a first lace guide element and a second lace guide element. The lace can pass through the first and second lace guides consecutively on the first side of the article before crossing to the opposing side of the article. The first and second lace guide elements can be angled towards each other to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the lace path through the lace guide elements. In some embodiments, the lace guide can have a central portion that is less flexible than the end portions so as to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the lace path through the lace guide when tension is applied to the lace.
US08713819B2
Embodiments relating to a lightweight sole structure are disclosed. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include a lobed member having a protruding portion associated with a cleat member. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include a chambered member located in an indention in an intermediate member. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include a cleat member having an outer layer, an intermediate layer, and an inner layer. In some embodiments, a method of making a sole structure may include injecting a chambered member in between an upper member and an intermediate member. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include a plurality of zones having varying degrees of flexibility. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include cleat members having penetrating portions for penetrating into the ground surface.
US08713814B2
A shower drying system directs air downwardly onto the walls, surfaces and/or shower curtain of a shower enclosure. In one embodiment, the air is heated. The movement of the air in the downward direction helps urge droplets of water on the shower surface towards a drain at the lower level of the shower enclosure. Remaining water on the surfaces is evaporated into water vapor that is exhausted from above the shower enclosure, thereby reducing mold and mildew.
US08713806B2
A power tool includes a power source, a speed change mechanism and a tool bit. The speed change mechanism includes first and second rotating shafts disposed parallel to each other, a first power transmission path provided with a first gear train and a first clutch and a second power transmission path provided with a second gear train and a second clutch. The power transmission path is switched between the first power transmission path and the second power transmission path while the first and second gear trains are held engaged, by shifting of the first and second clutches between the power transmission state and the power transmission interrupted state according to a load applied to the tool bit. The speed change mechanism further includes a switching retaining mechanism, a switching preventing mechanism, a switching set value adjusting mechanism or a switching mechanism.
US08713798B2
The present invention relates to a screen cylinder that is particularly suitable for screening, filtering, fractionating, or sorting cellulose pulp suspensions of the pulp and paper making industry, or other similar suspensions. The present invention relates more particularly to a screen cylinder formed from a plurality of screen wires leaving screening slots therebetween, and circular support elements. The support elements include openings/grooves for installation of the screen wires therein, so that at least one of the support rings is thermally deformed and clamps the screen wires in the openings/grooves of the rings.
US08713796B2
A flat tube for use with a heat exchanger. The flat tube including wide sides, narrow sides, an inner insert, a wall that at least partially forms the wide sides and the narrow sides, and the wall is configured to be produced from a punched-out blank. The flat tube further includes an introduction bevel in order to facilitate introduction of the inner insert. The introduction bevel includes at least two bent-down projections at an end of the flat tube. The at least two projections extend over portions of at least one of the wide sides and the narrow sides, and it being possible for the at least two projections to be separated off after the introduction of the inner insert.
US08713795B2
A remanufacturing and salvaging strategy for fuel injector tips such as high flow fuel injector tips includes blocking a first set of spray orifices in the fuel injector tip, including at least partially filling the first set of spray orifices with a material, for example by laser welding. New spray orifices are formed in virgin material of the fuel injector tip, offset from the former spray orifices, also for example via a laser. A remanufactured fuel injector tip includes blocked former spray orifices as well as new spray orifices configured to permit spraying of fuel from the fuel injector tip.
US08713792B2
A printed wiring board includes a Cu wiring pattern formed on a substrate. A first metal layer is formed on the Cu wiring pattern. A second metal layer is formed on the first metal layer. The first metal layer has a less reactivity with Cu than the second metal layer. The first metal layer and the second metal layer together cause an eutectic reaction.
US08713791B1
A soldering fixture is disclosed having a unitary base member configured to maintain a printed circuit board and an electrical connector in a particular orientation during soldering. The unitary base member includes a lateral channel dimensioned to maintain a plurality of wire leads associated with the electrical connector in a spaced relationship with the printed circuit board. The unitary base member further includes a wire alignment tool configured to align the plurality of wire leads in the particular orientation such that the plurality of wire leads are in juxtaposition with a plurality of solder pads affixed to one or more surfaces of the printed circuit board.
US08713790B2
The system for installing shower walls includes a pressure transfer member for urging a shower wall against a back up support during bonding of the shower wall to the support. An adjustable force development device engages the pressure transfer member to force the pressure transfer member against the shower wall. A support member engages the pressure transfer member when the force development device exerts a predetermined force against the shower wall. A fixation device holds the support member to maintain the pressure transfer position of the pressure transfer member. The fixation device includes a cam that moves a shower wall into a tight corner fit with an adjacent shower wall.
US08713788B2
Multi-layer, multi-material fabrication methods include depositing at least one structural material and at least one sacrificial material during the formation of each of a plurality of layers wherein deposited materials for each layer are planarized to set a boundary level for the respective layer and wherein during formation of at least one layer at least three materials are deposited with a planarization operation occurring before deposition of the last material to set a planarization level above the layer boundary level and wherein a planarization occurs after deposition of the last material whereby the boundary level for the layer is set. Some formation processes use electrochemical fabrication techniques (e.g. including selective depositions, bulk depositions, etching operations and planarization operations) and post-deposition processes (e.g. selective etching operations and/or back filling operations).
US08713785B2
A custom case for enclosing an item, and a method for making the same, are disclosed. The case includes an outer shell, and an inner base layer formed of an impression material such as impression foam. The impression foam can be used by compressing it with an item to be enclosed to produce a cavity. Thus, the cavity will be adapted to receive the item with a close fit. Preferably, the impression foam is then soaked with a glue such as a latex glue in order to cause it to be hardened. It may then be coated with a paint. A second layer may be added to the case also formed of impression foam to allow for a second item or set of items to be stored above the base layer. A method for making a custom case is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an outer shell, providing the impression foam base layer, compressing the base layer, and preferably hardening the base layer using a glue. Optionally, the method also includes coating the base layer with a paint or stain. In other embodiments, the invention includes a customizable tray which can be adapted to fit items via impression material, and which can be adapted to fit within a drawer or other suitable place.
US08713780B2
An apparatus for welding motor vehicle body component subassemblies at a weld station. First and second pallets are arranged for reciprocal movement between a load/unload station and the weld station and the pallets are alternately moved from a load/unload station to the weld station while the other pallet is moved from the weld station to a load/unload station. Each pallet has a plurality of substations for receipt of component subassemblies and, while each pallet is at the load/unload station, the component subassembly at each substation is moved to the next successive substation and a further component is added to the moved component.
US08713760B2
A hinge for a movable furniture part fastened to a body of a piece of furniture is proposed, the hinge having a first fastening part which is attachable to the body and which is connected pivotably via a joint mechanism to a second fastening part attachable to the movable furniture part, the joint mechanism comprising articulated levers mounted via axes of articulation. According to the invention, a further pivotably mounted lever is present, which, during a complete as-intended pivoting movement of the hinge, is temporarily coupled to a guide portion on the hinge, the further lever acting upon a damper arrangement of the hinge.
US08713757B2
A slide cover lifting structure used in an electronic device consisting of a base member and a cover panel is disclosed to include a pair hinges, a pair of sliding rail holders, a pair of bearing members, a pair of plastic slide guides, a pair of sliding rails, a transmission shaft, two gear sets and a pair of gear racks. The gear sets are provided between the sliding rail holders and the bearing members for transmission of applied force. The transmission shaft is mounted in the base member (system end), allowing free utilization of the internal circuit board space of the base member.
US08713750B2
A dry-type cleaning chassis includes a chassis part including an opening part in contact with a cleaning target, an air inlet duct provided to blow external air into the internal space; a suction port provided for generating a circulating air flow in the internal space by suctioning air having been introduced into the internal space via the air inlet duct; a porous unit configured to pass objects removed from the cleaning target to a suction port side; and a path limiting member formed of a cylindrical shape extended in an axis center direction of the circulating air flow and configured so that an inside of the cylindrical shape is in communication with the suction port as a suction path.
US08713745B2
An ice scraper adapted to remove materials such as ice, frost, and/or snow from automobile window glass surfaces or other window glass surfaces that has a longitudinally extending handle composing of two separate ice scraping devices. The flat scraping device which is similar to most traditional ice scrapers is designed to remove thick ice and snow by applying force from the handle in a general parallel direction to the length of the handle against the surface to be scraped. The opposite or opposing side of the intermediate portion of the ice scraper body contains a double beveled edged circular shaped ice scraper designed to remove frost/thin ice using a clockwise or counter clockwise motion, utilizing the handhold or flat scraping surface or both as a handle. A handle composed of two angles that aid in the use of both the flat scraping device and circular working edge.
US08713740B2
A system for cleaning windows in tall buildings, comprises a chassis (7) with means for its mounting on a suspended platform. (3) It also includes a rotating conveyor belt (61) mounted on the chassis and brushes (62) mounted on the conveyor belt. Each brush is mounted through extender means (63). Preferably, the conveyor belt includes means for its rotation in a generally horizontal direction. The means for rotating the conveyor belt include a first roller (71) and a second roller (72) mounted on the chassis. The conveyor belt is preferably mounted between the rollers and further includes motor means for rotating one of the rollers.
US08713737B2
A laundry treating appliance and method for dispensing treating chemistry, where the laundry treating appliance includes a treating chamber, a single use dispenser and a bulk dispenser. Water may be supplied to the single use dispenser through a first water flow path, which directs a dose of treating chemistry dispensed from the single use dispenser into the treating chamber. Water may be supplied to the bulk dispenser through a second water flow path, which is configured to spray a dose of treating chemistry dispensed from the bulk dispenser into the treating chamber. The laundry treating appliance may determine the presence of treating chemistry within at least one of the single use dispenser and the bulk dispenser, and, based on this determination, supply water to the flow path associated with the dispenser which contains treating chemistry.
US08713733B2
This invention relates to a postural system which can advantageously be used by both properly walking persons and non-ambulant and partially ambulant persons, and in the latter case is suitable for use with or incorporation with medical support devices for mobility, medical devices for rehabilitation and social or domestic life and the like: this system may also be advantageously used with or incorporated with transport means. The postural system according to the invention provides a supporting structure comprising a flat base plate (10) and a plurality of modular blocks (20a-20f, 30a-30d, 40a-40f, 50a-50e, 80a-80b) intended to support various segments of the user's body (legs, pelvis, spine and so on). The number, shape, size and orientation of the said modular blocks can be suitably selected to obtain a perfect fit for the user's shape (whether male or female) and encourage perfect housing of the body and a correct weight distribution over the entire surface of the seat.
US08713729B2
A device for supporting a user includes a frame for supporting the torso of the user. The frame may be oriented in a left, middle and right orientations. The user's arms extending through openings, which permit the user to position the arm adjacent the frame without the user's body weight on the user's shoulder or arm.
US08713728B2
A fluid tank receptacle comprises a housing, a cage, and a retainer. The housing includes an opening therethrough configured to receive a fluid tank. The cage movably engages the housing and configured to support the fluid tank. The retainer is coupled to the housing and is configured to movably retain a portion of the cage within the housing such that the cage is able to move between a storage position and a use position with respect to the housing.
US08713727B2
A siderail assembly includes a guide, a support frame coupled to the frame and movable between first and second positions, and a barrier coupled to the support frame and movable therewith. The siderail assembly further includes a handle coupled to the barrier to move between a first position and a second position relative to the barrier. The siderail assembly may include electronic controls to change the position or limit movement of various portions of a patient support apparatus on which the siderail assembly may be coupled.
US08713725B2
The rinsing device comprises a flexible connecting pipe which at one end is connected to a connecting element which may be attached to a fitting and at the other end bears a spray head with an actuating lever. The spray head is held on a holder, which protrudes outwardly from the connecting element. The connecting pipe comprises a flexible water feed pipe which is surrounded by a casing element, which is formed by a single spiral tension spring consisting of one piece. Said spiral tension spring consists of a first upright spring portion having a straight spring axis, a second curved spring portion attached thereto and a third, similarly upright spring portion having a straight spring axis, which is attached to the second spring portion. A tube-shaped protective casing extends around the casing element which protects the casing element from soiling.
US08713723B2
An improved swimming pool cover system which incorporates a gap eliminator for use on pools which have walls of varying height and curvature, the gap eliminator secured to the wall by a cable and a plurality of anchors, the gap eliminator having a sleeve including a weighted buoyant material disposed below the pool cover attached to the cable and a second sleeve having buoyant weighted material disposed above the pool cover attached to the cable, thereby sealing the gap between the pool cover and the wall.
US08713721B2
The present invention discloses a conductive sensor and a urinal having conductive sensor. Said conductive sensor is installed in the sewer pipe of the urinal or toilet, which comprises an insulating body and a detecting electrode used for detecting the electric conductivity of the liquid in the sewer pipe. Said conductive sensor also comprises a self-cleaning device used for cleaning the end of the detecting electrode. Said self-cleaning device comprises a housing, a piston unit and a brush head unit. A water inlet pipe connected with the tap water pipe and a water outlet pipe connected with the sewer pipe are installed to said housing. Said brush head unit comprises a brush head used for cleaning the end of the detecting electrode. Thus, the detected result of conductive sensor and the urinal having conductive sensor are more reliable and the device is easy to be maintained.
US08713720B2
The invention relates to a gravity operated mechanical flushing apparatus, which is operated without any external power source. A weight sensing element (1) provided with a tank (T) contains a component part (8) able to move along a vertical path against a spring force and a controlled feeder valve (5) coupled to a water supply system. The weight sensing element (1) has at its lower end an output (6) able to move vertically causing a mechanical operating event, said output (6) is coupled to a ratchet mechanism (3) through a coupling transmission (2). The ratchet mechanism (3) is able to transmit every second mechanical operating event presented by said output (6) and said transmission (2) to a control element of said controlled feeder valve (5) by means of a further transmission (4) in order to transmit an activating mechanical movement. The controlled feeder valve (5) is coupled to a pipe (17) for filling a determined amount of water for flush from the water supply system into said tank (T) through an outlet (18) of said pipe (17).
US08713713B2
A necktie assembly comprises a necktie (1) and a necktie-knot ring (3), wherein an additional hanging strip (11) is sewn on the necktie (1), and the necktie-knot ring (3) is used for forming a necktie knot. The necktie-knot ring (3) comprises a necktie-knot ring cavity (33), a necktie inlet-outlet opening (34) and a string-hanging buckling hook (25), wherein the necktie-knot ring cavity (33) is surrounded by a front shell (31) and a rear shell (32) of the necktie-knot ring and is used for enclosing the necktie (1); the necktie inlet-outlet opening (34) is positioned on the rear shell (32) and the necktie can pass from its top to its bottom; the string-hanging buckling hook (25) extends from any position at one side of the necktie inlet-outlet opening (34) to the other side thereof.
US08719950B2
According to one embodiment, an access control apparatus suspends the resource access event prior to access of the resource access device when the resource access event is started. The access control apparatus acquires attribute information from the attribute management device by using the deny-type policy in the access control policy and decides the permission or the denial of the access based on this attribute information and the deny-type policy. The access control apparatus releases the suspension when a result of decision in the supplied access decision result is indicative of the permission and no obligation-type policy is present in the access decision response.
US08719946B2
A system for securely downloading and playing coherent digital content such as music and preventing its play by unauthorized users. The system may include mass server/storage devices for receiving and storing digital content having predetermined gaps; and client devices communicating with the server/storage devices, and providing authorization to proceed. During playing of the digital content by the client devices, the missing gaps may be filled into the appropriate places, to allow the play of the coherent digital content.
US08719935B2
An anti-malware system that reduces the likelihood of detecting a false positive. The system is applied in an enterprise network in which a server receives reports of suspected malware from multiple hosts. Files on hosts suspected of containing malware are compared to control versions of those files. A match between a suspected file and a control version is used as an indication that the malware report is a false positive. Such an indication may be used in conjunction with other information, such as whether other hosts similarly report suspect files that match control versions or whether the malware report is generated by a recently changed component of the anti-malware system.
US08719930B2
The invention features systems and methods for detecting and mitigating network attacks in a Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) network. A server is configured to receive information related to a mitigation action for a call. The information can include a complexity level for administering an audio challenge-response test to the call and an identification of the call. The server also generates i) a routing label based on the identification of the call, and ii) a script defining a plurality of variables that store identifications of a plurality of altered sound files for the audio challenge-response test. Each altered sound file is randomly selected by the server subject to one or more constraints associated with the complexity level. The server is further configured to transmit the script to a guardian module and the routing label to a gateway.
US08719928B2
The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for detecting malware using a remote server. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure a hash value for a file is generated. The hash value is transmitted to a remote server. A notification is received from the remote server indicating whether the file comprises malware. At least one operation on the file is prevented if the notification indicates the file comprises malware.
US08719927B2
Technologies are generally described for data filtering for communication devices. In one example, a method of receiving data from a data source on a communication device is disclosed. The method includes determining, at the communication device, a domain name of the data source. The method also includes determining, at the communication device, one or more communication networks the communication device is connected to. The method further includes processing, at the communication device, the domain name for acceptance based on the one or more connected communication networks. The method also includes receiving the data from the data source, at the communication device, if the domain name is accepted.
US08719922B2
A device is secured against unauthorized use with a passcode based on a sensory association of a visual item with one or both of a sound clip and a tactile pattern. The sensory association passcode is encoded from one or more frames containing a user-selected combination of the visual item with the sound clip and/or the tactile pattern. The sensory association passcode can be further encoded with a sequence that indicates an order of the one or more frames of the passcode. Users can retrieve a portion of the sensory association passcode to facilitate recall of a forgotten passcode. The user-selected combination of the visual item with the sound clip and/or the tactile pattern facilitates easier recall of a passcode than might be possible with conventional passcode techniques.
US08719920B2
Arrangements to identify, in some form, multiple participants by an interactive surface system utilizing multi-touch technology are disclosed. The interactive surface system could identify, authorize, and allocate space on a surface for a participant based on identifying at least one attribute of the participant such as an object associated with the participant. The method can include searching for a first distinctive attribute of the participant, assigning an identifier to the attribute, and storing the identifier for future use. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08719915B2
A method for improving network application security and the system thereof are disclosed in the invention, relating to the field of information security. The method includes: a proxy server in a customer terminal host receives a protocol message, generated and sent by the customer terminal software according to the information input by a user, and obtains the protocol content after parsing the protocol message, and determines whether critical information is included in the protocol content, if it is, the server sends the protocol content to the smart key device; and the smart key device obtains the critical information by parsing it and sends it to the user, and after a confirmation information is gotten from the user, the smart key device signs the protocol content and sends the signature result to the server; and then the server generates a new protocol message to an application server according to the signature result and the protocol content; after an error confirmation or no confirmation is received within a predetermined time period by the user, the smart key device performs the exception handling. The system includes a smart key device and a proxy server in the customer terminal host. The invention improves network application security on the premise of no change to the customer terminal, and it is usable and compatible.
US08719907B2
A computerized authorization system configured to authorize electronically-made requests to an electronic entity. The computerized authorization system comprises a store configured to store an indication of at least one predetermined electronic authorization device configured to authorize each electronically-made request. The computerized authorization system is further configured such that: in response to receiving an electronically-made request to the electronic entity, an indication of the request is output to the at least one predetermined electronic authorization device configured to authorize the request as indicated in the store; and in response to receiving an indication of authorization from the at least one predetermined electronic authorization device, an indication of authorization of the request is output to the electronic entity.
US08719894B2
In various embodiments, techniques for federated role provisioning are provided. A federated role definition for a resource is constructed and distributed. The federated role definition includes a role hierarchy having role assignments and constraints for dynamically resolving and binding a resource to particular ones of the role assignments. A resource may have role assignments statically bound to its identity and dynamically bound to its identity. Furthermore, some role assignments may be inherited from the role hierarchy.
US08719890B2
A system is described that consists of a variable modulation unicast system that utilizes multiple modulation schemes in a cable network for unicast applications and is capable of assigning users to different channels of differing modulation schemes in the network based on a feedback signal received in response to a transmitted probe signal. The system may also, in response to the feedback signal from a remote device in the network, assign a channel from a plurality of channels having differing carrier frequencies and modulation schemes to the remote device and may also modify the carrier frequencies of the channels.
US08719887B2
A system includes a receiver and a communication interface. The receiver is adapted to tune to an audio/video portion over a transport medium. The communication interface is adapted to receive announcement data associated with the tuned audio/video content directed to a first addressable location and to receive a special announcement directed to the first addressable location. The special announcement indicates availability of the announcement data associated with the tuned audio/video program, and the announcement data is associated with the tuned audio/video content and indicates enhancement data is being transmitted. The controller is adapted to redirect the announcement data to a second addressable location other than the first addressable location in response to the special announcement.
US08719882B2
A system includes a video-on-demand server and an authentication server. The video-on-demand server is configured to provide video-on-demand content through a broadband connection to a set-top box device. The authentication server is in communication with the video-on-demand server. The authentication server is configured to receive a request to allow access to a video-on-demand package that includes the video-on-demand content, to determine if a user is currently authorized to constantly receive a broadcast package that includes a plurality of broadcast channels related to the video-on-demand content, and to authorize a broadcast channel in the broadcast package when not currently authorized to receive the broadcast package.
US08719880B2
Disclosed is a content management server that enables a playback restart from a suitable playback interruption position to be made possible even when editing processing has been executed on content copied to a content playback apparatus. In a content management server (200) that manages content and also performs content editing by deleting a portion within the content or adding to a portion within the content, a transmission/reception section (202) receives a first playback interruption position that is a position at which content playback was interrupted by a content playback apparatus (100), a playback interruption position calculation section (209) calculates a second playback interruption position corresponding to a position at which content playback was interrupted by the content playback apparatus (100) in content after editing, based on an editing interval deleted by editing within the content and the first playback interruption position, and the transmission/reception section (202) transmits the second playback interruption position to the content playback apparatus (100).
US08719878B2
The invention relates to video distribution systems and, more particularly, to a system that blanket transmits video/audio content such as movies (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based recording, storage and playback system. Customers preselect from a list of available movies or other content in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay for only the video/audio content that is actually viewed.
US08719876B2
A video on demand (VoD) network architecture implements a gateway that provides both satellite-based communications and radio frequency-based communications. The gateway may receive a content request from a video client and determine whether the content request corresponds to a content delivery network (CDN). When the content request corresponds to the CDN, the gateway may install a VoD access point name (APN) route designated for VoD traffic between the video client and the CDN, and communicate the content request to the CDN via the VoD APN route. The VoD APN route may include a VoD APN of a wireless wide area network (WWAN) connected to the gateway via an air interface. When the content request does not correspond to the CDN, the gateway may communicate the content request via an Internet APN route.
US08719875B2
A receiving unit 28 includes a tuner circuit board 100 that receives a first signal that may include a satellite signal. The tuner circuit board 100 demodulates the satellite signal to form a second signal. The second signal is provided to an internet protocol (IP) and control module circuit board 102 that is separated from the tuner circuit board 100. The internet protocol (IP) and control module circuit board 102 formats the second signal to form an IP encapsulated signal. The IP encapsulated signal is communicated to a device 44 so that a display 46 may be generated.
US08719871B2
An approach is provided for utilizing dynamic bandwidth allocation for recording content. A recording manager generates a request for bandwidth for a future recording of a programming content to be delivered to a set-top box. The recording manager then receives a response indicating a dynamic bandwidth allocation for the future recording and schedules the future recording of the programming content based on the dynamic bandwidth allocation.
US08719861B2
A method for distributing dynamic event notification data in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system including receiving at an IPTV server the dynamic event notification data indicating an occurrence of a dynamic event; identifying at the IPTV server a current IPTV viewer associated with an IPTV end user client device; retrieving at the IPTV server an event filter for the current IPTV viewer; filtering at the IPTV server the dynamic event notification data through the event filter for the current IPTV viewer; and sending from the IPTV server to an end user client device associated with the current IPTV viewer, the dynamic event notification data when the dynamic event notification data passes through the event filter.
US08719852B2
A turntable for storage disk drive apparatuses includes a plate member made of a ferromagnetic material and a central resin member arranged at the center of the plate member and formed by injection-molding a resin. The central resin member includes a disk guide portion provided on an upper surface thereof to guide a central hole of a disk and a plurality of gate recess portions indented upwards from a lower surface of the central resin member. The gate recess portions include ceiling surfaces positioned higher than the plate member. The ceiling surfaces include a plurality of gate cut portions formed in an injection molding process.
US08719847B2
A home device management technique is described that allows a user to manage a network of distributed home devices. Special application modules, driver modules, and service exchange ports are employed. Each application modules implements some functionality in the home, preferably using one or more devices in the home distributed system. Each driver module provides the logic for operating one or multiple distributed home devices and is capable of receiving commands from application modules and sending them to devices, detecting events for an associated type of home device, translating the detected event into a format usable by the application modules and notifying the application modules of the events. Events are communicated between the application modules and the driver modules by using one or more service exchange ports. Access control policies are employed to control access to the home devices. The application and driver modules can be obtained over a network from a home marketplace that can also determine their compatibility and interoperability with the home devices.
US08719843B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for virtualizable, forward-compatible hardware-software interfaces. Embodiments may be used in a driver whether it is a physical driver or a virtual driver. Commands are queued from the driver and fetched to the device. An actions table is accessed to determine if drivers are permitted to perform commands. Events are queued for the drivers responsive to commands. If drivers are not permitted to perform a command, device firmware may forward the command to a privileged driver to perform the required command. If a driver is only permitted to perform a command with assistance the command is forwarded for corrections and execution. If a command is to be dropped, a completion event may be queued as if the command had executed. Drivers may have no indication of which actions were taken. The actions table may be changed for hardware/software modifications or dynamically according to configuration changes.
US08719842B2
An agent may receive an event from a source calendaring system, wherein the event specifies a person, perhaps including a uniform resource locator, having disparate calendaring system. The disparate calendaring system may use a native event format for coordinating events. The agent may lookup a template to convert the event to a native event. The agent may transmit a message with attributes such as a unique identifier to the disparate calendaring system. If the disparate calendaring system acknowledges the event with a success, the agent may log the occurrence of a success. Agent may transmit additional messages having native events to additional disparate systems.
US08719837B2
A microprocessor architecture having extendible logic. One or more customized applications are available to the instruction pipeline. The customizable applications may include software, extension logic instruction or register, dynamically configurable hardware logic, or combinations of these. In order to enable the operating system to interface with the customized extension applications, at least one software extension is provided to the operating system. When a specific extension is requested a software exception is generated by the OS. In response to the exception, the least one software extension is called to handle context switch and dynamic configuration of the extendible logic of the microprocessor.
US08719833B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing adaptive demand-driven load balancing for processing jobs in business applications. One process includes operations for identifying a workload for distribution among a plurality of work processes. A subset of the workload is assigned to a plurality of work processes for processing of the subset of the workload based on an application-dependent algorithm. An indication of availability is received from one of the plurality of work processes, and a new subset of the workload is assigned to the work process.
US08719832B2
A resource management system for managing resources in a computing and/or communications resource infrastructure is disclosed. The system comprises a database for storing a model of the resource infrastructure. The database defines a set of resources provided by the infrastructure; a set of software applications operating within the infrastructure and utilizing resources; and associations between given applications in the model and given resources to indicate utilization of the given resources by the given applications. The model can be used to perform resource utilization analysis and failure impact analysis.
US08719827B2
A processor for sequentially executing a plurality of programs using a plurality of register value groups stored in a memory that correspond one-to-one with the programs. The processor includes a plurality of register groups; a select/switch unit operable to select one of the plurality of register groups as an execution target register group on which a program execution is based, and to switch the selection target every time a first predetermined period elapses; a restoring unit operable to restore, every time the switching is performed, one of the register value groups into one of the register groups that is not selected as the execution target register group; a saving unit operable to save, prior to the restoring, register values in the register group targeted for restoring, by overwriting a register value group in the memory that corresponds to the register values; and a program execution unit operable to execute, every time the switching is performed, a program corresponding to a register value group in the execution target register group.
US08719823B2
A component manages and minimizes latency introduced by virtualization. The virtualization component determines that a currently scheduled guest process has executed functionality responsive to which the virtualization component is to execute a virtualization based operation, wherein the virtualization based operation is one that is not visible to the guest operating system. The virtualization component causes the guest operating system to de-schedule the currently scheduled guest process and schedule at least one separate guest process. The virtualization component then executes the virtualization based operation concurrently with the execution of the at least one separate guest process. Responsive to completing the execution of the virtualization based operation, the virtualization component causes the guest operating system to re-schedule the de-scheduled guest process.
US08719819B2
In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes managing user-level threads on a first instruction sequencer in response to executing user-level instructions on a second instruction sequencer that is under control of an application level program. A first user-level thread is run on the second instruction sequencer and contains one or more user level instructions. A first user level instruction has at least 1) a field that makes reference to one or more instruction sequencers or 2) implicitly references with a pointer to code that specifically addresses one or more instruction sequencers when the code is executed.
US08719815B1
A method for distributing a computer software package using a pre-requisite query is disclosed. A first pre-requisite query is associated with a package. Attribute information is obtained from one or more managed nodes across a computer network. The attribute information is stored on an administrative system. The first pre-requisite query is run using the attribute information on the administrative system to obtain a first result. The first result indicates whether the one or more managed nodes has the necessary attribute information for the package. The package is sent to the one or more managed nodes that have the necessary attribute information for the package.
US08719814B2
A virtual installation map, and method involving installing a software functionality using the same, the virtual installation map including a first software installation map including a plurality of software elements representative of a related software file, the software elements also including at least one dependency to another software element. The virtual installation map further including a second software installation map also including a second plurality of software elements representative of related software file along with related dependencies. The first and second software installation maps may be hosted in separate databases and may relate to software products provided by different vendors. One or both software installation maps may include a pointer or other reference to the other installation map thereby providing a virtual installation map, in one example.
US08719807B2
A method and apparatus for enabling a Software Transactional Memory (STM) with precompiled binaries is herein described. Upon encountering an access operation in a transaction, an annotation field associated with a memory location referenced by the access is checked. In response to the memory location representing a previous similar access within the transaction, the access is performed without access barriers. However, if the annotation field is in a default state representing no previous access during a pendancy of the transaction, then a mode of the processor is determined. If the processor mode is in implicit mode, an access handler/barrier is asynchronously executed. Conversely, in an explicit mode, a flag is set instead of asynchronously executing the handler. In addition, during compilation convert explicit and convert implicit instructions are inserted to intelligently convert modes for precompiled and newly compiled binaries. Furthermore, new versions of newly compiled functions may be inserted to provide strong atomicity between previously and newly compiled functions.
US08719805B2
The present invention provides a method and system for producing intermediate representation of source code listings with possibly mixed syntaxes to assist software development applications in presenting and analyzing the source code listings through reading the intermediate representation. A source code processor calls Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to preserve source code information, which includes intermediate representation data sets and is preferably stored in a file-based repository. The source code processor is of a compiler, a preprocessor, a parser, or a comment document processor. The data sets capture lexical, syntax and semantic information of source code construct elements, and comprise of location, processor identification, construct category, and attribute data. A software development environment through a source code search engine is able to present source code construct elements, outlines, and symbol references from software packages over a plurality of distributed servers in a network such as the Internet.
US08719804B2
Instances of a same application execute on different respective hosts in a cloud computing environment. Instances of a monitor application are distributed to concurrently execute with each application instance on a host in the cloud environment, which provides user access to the application instances. The monitor application may be generated from a specification, which may define properties of the application/cloud to monitor and rules based on the properties. Each rule may have one or more conditions. Each monitor instance running on a host, monitors execution of the corresponding application instance on that host by obtaining from the host information regarding values of properties on the host per the application instance. Each monitor instance may evaluate the local host information or aggregate information collected from hosts running other instances of the monitor application, to repeatedly determine whether a rule condition has been violated. On violation, a user-specified handler is triggered.
US08719800B2
A virtual machine system decouples dynamic program analysis from program execution. Program analysis is decoupled from program execution through the use of a virtual machine to record program execution and an analysis platform to replay and analyze the program execution. Optimization techniques are applied to prevent the analysis platform from falling too far behind the program execution platform during replay.
US08719798B2
System and method for providing logging information associated with development of executable program code. The method may include inserting a plurality of logging information elements into program code, the plurality of logging information elements having at least one logging parameter associated with the program code. In one embodiment, filtering criteria may be defined corresponding to the at least one logging parameter. In another embodiment, the program code may be filtered based on the filtering criteria. According to another embodiment, a result of the filtering may be provided including a subset of the plurality of logging information elements corresponding to said filtering criteria.
US08719794B2
An approach is provided in a fake check-in event is received at a software application corresponding to a user of the software application. Fake check-ins are initiated on behalf of the user in response to the fake check-in event. The software application posts a set of fake check-in entries on behalf of the user while the user is away. The posted fake check-ins are visible by other users of the software application and are used to obfuscate others that the user is out-of-town. In one embodiment, check-in entries that are received from the user after fake check-ins have been initiated are cached. In this embodiment, a local check-in event is received when the user is within the user's geographical local area and the cached check-in entries are posted so that they are now visible by the other users of the software application.
US08719789B2
Test coverage is enhanced by measuring various types of coupling between coverage tasks. The coupling measurements may be implicit coupling measurements, explicit coupling measurements, coding coupling measurements, performance coupling measurements, resource coupling measurements or the like. Coupling scores are calculated for coverage tasks and based thereon ranking of the coverage tasks or groups of coverage tasks may be determined The ranking may be utilized in selecting for which uncovered coverage task a test should be designed. The ranking may be utilized in computing a coverage measurement of a test suite. The ranking may be utilized to rank tests, based on the coverage tasks each test covers. Ranking of tests may be utilized for various purposes such as performing test selection.
US08719778B2
A method is disclosed for producing a software application with at least two layers, including a processing layer and a process layer, wherein each layer is encapsulated and hence platform-independent in its execution, the encapsulated layers communicating via an application programming interface. A system is also disclosed for producing an application including a flexible interconnection interface between encapsulated layers. By virtue of the implementation of an additional configurable interconnection interface in the application programming interface between two encapsulated application layers, the architecture layering can be retained regardless of the respective deployment, and only the communication profiles of the interconnection interfaces need be adapted to the deployment. This has the advantage, in at least one embodiment, that it is not necessary to produce and update different source code masters for the different deployments, and instead only one single architecture layering of the application need be created and maintained.
US08719776B2
The present invention provides a mobile application ecosystem comprising a mobile application development kit and store, both of which are implemented as web-based services such that creation, testing, and distribution of mobile applications, as well as discovery, investigation, and delivery of same, can all be performed using a standard web browser. The mobile application development kit offers common capabilities across all target mobile device brand and brand groups, allowing the same application construct to work unmodified on all, while building the application in a manner that is native to each, thereby avoiding any requirement to embed a separate common runtime or virtual machine on every mobile device.
US08719773B2
A workflow data binding system facilitates binding of a data component to a feature of a software component. Prior to the binding, a graphical indication of the software component and a graphical indication of the feature of the software component are displayed. In addition, an indication of an element of the data component is displayed in a display area approximately adjacent to the displayed software component. The workflow data binding system receives a user input command to bind the data component to the feature of the software component. The user input command may include dragging the indication of an element of the data component from the data component display area to the feature of the software component and subsequently dropping it on the feature. As a result, the workflow data binding system automatically generates script or code that provides executable instructions to bind the feature of the software component to the data component.
US08719767B2
A method and system for utilizing snapshots to provide software builds to developer computing devices is described. In some examples, the system, in response to receiving a request for a software build, performs a snapshot of a storage volume containing the requested build, and mounts the snapshot to the developer computing device, enabling the developer computing device to access the software build. In some examples, the system, in response to receiving a request for a software build, establishes a virtual machine, performs a snapshot of a storage volume containing the requested build, mounts the snapshot to the established virtual machine, and provides the virtual machine to the requesting computing device.
US08719760B1
A technique validates results from a circuit simulation estimation program. The technique determines whether the estimated results satisfy Kirchhoff's current law (KCL), Kirchhoff's voltage laws (KVL), and power conservation for the original circuit. A reporting tool shows the validation results and may be customized by the user. The tool can show in the original circuitry where the estimated results may be inaccurate.
US08719759B1
The present disclosure relates to a method of optimizing the area of series gate layout structures for FinFET devices. The method analyzes an integrated chip (IC) layout to determine a first gate material density along a first direction and to separately determine a second gate material density along a second direction based upon the first gate material density. A number of series gate stages for a FinFET (field effect transistor) device having a gate length along the second direction, is chosen based upon the second gate material density and one or more device performance parameters of the FinFET device. By analyzing the density of gate material in separate directions, the effective length of the gate of the FinFET can be increased without increasing the size of the transistor array.
US08719758B1
The invention provides, in some aspects, a method of automated diagram generation that includes inputting a description of a plurality of entities and connectivity relationships in which those entities participate with one another; assigning the entities to each of one or more groups groups; assigning the entities to each of one or more columns, each of which has one or more lanes; determining a candidate layout of columns for placement into one or more workspaces based on widths assigned to those columns; assigning connectivity relationships of one or more entities in at least one column to each of one or more lanes based on the column(s) to which entities participating in those connectivity relationships are assigned; assigning widths to at least one of the columns as a function of those lane assignments; and outputting a representation of that candidate layout.
US08719753B1
A programmable device system includes one or more network-on-chip (NoC) die layers vertically connected to one or more programmable chip dice layers. The NoC die layer includes interconnects, a bus or non-blocking switches, and optionally memory blocks and direct memory access engines. The NoC die layer improves on-chip communications by providing fast and direct interconnection circuitry between various parts of the programmable chip die.
US08719749B2
A counter/timer circuit and a method of operating the counter/timer circuit are described. In one embodiment, a method of operating a counter/timer circuit involves determining a match condition by comparing a count value of the counter/timer circuit with a value stored in a match register of the counter/timer circuit and delaying an assertion of the match condition based on a value programmed in a match companion register of the counter/timer circuit. The match companion register is associated with the match register. Other embodiments are also described.
US08719748B2
A method of implementing a VLSI clock network is implemented. That method includes a step of generating an initial VLSI clock grid for incorporation on a silicon die. An input grid buffer is then sized and implemented for the VLSI clock grid. LC tanks are then placed and sized in the VLSI clock grid to implement a resonant tank clock grid and the input grid buffer is resized. A check of the resonant tank design criteria is then made. If the design criteria are met the resonant VLSI clock grid with its LC tanks is implemented. If not, another attempt at implementing a suitable LC tanks placement and sizing is made. The process iterates until a VLSI clock grid that meets the design criteria is obtained.
US08719747B2
Technology is disclosed herein that provides for modifying a circuit design to reduce the potential occurrence of single event upset errors during operation of a device manufactured from the synthesized design. After a circuit design has been synthesized to a particular abstraction level, a static timing analysis procedure is run on the design. The slack values for paths within the design are determined based upon the static timing analysis procedure. Subsequently, delays are added to selected paths within the design based upon the slack values.
US08719728B2
Various embodiments of a method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium are disclosed. An application displays a portion of a unit of information in a first window on a display, and another portion of the unit of information in a second window on the display. The first and second windows are concurrently displayed on the display. The application closes the second window on the display. The closing inserts an indicator representing the second window into the unit of information and removes the second window from the display. The unit of information does not comprise the indicator prior to closing. In response to an interaction involving the indicator, the application redisplays another portion of the unit of information in a third window on the display. The first window and the third window are concurrently displayed on the display. Prior to redisplaying, the indicator is displayed in the first window.
US08719713B2
Described herein is an in-text advertising display that presents web advertisements contextually related to retrieved web content about text on a web page. The text of a web page is analyzed to determine whether terms or phrases are associated with particular contextual definitions called entities. Portions of text associated with an entity are emphasized to the user. Detection of a user trigger event initiates retrieval of additional web content about the emphasized text and the retrieved additional content is displayed in a display window, within a pop-up advertisement, or within a quickbar window. An adjacent seamless window displaying web advertisements related to the additional web content is also presented to the user.
US08719707B2
Movie video trailers for a particular movie quote may be created and provided to a user. The Internet may be searched to identify documents that likely include references to a movie. A reference to the movie within an identified document may be detected and determined to be a movie quote. The movie quote and related information may be extracted from the identified document. A location of the movie quote within the movie may be determined. A movie video trailer that includes the movie quote may be created based on the location of the movie quote. A request for a movie video trailer that includes a movie quote or a partial movie quote, specified by the user, may be received from the user. A movie video trailer that includes the movie quote or the partial movie quote may be identified and provided to the user.
US08719705B2
An information processing apparatus having an operating system installed thereon is provided with a help file manager. The help file manager obtains language type information indicating a language type currently set for the operating system, obtains one of a plurality of help files that corresponds to the obtained language type information from a resource file, and expands the obtained help file into an expanded help file to store the expanded help file at the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus displays a help window generated based on the expanded help file that is stored.
US08719703B2
By analyzing a web page, the web page can be divided into component parts. Specifically, the web page can be divided into items, templates and the remaining HTML. Then, using dedicated user interfaces, each component part can be separately edited. To facilitate editing, the component parts not being edited can optionally be suppressed or presented in abbreviated form, and all parts can optionally be shown in the same order in which they occur in the web page. The live version of the web page is then updated with the edited version of the component parts, taking into consideration any contributions from other users made during the editing process.
US08719702B2
A digital processing device is configured to perform a method comprising: identifying logical page numbers of a document, the identifying constrained to identify either zero or one logical page number per page of the document, the logical page numbers and an ordering of the pages of the document defining an ordered sequence of logical page numbers; identifying a sequence of logical page number references in the document, each logical page number reference matching one of the logical page numbers of the document; and selecting a sub-sequence of the sequence of logical page number references for which corresponding logical page numbers are in a nondecreasing order in the ordered sequence of logical page numbers. The sub-sequence is used in organizing the document, for example by generating hyperlinks linking the logical page number references of the selected sub-sequence with corresponding pages indicated by the logical page numbers.
US08719696B2
A system (5) for producing a document is disclosed. A repository (16) stores documents in a marked-up form according to one or more mark-up schemas. The schemas are adapted to make explicit structural information contained a document. A document format store (22) stores formats that are user selectable. A document production processor (29, 31, 32) generates a user-requested formatted document from the respective marked-up form using a user-selected said format that retains said implicit structural information.
US08719693B2
A method and apparatus are provided to create a parent XSD document that separately identifies localized data and non-localized content definitions. A tool is employed to parse the localized content definitions from the non-localized content definitions. The parsing tool generates a child XSD document pertaining to the localized content definitions identified within the parent XSD document. One or more child XML documents are created to store data pertaining to the localized content definitions of the child XSD document. Localized content is isolated in a child XML document that is governed by a corresponding child XSD document, wherein the corresponding child XSD document is derived from the parent XSD document. Just as with any other XML document, the localized content in the isolated child XML document is supported by querying and validation by XML tools.
US08719691B2
There is provided a document providing system including a derivation relationship registration unit that, when receiving an instruction to register a second electronic-document that is an updated version of a first electronic document, registers a derivation relationship indicating that the second electronic document is derived from the first electronic document in a derivation relationship storage unit; an input-output relationship registration unit that generates input-output relationship information indicating an updated electronic document to be provided in response to a document request that designates a requested electronic document based on the derivation relationship registered in the derivation relationship storage unit and registers the input-output relationship information in an input-output relationship storage unit; and a providing unit that, when receiving a document request, obtains an updated electronic document corresponding to a requested electronic document designated in the document request based on the input-output relationship information and provides the updated electronic document.
US08719690B2
A system for automatic data aggregation comprises a communications module to receive an electronic form comprising field data and a detector to detect a workflow identifier indicating that the electronic form is to be included as a new record in an aggregate package. The system further comprises an aggregator to associate electronic form data with an aggregate package in response to the detected workflow identifier.
US08719688B2
An electronic device and method for processing a bookmark are provided. The electronic device includes a receiving unit that receives at least a portion of a bookmark of specific content generated in a first electronic device and a control unit that monitors whether a multimedia player is executed in the electronic device, displays an object including bookmark description information based on the portion of the bookmark if the multimedia player is executed, requests a resume operation to at least a second electronic device storing specific content or a third electronic device storing the bookmark if an input for the resume operation is received via the displayed object, and receives the specific content from the second electronic device. The present invention provides more convenient user interface for seamless content play between at least two electronic playing devices.
US08719681B2
Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems for detecting communications of a first meter board by a second meter board and correlating the time and duration of the communications with metrology data gathered during that time. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided for diagnosing metrology errors caused by communication activities of a meter board. In one embodiment, the method includes: receiving a signal, wherein the signal indicates a presence of communication activities between a first processor of a meter and another device over a network; recording a time of receipt and duration of the communication activities between the first processor of the meter and another device over the network; and correlating the time and duration of the communication activities between the first processor of the meter and another device over the network with metrology data of the meter measured at the same time and duration.
US08719664B1
Accessing data at a memory is described. A request associated with a read or write operation is received, wherein the request includes a logical address associated with the memory. A physical address is generated based at least in part on the logical address. A block of data at the memory that includes data associated with the physical address is determined. Data at the determined block of data and a corresponding set of ECC from the memory are accessed. Whether the accessed data can be decoded based at least in part on the corresponding set of ECC is determined.
US08719662B2
Data move operations in a memory device are described that enable identification of data errors. Error detection circuitry in the memory device can be operated using parity data or ECC data stored in the memory. Results of the error detection can be accessed by a memory controller for data repair operations by the controller.
US08719659B2
In a storage apparatus: a write-address counter outputs a write address; an input-data inverter inverts input data to be inputted into a storage unit; an input-data selector selects one of the input data and the inverted input data on the basis of one or more first bits constituting the write address, and writes the one of the input data and the inverted input data in the storage unit on the basis of one or more second bits constituting the write address; a read-address counter outputs the read address; an output-data inverter inverts output data outputted from the storage unit on the basis of one or more third bits constituting the read address; and an output-data selector selects and outputs one of the output data and the inverted output data on the basis of one or more fourth bits constituting the read address.
US08719658B2
A method for accessing extrinsic information in a turbo decoder is disclosed. Operation phases for Forward State Metric Calculators (FSMCs) and Reverse State Metric Calculators (RSMCs) in multiple maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) decoders are misaligned differently based on whether a current half iteration is even or odd. First extrinsic information is read from a memory into the FSMCs and RSMCs using the misaligned operation phases. Second extrinsic information is determined using the MAP decoders. Each row of the second extrinsic information is stored to a different bank in the memory using the misaligned operation phases.
US08719651B1
An apparatus and method for generating scan chain connections for an integrated circuit (IC) in order to perform scan diagnosis of a manufactured IC chip, in which the scan chain connections are determined using functional path information among the flip flops of the IC design corresponding to the IC chip. A plurality of flip flops included in the IC is grouped into at least a first group and a second group based on the functional path information among the flip flops. At least one scan chain is generated from at least a portion of the flip flops in the first group. At least one scan chain is generated from at least a portion of the flip flops in the second group.
US08719650B2
Provided are a self-diagnosis system and a test circuit determination method that are capable of determining normality of a test circuit which diagnoses a test target circuit. A self-diagnosis system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a test circuit including first and second diagnosis controllers which determine normality of a test target circuit by using an execution result of a test pattern in the test target circuit; and a test circuit determination unit which determines normality of the test circuit by comparing a normality determination result of the test target circuit output from the first diagnosis controller with a normal determination result of the test target circuit output from the second diagnosis controller.
US08719648B2
An approach for interleaving memory repair data compression and fuse programming operations in a single fusebay architecture is described. In one embodiment, the single fusebay architecture includes a multiple of pages that are used with a partitioning and interleaving approach to handling memory repair data compression and fuse programming operations. In particular, for each page in the single fusebay architecture, a memory repair data compression operation is performed on memory repair data followed by a fuse programming operation performed on the compressed memory repair data.
US08719646B2
A new, robust non-volatile memory (NVM) reset sequence is provided in accordance with at least one embodiment, which, after reading a Test NVM portion and overwriting NVM configuration registers' default values with the values read from the Test NVM portion, does a read integrity check. If the read integrity check passes, a reset process will conclude. Otherwise, if the read integrity check fails, the reset process will re-try reading the Test NVM and overwriting the NVM configuration registers' default values. If the read integrity check still fails after a maximum number of re-tries, a fail flag will be set, and the predetermined “safe” default values will be reloaded to the NVM configuration registers, thereby assuring that the NVM device is operational.
US08719643B2
When a problem occurs in a computer system, the following processing is performed. That is, a troubleshooting procedure that includes, at least, operation content and input request for system information, presented to an operator, and in which command to acquire system information related to the input request from the information source of the system information are assigned to the input request, is referenced. Furthermore, in accordance with the command, system information is collected from an information source where system information exists. Then, after those input request for system information have been removed from the troubleshooting procedure, the resultant troubleshooting procedure is presented to the operator. Thus, the workload of the operator in the troubleshooting operation can be significantly reduced, and the time until the operation is completed is shortened, making rapid troubleshooting possible.
US08719642B2
A method for saving crash dump files of a virtual machine (VM) on a designated disk is disclosed. The method includes associating, by a hypervisor that virtualizes a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), each VM of the plurality of VMs with a crash dump disk that is solely dedicated to the VM, wherein each crash dump disk is located separate from its associated VM. The method further includes configuring, by the hypervisor, an OS of each VM with a crash file path to the crash dump disk associated with the VM, and configuring, by the hypervisor, each VM of the plurality of VMs to generate crash dump files for the VM upon a crash event of the VM and store, via the crash file path, the generated crash dump files to the crash dump disk associated with the VM.
US08719640B2
A mouse motion trajectory testing system includes a testing fixture and an electronic calculator connected to the testing fixture. The testing fixture includes a testing base, a rotatable member under the testing base, and a controlling unit. The testing base is used for fixing the tested mouse thereon. The controlling unit is used for driving the rotatable member to be rotated for a preset number of revolutions at a preset speed, so that the tested mouse generates a motion signal. The electronic calculator has testing program for receiving the motion signal from the tested mouse, thereby judging whether the tested mouse is qualified or not.
US08719638B2
A processor recognizes a request from a program executing on a first hardware thread to initiate software code on a second hardware thread. In response, the second hardware thread initiates and commences executing the software code. During execution, the software code uses hardware registers of the second hardware thread to store data. Upon termination of the software code, the second hardware thread invokes a hypervisor program, which extracts data from the hardware registers and stores the extracted data in a shared memory area. In turn, a debug routine executes and retrieves the extracted data from the shared memory area.
US08719633B2
When searching for a starting point candidate on an abnormality occurred in a first management range, if a search destination extends over a second management range, a first search device transmits a query to a second search device and requests a second search device to search for a starting point of an abnormality in the second management range. The second search device receives the query, searches the second management range for a starting point candidate of an abnormality, replaces a starting point candidate of an abnormality with a dummy configuration item, and transmits a response. Thus, the first search device can search for a starting point candidate of an abnormality without grasping a connection relationship of configuration items in the second management range.
US08719625B2
A method, system and computer program for processing invalid data. Data is received at a shared component for processing. A shared component is a component that is capable of being shared by multiple entities. The shared component has a plurality of threads. An attempt is made to process the data using one of the threads from the plurality of threads. The data is invalid and therefore the attempt at processing the invalid data results in the shared component and its plurality of threads failing. In response to the failure of the shared component, at least two instances of the shared component are created. At least one thread is assigned to each component instance, where the number of threads assigned to each component instance is restricted to a maximum number that is less than the original number of the plurality of threads.
US08719623B2
Systems and methods for reducing risk of service interruptions for one or more virtual machines (VMs) in a computing environment are provided. The method comprises computing a placement scheme for placing at least one VM on one or more hosts according to a set of placement constraints defined for the VM, wherein the set of placement constraints comprises at least one availability constraint defined for the VM, wherein the availability constraint designates a N resiliency level, wherein N corresponds to number of host failures that may occur before the services provided by the VM are interrupted.
US08719621B1
A system includes a write module, a read module, and a parity module. The write module is configured to modify first user data stored on a first member of a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) using second user data. The read module is configured to read the first user data and first parity data corresponding to the first user data from a solid-state disk associated with the RAID if at least one of the first user data and the first parity data are stored on the solid-state disk, or from the RAID if the at least one of the first user data and the first parity data are not stored on the solid-state disk. The parity module is configured to generate second parity data based on the first user data, the second user data, and the first parity data.
US08719614B2
An apparatus is provided for generating a timing signal having an input for receiving a first signal indicating successive time intervals, means for receiving a second signal indicating successive time intervals, and a generator adapted to generate a timing signal based on the second signal and on a relationship between one or more time intervals of the first signal and one or more time intervals of the second signal. This arrangement enables a timing signal to be generated using a time signal produced by a source or device and to be based on a time signal produced by another source or device.
US08719611B2
The present invention is related to a vehicle-mounted multimedia apparatus 1 which has at least one functional module 42A, 42B, 42C . . . 42N which is powered from a power source 50 to operate and an interface 12 to which an extension device 20 is to be connected. When the extension device 20 is newly connected to the interface 12, if there is an existing functional module 42B (referred to as a corresponding functional module), which corresponds to a functional module 22 provided in the extension device 20, among the existing functional module 42A, 42B, 42C . . . and/or 42N which already exists in a state before said connection of the extension device, said vehicle-mounted multimedia apparatus 1 stops powering the corresponding functional module 42B and powers the functional module 22 provided in the extension device 20.
US08719609B2
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that performs power management on a computer system. The system includes an embedded controller and an operating system. During the execution of a sleep sequence by the operating system, the embedded controller latches events associated with use of the computer system. After the sleep sequence has completed, the embedded controller compares the latched events with a set of enabled wake events for the computer system and a current state of the computer system. If the latched events indicate that the current state corresponds to one of the enabled wake events, the embedded controller triggers a wake sequence on the computer system.
US08719606B2
Methods and apparatus relating to optimization of performance and/or power consumption during memory power down state are described. In an embodiment, a memory controller may include logic to cause one or more ranks of a DIMM to enter a clock enable slow mode. Other embodiments are also described.
US08719604B2
A data processing apparatus includes: a receiving unit configured to receive input data including processing-target data from outside; a measuring unit configured to measure the data amount of the processing-target data included in the received input data; a data processing unit configured to perform predetermined processing on the processing-target data, and to output a result of the processing as output data; and a control unit configured to set the data processing unit to an active state based on reception of the input data by the receiving unit, and when the data amount of the output data reaches the data amount of data obtained by performing the predetermined processing on data of the data amount measured by the measuring unit, to set the data processing unit to a sleep state.
US08719599B2
A method for monitoring subsystem power includes, with a power control system of an electronic device, receiving energy usage data from one of a plurality of subsystems within the electronic device, with the power control system, maintaining energy usage data for the plurality of subsystems within the electronic device, and with the power control system, providing integrated energy usage data to one of the plurality of subsystems.
US08719594B2
Methods and systems for maintaining data connectivity in a secure data storage network are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes assigning a volume to a primary secure storage appliance located in a secure data storage network the primary secure storage appliance selected from among a plurality of secure storage appliances located in the secure data storage network, the volume presented as a virtual disk to a client device and mapped to physical storage at each of a plurality of storage systems. The method further includes detecting at one of the plurality of secure storage appliances a failure of the primary secure storage appliance. The method also includes, upon detecting the failure of the primary secure storage appliance, reassigning the volume to a second secure storage appliance from among the plurality of secure storage appliances, thereby rendering the second secure storage appliance a new primary secure storage appliance.
US08719592B2
A telematics system that includes a security controller is provided. The security controller is responsible for ensuring secure access to and controlled use of resources in the vehicle. The security measures relied on by the security controller can be based on digital certificates that grant rights to certificate holders, e.g., application developers. In the case in which applications are to be used with vehicle resources, procedures are implemented to make sure that certified applications do not jeopardize vehicle resources' security and vehicle users' safety. Relationships among interested entities are established to promote and support secure vehicle resource access and usage. The entities can include vehicle makers, communication service providers, communication apparatus vendors, vehicle subsystem suppliers, application developers, as well as vehicle owners/users. At least some of the entities can be members of a federation established to enhance and facilitate secure access and usage of vehicle resources.
US08719586B1
This disclosure describes systems and associated processes that provide digital rights management for applications. In some embodiments, these system and processes couple DRM protection with individual applications, rather than with a centralized service. For instance, these systems and processes can be implemented in the context of an application store or distribution service that distributes applications for purchase or for free to user devices. Developers can submit applications to the application distribution service for distribution to end users. In response to receiving an application from a developer, the application distribution service can modify the application to include DRM features. The application distribution service can accomplish this modification without input from or the knowledge of the developer. The DRM features included in the modified application can prevent or otherwise reduce copying or modifying of the application.
US08719582B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for access control. A particular method receives a resource access identifier associated with a shared computing resource and embeds the resource access identifier into a link to the shared resource. The link to the shared resource is inserted into an information element. An access control scheme is associated with the information element to generate a protected information element, and the protected information element is sent to a destination computing device.
US08719569B2
Techniques are provided for users to authenticate themselves to components in a system. The users may securely and efficiently enter credentials into the components. These credentials may be provided to a server in the system with strong authentication that the credentials originate from secure components. The server may then automatically build a network by securely distributing keys to each secure component to which a user presented credentials.
US08719568B1
An electronic storage in a network accessible server securely stores sensitive user data. Technologies disclosed enable secure user access to the sensitive data stored in a user account from a client device associated with the user account. Other technologies disclose detecting a specified condition or event, sending a notification to a proxy associated with the user account upon detecting the condition or event, and granting access to the sensitive user data by a client device of the proxy upon authentication of the proxy's client device.
US08719567B2
Embodiments associated with enabling Quality of Service (QoS) for MACsec protected frames are described. One example method includes identifying a security indicator in an encrypted network communication and selectively forwarding the encrypted network communication according to a QoS policy. The example method may also include selectively storing a control packet security indicator sniffed from a control packet network communication in response to determining that a match exists between a control packet identification field and a QoS database entry.
US08719564B2
A method for sharing a secret key between a source node and a destination node includes (a) adding, at each forward intermediate node, a secret key between the forward intermediate node and a node before the forward intermediate node to the secret key sharing request message; (b) generating a shared secret key between the source node and the destination node from the secret key between the forward intermediate node and the node before the forward intermediate node added in the secret key sharing request message; (c) adding, at each backward intermediate node, a secret key between the backward intermediate node and a node before it to the secret key sharing response message; and (d) generating the shared secret key between the destination node and the source node from the secret key between the backward intermediate node and the node before it added in the secret key sharing response message.
US08719552B2
A cache collaboration method includes obtaining, by an upper-layer cache node, bandwidth utilization rates of a backbone port and an edge port of the upper-layer cache node respectively, related information which is about each content obtained by a user in a preset time through the backbone port of the upper-layer cache node, and an access count of the user to each content; comparing, by the upper-layer cache node, the bandwidth utilization rate of the backbone port and the bandwidth utilization rate of the edge port; and when a difference between the bandwidth utilization rate of the backbone port and the bandwidth utilization rate of the edge port is greater than a preset value, sending, by the upper-layer cache node, a collaboration request message to a lower-layer cache node to make the lower-layer cache node adjust a collaboration proportion.
US08719551B2
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus and an integrated circuit which realize parallel execution of different processing systems, and which do not require the provision of a dedicated memory storing instructions for common processing The information processing apparatus comprises: a plurality of processor elements; an instruction memory storing a first program and a second program; and an arbiter interposed between the processor elements and the instruction memory, the arbiter receiving, from each of the processor elements, a request for an instruction, from among instructions included in the first program and the second program, and controlling access to the instruction memory by the processor elements, wherein the arbiter arbitrates requests made by the processor elements when the requests are (i) simultaneous requests for different instructions included in one of the first program and the second program or (ii) simultaneous requests for an instruction included in the first program and an instruction included in the second program, and when two or more of the processor elements simultaneously request a same instruction included in one of the first program and the second program, the arbiter, when judging that the instruction memory is available to the two or more processor elements, outputs the same instruction to the two or more processor elements.
US08719548B2
A method (and structure) of mapping a memory addressing of a multiprocessing system when it is emulated using a virtual memory addressing of another multiprocessing system includes accessing a local lookaside table (LLT) on a target processor with a target virtual memory address. Whether there is a “miss” in the LLT is determined and, with the miss determined in the LLT, a lock for a global page table is obtained.
US08719545B2
A system and related method of operation for migrating the memory of a virtual machine from one NUMA node to another. Once the VM is migrated to a new node, migration of memory pages is performed while giving priority to the most utilized pages, so that access to these pages becomes local as soon as possible. Various heuristics are described to enable different implementations for different situations or scenarios.
US08719539B2
A programming and debugging system determines a block of dynamically allocated memory in an inferior process memory space corresponds to a structure and casts the block of memory as an instance of the structure. The programming and debugging system determines a field type of a field in the instance of the structure and determines whether memory data pertaining to the block of dynamically allocated memory satisfies one or more criteria in heuristics data associated with the field type. The programming and debugging system categorizes the block of dynamically allocated memory based on the determination of whether the memory data satisfies the one or more criteria of the field type.
US08719538B2
A method for protecting memory segments of a memory device is provided. The method includes receiving, by a processor coupled to the memory device, a request to allocate memory from an application, being executed by the processor, wherein the request includes a requested memory size and allocating, by the processor, a portion of memory having a size greater than the requested memory size. The method also includes creating, by the processor, a permitted read counter associated with the allocated portion of memory, wherein the permitted read counter is initialized to an initial value, and determining, by the processor, whether access to the memory segment is permitted using the permitted read counter. A system for protecting memory segments of a memory device is also disclosed.
US08719534B1
Method and system for generating a migration plan for migrating information from a source storage location to a destination storage location, where storage space at the source storage location is presented as a plurality of storage volumes to a plurality of computing systems is provided. A parsed data structure is generated for a processor executable planning module used for generating the migration plan. The parsed data structure stores information regarding a plurality of computing systems that access the storage volumes for storing information at a storage device managed by a storage controller; information regarding a plurality of adapters used by the plurality of computing systems and the storage controller; and information regarding logical unit numbers (LUNs) that are presented for storing the information at the storage device.
US08719533B2
Provided is a method of using a dynamic chunk allocation function to efficiently carry out data volume migration. A storage apparatus according to the present invention includes first and second storage units and divides a storage extent in the second storage unit into chunks to add the chunks to a chunk pool to dynamically allocate the chunks in the chunk pool to a newly created logical data volume (see FIG. 3).
US08719532B2
A memory apparatus includes a local bus, a plurality of non-volatile memories, a first buffer, and a main controller. The non-volatile memories share the local bus. The first buffer is connected to the plurality of non-volatile memories via the local bus. The first buffer buffers data stored in the plurality of non-volatile memories. The main controller is configured to generate a control signal for controlling the first buffer to buffer data stored in a source memory of the plurality of non-volatile memories and transmit the data to a target memory.
US08719531B2
A solid-state storage system is described with a method for adjusting the frequency of data retention operations. The data retention operation frequency can be increased or decreased according to a variety of environmental factors such as error code frequency, system temperature, altitude, and other operating conditions. These factors can indicate an increased or decreased risk of failure and accordingly provide increased or decreased rates of data retention operations.
US08719525B2
In a particular embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a controller to read data from and write data to a first storage medium. The controller is adapted to monitor logical block addresses (LBAs) of each read operation from the first storage medium and to selectively store files associated with the monitored LBAs that are less than a predetermined length at a second storage medium to enhance performance of applications associated with the LBAs.
US08719517B2
A multi-channel SPI interface memory controller disposed between a CPU and a multi-channel SPI interface memory is provided in the present invention. The multi-channel SPI interface memory controller comprises: a data path interface coupled to a bus of the CPU; a control path interface coupled to the bus of the CPU; a master controller coupled to the multi-channel SPI interface memory; a register bank disposed between the master controller and the control path interface, wherein the master controller is in signal coupling with the data path interface, and in signal coupling through the register bank with the control path interface. The inventive multi-channel SPI interface memory controller can support direct execution of a program on the SPI interface memory.
US08719513B2
In a virtualized system using memory page sharing, a method is provided for maintaining sharing when Guest code attempts to write to the shared memory. In one embodiment, virtualization logic uses a pattern matcher to recognize and intercept page zeroing code in the Guest OS. When the page zeroing code is about to run against a page that is already zeroed, i.e., contains all zeros, and is being shared, the memory writes in the page zeroing code have no effect. The virtualization logic skips over the writes, providing an appearance that the Guest OS page zeroing code has run to completion but without performing any of the writes that would have caused a loss of page sharing. The pattern matcher can be part of a binary translator that inspects code before it executes.
US08719508B2
Parallel computing environments, where threads executing in neighboring processors may access the same set of data, may be designed and configured to share one or more levels of cache memory. Before a processor forwards a request for data to a higher level of cache memory following a cache miss, the processor may determine whether a neighboring processor has the data stored in a local cache memory. If so, the processor may forward the request to the neighboring processor to retrieve the data. Because access to the cache memories for the two processors is shared, the effective size of the memory is increased. This may advantageously decrease cache misses for each level of shared cache memory without increasing the individual size of the caches on the processor chip.
US08719504B2
For a plurality of input/output (I/O) operations waiting to assemble complete data tracks from data segments, a process, separate from a process responsible for the data assembly into the complete data tracks, is initiated for waking a predetermined number of the waiting I/O operations. A total number of I/O operations to be awoken at each of an iterated instance of the waking is limited.
US08719498B2
A data storage device, the data storage device may include: a data storage unit; a system data storage unit that stores an application program, an operating system (OS), and management information related to a processing of the stored data; a system control unit that performs an initialization, a control, and a system setting of the device; a central processing unit (CPU) that performs data processing including data read and data write and processes an instruction word; a random access memory (RAM) that loads the data from the data storage unit and the system data storage unit, loads the instruction word of the CPU, and temporarily stores a data processing result of the processed instruction word; and an output determination unit that determines to output at least one of the data stored in the data storage unit, the application program, and the data processing result.
US08719492B1
A block storage system includes a host and comprises a block storage module that is coupled to the host. The block storage module includes a MRAM array and a bridge controller buffer coupled to communicate with the MRAM array. The MRAM array includes a buffer widow that is moveable within the MRAM array to allow contents of the MRAM array to be read by the host through the bridge controller buffer even when the capacity of the bridge controller buffer is less than the size of the data being read from the MRAM array.
US08719491B2
A method for accessing a Flash memory and an associated Flash memory system are provided, where the Flash memory includes a plurality of blocks, each of the blocks includes a plurality of pages, and each of the pages includes a plurality of sectors. The method includes: receiving a page of data from a host; encoding a first portion of the page of data by a randomizer that operated under a first seed to generate a first encoded data; encoding a second portion of the page of data by the randomizer that operated under a second seed to generate a second encoded data, wherein the first seed is different from the second seed; and storing the first encoded data and the second encoded data to the Flash memory. An associated method and an associated Flash memory system are also provided.
US08719485B2
A solid-state disk (SSD) controller includes a first integrated circuit (IC) that includes an interface module, a memory control module, and a wireless network interface module. The interface module externally interfaces the SSD controller to a computing device. The memory control module controls solid-state memory, receives data from the computing device via the interface module, and caches the data in the solid-state memory. The wireless network interface module communicates with the computing device via the interface module and allows the computing device to connect to a wireless network.
US08719482B2
A electronic device includes a bus, two electronic elements connected to the bus, and a controller. Each of the two electronic element is designated a logic unit number (LUN) and a first temporary buffer identified by the LUN for storing messages transmitted from or to the corresponding electronic element by the bus. The controller for obtaining the LUN of the message transmitted from/to the at least two electronic element, determining the temporary buffer which the message is stored according to the obtained LUN, storing the message to the determined temporary buffer, and transmitting the message stored in the temporary buffer to the corresponding electronic element or processing the message stored in the temporary buffer.
US08719480B2
A computer-implemented method, and computer program product, for switching the I/O protocol of a multiprotocol I/O adapter while a computer system including the multiprotocol I/O adapter is running. The method comprises running a multiprotocol I/O adapter using a first I/O protocol while a computer system including the multiprotocol I/O adapter is running, and logically removing the adapter from the system while the computer system continues running. The multiprotocol I/O adapter is then caused to switch to a second I/O protocol while the adapter is logically removed and the computer system continues running. While the computer system still continues to run, the multiprotocol I/O adapter is restarted. After restarting, the multiprotocol I/O adapter runs using the second I/O protocol while the computer system continues running. In a virtualization environment, the method allows a multiprotocol I/O adapter to meet the varying I/O requirements of one or more virtual machines.
US08719476B2
A communication system includes a master device and slave devices. Each slave device includes a request signal generation part configured to, when data to transmit is generated, generate a request signal indicating a transmission request to a master device; and a transmission part configured to transmit the request signal to the master device. The master device includes a request signal reception part configured to receive the request signals from the slave devices; a selection part acting configured to select one of the slave devices according to the request signals received by the reception part; a transmission part configured to transmit a signal indicating to allow data transmission to the slave device selected by the selection part; and a data reception part configured to receive data from the selected slave device.
US08719456B2
A method and apparatus are described to provide shared switch and cache memory. The apparatus may comprise a message switch module, a cache controller module, and shared switch and cache memory to provide shared memory to the message switch module and to the cache controller module. The cache controller module may comprise pointer memory to store a plurality of pointers, each pointer pointing to a location in the shared switch and cache memory (e.g., point to a message header partition in the shared switch and cache memory). If there is a corresponding pointer, a memory read response may be sent to the requesting agent. If there is no corresponding pointer, a write data request may be sent to a corresponding destination agent and, in response to receiving the requested data, a pointer to the stored data in the pointer memory may be provided.
US08719453B2
A method and apparatus for improved context transfer in heterogeneous networks is presented. Context information is collected from source entities in a first access network by a context transfer manager and transmitted to a context transfer manager of a second access network which forwards the context information to target entities therein. In one of the context transfer managers at least a part of the context information is translated from a format supported in the first access network to another format supported in the second access network. The method may be carried out proactively preceding a handover or reactively following a handover. In one embodiment, context transfer within one access domain is performed directly between access routers, whereas context transfer between different access domains is performed via the context managers. In another embodiment, beacons from access points are counted in order to determine candidates for a pending handover.
US08719450B2
Translation of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) addresses is contemplated, such as for use in allowing IPv4 devices to connect with IPv6 device without requiring the IPv4 devices to specify the IPv6 address of the connected-to IPv6 device. The IPv6 addresses may be translated to IPv4 addresses suitable for use with the IPv4 devices in a manner that sufficiently compresses the IPv6 for use with the more bit limited nomenclature of an IPv4 address.
US08719447B2
A method and system of a heterogeneous service provider model through pay-for-performance based transit settlements are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a plurality of Point of Presence (POP) locations between a head office and a branch office in a heterogeneous computer network configured to communicate data through a pay-per-performance peering relationship between different entities of the heterogeneous computer network. In this embodiment, the system implements a debit-credit mechanism configured to handle payments as well as penalties associated with violation of a pair-wise mutual agreement between independent for-profit entities providing network services in a segment of the heterogeneous computer network.
US08719446B2
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method comprising: within a backbone network: for backbone network traffic addressed to a particular target and comprising attack traffic and non-attack traffic, the attack traffic simultaneously carried by the backbone network with the non-attack traffic: redirecting at least a portion of the attack traffic to a scrubbing complex; and allowing at least a portion of the non-attack traffic to continue to the particular target without redirection to the scrubbing complex.
US08719445B2
System and method for load balancing multiple file transfer protocol (FTP) servers to service secure FTP sessions having encrypted signals are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the system include multiple FTP servers coupled to a load balancing agent. Each of the multiple FTP servers is associated with a unique port range and the load balancer receives an encrypted data signal in a secure FTP session on a given port and uses a port range within which the given port falls to identify which of the multiple FTP servers a corresponding control signal of the secure FTP session was previously sent.
US08719442B2
A stream condense unit coupled to a streaming server and a client player is provided. The stream condense unit includes a streaming data input unit, a stream content analysis unit, a frame timestamp adjust unit, and a streaming data output unit. The streaming data input unit is configured to receive a plurality of streaming content groups sent by the streaming server. The stream content analysis unit is configured to receive the plurality of streaming content groups, execute a content analysis to get importance scores of the source streaming contents. The frame timestamp adjust unit is configured to receive the condensed stream and adjust a timestamp of each frame in the condensed stream. The streaming data output unit is configured to receive the condensed stream and attach content identifying labels and tables to the condensed stream, and send the condensed stream to the client player to display.
US08719438B2
Systems and methods for providing accelerated data storage and retrieval utilizing lossless data compression and decompression. A data storage accelerator includes one or a plurality of high speed data compression encoders that are configured to compress data. The compressed data is subsequently stored in a target memory or other storage device whose input data storage bandwidth is lower than the original input data stream bandwidth. Similarly, a data retrieval accelerator includes one or a plurality of high speed data decompression decoders that are configured to decompress data at a rate equivalent to or faster than the input data stream from the target memory or storage device. The decompressed data is then output at rate data that is greater than the output rate from the target memory or data storage device.
US08719435B2
Disclosed are a method and device for scheduling transmission time of media data. The media data comprises a plurality of media data units. In one embodiment, the device comprises: a first determination unit configured to determine a latest time for transmitting each media data unit; a second determination unit configured to determine an earliest time for transmitting each media data unit; and a scheduling unit configured to schedule a transmission time for each media data unit by rule of: if the determined latest time for a media data unit is not less than the determined earliest time for said media data unit, the scheduling unit selects a maximal one from the determined earliest time and a predetermined transmission time for said media data unit as the transmission time, otherwise, the scheduling unit schedules the transmission time at the determined earliest time.
US08719432B1
A method and system are disclosed for implementing a client of a distributed lock manager comprising a plurality of nodes. The client is configured to send a request to the distributed lock manager, the request including a local time of the client. The client receives a response to the request from a node of the distributed lock manager where the request includes an echo of the local time included in the request. The response also indicates that a lock corresponding to a given resource has been granted to the client and the client subsequently utilizes the resource. The client subsequently determines that a safe period of time has elapsed for using the resource. This determination is dependent at least on a client staleness corresponding to a difference between the echoed time and current local time at the client.
US08719431B2
A wireless local area network (WLAN) client device is able to store one or more transient connection profiles. A transient connection profile of a WLAN may be overwritten by a transient connection profile of another WLAN. A transient connection profile may be automatically deleted from the client device without user action having been taken to explicitly delete the transient connection profile.
US08719428B2
Disclosed is a method of establishing a session between a mobile communication terminal and a computer linked to the Internet via a gateway server therebetween through WAP or TCP/IP by using identification information of the mobile communication terminal as a connection key to transmit/receive data packets. Consequently, stable and accurate data communication between the mobile communication terminal and the computer linked to the Internet can be achieved.
US08719423B2
A method for dynamic network transport selection is described. An indication from a user of a client device is received, to fetch over a data network media of a predefined type. One of a number of network transport physical layers in the client device is automatically assigned, based on a number of stored, ranked media types and network transport physical layer types, for use in fetching the media over the data network. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08719419B2
Apparatus and methods may include a multimedia test engine operable to exercise and test multimedia application programming interfaces (APIs) of a wireless device based upon execution of a test configuration comprising a test script downloadable to the wireless device. The test engine is resident in memory on the wireless device and is operable to collect multimedia test data and, in some aspects, wireless device performance data, based upon the test configuration and forward the collected data to another device operable to analyze the collected data and generate a multimedia API test report viewable by an authorized user.
US08719407B2
A network device communicating with an information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive an activation request from the information processing apparatus, an activation unit configured to activate the device in response to the activation request, a notification unit configured to provide notification of a first scheduled time indicating a duration time of a state in which the device is not activated, and a responding unit configured to, in response to the activation request received after the notification unit is notified of the first scheduled time, provide notification of a second scheduled time indicating a duration time of the state in which the device is not activated between when the first scheduled time is notified and before a time corresponding to the first scheduled time elapses, and when the activation has been completed, to notify the information processing apparatus of the completed activation.
US08719402B2
Goal state indicators can be communicated from a fabric controller of a computer cluster to each of multiple compute instances in the computer cluster managed by the fabric controller. The goal state indicators can be formatted according to a structured protocol that defines multiple possible goal states. Additionally, status reports can be received from the compute instances. Each of the status reports can indicate a current state of one of the compute instances relative to a goal state previously indicated in a goal state indicator communicated to that one of the compute instances.
US08719393B2
A method disclosed herein includes the act of computing a value of information for obtaining data from a personal sensor of a user for utilization in a utilitarian computing application, wherein a mobile computing device comprises the personal sensor of the user. The method further includes the act of requesting that the mobile computing device transmit a data packet to the computing device based at least in part upon the value of information for obtaining data from the personal sensor of the user.
US08719392B2
A network management server can be configured to search the components of computing systems and devices in a managed network for specified settings and configurations in order to determine if the computing systems or devices contain the specified settings and configurations. The network management server can receive a request containing search parameters. The search parameters can identify specific settings and configurations to search for in the components of the systems and devices of the managed network. The network management server can initiate a search of the components of all the systems and devices in the managed network based on the search parameters.
US08719387B2
A method for controlling acquisition of an occurred event that occurs in a network system due to the network system executing processing as requested by a request apparatus configured to request execution of the processing via a network, wherein the network system notifies an acquisition apparatus via the network about the occurred event, and wherein the acquisition apparatus is configured to acquire the occurred event, includes determining whether the request apparatus is in process of inputting a request to execute the processing, and setting, if it is determined that the request apparatus is in process of inputting the request to execute the processing, a set interval for the acquisition apparatus to acquire the occurred event, wherein the set interval is shorter than an interval that is set if it is determined that the request apparatus is not in process of inputting the request to execute the processing.
US08719386B2
Systems and methods for providing configuration synchronicity is provided. In exemplary embodiments, a configuration file is generated based on received configuration information. The configuration file may then be stored and queued up for download to at least one communication server to configure the communication server. Subsequently, a verification process is performed to confirm that the configuration file is correctly written to disk by the communication server.
US08719376B2
A system and method for delivering content is disclosed. A content download service initially registers client computing devices to receive content. Therefore, when the content download service receives a request from a requesting client computing device to download content to a receiving client computing device, the content or download instructions are sent to the receiving client computing device. Downloading is controlled by the content download service and a software agent installed on the receiving client computing devices when they are registered. Content request and content download occur over a computer network, such as the Internet. The content may be stored by the content download service and supplied to the receiving client computing device by the download service, or stored by a content supply service and supplied to the receiving client computing device either directly or via the content download service.
US08719371B1
The disclosed technology covers messaging systems and methods. An example messaging method includes receiving at a message server a plurality of messages for a plurality of computing devices, including a first computing device. A first set of the messages is identified as being directed to the first computing device, for which state information is received. A set of predetermined rules is applied to that state information. A return value is determined, with a computer processor, based on the application of the rules to the current state information. The first set of messages is then transmitted to the first computing device if the return value is a first value. Alternatively, the first set of messages is held for the time being if the return value is a second value.
US08719363B2
Display of a webpage or similar file may require content from a remote source (i.e., content stored in a memory not associated with the device on which the webpage is being displayed). In cases where that remote content is unavailable or unusually slow in being provided, or the display system is unable to display the remote content (e.g., required features are disabled or not present), secondary local content provided with the webpage file may be displayed in its place. Upon requesting the remote content a timer is started. If the remote content is not available by the expiration of the timer, the secondary local content is displayed in its place. The secondary local content may be of similar type to the remote content, e.g., targeted merchandising, as determined by the webpage author.
US08719359B2
Systems and methods providing users with a rich web experience are disclosed. In one embodiment, a client and at least one server are in communication using a dual communication link. In another embodiment, a markup language based instant messaging application is disclosed. The instant messaging application may include group instant messaging. The instant messaging application may also provide group member persistence and message persistence at the server. In another embodiment, a card based web application is disclosed, where the card information and character may be shared with other users or within a group. The cards may also be configurable by users.
US08719356B2
A system monitor delivery of electronic mail based on subscriber and seed deliverability data. Seed deliverability data is received that includes information indicating a number of email messages associated with an email campaign that are delivered to a folder associated with one or more intended recipients of the email campaign based on a sampling of seed accounts. The seed accounts are not associated with actual recipients of the email campaign. Subscriber deliverability data is received that includes information indicating a number of email messages associated with the email campaign that are delivered to a folder associated with the one or more intended recipients of the email campaign based on one or more subscriber accounts. The seed accounts are associated with a subset of human recipients of the email campaign. One or more deliverability metrics are determined based on the seed deliverability data and the subscriber deliverability data.
US08719334B2
A data Interface for transferring digital data between a host and a client over a communication path using packet structures linked together to form a communication protocol for communicating a pre-selected set of digital control and presentation data. The signal protocol is used by link controllers configured to generate, transmit, and receive packets forming the communications protocol, and to form digital data into one or more types of data packets, with at least one residing in the host device and being coupled to the client through the communications path. The interface provides a cost-effective, low power, bi-directional, high-speed data transfer mechanism over a short-range “serial” type data link, which lends itself to implementation with miniature connectors and thin flexible cables which are especially useful in connecting display elements such as wearable micro-displays to portable computers and wireless communication devices.
US08719330B2
There are provided a terminal apparatus by which media content relating to a connected electronic equipment can be easily acquired, an electronic equipment which can easily acquire media content relating to the electronic equipment itself, and a program. When a user actually operates an electronic music instrument and changes an operation state, a media content providing server receives state data indicating the operation state after the change from the electronic music instrument through a client terminal, receives a list of media content relating to the electronic music instrument and coincident with a present operation state of the electronic music instrument among a lot of stored media content from many media content storage servers on a communication network based on the state data, and displays it on a display of the client terminal. When the user selects one of media content from the list and instructs acquisition thereof, the media content providing server acquires corresponding media content data from a media content storage server storing it and transmits it to the client terminal.
US08719319B2
In one particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a network management system. The network monitoring system includes at least one device definition file, a simple network management protocol enabled communications interface, and a data access interface. The definition file includes query instructions associated with portions of MIBs associated with a network device. The simple network management protocol enabled communications interface may access the network device using the query instructions and may receive response data from the network device. The data access interface may be configured to provide external access to the response data and configure thresholds.
US08719317B1
Embodiments of the invention relate to converting infrared, radar, and photographic sensor data using an apparatus having a graphical user interface, a user-selection device, and an electronic processor configured to convert sensor data conversion computer program (abbreviated “computer program”) is associated with the electronic processor. A sensor standard definition file is consistent with a sensor standard (abbreviated “the standard”)and is configured for input to the computer program. The sensor standard definition file is a programmable external file defining specifies (elements used to communicate sensor data in the computer program) of the standard. The sensor standard definition file is editable and extendable to support changes in the standard. A sensor standard rules file, sensor external standard file, and sensor external data file are consistent with the standard and are operatively associated with the computer program.
US08719316B2
The reliable writing of data to multiple data stores using a write agent. The overall write operation is managed by a write manager that is communicatively coupled to the write agent and to a certain data store. Upon determined that multiple data stores are to be written to, the write manager first instructs the write agent to perform a delay write to other data store(s). The delay write means that the write agents waits a delay time before performing the write unless instructed in the meantime to more immediately perform the write, and if a delay passes, does not perform the write without first checking that the write has been made to the certain data store. After instructing the write agent to delay write, the write manager attempts to write to the certain data store. Upon successfully writing to the certain data store, the write manager may instruct the write agent to proceed immediately.
US08719309B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for processing readable content stored in a stream of data which contains samples for presenting a presentation at a plurality of views. In one embodiment, the first stream is stored and a second stream is derived from a first stream, where the second stream contains references to the first stream for use in selecting data, for an operating point within the content that includes the plurality of views, from the first stream. According to one aspect of the invention, references contained in stored second stream are accessed to transmit or store the data from the first stream.
US08719306B2
The present invention provides a method, system, and program product for managing adapter association for a data graph of data objects. Specifically, under the present invention, a data graph of data objects is generated (e.g., on a server), and then serialized. In performing the serialization, the data graph is translated into bits. In one embodiment, the bits are communicated to a client over a network, and then translated back into the data graph (i.e., deserialized). An adapter is associated with each of the data objects after the data graph is deserialized. This avoids the “overhead” involved with associating and having active adapters during deserialization.
US08719299B2
In one embodiment, an approach to automated recurring concept extraction, from a plurality of input data models (schemas) is presented. The approach converts input data models to graphs, with typed elements. The graphs are mined for closed subgraphs that have a defined minimum support. The identified subgraphs can be filtered with a relevance metric. These subgraphs are converted to schemas or an appropriate representation, and stored for reuse in a repository. The repository can be used to automate further transformation or mapping of schemas presented to a system that uses the repository. In one example, the repository is used in a schema covering process to perform schema transformation.
US08719292B2
A system and method for bringing potentially interesting web content to a user's attention in a faster and more interesting way. Embodiments are directed towards selecting for display at a client device news or facts that are relevant to a user's categorization of topics of interest or historical topics of interest. Topics maybe classified by a topic classifier and placed into different categories. Actions of the user on the client device are used to drive the interest content.
US08719289B2
In one embodiment, an addition of an identifier to a contact list can be detected. The identifier can identify an entity in a first collaboration system. Data can be searched to find a different identifier that identifies the entity in at least a second collaboration system. The different identifier can be added to the contact list.
US08719281B2
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for providing search results automatically to a user of a computing device. A spoken input provided by a user to a computing device is received. The spoken input is transmitted to a computer server system that is remote from the computing device. Search result information that is responsive to the spoken input is receiving by the computing device and in response to the transmitted spoken input. An alert is provided to the user that the device will connect the user to a target of the search result information if the user does not intervene to stop the connecting of the user. The user is connected to the target of the search result information based on a determination that the user has not intervened to stop the connecting of the user.
US08719274B1
A database engine is executed within an Extensible Firmware Interface (“EFI”) environment that provides generic database functions on records having arbitrary data types. Database functions such as adding, deleting, and searching records may be performed by the database engine. The database engine utilizes a database structure for organizing the database that includes an initial count field for storing the initial number of records to be stored in the database, a record count field for storing the current number of records in the database, a key count field for storing the number of key fields in a stored data record, a key field for storing a pointer to a function for retrieving the value of a key field, and an index array field for storing a pointer to an index array. The index array is a sorted array of pointers to each of the data records in the database.
US08719271B2
A data profile request is handles by utilizing data in a distributed file system. Tabular data is extracted from a data source and stored in a distributed file system. Each table in the tabular data is split by columns, which are each stored in separate files in a set of physical nodes of the distributed file system. In response to a data profiling request, a master node determines, based on the profiling request, which groups of files are needed to be on a same physical node in order to perform the profiling analysis. The master node creates jobs using physical nodes that contain the requisite files needed for each job.
US08719270B2
A method, computer program product, and system for enabling parallel processing of an XML document without pre-parsing, utilizing metadata associated with the XML document and created at the same time as the XML document. The metadata is used to generate partitions of the XML document at the time of parallel processing, without requiring system-intensive pre-parsing.
US08719261B2
A device receives, from a user device, a search query for video content listings in a video catalog. The device identifies, based on the search query, a set of relevant video assets from an index of the catalog content and determines dimensional values of the search query. The device determines a subset of the relevant video assets based on filtering usage metrics, for the set of relevant video assets, against the dimensional values. The device calculates a popularity value for each video asset in the subset of the relevant video assets and ranks each video asset in the subset of the relevant video assets to form a ranked list. The device sends, to the user device, a response to the search query that includes the ranked list.
US08719260B2
A method and system for identifying a subject of a document and facts included within are described. A source document that includes facts and linking documents that include hyperlinks to the source document are identified. The anchor texts of the hyperlinks are identified and candidate labels are generated based on the anchor texts. One of the candidate labels is selected as the unifying subject of the facts. An information set, distinct from the source document, is stored in a facts database, wherein the stored information set includes the unifying subject, and source document information associating the source document with the information set.
US08719255B1
A method and system for determining interest levels of online content based on rates of change of content access traffic. According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting content request traffic directed to a content source, determining a time rate of change of said content request traffic, and determining an indication of content interest associated with the content source, where the indication is dependent upon the time rate of change of the content request traffic. The method may further include storing the indication of content interest on a computer-accessible medium.
US08719253B2
Consistent with embodiments of the present invention, a method may be provided comprising receiving a search string corresponding to a desired node comprising a target parameter, a policy parameter, and a class parameter. The target parameter may be referenced with a target index table to determine which interfaces to search. The policy parameter may be referenced with a policy index table to determine a node-id of a policy node corresponding to the policy parameter. A level for the desired node may be determined based on the node-id. The class parameter may be referenced with the determined node-id with a class index table to access a bucket location. The desired node may then be searched for with the determined node-id at the determined level.
US08719252B2
This invention is a system and method for integrating relational databases into a semantic web framework utilizing a simple mapping process and the SQL query optimizer present in the SQL database engine.
US08719246B2
The present invention is directed to presenting a suggested search query. Responsive to receiving a user-devised search parameter, a suggested search query is identified. The user-devised search parameter might have been previously received by a search system, or alternatively, might be a unique query that has not been previously received. A suggested search query might be generated using various techniques, such as by applying an n-gram language model. A classification of the suggested search query is determined, and the suggested search query is presented together with a visual indicator, which signifies the classification.
US08719239B2
Presenting changes to versioned files. A first view comprising a plurality of indicators, each of the indicators corresponding to a respective version of a file, can be presented. A selection of a particular version of a file can be detected. A selection of another version of the file can be detected. In response to the selection of the other version of the file, the versions of the file can be compared to identify differences between the versions. Comparison information based on the differences can be generated. The comparison information can be filtered so that the comparison information fits within a second view having a desired size.
US08719235B2
Example methods and apparatus concern creating and/or manipulating a tape-specific layout for a tape based de-duplication repository. One example apparatus include a processor, a memory, a set of logics and an interface to connect the processor, the memory, and the set of logics. The apparatus may include a tape layout logic configured to determine the tape-specific layout for a de-duplication data set. The tape-specific layout may be based on forensic data acquired for the de-duplication data set. The apparatus may also include a write logic configured to write the de-duplication data set to a tape according to the tape-specific layout. The forensic data may identify, for example, the order in which sub-blocks are accessed, reference counts, access frequency, access groups, and other access information.
US08719233B2
A method of generating a test database from a deployed database by “sanitizing”, or removing sensitive data, is employed for recreating problem scenarios from a customer site, verifying compatibility of customer data with database version updates, and for performance testing using actual, rather than generated, database structures. In database management operations, in can be beneficial to use data generated from actual operational scenarios rather than artificially generated data created from a test pattern. Data generated from actual operation, such has at a customer site, assures compatibility with the relation patterns and record volumes employed by the customer (user). However, databases often contain sensitive information that would be inappropriate, illegal, or vulnerable in a testing environment. Accordingly, the generated test database overwrites sensitive data values with benign, or generic values while preserving the structure and relations of the data stored.
US08719230B2
An information managing method for managing information based upon an electronic message containing apparatus information or event information transmitted from a substrate processing apparatus, the information managing method comprising: storing the apparatus information of the substrate processing apparatus at a transmission time of the electronic message in a first apparatus information storage unit; comparing the event information with a condition for accumulating the apparatus information when the electronic message is transmitted; and accumulating the apparatus information in a second apparatus information storage unit by associating the apparatus information with a time stamp of a generation of the event information when the condition is satisfied.
US08719223B2
Systems and methods of the present invention provide for a user uploading a file and a customized metadata about the file to a file storage system, and reading the same back upon request. This information may be forwarded to an application, possibly an API, which may divide the file into a plurality of file chunks if the file is greater than a predetermined file size. One or more tracker servers may check a database to locate optimal or current file locations for the file or file chunks to be stored within the file storage system. These optimal or current locations may be returned from the tracker servers to the application/API which may perform an HTTP request to write the file to or read the file from the file storage system. The file write may be validated and finalized, and the successful write or read may be displayed to the user on a user interface on a client.
US08719220B2
The local storage performs remote copy to the remote storage. For low traffic failback remote copy, the remote storage performs a delta copy to the local storage, the delta being the difference between the remote storage and local storage. The local storage backs up snapshot data. The remote storage resolves the difference of the snapshot of the local storage and the remote storage. The difference resolution method can take one of several approaches. First, the system informs the timing of snapshot of the local storage to the remote storage and records the accessed area of the data. Second, the system informs the timing of snapshot of the local storage to the remote storage, and the remote storage makes a snapshot and compares the snapshot and remote copied data. Third, the system compares the local data and remote copy data with hashed data.
US08719219B2
A computer-implemented method for managing a feed in an in-memory database system includes: determining, in an in-memory database system, that a criterion for a feed event is met with regard to a business object handled by the in-memory database system; generating a feed event document in response to the determination; identifying at least one user in the in-memory database system who is a feed event subscriber regarding the business object; and forwarding the generated feed event document to the identified at least one feed event subscriber.
US08719216B2
A method for obtaining a result for a post-query may include: (a) Algorithmically treating the query to create a signature. (b) Composing a pseudo-get web identifier including a web address identifying a responding station and the signature. (c) Sending the query via a network to the responding station to request the result. (d) Determining whether the result is stored in a cache unit in the network. (e) If the result is stored in a cache unit, providing the result to the requesting station. (f) If the result is not stored in a cache unit, acquiring the result from the responding station. (g) Storing the result in a receiving cache unit. (h) Sending a resubmitted query via the network to the responding station in a format appropriate to retrieve the stored result from the receiving cache unit. The resubmitted query format includes the signature phrase.
US08719212B2
The parallel kinematic machine (PKM) trajectory planning method is operable via a data-driven neuro-fuzzy multistage-based system. Offline planning based on robot kinematic and dynamic models, including actuators, is performed to generate a large dataset of trajectories, covering most of the robot workspace and minimizing time and energy, while avoiding singularities and limits on joint angles, rates, accelerations and torques. The method implements an augmented Lagrangian solver on a decoupled form of the PKM dynamics in order to solve the resulting non-linear constrained optimal control problem. Using outcomes of the offline-planning, the data-driven neuro-fuzzy inference system is built to learn, capture to and optimize the desired dynamic behavior of the PKM. The optimized system is used to achieve near-optimal online planning with a reasonable time complexity. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated through a set of simulation experiments proving the technique on a 2-degrees of freedom planar PKM.
US08719209B2
A data enrichment processing apparatus (100) comprises a processing resource (154) arranged to access, when in use, location data (300) having temporal data associated therewith, and to group a part of the location data according to a predetermined criterion. The processing resource (154) is arranged to support an analysis module (268) capable of inferring temporal access information from the part of the location data grouped, the temporal access information being indicative of ability to access physically a point of interest associated with the part of the location data grouped.
US08719200B2
The invention concerns cyberpersonalities, including their and varied use in artificial reality. A cyberpersonality is comprised of a base personality (12). The base personality (12) is selected from a set of base personalities, each one representing the personality of a theoretical person. The cyberpersonality also includes a dynamic personality (14) that reflects the actual person (real or company) that the cyberpersonality is meant to represent and is able to learn. Information contained in the base (12) and dynamic (14) personality can be used to allow the person that the cyberpersonality mimics to interact in the artificial reality without direct control. The cybersonality can chat with third parties, including asking questions and answering questions, so as to learn more about each other. Other uses are related to searching, advertising and direct marketing.
US08719197B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for classifying documents are presented. Systems, methods and computer program products for analyzing documents, e.g., associated with legal discovery are also presented. Systems, methods and computer program products for cleaning up data are also presented. Systems, methods and computer program products for verifying an association of an invoice with an entity are also presented. Systems, methods and computer program products for managing medical records are presented. Systems, methods and computer program products for face recognition are presented.
US08719190B2
A method for learning a process behavior model based on a process past instances and on one or more process attributes, and a method for detecting an anomalous process using the corresponding process behavior model.
US08719189B2
In accordance with the invention, a system, method, and apparatus for analyzing advertisement-related data are presented, which may include receiving data related to an aspect of an advertisement and modeling the aspect of the advertisement with a mathematical model. The mathematical model may include a control-signal-related component, a control-signal-independent component, and an error component. Each component may be updated based on at least one of a control signal, the received data, and a previous state of at least one of the components. An updated model may be created based on the updated components. The system, method, and apparatus may also include predicting the aspect of the advertisement using the updated model. Exemplary aspects of and data related to the advertisement may include one or more of the following: a number of impressions, “clicks,” or “conversions” and/or the impression-to-conversion, impression-to-click, or click-to-conversion ratios.
US08719183B2
A computer system that is configured to: (A) define a geofence surrounding a geographic area; (B) gather information associated with the geofenced area; and (C) assign one or more parameters to the geofenced area based on the information gathered, wherein at least one of the assigned parameters is used to monitor the performance of a delivery vehicle driver while the delivery vehicle driver is operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area. In particular embodiments, the parameters include a backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up while operating the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area (e.g., during a particular delivery cycle). In other embodiments, the parameters include a maximum speed limit for the geofenced area. The system may be adapted to automatically generate an alert in response to the delivery vehicle operating outside of the defined parameters.
US08719182B2
Systems and methods for shipping a package from a package sender to an intended recipient, utilizing Internet communications to place shipping orders, request on demand package pickup, maintain and utilize pre-stored profile information, view shipping history, track orders, etc. A package sender with an Internet-accessible computer accesses an Internet site and associated shipping system operated by a shipping service provider. The package sender enters information required for shipping the package, including shipping options and methods for payment, and the shipment transaction is validated. If the transaction is validated, printer indicia are communicated to the customer's computer, which is enabled to locally print a prepaid label containing special machine-readable as well as human-readable indicia. The shipping service provider acquires the package by drop-off, standard pickup or on call pickup, scans the machine readable indicia, verifies other indicia of authenticity, and processes the package in accordance with information encoded on the label.
US08719181B2
Illustrated embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus and a computer program product in an order by proxy service for managing shipments. In one illustrative embodiment, the computer implemented method identifying a set of initial orders received at the proxy service and responsive to identifying the set of initial orders at the proxy service, identifying a set of delivery preferences associated with each order in the set of initial orders to form a set of identified delivery preferences. The computer implemented method further aggregates the set of initial orders based on the set of identified delivery preferences to produce an aggregated order, and releasing the aggregated order for shipping based on predetermined criteria to create a released order.
US08719180B2
A method and system for providing services to a mail delivery point are presented. According to the method, a delivery point identifier is acquired from a device located at the delivery point. Then, delivery point data is accessed corresponding to the delivery point identifier, and mail delivery services are provided in response to the delivery point data. The delivery point data are modifiable by a recipient who receives physical mail at the delivery point, and the delivery point data includes recipient preferences.
US08719179B2
A recruiting service is disclosed that generates profiles of software developers having specific skills. Public code repositories are examined to identify projects of software developers. The projects are analyzed to estimate the number of years of experience a software developer has with an individual language and determine a score with respect to other developers. Social media information and a messaging link may also be provided with each profile. A graphical user interface for displaying the information is disclosed.
US08719172B1
Systems and methods for hiding details associated with orders in an electronic commerce system are disclosed. An order is submitted by a user associated with a user account, and the order is processed by the electronic commerce system. A security measure can be imposed on the order and/or products associated with the order. An additional authentication layer can be enforced with regard to the order and/or products associated with the order.
US08719168B2
Techniques are disclosed to silently sign in a user of an offline game title onto an online service. The user is afforded access to select online services to facilitate future online gaming. In a described implementation, a method is disclosed. The method silently signs in a user of an offline game title onto an online gaming service. As a result, the signed-in user may receive one or more online services such as an in-game notification, a friend request (e.g., inviting a user to become a friend), a cross-title game invitation, and/or data corresponding to a friends list.
US08719166B2
A fraud management system is configured to store rules for detecting fraud, receive a transaction from a merchant, process the transaction using a first subset of rules to generate a fraud score for the transaction, and output information regarding the fraud score to the merchant to assist the merchant in determining whether to accept, deny, or fulfill the transaction. The fraud management system is further configured to receive, after outputting the information regarding the fraud score to the merchant, additional information relating to the transaction, re-process the transaction using a second subset of rules to generate an update fraud score, and output information regarding the updated fraud score to the merchant to assist the merchant in determining whether to accept, deny, or fulfill the transaction.
US08719161B2
Dynamically enabling and facilitating businesses or other entities to locate and transact with payment systems for the purpose of processing payments. A customer interacts with a supplier of an item (e.g., goods or services), selects an item for purchase, and provides the supplier with payment criteria. The supplier queries a payment system directory to locate candidate payment systems for the transaction. The supplier then interacts directly with one or more of the payment systems to partially or fully process payment for the transaction. Alternatively, the supplier interacts with a gateway service, which queries a payment system directory to locate candidate payment systems and then interacts with one or more of the payment systems to process payment for the transaction.
US08719153B2
This invention relates to the field of commerce and in particular to a method of transferring funds using a payment card. Existing funds transfer systems suffer from a number of problems including for example lengthy delays associated with their delivery, high processing costs and high administrative costs. To alleviate these difficulties the present invention provides a method of transferring funds from a first payment cardholder to a second payment cardholder comprising the steps of; receiving an indication from the first cardholder that a transfer of funds is required to the second cardholder, generating a first payment card transaction between a first merchant and the first cardholder for a negative amount associated with the value of funds to be transferred, and generating a second payment card transaction between a second merchant and the second cardholder for a positive amount associated with the value of funds to be transferred. The advantage provided by this arrangement is that using existing payment card systems, transfers of funds can be effected efficiently between cardholders, without significant delay.
US08719151B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for customer loan lifecycle modeling using discrete event simulation methodology. Discrete Event Simulation (DES) allows for modeling to occur at the customer and/or account level, such that the process captures customer-specific or loan-specific attributes/exposure factors, such as, but not limited to, credit score(s), House Price Index (HPI), loan product type, unemployment rates, interest rates and the like. Such modeling takes into the account that loan events occur at random paces and are typically dependent on ancillary factors, such as, availability of financial resources, market demand, customer attributes and the like, which all tend to be stochastic by nature.
US08719149B2
A trading screen may include a plurality of next trade quantity regions that comprise a plurality of locations, each location being associated a price on a price axis. The quantities can be entered into the various locations in the next trade quantity regions and the entered quantities can be used as a parameter of a future trade order at the associated price level. The trading screen may also include a plurality of quantity entry regions that are displayed with respect to the price axis. The quantity entry columns may each include plurality of sub-regions or locations corresponding to different price levels in the price axis. The quantity entry columns may be used to specify next traded quantities that may be used in placing orders for tradeable objects.
US08719143B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates preserving and maintaining data and/or services associated with a network service. The network service can be any collection of resources that are maintained by a party (e.g., third-party, off-site, etc.) and accessible by an identified user over a network (e.g., WAN, Internet, etc.). An interface component can receive a termination notification related to the network service. An executor component can relocate at least a portion of one of data and a service associated with the terminated network service to a disparate replacement network service in order to preserve any services and/or data related therewith.
US08719139B1
A method and apparatus for evaluating an impact of enterprise investment agreement provisions on payoffs to equity holders, including investors and entrepreneurs. An investment agreement evaluator comprises a data collector, analyzer and report generator. One embodiment evaluates the impact of Venture Capital term sheet provisions. The data collector gathers information which includes term sheet provisions, enterprise forecasts and market forecasts. The analyzer determines the probability distribution for future payoffs to equity holders and estimates the current market value of equity held by equity holders. The report generator presents the evaluator results. Another embodiment analyzes definitive VC investment agreements. Other embodiments are described and shown through the use of the evaluator, entrepreneurs increasing their effectiveness in negotiating VC deals, VC attorneys expanding value-added services and increasing customer satisfaction. Venture Capitalists using the elevator increase returns for their investment portfolio.
US08719137B2
Current practice in class action litigation entails a series of arbitrary assumptions about fundamental parameters that may not meet Daubert standards of scientific evidence. A new theoretically-grounded microstructure trading model (TMTM) method and arrangement determines retained shares for use in damages calculations for securities fraud cases and complies with Daubert standards. In particular, the TMTM method classifies trades as “buys” or “sells”, as well as estimates trading intensity using the bid-ask spread. The TMTM method has been found to yield more accurate estimates of retained shares than heretofore.
US08719133B1
The disclosure herein provides a guaranteed rate of return for a guarantee period of a financial account while at the same time providing upward adjustments to the interest rate if there is a corresponding increase in a specified referenced rate. The guaranteed base interest rate is set at the beginning of the guarantee period, which is credited to an account for an initial pre-defined period. Periodically, the then-current referenced rate is compared to a base referenced rate defined at the establishment of the guarantee period. If the referenced rate has increased, the interest rate that will be credited to the account value will increase by an amount that is based on the amount of increase in the referenced rate. If the referenced rate has not changed or has decreased, the interest rate that will be credited to the account value will be the guaranteed base interest rate.
US08719125B1
Systems, methods, and apparatus embodiments for electric power grid and network registration and management of physical and financial settlement for participation of active grid elements in supply and/or curtailment of power, wherein Internet Protocol (IP)-based messages including IP packets are generated by transforming raw data content into settlement grade content. Settlement is provided for grid elements that participate in the electric power grid following initial registration of each grid element with the system, preferably through network-based communication between the grid elements and a coordinator, either in coordination with or outside of an IP-based communications network router. Messaging related to settlement is managed through a network by a Coordinator using IP messaging for communication with the grid elements, with the energy management system (EMS), and with the utilities, market participants, and/or grid operators.
US08719123B2
A circuit breaker having internal power monitoring and data signal generating apparatus, and a system for utilizing such a circuit breaker in a facility having a plurality of tenants served by branch circuits from a plurality of distribution panels. The circuit breaker radiates signals indicative of power consumption of the branch circuit protected thereby, together with a unique address identifier tied to one tenant. Electrical billings are based on summing all signals for each tenant. Changes to branch circuits during tenancy will not disturb correct billings since individual circuit breakers are associated with that tenant using power supplied by each branch circuit. Hence changes to branch circuits may be limited to modify building space locations served by the modified branch circuit, and need not be further modified to maintain correct billing in light of the circuit changes.
US08719119B1
A system and operations include software, servers, templates, databases, and user interfaces for initializing and deploying insurance products and offerings into test runtime environments, modeling runtime environments, and commercial product runtime environments. The system may process an insurance product offering having insurance product components based on a package manifest. The package manifest provides executables and information that enables execution of the insurance product components in conjunction with third party engine servers to access third party and/or legacy insurance related data and systems.
US08719118B2
A method for managing drilling rods, drilling tools, well—tubing and the like for ground drilling, particularly for exploring deposits of fossil fuels or geothermal reservoirs. An electronic data processing system stores information regarding the inventory and the present storage location of parts to be inserted into the well, such as drilling rods, drilling pipes, lining tubing, intermediate parts, drill bits, and the like, with additional information being saved in the computing system regarding the installation position and/or installation sequence of all parts inserted into the well so that the computing system can indicate to a user when and from where which part shall be fed to the well hole—supply system and/or to what location which part shall be returned to for storage when it must be removed from the well, and/or the computing system controls an automatic storage, supply, and restorage device.
US08719109B1
Techniques are described for facilitating transactions involving items and users in various ways. In some situations, item transactions are coordinated by an automated Item Transaction (or “IT”) system provided via one or more computing systems, such that users of the IT system who have available items are matched with other users of the IT system who desire those items. The types of items being involved in transactions via the IT system may vary, and in some situations may include items such as music CDs, video DVDs, computer games, computer software, etc. The operation of the IT system may be enhanced in various ways, including by selecting appropriate users to receive opportunities to sell items available from those users, such as in a manner to balance supply and demand for items, and by notifying the selected users of those opportunities.
US08719102B1
Method and system for blocking confidential information at a point-of-sale reader from eavesdropping
A point-of-sale terminal comprises a contactless communication transceiver configured to receive an emission containing confidential information from a portable electronic device, and an enclosure having an aperture to promote at least partial insertion of the portable electronic device. The enclosure is constructed to promote substantially confining the emission within the enclosure to reduce eavesdropping on the confidential information while promoting the transceiver receiving the emission.
US08719085B2
A technique for administering a rebate program includes logic for generating rebate information based the purchase of goods and/or services using a card instrument. The technique further includes logic for applying a rebate, based on the rebate information, to fund at least part of a transaction performed by an brokerage service. In one embodiment, the brokerage service charges a fee to perform the transaction. In this case, the rebate is used to fund at least part of the transaction fee. The rebate therefore entitles the cardholder to perform a transaction free of charge. The rebate thus is converted to one or more “free transactions,” and in a more specific application, one or more “free trades.”
US08719080B2
There is disclosed a computerized system and method for scheduling advertising events which utilizes a set of configurable instructions regarding booking an order which iterates through a series of broadening, configurable criteria and also implements a configurable scoring system for the purpose of comparing multiple Events to determine if one Event is more valuable than the other.
US08719065B2
A system for maximizing the value of allocation of processes to resources within an operational system includes a capability engine responsive to data representing measures of effectiveness and associated measures of performance, one or more operational objectives, and failure modes of the operational system and configured to generate workload requirements and an operational event timeline. A coarse-grained allocation engine is responsive to the workload requirements and the operational event timeline and is configured to generate a coarse-grained resource lineup and an operational value. A fine-grained optimization engine is responsive to the coarse-grained resource lineup and the operational value and is configured to generate a fine-grained resource lineup, a maximized operational value, and a total resource utilization.
US08719057B2
The system is an advanced, web-enabled, clearinghouse that facilitates efficient and effective claim routing, monitoring and report retrieval. A claim status summary is displayed that links directly to a rejected claim listing, wherein each rejected claim listed is a link to associated detailed claim information. The detailed claim information display has fields to edit the associated detailed claim information. During the editing process, a rules verification is performed against the edited claim information to ensure the edit comply with the known rules for the associated payer. Upon successfully completing the rules verification, the edited claim is submitted to a payer.
US08719051B2
An evaluative software tool to support the assessment of health care-related technologies during development to facilitate making critical decisions for an optimized research, development and commercialization plan is provided. The software tool includes the ability to measure, weight, and integrate the critical factors that come into play in the development of a risk/benefit profile of a technology relative to its competitors, benchmarked around clinical trial measures, in order to determine its development and commercialization success.
US08719049B2
An automated method and computer program product are provided for reporting payments made to patients for their participation in a clinical study in a blinded manner to the sponsor of the clinical study. The clinical study has a plurality of investigative sites which perform activities in accordance with the protocol of the clinical study. Each patient has patient ID information and is assigned a subject ID that de-identifies the patient. Payment requests are received at a software application from the investigative sites associated with patient activity. The software application includes for each patient that is participating in the clinical study, the patient ID information, and the de-identified subject ID. The payment requests are associated with the patient ID information. The payment requests are processed at the software application, and payments that conform to predefined compensation guidelines for the clinical study are approved. The software application generates blinded payment reports for electronic delivery to the sponsor. The payment reports show at least the de-identified subject ID for each approved payment, the payment amounts for each approved payment, and a date associated with the payment.
US08719048B1
An efficient and accurate technique for facilitating reverse distribution of pharmaceutical items between customers and manufacturers includes receiving, from the customers, pharmaceutical items returnable for credit to the corresponding manufacturers, identifying similar items based on the national drug code and possibly other criteria to define line items, grouping items according to manufacturer identity, and sending the items to the appropriate manufacturers. The technique further includes receiving credit memoranda from the manufacturers specifying the amount of credit due for the returned items, generating actual amount payable for each item based on the line items and the credit memoranda, and generating disbursement statements for the customers.
US08719044B2
Methods for use in, e.g., in-patient care computing environment, for displaying clinically-related in-patient information on at least one patient-viewable display device are provided. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may include receiving a clinical order associated with an in-patient, automatically generating one or more tasks based on the clinical order received, and automatically displaying the task(s) on the patient-viewable display device. If desired, the method may additionally include associating the clinical order and the task(s) with an electronic record associated with the in-patient (e.g., an electronic medical record), and accessing the electronic record to obtain the one or more tasks for display on the patient-viewable display device.
US08719042B1
A system for functional domain based information technology selection and replacement is provided. Applications for each of multiple entities are associated with a set of functional domains. The set of functional domains are associated with a set of ecosystems. Data is complied for each ecosystem. Applications are adopted for one entity associated with an ecosystem, for each ecosystem, based on compiled data.
US08719039B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for designating certain voice commands as hotwords. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of receiving a hotword followed by a voice command. Additional actions include determining that the voice command satisfies one or more predetermined criteria associated with designating the voice command as a hotword, where a voice command that is designated as a hotword is treated as a voice input regardless of whether the voice command is preceded by another hotword. Further actions include, in response to determining that the voice command satisfies one or more predetermined criteria associated with designating the voice command as a hotword, designating the voice command as a hotword.
US08719026B2
A conversational, natural language voice user interface may provide an integrated voice navigation services environment. The voice user interface may enable a user to make natural language requests relating to various navigation services, and further, may interact with the user in a cooperative, conversational dialogue to resolve the requests. Through dynamic awareness of context, available sources of information, domain knowledge, user behavior and preferences, and external systems and devices, among other things, the voice user interface may provide an integrated environment in which the user can speak conversationally, using natural language, to issue queries, commands, or other requests relating to the navigation services provided in the environment.
US08719022B2
An audio processing system makes use of a number of levels of compression or data reduction, thereby providing reduced storage requirements while maintaining a high accuracy of keyword detection in the original audio input.
US08719021B2
A speech recognition dictionary compilation assisting system can create and update speech recognition dictionary and language models efficiently so as to reduce speech recognition errors by utilizing text data available at a low cost. The system includes speech recognition dictionary storage section 105, language model storage section 106 and acoustic model storage section 107. A virtual speech recognition processing section 102 processes analyzed text data generated by the text analyzing section 101 by making reference to the recognition dictionary, language models and acoustic models so as to generate virtual text data resulted from speech recognition, and compares the virtual text data resulted from speech recognition with the analyzed text data. The update processing section 103 updates the recognition dictionary and language models so as to reduce different point(s) between both sets of text data.
US08719017B2
Speech recognition models are dynamically re-configurable based on user information, background information such as background noise and transducer information such as transducer response characteristics to provide users with alternate input modes to keyboard text entry. The techniques of dynamic re-configurable speech recognition provide for deployment of speech recognition on small devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants as well environments such as office, home or vehicle while maintaining the accuracy of the speech recognition.
US08719016B1
A method for converting speech to text in a speech analytics system is provided. The method includes receiving audio data containing speech made up of sounds from an audio source, processing the sounds with a phonetic module resulting in symbols corresponding to the sounds, and processing the symbols with a language module and occurrence table resulting in text. The method also includes determining a probability of correct translation for each word in the text, comparing the probability of correct translation for each word in the text to the occurrence table, and adjusting the occurrence table based on the probability of correct translation for each word in the text.
US08719015B2
A dialogue system and a method for the same are disclosed. The dialogue system includes a multimodal input unit receiving speech and non-speech information of a user, a domain reasoner, which stores a plurality of pre-stored situations, each of which is formed by a combination one or more speech and non-speech information, calculating each adaptability of the pre-stored situations on the basis of a generated situation based on the speech and the non-speech information received from the multimodal input unit, and determining a current domain according to the calculated adaptability, a dialogue manager to select a response corresponding to the current domain, and a multimodal output unit to output the response. The dialogue system performs domain reasoning using a situation including information combinations reflected in the domain reasoning process, current information, and a speech recognition result, and reduces the size of a dialogue search space while increasing domain reasoning accuracy.
US08719014B2
During operation of an electronic device such as a cellular telephone with a touch screen display or other electronic equipment, a voice recognition engine may gather data on spoken words. Data on the spoken words that are recognized may be maintained in a spoken word database maintained by an input processor with an autocorrection engine. A user may supply text input that contains mistyped words to the electronic device using the touch screen or a keyboard. The input processor may use the autocorrection engine to automatically replace mistyped words with corrected versions of the mistyped words. The corrected words may be displayed in real time as the user supplies the text input. The autocorrection engine may make word correction decisions based at least partly on information in the spoken word database.
US08719011B2
Provided is an encoding device which can obtain a sound quality preferable for auditory sense even if the number of information bits is small. The encoding device includes a shape quantization unit (111) having: a section search unit (121) which searches for a pulse for each of bands into which a predetermined search section is divided; and a whole search unit (122) which performs search for a pulse over the entire search section. The shape of an input spectrum is quantized by a small number of pulse positions and polarities. A gain quantization unit (112) calculates a gain of the pulse searched by the shape quantization unit (111) and quantizes the gain for each of the bands.
US08719009B2
A system and method for processing multi-modal device interactions in a natural language voice services environment may be provided. In particular, one or more multi-modal device interactions may be received in a natural language voice services environment that includes one or more electronic devices. The multi-modal device interactions may include a non-voice interaction with at least one of the electronic devices or an application associated therewith, and may further include a natural language utterance relating to the non-voice interaction. Context relating to the non-voice interaction and the natural language utterance may be extracted and combined to determine an intent of the multi-modal device interaction, and a request may then be routed to one or more of the electronic devices based on the determined intent of the multi-modal device interaction.
US08719007B2
Systems, methods, and machine readable and executable instructions are provided for determining offer terms from text. A method for determining offer terms from text can include mapping keywords to a domain of a procurement event, and receiving, to a computing device, an offer text associated with the procurement event. Event-specific entities are identified, by the computing device, in the offer text. The computing device determines the domain of the procurement event from the identified event-specific entities, and using the mapped keywords corresponding to the determined domain, determines offer components from the offer text, extracts offer parameters from the offer text, and constructs the offer structure using the identified event-specific entities, derived offer components, and extracted offer parameters.
US08719006B2
In response to a word of a text sequence, a first part-of-speech (POS) tag is generated using a statistical part-of-speech (POS) tagger based on a corpus of trained text sequences, each representing a likely POS of a word for a given text sequence. A second POS tag is generated using a rule-based POS tagger based on a set of one or more rules associated with a type of an application associated with the text sequence. A final POS tag is assigned to the word of the text sequence for TTS synthesis based on the first POS tag and the second POS tag.
US08718991B2
The invention relates to a method of predicting when a grease in a grease-lubricated rolling element bearing (10) will reach an unacceptable condition. According to the invention, a time series of a parameter is measured and recorded, whereby the parameter is directly or indirectly indicative of a degree of breakdown of a lubricant film separating the rolling contacts. With the aid of processing means (22), the time series is analyzed, a dynamic model is constructed that predicts the evolution of parameter values, and the model is used to extrapolate the time series. A time at which a predefined limit will be exceeded is then determined from the extrapolated time series, whereby the predefined limit is representative of unacceptable grease condition. The method according to the invention can be used to predict a relubrication interval for an individual grease-lubricated bearing.
US08718988B2
A method determines and/or predicts a maximum power capacity of a battery by using a model of the battery based on an electric equivalent circuit diagram that predicts the maximum power capacity of the battery. The maximum power of the battery is prognosticated for a defined prognosis period and for the different operating modes with respect to the charging or discharging operation, considering the maximum allowable operating voltage and the maximum allowable operating current.
US08718974B2
Measuring devices each include a rotating body arranged between a wheel and a wheel hub with rotation centers aligned with each other, and an optical detector fixed to a body frame. The rotating body is formed of a disk portion attached between the wheel and a mounting surface of the wheel hub, and a cylindrical portion extending from the disk portion to the body frame and encompassing an outer circumferential surface of the wheel hub. In a circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, there are provided elongate holes as light-transmitting portions that transmit light therethrough. The optical detector includes a light-emitting element serving as a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving element serving as a light-receiving portion, which are fixed to the body frame by a mounting bracket.
US08718973B2
A method, device, and system for calculating first and second distance ratios used to calculate a geometric probability between a voxel and a tube-of-response (TOR). The method includes determining a first-edge-line including a first-middle-point, determining a second-edge-line including a second-middle-point, determining a middle line of the TOR, projecting a first point of a first surface of the voxel to the middle line, projecting a second point of a second surface of the voxel to the middle line, calculating a first distance between one of the first and second middle-points and the first-projected-point, and a second distance between the one of the first and second middle-points and the second-projected-point, and determining a first distance ratio based on the first and second distances. The method calculates the second distance ratio similarly to the first distance ratio. The geometric probability is proportional to the product of the first and second distance ratios.
US08718969B2
A method and apparatus for assessing the cure status of a fibrous blanket manufactured with mineral fibers and binder is disclosed and comprises using continuous thermal measurement as an assessment of cure status. A plurality of thermocouples are installed in various oven locations both above and below the path of the fibrous pack to be cured and readings from the thermocouples are compared by a processor. The thermal measurements may be inlet or outlet temperatures of any particular zone or series of zones; or entry or egress temperatures; or averages or differences of measurements from selected thermocouple locations.
US08718966B2
The control apparatus acquires an ideal velocity characteristic of a control surface, and the temperature of pressure oil of the actuator to be tested and the operating speed of the control surface when the actuator is attached to the control surface. The control apparatus corrects the ideal velocity characteristic of the control surface by using the pressure oil temperature and the control surface operating speed. The control apparatus sets an upper limit and a lower limit by using a predicted value for a fluctuation range for a fluctuation factor that causes a fluctuation of the control surface operating speed, with reference to the corrected ideal velocity characteristic, measures the pressure oil temperature and the operating speed by actuating the control surface, with the actuator to be tested placed in a damping mode, and determines whether the measured value falls within the range between the upper limit and the lower limit.
US08718964B2
Methods and devices for establishing the relationships between the conductor currents and sensor outputs for cases where the geometric parameters of the conductors and sensors are unknown. The methodology involves a sensor calibrator. This device is connected to the conductors at a location downstream of a number of current measuring devices or current sensors. The calibrator draws specific currents from the conductors for a short period in an automated manner. The characteristics of the currents drawn by the calibrator such as the magnitude and frequency of the currents are known to the processing unit for the sensors through means such as communications. The processing unit uses these known currents to establish the relationship between the conductor currents and its sensed quantities. This process may take a few seconds. Once the relationship is established, the sensors can start to “measure” the conductor currents by calculating them using that relationship and its sensed quantities.
US08718950B2
In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium includes code to cause a processor to receive a set of variants identified by a comparison of a test DNA sequence with a reference DNA sequence and associate at least one of the set of variants with at least one of a set of annotations each indicative of at least one criterion. The code includes code to cause the processor to filter, based on the set of annotations, the set of variants to identify a subset of variants from the set of variants. Each variant from the subset of variants is associated with at least one common annotation from the set of annotations. The code further includes code to cause the processor to present the subset of variants such that the subset of variants can be used to render a clinical diagnosis.
US08718938B2
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the control and utilization of multiple sensors within a device. For an example, motion of a device may be detected in response to receipt of a signal from a first sensor disposed in the device, and a power state of a second sensor also disposed in the device may be changed in response to detected motion.
US08718936B2
Apparatus for, and a method of, providing output data to a person identifying a route back to a recorded waypoint position. Personal navigation apparatus for providing output data to a person identifying a route back to a recorded waypoint position, comprising a route indication device including a visual display element; and a positioning device. The positioning system includes a processing system having a data storage device, a first micromechanical device configured to produce an output signal proportional to an acceleration along an axis, and a second micromechanical device having components in constant motion and configured to produce an output signal proportional to its angular rate of motion around an axis. The processing system is configured to generate and store in said data storage device position data describing the position of said personal navigation apparatus within a reference space, based upon data received from said first micromechanical device and said second micromechanical device.
US08718935B2
An initialization system for a personal navigation system associated with a user, including: a first reference point arrangement configured for communication with the personal navigation system of the user and to facilitate the generation of a first user data set including horizontal position and azimuth angle (x1, y1, θ1); a second reference point arrangement configured for communication with the personal navigation system of the user and to facilitate the generation of a second user data set including horizontal position and azimuth angle (x2, y2, θ2); and at least one control device configured to determine a common coordinate system based at least in part upon the first user data set and the second user data set. An initialization process and arrangement are also disclosed.
US08718926B1
An electronic direction system accesses navigation data describing at least one instance in which a direction was missed during provision of electronic navigation along a route and tracks instances in which directions have been missed based on the accessed navigation data. The electronic direction system accounts for the tracked instances in which directions have been missed in handling provision of future directions.
US08718921B2
The present disclosure relates to an avoidance system which comprises means for determining, from at least the value of a parameter for the movement (R, Vr) of an intercepting vehicle relative to said moving body and from the incoming direction (θo, φo) of said vehicle relative to said moving body, an order of avoidance intended for said automatic means of piloting said moving body in such a way that the latter automatically carries out a maneuver for avoiding said vehicle.
US08718920B2
Determining a launch window from anywhere within a specified area to avoid or minimize close approaches between a launch vehicle and orbiting space objects. A method and apparatus is disclosed for minimizing close approaches, or conjunctions between spacecraft being launched from anywhere within a specified area and other objects in space during the launch and early deployment phase of their lifetime, by defining a launch window, utilizing and identifying launch window blackout times to avoid close approaches of launch trajectories from anywhere within an area with remaining objects in space as noted in a space object catalog.
US08718916B2
An object detecting device and an object detecting method capable of performing appropriate object detection that distinguishes an approaching moving object from a stationary object accurately. The relative velocity of an object, which exists in the lateral direction of a vehicle, with respect to the vehicle is detected, the absolute velocity of the object in the horizontal direction of the vehicle is calculated on the basis of the detection signal, and it is determined whether or not the object is an approaching moving object on the basis of the absolute velocity of the object in the horizontal direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, since it is possible to accurately distinguish whether an object existing in the lateral or oblique direction of the vehicle is an approaching moving object or a stationary object, it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not the object is an approaching moving object.
US08718889B2
A kinetic energy system incorporates multiple flywheels, each flywheel situated and adapted to develop and store kinetic energy, and to subsequently impart that energy to move a work machine. Each flywheel is controlled by an ECM to operate in a selective sequence with respect to any of the other flywheels. Each flywheel has its own individual external gear and clutch unit adapted to be in communication with a commonly shared continuously variable transmission. The plurality of flywheels may be operated sequentially to develop, store, and dispense kinetic energy equivalently to that of a substantially larger unitary flywheel. In the disclosed embodiment and method of operation, the flywheel system may be employed with a traditional internal combustion engine to produce a hybrid motive source, with capability for effectively meeting transient load demands of an off-road work machine.
US08718888B2
A method for adapting a clutch characteristic curve, in particular one that exhibits hysteresis, where at least one characteristic value obtainable from the characteristic curve is compared to an appropriately measured characteristic value, and if the comparison shows that there is a deviation between the two characteristic values which is greater than a predetermined value, an adjustment is made to the clutch characteristic curve.
US08718886B2
A system and method for controlling double transition shifts in an automatic transmission having multiple gear sections. During a double transition shift, the system performs simultaneous closed loop control of the primary oncoming clutch in the primary gear section and the secondary off-going clutch of the secondary gear section. Before the input shaft of the secondary gear section is fully pulled down or the secondary off-going clutch becomes overheated, the system switches closed loop control of the input shaft to the secondary on-coming clutch of the secondary gear section. The system utilizes model-based calculations to determine the initial clutch pressure settings when a clutch enters closed loop control.
US08718882B2
A method of controlling a transmission brake that is actuated by inlet and outlet valves. For determining when to transmit a disengagement signal for opening the outlet valve, the current input and output speeds are determined and the respective gradients of these speeds are calculated. Variation of the input speed, during the disengagement of the brake, is determined as a function of the input gradient, the optimum time for reaching the synchronous speed, during brake disengagement, is determined from the input speed variation as a function of the output gradient, and the time interval until transmission of the disengagement signal is determined as a function of the current input and output speeds and their gradients, by a back-calculation from the time when the synchronous speed is reached, taking a disengagement dead time of the brake, between transmitting the disengagement signal and start of disengagement, into account.
US08718880B2
A ground engaging vehicle including a frame, an engine connected to the frame, a controller, and a hydraulic system powered by the engine. The hydraulic system includes a plurality of actuators, a plurality of valves, and at least one sensor. The plurality of valves include a first valve associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of actuators. Each of the plurality of valves is operatively connected to the controller. The at least one sensor is adapted to send a signal to the controller indicating a hydraulic connectivity through the first valve. The controller is adapted to open the first valve allowing hydraulic fluid to pressurize a first actuator until the first actuator is driven to an end of its stroke. The controller is further adapted to close the valve and send an increasing current to the valve. The at least one sensor detects a hydraulic connectivity through the valve and the controller is adapted to establish a threshold current value as the value of the increasing current when the at least one sensor detects the hydraulic connectivity through the valve.
US08718873B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an electric power steering device which reduces the variation of viscous feeling due to the change of steering velocity and presents better steering feeling than conventional power steering devices. A basic assist torque Tab and the like are calculated; filter parameters such as time constant Tn are calculated; and a gain Gs is calculated. A steering velocity s·θ is calculated and a correction torque Tcmps is calculated as a product of a gain Gs and a value obtained by filtering steering velocity s·θ with a filter of second-order lag and first-order advance. Further, a final target assist torque Ta is calculated by summing a basic assist torque Tab and the like and a correction torque Tcmps, and a steering assist torque is controlled so that it conforms to the final target assist torque Ta.
US08718866B2
A system for controlling the operation of at least one of commanding an occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device based on whether a driver is a primary or a secondary driver is provided. A controller is configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. The controller is configured to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is configured to selectively control the operation of at least one of commanding the occupant communication device and entering data into the occupant communication device based on whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver.
US08718862B2
A method performed by a vehicle computing system includes detecting the triggering of a vehicle sensor indicating an abnormal vehicle condition and determining one or more likely abnormal vehicle conditions associated with the triggering of the sensor. The method also includes accessing a vehicle database to determine one or more pieces of information relating to the one or more abnormal vehicle conditions. The method further includes electronically presenting the one or more pieces of information to a vehicle user.
US08718861B1
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to determining whether an autonomous vehicle should be driven in an autonomous or semiautonomous mode (where steering, acceleration, and braking are controlled by the vehicle's computer). For example, a computer may maneuver a vehicle in an autonomous or a semiautonomous mode. The computer may continuously receive data from one or more sensors. This data may be processed to identify objects and the characteristics of the objects. The detected objects and their respective characteristics may be compared to a traffic pattern model and detailed map information. If the characteristics of the objects deviate from the traffic pattern model or detailed map information by more than some acceptable deviation threshold value, the computer may generate an alert to inform the driver of the need to take control of the vehicle or the computer may maneuver the vehicle in order to avoid any problems.
US08718860B2
Included are embodiments for providing vehicle control limits. One embodiment of a system includes a navigation system and a vehicle that includes a memory component that stores a program. Embodiments of the system are configured to receive an indication for automatic control of the vehicle, receive a route for the vehicle to reach a destination for completing a work order from the navigation system, and determine a vehicle limit, wherein the vehicle limit is based on a current state of the vehicle. Some embodiments are configured to communicate the vehicle limit from a vehicle control module (VCM) to a navigation control module (NCM), determine, via the NCM, an automatic command based on the destination and the vehicle limit and send the automatic command to a motor of the vehicle.
US08718854B2
A hybrid vehicle includes a plurality of motor generators and an engine for generating a vehicle-driving force. A motor ECU controls the motor generators in accordance with respective torque command values for the motor generators. The motor ECU selects a motor generator used for performing vibration-reduction control, based on the operating state of the motor generators each. The output torque of the motor generator used for the vibration-reduction control is controlled so that a compensation torque corresponding to a periodic vibration-reduction torque component for cancelling out a periodic variation component of the rotational speed of drive wheels is superimposed on the torque for generating the vehicle-driving force.
US08718844B2
The described principles provide a method and system for assisting a user of an electric vehicle in maintaining a charge state of the chargeable onboard energy storage system so as to be able to forgo the use of an auxiliary power unit to great extent. The method, also implemented by the system, comprises identifying charging locations for the vehicle, and prompting the user to charge the vehicle when the vehicle is at a charging location and a charge is need to avoid the use of the auxiliary power unit for a learned or planned journey. The charge reminder my be visible and/or audible within the vehicle and may optionally be remote from the vehicle.
US08718843B2
A control method for an industrial vehicle can appropriately set a charge amount for a battery, and an industrial vehicle are provided. The control method includes an estimation step that estimates the charge rate of a battery by calculating the current that is charged to the battery and the current that is discharged from the battery; a charge amount determining step that determines the charge amount of the battery based on the estimated charge rate; a correction amount determining step that determines the charge power that is necessary for motors to generate the determined charge amount as a correction amount for the power that is supplied by the engine; and an addition step that adds the charge power to the supplied power of the engine that has been determined based on the state of the traveling and load-handling.
US08718834B2
A modular computer system includes a fan tray comprising a number of fans, a number of slots, and sets of temperature sensors. A shelf manager stores a table that records the relationship in distance between the slots and the fans, and the correlation relationship between the slots and the sets of temperature sensors. The shelf manager monitors the temperatures of different portions of each field replaceable unit according to signals from the temperature sensors. When there is one or more monitored temperatures exceeding a preset value, the shelf manager determines which of the slots corresponds to the one or more monitored temperatures, determines the number of sensors that have detected the high temperatures, and adjusts the speed of the one or more fans adjacent to each determined slot according to the determined number of sensors.
US08718817B2
Methods, systems and computer-readable mediums may provide for performing one or more operations including, but not limited to: obtaining dosing schedule data associated with a consumable composition regimen; dispensing of at least one dose of a consumable composition into a container according to the dosing schedule data associated with a consumable composition regimen; and detecting at least one indication of at least one ingestion of the consumable composition via from data from at least one sensor incorporated into the container configured to measure at least one property selected from: a physical property, a chemical property, an optical property or an electrical property.
US08718814B1
Methods and apparatus for robotic induction in materials handling facilities with multiple inventory areas are disclosed. A control system directs one of one or more robotic devices to transport a particular portable storage unit of a plurality of portable storage units from a stock storage area to a particular induction and stowage station of one or more induction and stowage stations. The control system directs induction of one or more single units of items from one or more locations of the particular portable storage unit, while the particular portable storage unit is located at the induction and stowage station, into the conveyance mechanism. The control system directs stowage of received stock comprising one or more types of items to one or more indicated locations of the particular portable storage unit while the particular portable storage unit is located at the particular induction and stowage station.
US08718807B2
A method includes initializing, at a first controller, at least one process step of a control recipe from a master recipe associated with a batch process in response to detection of an event associated with the batch process. The method also includes executing, at the first controller, the at least one process step of the control recipe. The method further includes initializing, at the first controller, at least one second process step of the control recipe while executing the at least one process step of the control recipe. Initializing the at least one process step of the control recipe from the master recipe may include copying only a portion of the master recipe into the control recipe that is needed to begin execution of the control recipe.
US08718803B2
A method for calculating measures of similarity between time signals, which includes: acquiring and comparing data (xi, yj) of time signals (X, Y); assigning a one or a zero to every two compared data (xi, yj), depending on the result of said comparison, creating a data set; determining time sequences with said ones and zeros of the data set, each one being formed by consecutive sub-sequences of ones, separated by discontinuities of zeros; selecting the highest result of accumulated results obtained for each sub-sequence, adding for each determined point i, j of value one said one to the accumulated result of maximum value, from among the accumulated results at a point i−1, j−1 of said sub-sequence, a point i−2, j−1 of a sub-sequence of a second time sequence, and a point i−1, j−2 of a sub-sequence of a third sequence.
US08718792B2
A method and system for re-establishing a pathway in a damaged or severed neural network includes an imaging device, an alignment device and a treatment device. An accurate image of the damaged neural network is created. An alignment device imparts wave energy into a damaged region of the neural network to direct re-growth axons into a remaining endoneurial tube to direct axon growth back to the correct targets to re-establish the severed neural network.
US08718782B2
Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.
US08718775B2
An implantable pulse generator includes a header, a can and a feedthru. The feedthru is mounted in a wall of the can and includes an electrically insulating core, a PCB, a shield, a chip capacitor, a power circuit and a ground circuit. A first side of the PCB abuts against the core and a second side of the PCB abuts against an edge of the shield. The chip capacitor is mounted on the second side of the PCB. The chip capacitor is enclosed in a volume defined by an interior of the shield and the second side of the PCB. A first electrical contact of the chip capacitor is electrically coupled to the power circuit, and a second electrical contact of the chip capacitor is electrically coupled to the ground circuit.
US08718766B2
An implantable medical device is connectable to or comprises an activity sensor and determines a current activity level of a subject based on a sensor signal from the activity sensor. A time period during which the current activity level of the subject has exceeded a threshold level is also determined. A pulse generator controller controls a pulse generator to generate pacing pulses to be applied to the subject's heart at a pacing rate that is determined based on the current activity level and the length of the time period of activity at a level exceeding the threshold level.
US08718764B2
An implantable cardiac rhythm/function management system integrates cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) and one or more other therapies, such as to preserve device safety, improve efficacy, enhance sensing and detection, or enhance therapy effectiveness and delivery. Examples of the one or more other therapies can include pacing, defibrillation/cardioversion, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), or neurostimulation.
US08718754B2
Transnasal delivery of medication directly to a patient's brain is achieved using an iontophoresis wire cooperable with a medication administration device. A controller regulates an electric charge to the iontophoresis wire. The iontophoresis wire is insertable into each nasal cavity. This wire is preferably encased in a tube, through which the medication will be transnasally delivered. A cleaning solution may also be delivered to the nasal cavity after treatment to reduce irritation from the iontophoresis.
US08718750B2
Exemplary methods and apparatuses are disclosed that provide for determination of an atrio-ventricular delay on a beat-to-beat basis by determining a P-wave duration from electric signals corresponding to electric potentials in a heart, and determining the atrio-ventricular delay on a beat-to-beat basis such that the atrio-ventricular delay for an individual heart cycle depends on the P-wave duration of a same or an immediately preceding heart cycle.
US08718747B2
The invention provides a method, an image analysis software product, and a system for medical imaging analysis for estimating contrast agent extravasation in contrast agent based perfusion imaging such as MRI dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) imaging, and in particular correction, compensation, or visualization of extravascular leakage of contrast agent in tumors. According to the invention, the effect of extravasation is directly manifested in the tail part of an observed, apparent residue function, R′(t), obtained directly by de-convoluting the expression C(t)=R′(t)Cp′(t) with the arterial input function (AIF). A leakage rate or extravasation constant is determined directly from the tail part of the determined apparent residue function. The invention also relates to distinguishing between T1-dominant and T2*-dominant extravasation effects in perfusion imaging to from the sign of the tail part of the determined apparent residue function and to an automated method for DSC-MRI involving correction for contrast agent extravasation and partial volume effects.
US08718744B2
An imaging medical apparatus has at least one device to identify a plane in space. The device has: a light source that emits a fan-shaped light beam, the light source is rotatable around a light source rotation axis. The device also has a mirror that reflects the fan-shaped light beam, the mirror being rotatable around a mirror rotation axis and encompassing a mirror plane. The mirror rotation axis and the surface normal of the mirror plane enclose an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°.
US08718727B2
An antenna that suppresses deterioration of communication performance depending on an angle with respect to a reading surface of a reader/writer includes a rectangular spiral coil conductor provided on a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes an aperture in a winding center portion of the coil conductor. A magnetic sheet penetrates the aperture of the flexible substrate. An antenna coil is provided near an end of a circuit board. A first conductor portion and a second conductor portion of the coil conductor are provided at positions opposing each other across the aperture. A portion of the magnetic sheet close to the second conductor portion is bent in a direction to get close to the circuit board.
US08718722B2
In order to mount a plurality of kinds of earphone microphones, a mobile phone includes an earphone microphone terminal to accept either a plug of a PTT earphone microphone or a plug of an earphone microphone, and an earphone microphone switching portion to detect whether the PTT earphone microphone or the earphone microphone is accepted and switch a contact point between a plurality of contact points of the earphone microphone terminal depending on the kind of the detected earphone microphone.
US08718721B2
A mobile wireless communications device may include first and second housings coupled together and moveable between first and second positions. The mobile wireless communications device may also include wireless transceiver circuitry carried by at least one of the first and second housings, a magnetic sensor carried by the first housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver circuitry, and a magnet carried by the second housing. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a magnetically conductive body operatively coupled between the magnetic sensor and the magnet when the first and second housings are in the first position.
US08718716B2
A method for displaying at least one image from a set of images while a computerized device such as a Smartphone is charging. The method, which will often be a software implemented method such as a downloadable Smartphone “app” will generally comprise using the Smartphone's graphical user interface to select a set of images to display while said Smartphone is charging, and also using the Smartphone's graphical user interface to determine a set of parameters to use to control the display of these images while the Smartphone is charging. The invention's software will additionally determine the charging status of the Smartphone. In operation, while the Smartphone is charging, the software will then display these images, often according to the previously entered set of parameters used to control the display of these images.
US08718684B2
A text message paging and ordering system utilizes a dedicated or shared short code to enable an establishment, such as a restaurant, to send pages to mobile communication devices, such as a mobile phone. Transmitted text messages sent from the establishment are associated with a short code, which allows the mobile communication device in receipt of the text message to send reply messages back to the establishment associated with the short code. As such, this provides a wireless carrier approved medium that reliably and readily enables an establishment to have two-way text communication with a customer or client to facilitate paging functions as well as ordering functions.
US08718683B2
A mobile wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with a base station that provides wireless communication service includes a location information storage unit configured to store a location information, a content storage unit configured to store the content, a history storage unit configured to store history information, a determination unit configured to determine a possibility of transition from a current base station to in an outside zone of the wireless communication service, and an updating unit configured to acquire a content from the location information storage unit by using wireless communication service that is provided by the current base station, so as to update content of the content storage unit, when the determination unit determines that there is a possibility of transition to the state that the mobile wireless communication device is in the outside zone of the wireless communication service.
US08718675B1
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes generating a paging message for a wireless communication device, the paging message can include a positioning request; transmitting the paging message to the wireless communication device; and receiving, during a connection establishment process, a connection message from the wireless communication device. The connection message can include a positioning response that is responsive to the positioning request.
US08718668B2
A device comprises an analog signal port, a data packet port, and a control processor comprising circuitry to convert analog audio signals into the data packets and vice versa. The device further comprises an access control module to register network access locations and determine a perimeter within which the accessed location is located when the device is accessing the network. By using the perimeter, the access control module is to receive from a user of the device a verification or a manual entry of a location within the perimeter as the accessed location. The access control module is to determine the received one of the verified location and the manually entered location as the accessed location and provide the determined accessed location to a location-based service through the data packet port.
US08718667B2
A mobile wireless device adapts transmit power levels and number of retransmissions of a preamble sent to a wireless network. The mobile wireless device measures characteristics of a downlink signal received from the wireless network. The mobile wireless device transmits a series of preambles to the wireless network, each successive preamble having an increased power level, starting at a power level based on the measured received signal characteristics and on parameters received from the wireless network, up to a maximum transmit power level. When the transmit power level of the preamble exceeds the maximum transmit power level and when the measured downlink signal quality falls below a threshold, the mobile wireless device limits the number of preamble retransmission to less than an allowed maximum number of retransmissions. A minimum number of retransmissions is determined and adapted to higher values for larger measured values of downlink signal quality.
US08718666B1
The invention is directed to methods and systems for controlling resource utilization. In particular, resources in a wireless telecommunications network may be monitored and controlled to eliminate unnecessary resource usage. Channels on the network, and the users thereof, may be monitored to identify under-utilized channels based on predetermined thresholds. If an under-utilized channel is identified, users may be immediately or subsequently transferred to another channel on the network and resources to the under-utilized channel may be eliminated. The channels may be dynamically monitored such that any changes in usage are addressed and users may be transferred multiple times to conserve resources.
US08718659B2
A method of random access channel optimization for a mobile device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, the mobile device receives a message including an indicator for the RACH optimization from a network of the wireless communication system. Afterwards, in response to the message, the mobile device sends a RACH measurement report including RACH parameters, used for the network to perform the RACH optimization, to the network.
US08718648B2
The present invention discloses a method for implementing a handover in a local switch, and the method includes: a core network transmitting indication information to a source base station subsystem during any terminal of communication parties which carries out a local switch is performing a base station subsystem handover, and the source base station subsystem determining whether to transmit user-plane speech data received from a media gateway to the terminal which has not performed the base station subsystem handover, or to transmit the user-plane speech data received from an internal link to the terminal which has not performed the base station subsystem handover, according to the indication information. The present invention also discloses a system for implementing a handover in a local switch as well as a base station subsystem.
US08718638B2
A method of notifying an operation state change is provided. A network is formed among devices that can be used by a user and that can perform network communication. When an operation state change of a first device in the network occurs, at least one device is sought which is currently used by the user in the network. Information regarding the operation state change of the first device is transmitted to the at least one device such that the information regarding the operation state change of the first device can be displayed on a display unit of the at least one device.
US08718625B2
A mobile terminal and a method for updating information of contacts is provided, and the mobile terminal includes: an edition module, configured to provide a contact update interface containing a selection control and an edition control, wherein the selection control is used for generating a selection instruction according to an operation from a user, and the edition control is used for generating an edition instruction according to an operation from the user; a control module, configured to select information of multiple contacts according to the selection instruction from the selection control and edit the information of the multiple contacts according to the edition instruction from the edition control; and an update module, configured to update information of the multiple contacts stored in a database as the information of the multiple contacts being edited by the control module. Advantageously, the effect of improving user experience is reached.
US08718624B2
An electronic device and a method for transmitting data are disclosed. A network interface receives identification information to identify a communicating end from a mobile communication terminal. A controller acquires communicating end information based on the received identification information. A display displays the acquired communicating end information and at least one service area.
US08718623B2
A hardware and/or software facility measures end user activity associated with a software application or service on a mobile phone or other mobile device. The facility tracks and stores usage data associated with a mobile user's use of the application or service. When the mobile user initiates transmission of the usage data, the facility retrieves from the mobile phone or other mobile device a usage code representing the usage data. The facility relies on user transcription, text input-buffer insertion, or other indirect means of data transport to deliver the usage code from the mobile phone or other mobile device to an application developer, service provider, or another entity. The recipient extracts the usage data contained in the usage code, and may perform various data mining and analysis techniques on the usage data in order to evaluate how the application or service is used.
US08718618B2
Identity-blocking services are provided. The current physical location of a mobile device may be disclosed to a third party without sending any identity information of the mobile subscriber to the third party. Blocking of the mobile subscriber's identity may be desirable for privacy reasons, to comply with a government regulation, or to implement a telecommunication service option selected by the mobile subscriber.
US08718610B2
A communication terminal includes a transceiver and a controller. The transceiver receives electronic messages from another communication terminal. The controller responds to receipt of each of the messages by examining content of the message according to at least one defined rule and to control sound characteristics of an alert tune that is played through a speaker responsive to the examined message content. The controller may attempt to match text from the message to a stored list of words and/or phrases, and to control the sound characteristics of the alert tune in response to an outcome of the matching.
US08718601B1
A fuel pump having a unique cellular telephone calling number operable in response to receiving a cellular message. The pump includes a cellular phone component and may include a SIM card slot and SIM card. A number of pumps may each be equipped with a cellular phone component each having a unique calling number and a cellular phone system provider configured to authorize sending of information representing a pre-authorized amount of fuel to be dispensed as a wireless cellular signal to one or any of the pumps. A method of selling fuel includes sending a cellular telephone signal to a unique telephone number associated with the fuel pump and assessing a charge to the cellular telephone of a user prior to authorizing the sending of the signal.
US08718600B2
A method for operating a terminal which can be used with a credit account with an account statement and/or with a subscriber's account with subsequent rendering of accounts with an account statement and which can be used in a mobile network which provides communication services. The terminal comprises at least one display device for the reproduction of information and at least one input device for the gathering of information. The account statement of the credit account and/or of the subscriber's account will be reproduced by the display device of the terminal at least after having made use of a chargeable communication service. After using a chargeable communication service by the terminal, a device of the mobile network sends a trigger message which contains information with respect to the costs of the used chargeable communication service to a server of the mobile network. The server realizes a push service, and then triggers a push message to the terminal using the information of the trigger message. The push message contains information with respect to the account statement of the credit account and/or of the subscriber's account, by means of a push service of the mobile network.
US08718593B2
An emergency switch and an emergency function activated by the emergency switch are provided in a wireless mobile device. The emergency switch is positioned on an edge of the mobile device in a position that is visible and operable without activating the device. An action of the emergency switch activates the emergency function in the device. The emergency function in the device initiates a call to 911. The emergency function initiates a call to 911 and provides (i) a canned voice message that includes, owner name, owner cell telephone number, GPS location, physical address, and nature of the emergency. The emergency function activates a speakerphone connection and maintains the speakerphone connection to update the status of the emergency until the function is deactivated by the device user.
US08718590B2
A downconverter mixes a first comb spectrum with a local oscillator signal to generate a second comb spectrum in a lower frequency range. The first comb spectrum comprises frequency components separated from each other according to a frequency spacing interval, and the LO signal has a frequency offset relative to the first comb spectrum, where the frequency offset is a rational fraction of the frequency spacing interval. The second comb spectrum comprises lower and upper sideband responses corresponding to respective lower and upper sideband signals of the first comb spectrum. The lower and upper sideband responses in the second comb spectrum can be distinguished from each other based on the frequency offset.
US08718582B2
Multi-mode power amplifiers that can support multiple radio technologies and/or multiple frequency bands are described. In one exemplary design, a first linear power amplifier supporting multiple radio technologies may be used to amplify a first RF input signal (e.g., for low band) and provide a first RF output signal. A second linear power amplifier also supporting the multiple radio technologies may be used to amplify a second RF input signal (e.g., for high band) and provide a second RF output signal. Each linear power amplifier may include multiple (e.g., three) chains coupled in parallel. Each chain may be selectable to amplify an RF input signal and provide an RF output signal for a respective range of output power levels. An RF input signal may be a phase modulated signal or a quadrature modulated signal and may be pre-distorted to account for non-linearity of the power amplifier.
US08718573B2
A wireless transceiver apparatus is provided. The wireless transceiver apparatus includes a signal transmitting circuit comprising an output port for outputting a transmission signal in a transmission mode, the signal transmitting circuit further comprising an inductive component. The wireless transceiver apparatus also includes a circuit unit coupled to the output port of the signal transmitting circuit, the circuit unit comprising a capacitive component and a signal receiving circuit comprising a receiving port for receiving a wireless communication signal in a reception mode. The output port is coupled to the receiving port, and the capacitive component in the circuit unit and the inductive component in the signal transmitting circuit form a resonator structure configured to operate in a frequency resonance mode during the reception mode.
US08718563B2
A method for processing a signal with a corresponding noise profile includes analyzing spectral content of the noise profile, filtering at least one noise harmonic within the signal based on the analyzed spectral content, and limiting the filtered signal. The noise profile may include a phase noise profile. The signal may include a sinusoidal signal and/or a noise signal. At least one filter coefficient that is used to filter the at least one noise harmonic may be determined. The filtering may include low pass filtering. The limiting may include hard-limiting of the filtered signal. A phase difference between the limited signal and a reference signal may be detected.
US08718561B2
A wireless mesh communication network includes a plurality of wireless routers which can be managed in a hierarchical manner with respect to one another and all of the routers are capable of detecting and avoiding interference on channels over which they communicate with one another. Depending upon whether a channel is active or inactive, a wireless router can either passively detect interference and then switch channels to avoid it or actively detect interference and then switch channels to avoid it.
US08718557B2
A method for providing a Bluetooth function for a computer is disclosed, including: inputting a switch indication, and a terminal switching a working mode to a Bluetooth adapter mode; connecting the terminal to the computer via a universal serial bus (USB) interface; receiving an upload configuration parameter sent from the computer, and the terminal transmitting configuration parameters stored therein to the computer to enable the computer to regard the terminal as a Bluetooth adapter; the terminal sending an HCI command transmitted via the USB interface by the computer via its Bluetooth chip, converting a radio frequency signal received by its Bluetooth chip into an HCI event to transmit to the computer via the USB interface. Also disclosed in the present invention is a terminal for providing a Bluetooth function for a computer, including a user interface (UI), a switching module, a USB interface, an enumerating module and a Bluetooth module.
US08718555B2
Using bearer channels for wireless nodes includes initiating communication among the wireless nodes that include a node and one or more neighbor nodes. An adaptive channel operable to communicate messages between the node and the neighbor nodes is established. One or more bearer channels are selected. The one or more neighbor nodes are notified of the one or more selected bearer channels using the adaptive channel. The node and the neighbor nodes communicate over the bearer channels.
US08718548B2
Methods and apparatus for efficiently scheduling links in wireless communications networks are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in ad hoc wireless networks in which scheduling decisions are made in a distributed and/or decentralized manner. In some embodiments, the links in a network, e.g., in a peer to peer ad hoc network, are adaptively grouped based on comparable link channel gain. Exemplary signaling used, in some but not necessarily all embodiments, by devices to estimate channel gains include broadcast connection identifier signals and reverse broadcast connection identifier signals. Grouping links into sets based on comparable link channel gain, and selectively ordering the scheduling priorities of the different groups, is used to improve scheduling efficiency, e.g., decrease the likelihood that unnecessary yielding occurs.
US08718537B2
A communication system has a controller for transmitting data to be played back by a plurality of playback devices corresponding to a plurality of channels, and a plurality of adapters required for executing playback by the playback devices. The controller has a setting unit which sets data to be played back by the playback devices and control information required to control playback of the data in time slots of a sync transmission frame, and a transmission unit which transmits the sync transmission frame the by the setting unit to the adapters. Each adapter has a reception unit which receives the transmitted sync transmission frame, and a playback control unit which extracts data corresponding to the channel to be played back by the adapter from the sync transmission frame, and controls the playback timing of the data based on control information corresponding to the data.
US08718531B2
A cleaner includes a cleaning member that includes a tip portion that comes into contact with an image carrier that carries an image, and that removes and cleans developer adhered to the image carrier, a cleaning container which stores the developer removed by the cleaning member, a cleaning support that includes a cleaning supporting portion that supports a proximal end of the cleaning member, and a damped portion, a damping body that includes a first and a second damping bodies arranged in contact with the damped portion and that regulates vibration of the cleaning support, and a fixing member of the damping body that includes a first fixing portion arranged to face the damped portion with the first damping body, and a second fixing portion arranged to face the damped portion with the second damping body, and that is supported by the cleaning container.
US08718530B2
A lubricant supply device including a solid lubricant, a lubricant supply roller, a detector, and a varying device is provided. The lubricant supply roller is adapted to supply the lubricant to a toner image bearing member and is rotatable in a predetermined direction while slidably contacting both the solid lubricant and the toner image bearing member. The detector is adapted to detect an absolute humidity around the lubricant supply device. The varying device is adapted to vary an amount of the lubricant to be supplied to the toner image bearing member based on the absolute humidity detected by the detector.
US08718527B2
There are provided a laser fixing device adapted to use of two types of light fixable toners having different light absorption characteristics, an image forming apparatus equipped with the laser fixing device, and an image forming method employing the image forming apparatus. A laser fixing device includes a laser light emitting section for emitting laser light and a wavelength conversion section for emitting outgoing light having a wavelength different from the one that incident laser light has.
US08718519B2
An image forming apparatus transfers pattern images for color deviation detection of the respective colors on an endless belt, and corrects color deviation occurring when each image forming unit forms an image on a recording material, in accordance with the amount of color deviation detected by a registration detection sensor. The image forming apparatus forms pattern images of the respective colors on the endless belt at the intervals determined based on the total variation obtained by totaling each variation of the transfer and detection positions of a pattern image of each color on the endless belt from an ideal position. This enables to reduce color deviation detection errors by using pattern images for color deviation detection and improve the accuracy of color deviation correction.
US08718513B2
An image forming apparatus includes process units arranged in a predetermined direction to form a process-unit row, each having a photosensitive body and a developer container; a casing accommodating the process units and having a cover opening and closing an opening formed at one side in the predetermined direction, and an exposure member exposing the photosensitive body, and having a laser source, a deflector, and an optical element, and the exposure member is arranged facing the developer container of each process unit in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The process units are detachable from the casing, through the opening of the casing, and the developer container of one process unit arranged at one end of the process-unit row has a protruding portion protruding toward the exposure member to overlap with the exposure member in the orthogonal direction.
US08718512B2
In an image forming device, a process cartridge is detachably insertable in a process frame. The developing coupling is provided in the one end of the developing unit for transmitting an external rotation force to the developing unit. The developing coupling has: a rotation axis; and a drum shutter to be pivotally moved between a first position at which the drum shutter covers the photosensitive drum and a second position at which the drum shutter does not cover the photosensitive drum. A shutter portion covering the part of the photosensitive drum at the first position. The shutter portion is in direct confrontation with the developing unit at the second position. When the process cartridge is inserted in the process frame, the drum shutter is positioned at the second position whereas when the process cartridge is not inserted in the process frame, the drum shutter is positioned at the first position.
US08718500B2
To provide an image forming apparatus capable of increasing the life of a rotating cam while preventing the occurrence of a shock jitter and transfer failure. The image forming apparatus is configured to execute a forced movement process for rotating the rotating cam to forcibly move a secondary transfer roller against a biasing force of a bias coil spring at a pre-entry timing prior to the entry of the front edge of a recording sheet into a secondary transfer position, and a pressure intensifying process for rotating the rotating cam to increase transfer pressure at a timing immediately after the entry of the front edge of the recording sheet into the secondary transfer position. As the forced movement process, the image forming apparatus executes, alternately, a first forced movement process for normally driving and rotating the rotating cam, and a second forced movement process for inversely driving and rotating the rotating cam, at a predetermined timing.
US08718494B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image, a plurality of detectors that detect an amount of variation of indicators respectively determining an amount consumed of the consumable supply, a determination section that determines whether or not the amount of variation has reached any one of first lifespan values, an interruption section that interrupts an image forming operation based on the first lifespan values, and an extension setting section that inhibits the interruption of the image forming operation and sets an extension mode of extending a period of execution of the image forming operation, wherein the determination section determines whether or not an amount of variation of one indicator has reached an extended lifespan value when the extension mode is set, and wherein the interruption section interrupts the image forming operation based on extended lifespan value when the extension mode is set.
US08718492B2
Systems and methods for processing an optical signal are disclosed. The optical signal is converted to a voltage signal and the voltage signal is amplified. In addition, a signal strength and/or a signal quality parameter is monitored and an indication of the signal strength and/or a signal quality parameter is generated. Further, a gain and/or an operating bandwidth on the conversion or the amplification can be adjusted based on the indication to reduce power consumption of an optical receiver.
US08718490B2
A method includes producing interference between a received optical OFDM signal and an optical carrier extracted from the received optical OFDM signal to provide optical coherent detection of the received optical OFDM signal. Preferably, producing the interference includes optically splitting the received optical OFDM signal into a first part that is filtered to extract the carrier from the received optical OFDM signal and a second part similar to the received optical OFDM signal.
US08718484B2
An optical transmitter for generating a modulated optical signal for transmission over dispersive fiber optic links in which a first information-containing radio frequency signal input is applied to a modulation circuit for directly modulating a semiconductor laser with the signal input. The output of the laser is applied to a phase modulator to which a second information-containing radio frequency signal is applied.
US08718482B1
One or more devices of a network having asymmetric delay are configured to participate in time synchronization protocol sessions in which a client device synchronizes its local clock to a master device. In one example, a system includes an optical line terminal configured to receive a time synchronization protocol packet from a grandmaster clock and an optical network unit (ONU) configured to calculate a residence time of the time synchronization protocol packet, encode the residence time into the packet, and to forward the packet to a client device. Moreover, the system may participate in a plurality of time synchronization protocol sessions with a plurality of client devices, such that the client devices become synchronized in frequency and phase.
US08718478B2
A radio-over-fiber (RoF) hybrid wired/wireless transponder is disclosed that is configured to provide both wireless and wired communication between a hybrid head-end and one or more client devices. The hybrid transponder includes optical-to-electrical (O/E) and electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion capability and is configured to frequency multiplex/demultiplex electrical “wired” signals and electrical “wireless” signals. The electrical wireless signals are wirelessly communicated to the client device(s) via a multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system within a cellular coverage area. The electrical wired signals are communicated to the client device(s) via a wireline cable that plugs into a wireline cable port on the transponder. The hybrid RoF system includes a hybrid head-end capable of transmitting and receiving wired and wireless optical signals, and an optical fiber cable that is optically coupled to the hybrid head-end and to at least one hybrid transponder. Drop-down transponder configurations that allow for easy wired and wireless connectivity between the client device(s) to the transponder(s) are also disclosed.
