US08733358B2
A respiratory mask includes a frame including a breathable gas port, wherein the frame defines an inner chamber to receive at least one of a wearer's nasal region and mouth, and a cushion including a flange connected to the frame, an inner rim defining an opening to the inner chamber of the frame, and a sealing portion disposed between the flange and the inner rim to contact the wearer's face. The sealing portion includes a nasal seal section to span a wearer's face above the wearer's nares, side seal sections extending from each side of the nasal seal section on both sides of the wearer's mouth, and a chin seal section that extends between the side seal sections, wherein the chin seal section is upwardly curved in an arch to follow the chin's bony contour.
US08733353B2
The breathing assistance apparatus of the present invention includes a manifold that is provided with or retrofittable to gases supply and humidifying devices. The manifold allows gases from an oxygen concentrator to be combined with the flow through a gases supply and humidifying device, most usually air. The combined output of oxygen and other breathing gases (air) is then humidified. The breathing assistance apparatus and manifold of the present invention provides a safe method to add oxygen to the input air stream of a gases supply and humidifying device and reduces the amount of accumulation of oxygen within the gases supply device, reducing fire risk should sparking occur within the device.
US08733351B2
The apparatus provides for the determination of the instantaneous phase in the respiratory cycle, subject's average respiration rate and the provision of ventilatory assistance. A microprocessor (16) receives an airflow signal from a pressure transducer (18) coupled to a port (17) at a mask (11). The microprocessor (16) controls a servo (19), that in turn controls the fan motor (20) and thus the pressure of air delivered by the blower (10). The blower (10) is coupled to a subject's mask (ii) by a conduit (12). The invention seeks to address the following goals: while the subject is awake and making substantial efforts the delivered assistance should be closely matched in phase with the subject's efforts; the machine should automatically adjust the degree of assistance to maintain at least a specified minimum ventilation without relying on the integrity of the subject's chemoreflexes; and it should continue to work correctly in the presence of large leaks.
US08733333B2
A cam accessible portable bow press is comprised of a pair of press arm, each press arm further comprising a pair of press levers, each press lever comprising a limb lever adapted to be adjustably disposed between a bow's riser and one of the bow's cams and a cam lever adapted to substantially enclosed the outer circumference of a cam without obstructing access to the side of each cam. The press arms are tensioned using a combination of straps and buckles, allowing the user to compress the bow's limbs to aid in stringing or unstringing the bow or to perform maintenance on the bow's cams without to unstringing the bow.
US08733331B2
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for adjusting the operation of a gasoline-fueled engine based on monitored conditions within a combustion chamber of the engine. In some cases, the system monitors regions within the combustion chamber, identifies or determines a satisfactory condition, and applies an ionization voltage to a fuel injector to initiate a combustion event during the satisfactory condition. In some cases, the system monitors the conditions within the combustion chamber, determines a monitored condition is associated with an adjustment, and adjusts a parameters of a combustion event in order to adjust ionization levels within a combustion chamber.
US08733326B2
A dual fuel common rail fuel injector includes a first and second control valve assembly and a first and second check needle. The dual fuel injector is capable of selectively injecting two different fuels such as diesel and liquefied natural gas. The first and second control valve assemblies operate using a single fuel, such as diesel, as the control medium. The dual fuel common rail injector further includes a hydraulic lock assembly.
US08733321B2
Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
US08733318B2
An internal combustion engine having an intake channel that is divided by a partition into an air duct and a mixture duct. The partition has a connecting opening that at least at full throttle of the internal combustion engine is substantially closed. A main fuel opening opens out into the mixture duct. At least one further fuel opening is provided that opens out into the mixture duct at a first distance relative to the wall of the intake channel and at a second distance relative to the partition.
US08733315B2
A soluble and substantially ring-shaped casting core may include a cooling channel in a piston having at least one inflow and at least one outflow. The casting core may form a closed ring and the inflow may be arranged directly adjacent to the outflow. The casting core may have a cross-sectional taper for forming a choke in the circumferential direction between the inflow and the outflow.
US08733314B2
An apparatus for reducing torque fluctuations of a combustion engine includes a crankshaft mounted in the engine, flywheel coupled to the crankshaft, and a first actuator and a second actuator coupled to the flywheel. The flywheel generates a counter torque to the torque generated by the engine during combustion, and the first and the second actuators are operated to adjust the magnitude and the phase of the counter torque generated by the flywheel to suppress fluctuations associated the engine torque.
US08733309B2
A camshaft adjuster (1) is disclosed that has material openings (5) in the vanes (4) of the drive element (2), with these openings being divided into two sub-spaces (12, 13), wherein one sub-space (12) is provided for the penetration of a connecting element (6) and the other sub-space (13) does not allow the penetration of a connecting element (6).
US08733308B2
A camshaft adjusting device (1) including at least two hydraulic chamber (A, B) disposed between a stator (3) and a rotor (4) and separated by a vane (5) and supplied with pressure oil from a pressure oil source (P) by a hydraulic oil controller (6). In order to achieve improved filling and emptying of the hydraulic chambers, the hydraulic oil controller according to the invention provides: first and second supply lines (7, 9) disposed between the pressure oil source (P) and one of the hydraulic chambers (A), wherein check valves (8, 10) are disposed in the supply lines (7), wherein the supply lines (7) are free of further switchable valve elements, and wherein the supply lines (7) are the sole inlet line for hydraulic oil from the pressurized oil source (P) into the hydraulic chambers (A, B), and a 4/3-way valve element (11) that is effectively disposed between the hydraulic chambers (A, B) and a tank (T) has three valve positions (I, II, III).
US08733300B2
An internal combustion engine comprises a chamber having a longitudinal centerline, inlet valving operable to admit constituents of a combustible mixture into the chamber for combustion therein to provide a pressure increase and outlet valving operable to release an outflow of liquid from the chamber under the influence of that pressure increase as an energy output of the chamber. The chamber has a flowpath defined therein for flow of the liquid towards the outlet valving. The flowpath diverges from centerline in a downstream direction thereof and has a cross-section area in a direction perpendicular to the centerline that remains substantially equal or decreases in the downstream direction of the flowpath.
US08733293B2
A dual axes swivel connector for connecting various panels to assemble a pet enclosure is disclosed. The dual axes swivel connector allows panels of the enclosure to be reliably pivoted with respect to each other. The dual axes swivel connector may comprise first and second parts. The first part may be fabricated from a flexible material compared to the second part, whereas the second part may be fabricated from a more rigid material compared to the first part. The flexibility of the first part allows the first part to have a tighter fit with the wire rods. The second part has a looser fit with the wire rods but the rigidity of the second part compensates for the looser fit. When the first and second parts are interlocked, they create a tight fit which can reliably provide a hinge between the panels.
US08733290B2
A system for providing an interface for interacting with a laboratory animal and the method of using the system are disclosed.
US08733283B2
The present invention relates to the field of biological control. Specifically, it relates to the use of predator mites as biological control agents for reducing damage to crops by insect pests. In particular, it relates to a new method for rearing predator mites, and a method for controlling pests in a crop using predator mites reared using said method.
US08733274B2
Inkjet print head dies are directly seated upon an exterior of a tubular member so as to face different directions.
US08733273B2
An ejecting mechanism includes a pump, a pump controller unit, a distribution pipe, a restricting unit, and adhesive nozzles. The pump controller unit is configured to control to increase or decrease the amount of adhesive to be taken in by the pump. The distribution unit is configured to send a predetermined amount of adhesive to the adhesive nozzles out of the adhesive supplied by the pump, and to return the rest of adhesive to a discharge pipe out of the supplied adhesive, except for the predetermined amount of adhesive. The restricting unit is configured to disposed between the distribution unit and the discharge pipe and configured to restrict an amount of adhesive to be returned to a pipe.
US08733272B2
Fluid ejection apparatuses and processes for making the same are disclosed. An apparatus for ejecting fluid droplets includes a substrate having a plurality of flow paths formed therein, each flow path including a respective pumping chamber and a respective nozzle, and the respective nozzle being configured to eject fluid droplets through a first surface of the substrate in response to actuation of the respective pumping chamber; and an actuation assembly including a drive electrode layer over a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface, a piezoelectric layer over the drive electrode layer, and a reference electrode layer over the piezoelectric layer, the drive electrode layer being patterned to define an individually controllable drive electrode over each of two or more pumping chambers in the substrate, and the reference electrode layer including a continuous reference electrode spanning the two or more pumping chambers in the substrate.
US08733266B2
An integrative deep draft floating production platform with unconditional stability and an offshore installation method thereof are disclosed. The platform comprises an ring ballast tank at the bottom, some columns with small cross sections, an ring buoyancy tank at the middle part, some columns with large cross sections, and an upper drilling equipment and oil gas processing module. The ballast tank adopts a permanently fixed ballast, and the tank is internally filled with weights to ensure that the center of buoyancy of the platform is higher than the center of gravity. The drilling equipment and oil gas processing module is installed in the construction site, and the platform is transported to the installation site by a dry tow or wet tow as a whole and then is installed. The platform can be applied to deepwater oil and gas exploitation under harsh marine environment.
US08733264B2
A method and apparatus for varying the buoyancy of a floating structure are provided. The method can include securing a plurality of floatation modules to at least a portion of the floating structure at various locations thereabout, while the floating structure is at sea such that the operational flexibility of the floating structure is modified.
US08733254B1
An apparatus in one example embodiment includes a tabletop, a support member coupled to the tabletop, and a base coupled to the support member. The base is axially spaced from the tabletop and configured to be received in a planter. In further embodiments, at least a portion of the base is spaced from a floor of the planter when the base is received in the planter. In yet further embodiments, a plurality of feet are coupled to the base and extend below the base. At least one of the feet may be adjustable to alter a vertical spacing between a head of the foot and the base. In some embodiments, one or more drainage holes may be formed in the base. In other embodiments, the apparatus includes one or more other support members, each coupled to the base and the tabletop.
US08733252B2
An electrified monorail assembly includes a track having a length, a plurality of electrically conductive buss bars disposed along the length of the track, and a controller disposed on the track. The controller is in electrical communication with the plurality electrically conductive of buss bars, and configured to selectively energize the plurality of electrically conductive buss bars. The assembly further includes a proximity sensor disposed on the track and in communication with the controller, the proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of a trolley assembly on the track.
US08733246B2
An offset printing apparatus includes a frame; guide rails that are provided on the frame; a plurality of guide blocks that are provided on the guide rails; a plate table that travels via one portion of the guide blocks among the plurality of guide blocks; a print target table that travels via another portion of the guide blocks among the plurality of guide blocks; and a blanket roll that is provided on the frame; wherein transfer from the plate to the blanket roll, and retransfer from the blanket roll to the print target are performed by causing the blanket roll to successively make contact from above with a plate that is held on the plate table, and a print target that is held on the print target table; a step portion for positioning that consists of a vertical surface that is formed by a machining process so that the linearity increases and a horizontal surface is provided at mounting locations of the guide rails on the upper surface portion of the frame; and one side surface and the bottom surface of the guide rails are pressed against the vertical surface and the horizontal surface of the step portion, respectively, to be fixed.
US08733242B2
A hauling or towing vehicle has a power take-off shaft that can be activated and deactivated selectively by way of a coupling. The apparatus has drivable elements that can be connected to the power take-off shaft. An electronic control unit of the apparatus is connected via a bus to an electronic control unit of the hauling or towing vehicle. The electronic control unit of the apparatus is connected to a sensor for detecting a living creature present in a danger zone of the machine. In the case that a living creature is detected in the danger zone, the electronic control unit of the apparatus causes the electronic control unit of the hauling or towing vehicle to order an actuator to disconnect the coupling of the power take-off shaft and/or to prevent the actuator from closing the coupling.
US08733232B2
The invention relates to a drive for a coffee brewing device that includes a first gearwheel having an internal thread that is pivot-mounted to an external thread of a guide cylinder so that the first gearwheel can be moved along a cylinder axis of the guide cylinder in response to a rotation, a second gearwheel for driving the first gearwheel along the cylinder axis, a housing, and a brewing piston coupled to the housing so that the brewing piston and the first gearwheel can be moved along the cylinder axis. A linear guide running parallel to the cylinder axis is also provided for guiding the housing such that a movement of the housing opposite to the linear guide in a radial direction to the cylinder axis is prevented. An axis of rotation of the second gearwheel is arranged in a provided distance relative to the linear guide.
US08733230B2
Devices for the preparation of a liquid food or beverage. One device includes a housing, pump, pump support for securing the pump to the housing, a rigid duct that is connected by an elastic sealing member to the housing and to an inlet or outlet of the pump. The pump support includes an elastic support member for resiliently supporting the pump chamber in the housing. Another device includes a pre-suction chamber connected to a liquid inlet of a pump and being designed to intermittently provide liquid to said liquid inlet. A further device includes a connector of at least one elastic sealing member designed to absorb vibrations from a pump of the device and to enable a relative movement of a duct and a liquid inlet or outlet of the pump.
US08733225B1
A vehicle and structure shield includes an array of hard points laterally spaced and outwardly supported, in one example, by a net subsystem and frame.
US08733212B2
A coaxial cable stripper is provided with the functionality of adjusting the depth of cuts made by the cutting component thereof. Therefore, the coaxial cable stripper can adjust the depth of cut depends on the need of a user. The coaxial cable stripper can also cutoff the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer of a coaxial cable.
US08733211B2
Tattoo machines include a motor pivotably coupled to a frame. The motor includes an eccentrically weighted shaft. A needle drive mechanism is coupled with the motor. Methods of making tattoo machines may include obtaining a frame and obtaining a motor that includes an eccentrically weighted shaft. The motor can then be coupled to the frame so that the motor is able to pivot about a pivot axis. Methods operational for tattoo machines include rotating an eccentrically weighted shaft on a motor that is pivotably coupled to a frame. The motor is pivoted about a pivot axis as a result of the rotation of the shaft.
US08733197B2
A driving force transmission mechanism (40) includes: a first support portion (31) for supporting an end portion of a rotation shaft (1aa) of a photosensitive drum (1a) on a second driving force transmission gear (49) side; a second support portion (33) arranged opposite to the photosensitive drum (1a) across the first support portion (31); a shaft (51) provided so as to protrude from the second support portion (33) to the photosensitive drum (1a) side; and a multi-step gear (47) rotatably supported by the shaft (51), the multi-step gear including a driving force input gear portion (47a) and a driving force output gear portion (47b). Between the driving force input gear portion (47a) and the driving force output gear portion (47b), there is formed a peripheral surface portion (47c) rotatably supported by a bearing member (53) provided into a second through-hole (31a) of the first support portion (31).
US08733186B2
An environmental testing system for environmental testing with particulate matter, such as sand and dust, is disclosed. The testing system uses a feeder to feed precise amounts of particulate matter into an injector, which injects the particulate matter into the airflow leading to a test chamber with approximately the same velocity as the surrounding airflow. The feeder may be a loss-in-weight gravimetric feeder, and the injector may be a Venturi valve actuated by compressed air. The system also includes operator protection features, such as an exhaust fan that creates negative pressure when the door to the test chamber is opened, and when particulate matter is dumped into the system. A temperature control system heats and cools the airflow during tests, a pneumatic conveying system moves fluidized particulate matter into and out of the system, and a controller provides automatic control over the system.
US08733182B2
The force sensor assembly has axis of measurement along an axial direction of the force sensor assembly and comprises a force ring provided with at least two sensing elements, a printed circuit board having electronic components thereon, a covering plate for holding the printed circuit board onto the force ring, and a sensor cap covering the printed circuit board and covering plate and attached to the force ring. Manufacturing is easily accomplished using stacking, fixing and welding.
US08733177B2
Sensing device and sensing method are disclosed. The multi-dimensional force sensing device includes a soft laminose dielectric structure, a conductive sheet, at least one first electrode sheet, at least one second electrode sheet, a measuring unit and an analysis unit. The soft laminose dielectric structure has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The conductive sheet is disposed on the first surface and has a vertical projection area. The first electrode sheet is disposed on the second surface and totally in the range of the vertical projection area. The second electrode sheet is disposed on the second surface and partially in the range of the vertical projection area. The analysis unit analyzes the magnitude and direction of a force applied on the conductive sheet according to the capacitance between the at least one first electrode sheet and between the first and the second electrode sheets.
US08733172B2
An integrated microelectromechanical structure is provided with: a die, having a substrate and a frame, defining inside it a detection region and having a first side extending along a first axis; a driving mass, anchored to the substrate, set in the detection region, and designed to be rotated in a plane with a movement of actuation about a vertical axis; and a first pair and a second pair of first sensing masses, suspended inside the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to be fixed with respect thereto in the movement of actuation and so as to perform a detection movement of rotation out of the plane in response to a first angular velocity; wherein the first sensing masses of the first pair and the first sensing masses of the second pair are aligned in respective directions, having non-zero inclinations of opposite sign with respect to the first axis.
US08733170B2
A micro-electromechanical device includes a semiconductor substrate, in which a first microstructure and a second microstructure of reference are integrated. The first microstructure and the second microstructure are arranged in the substrate so as to undergo equal strains as a result of thermal expansions of the substrate. Furthermore, the first microstructure is provided with movable parts and fixed parts with respect to the substrate, while the second microstructure has a shape that is substantially symmetrical to the first microstructure but is fixed with respect to the substrate. By subtracting the changes in electrical characteristics of the second microstructure from those of the first, variations in electrical characteristics of the first microstructure caused by changes in thermal expansion or contraction can be compensated for.
US08733169B2
A composite sensor includes: a package including a container and a lid; a plurality of spaces that is partitioned by at least the container and the lid, and has different pressures, the plurality of the spaces including a first space sealed at around an atmospheric pressure and a second space sealed at a depressurized state; an acceleration sensor element disposed in the first space; and a vibration type angular velocity sensor element disposed in the second space. In the sensor, the first space has a volume smaller than a volume of the second space.
US08733168B2
In one aspect, a method of determining an instantaneous speed of an arrow, includes determining a time-of-flight of the arrow; determining a distance between a location from which the arrow is loosed and a location of a target-face; providing, with an apparatus included in the arrow, data from at least a portion of a free flight of the arrow; and determining the instantaneous speed of the arrow for at least one point of the free-flight by employing each of: a) the time-of-flight; b) the distance; and c) at least some of the data provided by the apparatus.
US08733163B2
In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method an article, may operate to move a borehole seal in space with respect to the wall of a borehole while monitoring borehole seal contact quality data, which may comprise borehole seal contact pressure data and acoustic data. Operations may further include adjusting the movement of the borehole seal based on the borehole seal contact quality data. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08733162B2
The invention relates to a flow state sensor (10) for detecting a flow state at a body (16) that may be impinged on by a flow (12). A flow state sensor (10) that is of a simple construction and that is simple to evaluate is characterized in accordance with the invention by at least one frequency detecting device (20) for detecting at least one predefined frequency characteristic of the flow state. The frequency detecting device (20) has at least one oscillation element (22; 22a, 22b, 22c) excitable to resonant oscillatory movement (30) by a flow (12) and having a resonant frequency or natural frequency adapted to the predefined frequency characteristic, especially corresponding to the predefined frequency characteristic. Uses of the flow state sensor (10) in a flow measuring device (62) and in a flow measuring method, and an advantageous production method for the flow state sensor (10) are also proposed.
US08733160B2
A tire defect tester and a method of operation are disclosed. In one aspect, the tire defect tester includes a first electrode arranged to direct energy toward a tire, and a second electrode arranged on an opposite side of the tire from the first electrode to receive energy passing through the tire from the first electrode. The tire defect tester further includes an energy sensor electrically connected to the second electrode and a fault indicator circuit responsive to the energy sensor and configured to indicate the presence of a flaw upon energy above a threshold level being sensed at the second electrode.
US08733157B2
An cylinder inner pressure detector of an internal combustion engine includes: a reference voltage output circuit for outputting a reference voltage having a level, which is selected among multiple levels according to a switching signal; a level shift circuit for shifting a level of a sensor signal of an inner pressure sensor by a selected level of the reference voltage toward a signal potential side corresponding to a low pressure side of cylinder inner pressure; a first A/D converter circuit for converting the shifted sensor signal from an analog signal to a digital signal; and a controller for outputting the switching signal, which provides the reference voltage such that the reference voltage has the level on the signal potential side corresponding to the low pressure side from an offset voltage, and for detecting the cylinder inner pressure based on the digital signal output from the first A/D converter.
US08733154B2
A method for analyzing liquid samples may comprise applying a liquid to a cMUT device having a plurality of sensors, drying the plurality of sensors, electronically detecting an agent bound to each of the plurality of sensors, wherein the electrical circuit provides a sensor output responsive to a mechanical resonance frequency of the sensor, wherein the mechanical resonance frequency of the sensor is responsive to the binding of an agent to the functionalized membrane, and determining the mass of the agent bound to each of the plurality of sensors.
US08733149B2
The present invention relates generally to the detection of alcohol. The present invention relates more particularly to the film bulk acoustic wave resonator-based devices, and their use in the sensing of ethanol and/or acetone. One aspect of the invention is a method for detecting ethanol, acetone or both in a gaseous sample including: providing a film bulk acoustic wave resonator having a zinc oxide piezoelectric layer; exposing the film bulk acoustic wave resonator to the gaseous sample; determining the resonant frequency of the film bulk acoustic wave resonator; and determining the concentration of ethanol, the concentration of acetone, or both in the gaseous sample using the resonant frequency of the film bulk acoustic wave resonator.
US08733146B2
A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner to form a machine arrangement. Each machine includes a modular base, a transfer star wheel, and a turret mechanism configured to perform a working operation on an article. The turret mechanism includes a turret star wheel. A central axis of the transfer star wheel is approximately 45 degrees below horizontal relative to a central axis of the turret star wheel. The turret mechanism includes a cantilevered portion overhanging a portion of the base.
US08733139B2
The vehicle door hardware assembly includes exterior and interior housings each having a handle or paddle for opening the door. The outer housing includes a plunger which is normally extended, and can be retracted by either the exterior or interior handle when the door is unlocked. A deadbolt is also provided on the exterior housing. A main lock can be slid between locked and unlocked positions to preclude or allow movement of the paddle. A pair of key cylinders is provided on the exterior housing for actuating the deadbolt and the main lock. Power units can be connected to the lock and deadbolt via actuators. The deadbolt and lock are also movable by a pair of knobs on the inside housing.
US08733136B2
A washing machine has a water spray device to efficiently wet the laundry by spraying washing water to the laundry with uniform pressure. The washing machine includes an outer tub, and a water spray device installed at an upper portion of the outer tub to spray washing water. The water spray device includes a diffusion duct for diffusing the washing water around the outer tub and a spray member provided in the diffusion duct to spray the washing water into the outer tub.
US08733134B2
An auxiliary laundry treating machine that is capable of improving energy efficiency and maximally securing a laundry receiving space and a multiple treating system including the same are disclosed. The auxiliary laundry treating machine includes a machine body mounted at one side of a main laundry treating machine that washes or dries laundry, a container for receiving laundry, the container being configured to be inserted into and withdrawn from the machine body, and an air supply unit mounted in the main laundry treating machine for supplying air into the container. The air supply unit includes a blowing fan for suctioning and blowing air in the main laundry treating machine and a heater for heating the air blown by the blowing fan. Also, the multiple treating system includes a main laundry treating machine for washing or drying laundry and the auxiliary laundry treating machine.
US08733123B2
A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.
US08733122B2
A refrigerator having a drawer to be pushed into or pulled out of a storage compartment. An ice-making unit is integrally mounted in the drawer so as to be pushed into or pulled out of the drawer through an opening perforated in a front wall of the drawer, resulting in improved use convenience and space utilization.
US08733120B2
An air-conditioning apparatus that that is capable of saving energy is provided. An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant indoor unit that air-conditions a conditioned space by using a heat source side refrigerant supplied from an outdoor unit, and a heat medium indoor unit that air-conditions a conditioned space by using a heat medium different from the heat source side refrigerant. The air-conditioning apparatus includes a first heat medium relay unit that is supplied with the heat source side refrigerant from the outdoor unit, a third heat medium relay unit interposed between the first heat medium relay unit and the refrigerant indoor unit, and a third heat medium relay unit interposed between the first heat medium relay unit and the heat medium indoor unit.
US08733109B2
A method and apparatus for generation of electric power employing fuel and air staging in which a first stage gas turbine and a second stage partial oxidation gas turbine power operated in parallel. A first portion of fuel and oxidant are provided to the first stage gas turbine which generates a first portion of electric power and a hot oxidant. A second portion of fuel and oxidant are provided to the second stage partial oxidation gas turbine which generates a second portion of electric power and a hot syngas. The hot oxidant and the hot syngas are provided to a bottoming cycle employing a fuel-fired boiler by which a third portion of electric power is generated.
US08733108B2
The present application provides for a combustor for use with a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a cap member and a number of fuel nozzles extending through the cap member. One or more of the fuel nozzles may be provided in a non-flush position with respect to the cap member.
US08733100B2
The present invention relates to a valve control device (1) having a housing (2), which comprises a first low pressure chamber (3) and a first atmospheric pressure chamber (4), which are separated from each other in a gas-tight manner by means of a spring-loaded first membrane (5); having a control rod (6) for controlling the position of a locking element of the bypass valve (7), wherein the control rod (6) is operatively connected to the first membrane (5), further having a second low pressure chamber (8), which is flow-connected to the first low pressure chamber (3), and having a second spring-loaded membrane (9), which is arranged in the second low pressure chamber (8) and is coupled to the first membrane (5), wherein the control rod (6) is mounted on the second membrane (9).
US08733098B2
A shape memory alloy actuator includes a shape memory alloy wire portion, a non-deformable portion, a wire portion which is formed by the shape memory alloy wire portion and the non-deformable portion, and which is inserted into a tube member, a movable body which is movable in a direction in which the length of the shape memory alloy wire portion changes, an elastic member which exerts an external force in a direction in which, the shape memory alloy wire portion elongates, and a fixed member to which, one end of the tube member and one end of the shape memory alloy wire portion are fixed. One end of the non-deformable portion which forms the wire portion is connected to the movable body, and the tube member includes therein the shape memory alloy wire portion, and includes therein at least a part of the non-deformable portion.
US08733097B2
A mechanical system for selectively moving a load a motive distance comprises an actuator operable for applying a force to the load. The actuator includes an active material element having a variable property. A controller is connected to the actuator and operable for sending a first stimulus to the actuator to shift the actuator from a first state to a second state. The second state is associated with detecting the onset of actuation for the actuator. The controller is operable to send the priming stimulus level to the actuator to shift it to the primed state. The actuator includes a priming device operable for determining the onset of actuation of the first active material element.
US08733095B2
In various embodiments, a mechanical assembly and/or storage vessel is fluidly coupled to a circulation apparatus for receiving pressurized heat-transfer fluid from an outlet at a first elevated pressure, boosting a pressure of the heat-transfer fluid to a second pressure larger than the first pressure, and returning heat-transfer fluid to an inlet at a third pressure.
US08733093B2
In this invention, high-efficiency wind power generators are mounted on floats that are attached to bridge and other structures for generating electricity from hydrokinetic energy in water waves, currents and tides without submerging the wind power generators in the water. The use of bridge and other dual-use structures substantially reduces the capital cost necessary for installing this system to generate electricity in small as well as large amounts. Today, the systems for converting wind energy to electricity are far more advanced and efficient than existing systems for converting hydrokinetic energy. This invention could produce energy for water-transport vessels as well as for electric utilities.
US08733089B2
A fluid-dynamic circuit includes a source of a pressurized fluid; a distributor valve for distributing the pressurized fluid to transport lines; a feeding line for feeding the pressurized fluid, which is interposed between the source and the valve; a main user apparatus, which is reciprocatingly operated by an actuator that includes a slider sealably fitted in a sliding seat of a containing element divided thereby into a first chamber and a second chamber in opposite positions and having variable volumes; and second and third transport lines for the pressurized fluid, which are interposed between the distributor valve and the first and second chamber respectively, a first derived transport line being interposed between the valve and at least one of the second and third transport lines, and having a normally closed quick discharge device mounted thereto, whose opening is designed to be controlled by the actuator.
US08733086B2
A tail trim assembly for an exhaust pipe in a vehicle which may be mounted at a rear portion of the exhaust pipe that may be formed at an end of a vehicle muffler and discharges exhaust gas and condensed water from the muffler to the outside, may include a main body fitted around the rear portion of the exhaust pipe, at least a welding part formed at an end of the main body and welded to the exhaust pipe, and a collecting part formed at a rear end of the main body, wherein the rear end of the main body and a rear end of the rear portion in the exhaust pipe may be spaced with a predetermined gap to collect the condensed water discharged from the exhaust pipe therethrough.
US08733081B2
An object of the present invention is that after return from fuel cut, an oxygen storage amount in a catalyst in an exhaust path and an oxygen storage amount in a catalyst in an exhaust gas recirculating path are promptly adjusted to be in appropriate states, respectively. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of the present invention controls the internal combustion engine including a recirculating gas generating cylinder and a recirculating gas nongenerating cylinder. The control apparatus includes: an exhaust gas recirculating path for connecting the exhaust path through which exhaust gas only in the recirculating gas generating cylinder is delivered and an intake system; a recirculating catalyst provided on the exhaust gas recirculating path; and rich control means that performs rich control for controlling an air-fuel ratio to be temporarily richer than a theoretical air-fuel ratio when fuel injection is restarted after return from the fuel cut. The rich control means includes air-fuel ratio control means that controls an air-fuel ratio in the recirculating gas generating cylinder to be richer than an air-fuel ratio in the recirculating gas nongenerating cylinder when the rich control and an exhaust gas recirculation by the exhaust gas recirculating path are simultaneously performed.
US08733078B2
An igniter device for a combustor system includes an igniter housing and a pressure sense passage. The igniter housing surrounds an electrode and an insulating body. The igniter has a tip to be positioned within a chamber for combustion. The pressure sense passage is attached to an exterior surface of the igniter housing. The pressure sense passage is configured to direct fluid to a pressure sensor.
US08733077B2
A transmission line guide chain includes a plurality of connected chain links that define a through-passage to receive transmission lines. The chain links include a first chain link that defines a through-hole that forms a portion of the through-passage. A first divider is disposed in the through-hole and a second divider is removably seated on the first divider to provide a stack of dividers in the through-hole. The stack of dividers divides the through-hole into a plurality of compartments that can each receive at least one transmission line.
US08733075B2
A process is described wherein pile yarn is woven with cotton weft and warp yarns to produce terry fabrics, such as towels. The fabric is then washed in warm water to dissolve the PVA fibers. The amount of fibers dissolved, depends upon the count of the yarn or yarns used. By dissolving the PVA fibers, a hollow air space is produced throughout the pile yarn, corresponding to an increase in the air space in the pile yarn. By increasing the air space in the pile yarn, the resulting towels are softer and bulkier than standard cotton towels. The present invention further relates to pile yarn in terry woven fabric (warp yarn), or weft yarn, in the case of flat fabrics.
US08733073B2
A system for cutting, windrowing, and baling material in a single pass. The system has a tractor, a windrower for windrowing material, a baler for baling material that passes through the windrower, a conveying assembly attached to an outlet opening of the windrower, and a connecting assembly for connecting the tractor, the windrower, and the baler. The conveying assembly moves material from the outlet opening of the windrower toward an inlet of the baler.
US08733072B2
A lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor configured to start the internal combustion engine, and a blade driven by the internal combustion engine. The lawn mower further includes an assembly for stopping at least one of the blade and the internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a brake mechanism, a release mechanism, a linkage between the brake mechanism and the release mechanism. The assembly further includes an interlock configured to prevent the release mechanism from releasing the brake mechanism, and an interface allowing an operator to release the interlock. The electric motor is coupled to the assembly such that release of the brake mechanism automatically engages the electric motor to start the internal combustion engine.
US08733070B2
The present invention relates generally to the packaging materials. More specifically, the invention relates to materials and methods suitable for use as packaging materials whereby the appearance of grease, fat or oil staining on the packaging material is reduced or eliminated.
US08733069B2
Methods and apparatus for combining units from among a plurality of packages are disclosed. In some embodiments, units are combined from a plurality of single-variety packages to provide one or more variety packs. For example, a plurality of single-variety packages arranged in repeating order of variety can be provided. The single-variety packages being so arranged can define at least two lanes extending among the plurality of single-variety packages. At least one single-variety group of units can be selected from at least one of the plurality of single-variety packages. Each of the selected at least one single-variety group of units can be positioned in one of the lanes. The selected at least one single-variety group of units can be repositioned to another package and within the one of the lanes.
US08733067B2
A device (1) for packaging a product shaped as a set of cigarettes in a corresponding container (A), defining a package for housing the product, comprises means (11) for forming the container (A) and appropriate means (21, 21) to dispense a corresponding adhesive (B1, B2) for joining corresponding panels of the container. Said appropriate means (21) to dispense a corresponding adhesive are provided next to the exit from the forming means (11) and are movable with respect to said container (A).
US08733048B1
A multi-story durable wall construction that is seamlessly integrated with a foundation and construction pad. The construction process incorporates stabilizing elements that rests a primary layer or sheet of welded-wire fabric on a foundation having rebar dowels protruding therefrom. Interlocking temporary upper guiderails are held in place by vertical rebar support rods. The temporary guiderails stabilize the top edge of the primary layer of welded-wire fabric, and rib lath is attached to the surface of the primary layer of welded-wire fabric to form a structural panel. Pressurized concrete is evenly applied to all of the inside and outside surfaces of the structural panels. Once the concrete has cured sufficiently, the upper stabilizing guide rails are removed to provide a durable wall.
US08733044B2
The present invention concerns a sectional rail system which is constructed with the known outer rails with U-shaped cross-section and intermediate rails with C-shaped cross-section, and which is peculiar in that each of the retention means of the outer rail includes at least one stop pin which is disposed close to the inner side of the screw web of an outer rail, preferably two stop pins disposed opposite each other close to the inner side of the screw webs of the outer rail, where each stop pin furthermore is provided with a support flange for supporting an end part of the reinforcement web of the intermediate rail. The fastening means of the outer rail may thus include one, two or more stop pins, and one or more resilient lock pins.Hereby may be achieved provision of a tool-free assembly method for the sectional rail system and that by screwing on plate covering close to the edge part of the intermediate rail, it is avoided that the screw web and the associated reinforcement web “capsize”.
US08733041B2
A window insert system that advantageously provides a high strength mounting system for windows to be positioned within an opening is provided. The window insert system for mounting the window into a an opening formed in a door or other structural element includes a mounting channel connected to a door or other structural element, a window rail to overlie the mounting channel and support a window therein, and a window securing member to engage a portion of the window rail to secure the window. The window rail may include an outer surface portion, an inner sidewall, an exterior sidewall, and a window carrying member. The window may be positioned between the window carrying member and the window securing member.
US08733040B2
A device for shuttering an opening (31) in a constructional component (30), includes at least one sheeting element (11) at least one attachment element for securing the sheeting element on the constructional component (30) and having at least one expansion band (13, 14) securable to the sheeting element (11) and a locking element (15), and a complementary locking element (17) extendable through the through-opening in the locking element (15), with a distance between the locking element (17) and the sheeting element (11) along the complementary locking element (17) being reduceable.
US08733034B2
This loading bay includes a hinged ramp to form a passage between the warehouse and the container of the truck. The loading bay has a lateral and upper shelter, and a hinged platform that is located at a level below the hinged ramp. The loading bay includes movable frontal stops, assembled on the front end of the platform and that define contact surfaces for the trailer or container of the truck when it is approaching the loading bay. In addition, a position detector is provided for detecting the position of the frontal stops and activates an luminous signal device to issue different luminous messages depending on the movement of the frontal stops. In addition, the loading bay has a device for longitudinally moving the frontal stops away from the container of the truck once it is stationary in the loading bay.
US08733027B1
A roofing clamp is arranged on a corresponding roof seam for receiving a Z-shaped clamp for attaching to the end of a solar collector and receiving a U-shaped clamp for attaching to the sides thereof for attaching the solar collector to the roof without insertion within said roof.
US08733021B2
A casement window unit including a fixed frame (2); a movable sash (3) connected to the fixed frame by a pair of hinged members (4, 5) joined to respective members of the fixed frame and of the sash so as to allow the movable sash to move between a closed position, where the fixed frame and the sash are in contact with each other, and an open position, where at least one stile (3c) of the sash is at a certain distance from the fixed frame towards the outside of the room where the window unit (1) is installed, and vice versa; and a movement arm (7) acting on the sash in such a way that it moves the sash from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa.
US08733018B2
A louver blind structure comprises a frame with a plurality of louver members pivotally mounted at each longitudinal end thereof to the frame so as to pivot between open and closed positions. An elongated member is movable relative to the frame and is so positioned as to engage the louver members. An actuator is mounted to the frame for selectively imparting a movement to the elongated member. When imparting a movement to the elongated member the louver members engaged thereby are caused to pivot between the open and closed positions. A kit comprising this actuator and the elongate member for a louver blind structure is also provided.
US08733010B2
A rimless cartridge cylinder assembly is used for adapting revolvers which typically require the use of rimmed cartridges to accept rimless cartridges. The assembly includes an extractor mechanism having an extractor rod extending axially through a center passage provided in a cylinder having chambers adapted to receive cartridges. The extractor mechanism has an axially extendable extractor head assembly disposed at a cartridge loading end of the cylinder. The head assembly includes a plurality of spring biased projections housed therein which extend radially into engagement with corresponding grooves in rimless cartridges as they are loaded into each chamber. After discharge, rearward displacement of the head assembly allows the engaged projections to remove the spent cartridges from each chamber. Utilizing the rimless cartridge cylinder assembly, rimless cartridges typically used only with automatic hand guns can be loaded and fired in a revolver with long term reliably.
US08733009B2
A magazine cutoff device for a firearm with a tube-type magazine, such as, e.g., semi-automatic shotgun. The cutoff device may be moveably mounted to accommodate at least two positions, on and off. The user may activate the cutoff, pull the bolt to the rear, eject a chambered shell, and lock the bolt to the rear while retaining any shells in the magazine.
US08732998B2
An exterior sign includes a main body, which has a design, a plating material, which is arranged on an inner surface of the main body, wherein the plating material is visible through the main body, and a double-layered protective layer, which is arranged on the plating material. The double-layered protective layer includes a first protective layer and a second protective layer. The first protective layer is arranged closer to the plating material than the second protective layer and has a lower level of contractility during curing than the second protective layer. The second protective layer has a higher level of corrosion resistance than the first protective layer.
US08732985B2
Sole (100; 200; 300; 400) comprising a support layer (101; 201; 301; 401) having at least one region (103; 203; 303; 403) which allows the passage of air through said layer (101; 201; 301; 401), characterized in that it comprises one or more reinforcing elements (111; 211, 311; 411) joined to one side of said layer (101; 201; 301; 401) in said at least one region (103; 203; 303, 403) and perforated with through-openings (113; 213; 313; 413) for evacuating the air which passes through said region; and a membrane (117; 290, 390; 417) made of material which is waterproof and vapor-permeable, situated above said at least one region (103; 203; 303, 403) on the side of said layer (101; 201; 301, 401) opposite to said elements (111; 211, 311; 411) and sealed with said layer (101; 201; 301; 401) at least along one contour (115; 215; 305) around said at least one region (103; 203; 303; 403).
US08732983B2
A shoe includes a first plate and a second plate that are located in a forefoot portion of the shoe between an upper and an outsole of the shoe, and one or more springs for biasing the first plate and the second plate apart from each other. A device for a shoe includes a first plate and a second plate that are installable in a forefoot portion of the shoe, and an energy return member positioned between the first plate and the second plate. A method of using a shoe includes applying, with a foot, a force on at least one of two plates that is positioned in a forefoot portion of a shoe, so as to move the two plates together and increase a loading of a spring, and launching the foot due to the two plates being moved apart by the spring as the foot is being lifted.
US08732981B2
A sole system which allows plantarflexion and dorsiflexion in the running/walking gait; provides a mechanical advantage through articulation of the forefoot to stimulate an upward plantar moment force during toe-off; and increases the distance per step without altering the stride pattern. An embodiment of the current invention has an eccentric toe-off cam lever (“cam lever”) integrated into the midsole of a shoe. The cam lever of the embodiment includes: a distal longitudinally extending cam element; a forefoot fulcrum element; and a rear longitudinally extending cam element.
US08732963B2
An electric hand power tool with oscillating working movement, particularly translation movement, is made particularly compact and with low volume by an elastomeric module. The elastomeric module expands and/or contracts when electric voltage is applied, and is used as a drive for the hand power tool. The elastomeric module is coupled mechanically to a tool and is coupled electrically to a voltage source.
US08732949B2
A process for manufacturing a single-piece blisk, including: using an abrasive water jet to cut a block of material, so as to create blade preforms extending radially from a disk, then milling the blade preforms.
US08732944B2
In one embodiment, a method of fabricating stimulation leads, the method comprises: providing a spool of polymer film; providing a plurality of payout carriers of wires; drawing the polymer film from the spool and the wires from the plurality of payout carriers over a rotating drum, wherein the drum comprises a plurality of grooves over an outer circumferential surface of the drum for directing the wires from the plurality of payout carriers, wherein a distance of each groove from an edge of the drum is varied about the circumference of the drum; bonding the wires to the polymer film while performing the drawing to form an intermediate assembly comprising the polymer film as a carrier with the bonded wires in a repeating pattern along a length of the intermediate assembly.
US08732931B1
A method of servicing a pipe bundle or riser bundle employs a specially configured hoist having a rail that supports multiple lifts. A selected satellite pipe/conduit of the pipe bundle is both lifted and pulled horizontally in order to remove it from a plurality of supports that hold the satellite pipes together in spaced apart positions. During removal of a satellite pipe, the lifts elevate, then travel with and hold the pipe as it moves horizontally away from the bundle.
US08732929B2
The objective is to enable the formation of an outer circumferential layer by a filament winding process to be performed appropriately, and to achieve the weight reduction of a gas tank by reducing the weight of a mouthpiece. The gas tank comprises a mouthpiece attached to an end of a tank main body in its axis direction, and an outer circumferential layer formed over an outer circumferential surface of the tank main body and an outer circumferential surface of the mouthpiece by a filament winding process. On the end of the tank main body in the axis direction, a recess section, in which an outside end surface of the mouthpiece is embedded in the inner side from an outside end surface of the outer circumferential layer, is formed.
US08732928B1
A system and method for supporting and rotating an axle of an overhead rolling door assembly while replacing a counterbalance spring. A support stand is provided. The support stand is positioned under the overhead door assembly. The overhead door assembly is disassembled enough to expose its main axle. The support stand is adjusted in height to engage the main axle so that the support stand holds the main axle at an elevated position. The broken counterbalance spring is replaced. The main axle is the reinstalled into the overhead door assembly. A pulley wheel is then attached to the main axle. The pulley wheel is turned by winding a cable around the pulley wheel and then unwinding the cable with a winch. This rotates the main axle with the torque needed to properly pre-tension the replacement spring.
US08732909B2
A hinge profile (2) fixable in a supporting profile (1) intended to be used for a sheet unit e.g. in the form of a door, said supporting profile (1) is in the first place intended to be fastened to a wall. The supporting profile (1) has the form of an U, the legs (3,4) of which are directed towards, envelope and cooperate with two legs (5,6) having an inner friction surface (7) protruding from the hinge profile (2), the supporting profile (1) further having in the same in pairs provided angle-bent fixing profiles (8,9), the front portions (10) of which constitute legs (12,13) with friction surfaces (14), the back portions (11) of the fixing profiles (8,9) are displaceable a short distance from each other by help of at least one adjusting screw (15) at the same time as the front portions (10) are displaced in a transverse direction relatively each other to an adjustable engagement with the friction surface (7) of the hinge profile (2), whereby the hinge profile (2) is fixed into a selected, predetermined position in the supporting profile (1).
US08732905B2
A spring power setting indicator for a closing apparatus for a wing such as a door or window, including a closer housing in which a compression spring is disposed. The spring power setting indicator includes a collar defining a threaded opening adapted to engage an adjustment screw for adjusting the bias of the compression spring. The collar may be substantially disc-shaped, and has a peripheral side that defines an annular channel in which a magnetic ball is disposed. An indicator housing with indicia of closer size may be mounted to the closer housing. Another magnetic ball may be disposed in the indicator housing. The magnetic balls are attracted to each other, and the ball in the indicator housing follows the ball in the channel as the collar moves in response to turning of the adjustment screw, permitting external reading of closer size with the indicia based on ball position.
US08732902B2
A vacuum cleaning head includes a pressure chamber having a first chamber section and a second chamber section which is moveable relative to the first chamber section in response to a pressure differential thereacross from a first position to a second position, and a control mechanism located within the pressure chamber. The control mechanism has a first state for inhibiting the movement of the second chamber section in response to said pressure differential beyond a third position intermediate the first and second positions, and a second state for allowing the second chamber section to move in response to said pressure differential to the second position. The control mechanism is arranged to change between the first and second states in response to a movement of the second chamber section from the third position. This can allow the pressure chamber to toggle between different configurations through varying the pressure differential across the second chamber section, for example to raise or lower part of the cleaner head, or to selectively activate or deactivate an agitator.
US08732900B2
A vacuum cleaner lint brush accessory system having a lint brush and cradle. The lint brush has longitudinally opposed handle and brush portions. The brush portion has a brush material adapted to remove fibrous substances from a surface to be cleaned. The cradle has a chamber opening leading to a chamber. The chamber extends in the longitudinal direction and is adapted to longitudinally receive at least the brush portion of the lint brush, the chamber has at least one brush cleaning pad adapted to engage the brush material and remove the fibrous substances from the brush material. The chamber further includes an air outlet spaced from the chamber opening. The air outlet is selectively connectable to a vacuum passage of a vacuum cleaner.
US08732896B2
A cleaning device includes a housing configured with a working element. The device also includes a motor configured for urging motion of the working element. The device also includes a power control module which may be electrically connected with at least one of the motor, a first power source configuration and a second power source configuration. Electric current is provided to the motor by the first and/or the second power source configurations. The first power source configuration may be electrically connected to a battery assembly having a DC power output. The second power source configuration may be electrically connected to a power inverter which may receive AC power and output DC power to the second power source configuration. The motor may be one of a permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor, a universal motor and an induction motor, the motor receiving power via the power control module from at least one of the first power source configuration and the second power source configuration.
US08732895B2
A central vacuum cleaning system has multiple vacuum sources. The multiple vacuum sources are connected through pipes to wall valves. In use a hose is plugged into one of the valves. A handle is connected to the hose. A wand extends from the handle. Attachments such as a power brush are connected to the wand. Switches apply power from one or more power sources to the vacuum sources. The application of power by the switches is controlled by a control circuit.
US08732894B2
A cleaning bullet for use in a track can include a compressible body to clean the track, and a motorized device to propel the body through the track. In some embodiments, the motorized device includes wheels rotatably coupled to the device, a motor to drive the wheels, and a power source to supply power to the motor. Also, in some embodiments, one or more wheels engage an inner or outer surface of the track to move the motorized device along the track.
US08732885B2
A back massage device comprises multiple rotary brushes mounted on a support, whereby the brushes are driven mechanically by a motor system and the support is embedded in a wall. The device includes a system for moving the brushes perpendicularly to the wall, such that the device can occupy a stowed position in which the brushes do not protrude from the wall and an operating position in which the brushes protrude from the wall.
US08732874B2
A climate controlled bed comprises a cushion member having an outer surface comprising a first side for supporting an occupant and a second side, the first side and the second side generally facing in opposite directions. In some embodiments, the cushion member includes one or more recessed areas along its first side or its second side. In one embodiment, the bed further includes a flow conditioning member that may be at least partially positioned with the recessed area of the cushion member, an air-permeable topper member positioned along the first side of the cushion member and a fluid temperature regulation system.
US08732870B2
A retrofittable towel warmer for use with a hot tub preferably comprises a flexible conduit portion which is attachable to one of the jets of the hot tub together with a rigid thermally conductive portion which is detachably mountable on an exterior mast support. There is also preferably provided an exterior housing surrounding the thermally conductive portion designed to provide maximum thermal contact with the cloth material to be heated. The entire unit may be immersed in the hot tub or pool water when not in use. In an alternate embodiment a container having a thermally absorptive medium is provided in a structure which is easily mounted on the mast. In an alternate embodiment a container having a thermally absorptive medium is provided in a structure which is easily mounted on a supporting mast.
US08732863B2
Fiber blends for garments with high thermal, abrasion resistance, and moisture management properties
Fiber blends useful for garments with a balance of high thermal, abrasion resistance, and moisture management properties are disclosed. The fiber blends comprise a hydrophobic fiber component, a hydrophilic fiber component, a structural fiber component, and an optional antistatic fiber. Yarns, fabrics, and garments comprising the fiber blends are also disclosed. Such garments are particularly useful for occupations requiring high thermal properties and abrasion resistance, such as fire fighters, utility workers, and military personnel, without compromising comfort of the wearers by maintaining breathability and moisture management properties of the fabric.
US08739311B2
A new method in microscopy is provided which extends the domain of AFM's to nanoscale spectroscopy. Molecular resonance of nanometer features can be detected and imaged purely by mechanical detection of the force gradient between the interaction of the optically driven molecular dipole/multipole and its mirror image in a Platinum coated scanning probe tip. The method is extendable to obtain nanoscale spectroscopic information ranging from infrared to UV and RF.
US08739309B2
An improved mode of AFM imaging (Peak Force Tapping (PFT) Mode) uses force as the feedback variable to reduce tip-sample interaction forces while maintaining scan speeds achievable by all existing AFM operating modes. Sample imaging and mechanical property mapping are achieved with improved resolution and high sample throughput, with the mode workable across varying environments, including gaseous, fluidic and vacuum.
US08739299B1
A content protection scheme for controlling access to digital content comprises dividing content into data sectors, storing the data sectors on a storage medium and storing selected original data sectors at a remote location. Additional content is unlocked by the remote location only if data from a storage medium correlates to at least a portion of data of the corresponding selected original data sectors.
US08739291B2
A system and method for accessing content on an electronic device in an encrypted mode, a decrypted mode or a default mode. A request is transmitted to an application program interface to permit a requesting program to access at least one file. The request specifically identifies whether the requesting program wishes to access the file in an encrypted mode, a decrypted mode or a default mode. It is determined whether the specific form is supported by the application program interface being used by the system, whether the at least one file is protected; and whether the requesting program is permitted to access the at least one file. If the specific form is supported by the application program interface, if the at least one file is protected, and if the requesting program is permitted to access the at least one file, the at least one file is opened in the specific form for use by the requesting program.
US08739282B1
Embodiments are directed towards mobile application development in a cloud-based architecture. Mobile applications may be designed to communicate with a cloud platform over a network. Mobile application developers may be enabled to submit cloud code to cloud platforms for use by mobile applications. If cloud code is provided to a cloud platform, the cloud platform may perform one or more actions to authenticate the cloud code, such as, ensuring that that the user providing the cloud code is authorized to provide the cloud code. If the cloud code is authenticated the cloud platform may perform one or more actions to validate the cloud code. If validated, the cloud code may be activated for use by mobile applications and/or mobile application developers. Activation of the cloud code may include associating the cloud code with one or more function calls and/or with one or more trigger points.
US08739281B2
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for multilayered deception for intrusion detection. According to various embodiments of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a multilayer deception system includes honey servers, honey files and folders, honey databases, and/or honey computers. A multilayer deception system controller generates honey activity between the honey entities and exposes a honey profile with contact information associated with a honey user. Contact directed at the honey user and/or activity at any of the honey entities can trigger alarms and/or indicate an attack, and can be analyzed to prevent future attacks.
US08739278B2
Techniques for fraud monitoring and detection using application fingerprinting. As used herein, an “application fingerprint” is a signature that uniquely identifies data submitted to a software application. In an embodiment, a plurality of historical application fingerprints are stored for data previously submitted to a software application. Each historical application fingerprint is associated with one or more contexts in which its corresponding data was submitted. When new (i.e., additional) data is subsequently submitted to the application, a new application fingerprint is generated based on the new data, and the new application fingerprint is associated with one or more contexts in which the new data was submitted. The new application fingerprint is then compared with one or more historical application fingerprints that share the same, or substantially similar, context(s). Based on this comparison, a risk score is generated indicating a likelihood that the new data was submitted for a fraudulent/malicious purpose.
US08739276B2
Human Interaction Proofs (“HIPs”, sometimes referred to as “captchas”), may be generated automatically. An captcha specification language may be defined, which allows a captcha scheme to be defined in terms of how symbols are to be chosen and drawn, and how those symbols are obscured. The language may provide mechanisms to specify the various ways in which to obscure symbols. New captcha schemes may be generated from existing specifications, by using genetic algorithms that combine features from existing captcha schemes that have been successful. Moreover, the likelihood that a captcha scheme has been broken by attackers may be estimated by collecting data on the time that it takes existing captcha schemes to be broken, and using regression to estimate the time to breakage as a function of either the captcha's features or its measured quality.
US08739274B2
A device that implements a method for performing integrated caching in a data communication network. The device is configured to receive a packet from a client over the data communication network, wherein the packet includes a request for an object. At the operating system/kernel level of the device, one or more of decryption processing of the packet, authentication and/or authorization of the client, and decompression of the request occurs prior to and integrated with caching operations. The caching operations include determining if the object resides within a cache, serving the request from the cache in response to a determination that the object is stored within the cache, and sending the request to a server in response to a determination that the object is not stored within the cache.
US08739273B2
A system and method can provide subnet management packet (SMP) firewall restrictions in a middleware machine environment. A secure firmware implementation can be provided on a host channel adaptor (HCA), wherein the HCA is associated with a host in the middleware machine environment. The secure firmware implementation operates to receive at least one SMP from the host or destined to the host, and prevent the host from sending or receiving the at least one SMP. Furthermore, the secure firmware implementation can include a proxy function that can communicate with external management components on behalf of the host.
US08739269B2
A method and an apparatus for providing security in an intranet network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a packet at a customer edge router, and applies an inbound access control list by the customer edge router to the packet if the packet is destined to a server in a protected server group, wherein said protected server group identifies one or more servers within the intranet network to be protected. The method applies an outbound access control list by the customer edge router to the packet if the packet is from a server in the protected server group.
US08739264B1
The invention is directed to methods and systems for managing access to secured data. In particular, the invention provides a three-fold security layer to manage access to a virtual application by verifying a user device, user credentials, and a physical identifier. Each of the user device, user credentials, and the physical identifier is associated with a user and identification of each is required to grant access to the virtual application. A user may enter, from an authorized user device, user credentials, such as a user name and password. The user may then physically contact the physical identifier and the user device in order to automatically generate a unique token required to automatically gain access to the virtual application.
US08739257B1
A method is used in managing authentication of virtual clients. An identifier for a virtual client is generated by a virtual server. The identifier is added to a configuration file by the virtual server. The configuration file is associated with the virtual client. The virtual client is authenticated based on the identifier.
US08739254B2
Methods, systems, and products verify identity of a person identification verification. A signature, representing the presence of a device, is acquired. The signature is compared to a reference signature. When the signature favorably compares to the reference signature, then the identity of a user associated with the device is verified.
US08739250B2
An input port for a computer system may retain potentially authenticable requests for processing while removing other connection requests from an incoming queue or request pool. The input port may continue to receive new requests even during a denial of service attack, allowing potentially legitimate requests to be processed. In a typical embodiment, a first in, first out buffer may be used to receive and process connection requests. When the buffer is full, any request that comes from a device having a previous connection with the computer system may be retained for authentication, while removing requests that come from unknown devices. Some embodiments may retain a list of known devices associated with administrators or other known users, and the list may be updated as those users are authenticated.
US08739236B1
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for invoking third-party call control via a cable-television host device. A video signal is received into a cable-television host device, the video signal comprising an identifier associated with a first telephony endpoint. A command is received into the cable-television host device, the command requesting establishment of a communication session between the first telephony endpoint and a second telephony endpoint. A message is transmitted via a packet-switched network from the cable-television host device to a network entity, wherein the message comprises content based at least in part on the identifier, and wherein the message further comprises content for causing the network entity to invoke third-party call control to attempt to establish the communication session between the first telephony endpoint and the second telephony endpoint.
US08739233B2
A method, system and devices for delivering a switched digital video (SDV) channel to a network element, such as an end user set-top box, based on the decoding capabilities of the network element. The system determines whether to deliver the SDV channel in a first format, such as MPEG-4, or a second format, such as MPEG-2. When only network elements capable of decoding MPEG-4 content are tuned to the SDV channel, the system can realize bandwidth savings by delivering only the MPEG-4 version of the SDV channel. When legacy network elements capable of decoding only MPEG-2 content tune to a particular SDV channel, the system delivers only the MPEG-2 version of the SDV channel. The methods and devices can be used in headends, including those that deploy switched digital video, and other appropriate locations within the content distribution system, such as within the edge devices in the distribution hub.
US08739225B2
A viewer viewing audio-visual content on an audio-visual display (12) advantageously can receive information as to potential sources of alternative audio (241-24n) via a set-top box (14). The set-top-box collects metadata identifying the audio-visual content viewed by the viewer and provides that metadata to a database (26) that searches for and identifies to the set-top-box the source(s) of alternative audio-if any. The set-top box will alert the viewer who can then select one of the identified sources of alternative audio in place of the audio embedded in the currently viewed audio-visual content.
US08739223B2
Provided is a method for processing augmented broadcast content, and the method includes receiving, from a broadcast content provider, broadcast content and augmentation region information required to composite augmented content to an augmentation region in the broadcast content; receiving, from a user input device, selection information necessary to select one out of a plurality of augmented content providers; generating an augmented content request message based on the augmentation region information, and transmitting the augmentation content request message to an augmented content provider selected based on the selection information; receiving the augmented content from the augmented content provider; and compositing the augmented content to the augmentation region in the broadcast content by using the augmentation region information.
US08739216B2
A first signal representing a reduced size video program is transmitted from a central location to a plurality of user terminals in a television signal. A second signal representative of an EPG is generated at one of the user terminals. The first and second signals are linearly combined and applied to a display monitor to display the reduced size video program and the EPG on the screen of the monitor simultaneously in a PIG format. In one embodiment a plurality of reduced size video programs are transmitted in the television signal and one of them is selected for display in a PIG format by marking the program listing in the EPG corresponding to the selected reduced size video program with a cursor.
US08739211B2
A method and apparatus for storing a broadcast program are provided. The apparatus includes: a signal processing unit which generates an audio/video (A/V) file, an application file, and a first electronic program guide (EPG) file by appropriately processing a plurality of A/V signals, application information, and EPG information, respectively, which are included in an input broadcast program transport stream; a synchronization unit which receives the A/V file, the application file, and the first EPG file from the signal processing unit, generates storage information for the A/V file and storage information for the application file, and converts the first EPG file into a second EPG file comprising the storage information for the A/V file and the storage information for the application file; and a storage unit which stores the A/V file, the application file, and the second EPG file.
US08739207B1
Methods, systems and computer program products for classifying incoming data and identifying relevant demographic information from the incoming data. The incoming data may include media content, and the media content may be classified to determine demographic information such as the audience of the media content associated with the media content related to a topic. A content item presented in another medium on the same topic also may be identified. Subsequently, appropriate advertising based on the demographic information to be associated with the content item may be provided.
US08739201B2
A method of delivering advertisement data to a mobile device includes receiving video content associated with an advertisement at a set-top box device via an access network of a video distribution system. The method also includes receiving an advertisement selection command at the set-top box device. The advertisement selection command indicates that data related to the advertisement is to be sent to a particular mobile device associated with the set-top box device. Further, the method includes sending an indication of the advertisement selection command to an advertisement data management system via the access network, in response to the advertisement selection command.
US08739198B2
Example methods disclosed herein to identify media sources comprise obtaining monitored signatures generated from monitored media, comparing the monitored signatures with reference signatures generated from reference media provided by a plurality of reference sources, determining tracking segments associated with respective ones of the reference sources, each tracking segment representing sequences of matches between the monitored signatures and respective reference signatures for a respective one of the reference sources, and evaluating time lengths of the tracking segments to identify which reference source in the plurality of reference sources provided the monitored media.
US08739194B2
Methods and apparatus to count audience members are disclosed. An example method includes identifying a first audience member present at a first time, incrementing a stored first count of a number of times the first audience member is present during a day part corresponding to the first time, incrementing a stored tuning occasion count, identifying a second audience member present at a second time, incrementing a stored second count of a number of times the second audience member is present during the day part, incrementing the stored tuning occasion count, determining a probability that an unidentified audience member is the first audience member based on the first count, the second count, and the tuning occasion count, and counting the first audience member based on a comparison of the probability to a threshold.
US08739193B2
A disc loading device includes a loading motor, a loading roller that is driven by the loading motor and that loads and unloads a disc, a gear device provided between the loading motor and the loading roller, the gear device including a plurality of gears, and a power train control device which is configured to control power between the plurality of gears, wherein the power train control device operatively disconnects a power transmission train between the plurality of gears when the disc is unloaded.
US08739188B2
An interface monitoring system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, an interface is identified. In addition, monitoring of the interface is deferred based on whether a library associated with the interface is loaded.
US08739186B2
One or more embodiments of the invention is a computer-implemented method for speculatively executing application event responses. The method includes the steps of identifying one or more event responses that could be issued for execution by an application being executed by a master process, for each event response, generating a child process to execute the event response, determining that a first event response included in the one or more event responses has been issued for execution by the application, committing the child process associated with the first event response as a new master process, and aborting the master process and all child processes other than the child process associated with the first event response.
US08739178B2
Provided is a system and method of configuring IEDs to facilitate standardized communication messages among a plurality of IEDs within a power system network based on the IEC 61850 standard. A description file is described for an intelligent electronic device configured in accordance with the IEC-61850 standard. The description file includes a section which indicates which GOOSE message the intelligent electronic device should receive. In yet another embodiment, the description file includes a section which is capable of linking to logic functions of the intelligent electronic device for performing programmable data binding or dynamic data binding. A configuration tool is further provided for editing and creating such description files. A method for selectively receiving messages from an intelligent electronic device configured in accordance with the IEC-61850 standard is also described herein, along with a method for optimizing file space and improving execution speed of an intelligent electronic device configured in accordance with the IEC-61850 standard.
US08739159B2
A mechanism is provided in a virtual machine monitor for providing cache partitioning in virtualized environments. The mechanism assigns a virtual identification (ID) to each virtual machine in the virtualized environment. The processing core stores the virtual ID of the virtual machine in a special register. The mechanism also creates an entry for the virtual machine in a partition table. The mechanism may partition a shared cache using a vertical (way) partition and/or a horizontal partition. The entry in the partition table includes a vertical partition control and a horizontal partition control. For each cache access, the virtual machine passes the virtual ID along with the address to the shared cache. If the cache access results in a miss, the shared cache uses the partition table to select a victim cache line for replacement.
US08739149B2
Systems and methods for processing encoded digital data for programming a device to be re-programmed in an audio playback system. The system includes an audio media source containing digital data having audio data or encoded data in an audio data format. An audio media reader reads the digital data from the audio media source. A stream detector receives the digital data from the audio media reader and detects whether the received digital data includes encoded data formatted as audio data or audio data. An audio receiver device receives the audio data and processes the audio data for playback. A device to be re-programmed uses the encoded data formatted as audio data.
US08739147B2
A method for class isolation to minimize memory usage may include receiving a request for a requested class object from an application running on a device. The method may also include retrieving a class instance for the requested class object from a memory and determining if the class instance for the requested class object corresponds to an isolated system class; determining if the class instance for the requested class object corresponds to an application class in response to the class instance not corresponding to the isolated system class; determining that the class instance for the requested class object corresponds to a shared system class in response to the class instance not corresponding to the application class and the isolated system class; and obtaining a proxy class object for the shared system class in response to the class instance for the requested class object corresponding to the shared system class.
US08739146B2
Systems and methods for dynamically generating computer executable technical support procedures, as well as updating/augmenting such executable procedures, by tracking and processing sequences of actions (execution traces) that are taken by experts (or users) when performing a procedure or when executing an executable procedure.
US08739145B2
A method for determining the number and location of instrumentation probes to be inserted into a program is disclosed. The method advantageously inserts the minimum number of probes that are required to obtain execution coverage for every node in the program's control-flow graph. In addition, the method requires only one bit to store each probe and does not require the assignment of weights to arcs or nodes of the control-flow graph. In the illustrative embodiment, the nodes of a control-flow graph are partitioned into non-empty sets, where each non-empty set corresponds to a super nested block of the program.
US08739125B2
In one embodiment, a mechanism for business process-managed testing of software applications is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for business process-managed testing of software applications includes identifying, by a server computing device, all tools and services used to test a software application deployed on the server computing device, and determining, by the server computing device, an order of execution of the identified tools and services in testing the software application. The method further includes designing, by a business process management (BPM) service of the server computing device, a testing management process that integrates the identified tools and services in the determined order of execution for testing the software application in an automated and unattended manner, and deploying, by the server computing device, the testing management process to act as a controlling layer over the identified tools and services in the testing of the software application.
US08739122B2
In one embodiment the invention provides a method to provide command line utility output to an application without the need of temporary files. The method includes receiving an identifier, receiving output from a command line utility, and storing the command line utility output in a system storage at a location identified by the identifier. In one illustrative embodiment, command line utility output is stored in a system registry database. In another illustrative embodiment, command line utility output is stored in a shared system memory. The method may be stored in any media that is readable and executable by a computer system.
US08739117B2
A method and system for generating a developer interface using a loaded program. The method of generating a developer interface may share a plurality of components included in a loaded program through a communication interface, and generate a new program using components selected from among the plurality of shared components through the developer interface.
US08739113B2
The present invention discloses a method, in a network, of synchronizing a plurality of software development teams, with each team working on an assigned subset of a code development project. A repository comprising all code base of the code development project is provided and each team's assigned subset is correlated with every other team's assigned subset within the code development project. The repository automatically merges all team member inputs so that each subset is linked in a visual representation of each team's assigned subset to stories within connected subsets so that the real-time status of a connected subset may be graphically displayed. A real-time status of each assigned subset, including all correlations between each subset in the project can be determined and any team member, upon demand, can activate and display the visual representation of the real-time status of each subset, the relations between subsets, and the real-time status of the whole development project.
US08739102B1
A method for designing a system to be implemented on a target device includes generating a register transfer language (RTL) representation of the system from a description of the system without pipelined delays. The RTL representation of the system includes pipelined delays to facilitate timing of the system as implemented on a target device identified by a designer.
US08739097B2
A method comprises selecting a region from a layout pattern of an integrated circuit, wherein the region comprises a plurality of functional units, and wherein the functional units are not coupled to each other through a variety of connection components, identifying hot spots in the region using a first threshold and inserting a plurality of decoupling capacitors adjacent to the hot spots.
US08739091B1
A logic verification program, method and system that segments simulation results and then processes the resulting segments separately, and optionally in parallel, reduces memory and other system requirements and improves efficiency of verification of digital logic designs. The verification process fixes up event dependency check for past-directed checkers by including additional information with each segment after an initial segment that describes at least a portion of a state of the logic design, so that resultant events in the current segment that are caused by events in the previous segment(s) can be traced back to those events. Future directed checks are fixed-up by either repeating a failed check with a concatenation of the current segment and a next segment, or by providing an overlap between segments to ensure that the expected time duration between a causative event and the resulting event are included within the same segment file.
US08739088B1
A computer implemented method for designing a circuit includes associating a high level design constraint with a first high level circuit component of a high level circuit design within a high level modeling system and translating the high level circuit design into a low level circuit design comprising at least one low level circuit component derived from the first high level circuit component. The method also includes automatically generating at least one low level design constraint from the high level design constraint for at least one low level circuit component and storing each low level design constraint in association with the low level circuit design.
US08739086B2
Embodiments that design integrated circuits using a 1×N compiler in a closed-loop 1×N methodology are disclosed. Some embodiments create a physical design representation based on a behavioral representation of a design for an integrated circuit. The behavioral representation may comprise RTL HDL with one or more 1×N building blocks. The embodiments may alter elements of the 1×N building block by using logic design tools, synthesis tools, physical design tools, and timing analysis tools. Further embodiments comprise an apparatus having a first generator to generate a behavioral representation of a design for an integrated circuit, a second generator to generate a logical representation of the design, and a third generator to generate a physical design representation of the design, wherein the representation generators may create updated versions of the representations which reflect alterations made to 1×N building block elements.
US08739082B2
The present invention relates to a method of selecting a subset of patterns from a design, to a method of performing source and mask optimization, and to a computer program product for performing the method of selecting a subset of patterns from a design. According to certain aspects, the present invention enables coverage of the full design while lowering the computation cost by intelligently selecting a subset of patterns from a design in which the design or a modification of the design is configured to be imaged onto a substrate via a lithographic process. The method of selecting the subset of patterns from a design includes identifying a set of patterns from the design related to the predefined representation of the design. By selecting the subset of patterns according to the method, the selected subset of patterns constitutes a similar predefined representation of the design as the set of patterns.
US08739081B2
A method and system for computing Fourier coefficients for a Fourier representation of a mask transmission function for a lithography mask. The method includes: sampling a polygon of a mask pattern of the lithography mask to obtain an indicator function which defines the polygon, performing a Fourier Transform on the indicator function to obtain preliminary Fourier coefficients, and scaling the Fourier coefficients for the Fourier representation of the mask transmission function, where at least one of the steps is carried out using a computer device.
US08739078B2
Near-neighbor trimming of dummy fill shapes with built-in optical proximity corrections (OPCs) for semiconductor applications is provided. A method for the near-neighbor trimming includes adding one or more hole shapes onto a semiconductor design layout comprising a plurality of design shapes. The method further includes trimming adjacent ones of the plurality of which are covered by the one or more hole shapes.
US08739075B2
A method of making pattern data of a photomask pattern includes: the processes of adding, to each of first cells, information of the first cell higher than the first cell on the basis of a hierarchical structure; selecting, from the first cells included in one level of the hierarchical structure, the first cell identical to one of the first cells included in a level higher than the one level and the first cell placed inside two or more of the first cells included in a level immediately higher than the one level, and forming a cell group with the selected first cells; making pattern data of the first cells not included in the cell group in consideration of the optical proximity effect and forming a fourth cell group with second cells including the pattern data; and replacing the first cells with the corresponding second cells in input data.
US08739066B1
A system indirectly infers concepts associated with a document. The concepts may be indirectly inferred based on information that does not include characteristics of the document, such as the characteristics that include a textual content of the document not associated with links included in the document, a domain of the document, and the document's Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The system may label the inferred concepts as useful to an audience of the document.
US08739060B2
A method and system for generating an image display plan is provided. In one embodiment, a planning system allows a user to create a display plan that specifies a sequence of images that are to be displayed and how the images are to be displayed. The planning system allows a user to specify different versions of the plan for different aspect ratios. When displaying the image, the planning system may display multiple viewports simultaneously on the image, one for each of the different aspect ratios. The planning system may allow the multiple viewports to be moved around and resized as a unit maintaining a common center point for the viewports.
US08739045B2
An example method is provided and includes establishing a communication session involving a first endpoint and a second endpoint associated with a meeting in a network environment. The first endpoint is associated with a first identifier and the second endpoint being associated with a second identifier. The method also includes designating the first endpoint as a speaking leader for a segment of the communication session, the second endpoint operates in a listening mode while the first endpoint operates as the speaking leader. The method also includes rendering a symbol indicative of the first endpoint being the speaking leader for the segment. The symbol and the first identifier are associated on a user interface.
US08739027B2
A method and system for displaying web content on a device including the functionalities of requesting a web page by a user, in response to a user request, downloading the web page to a server, searching for at least one template for the web page on a database of the server, if a template is found for the web page, effecting best matching between the template and a plurality of information bearing regions on the web page and importing the plurality of information bearing regions to at least one device adapted page.
US08739020B2
The invention provides two enhancements for the use of favorites during a Web browsing session. A first enhancement identifies when a user is adding a favorite to his favorites list and auto-suggests a category under which the favorite could be stored. A second enhancement allows a user to review his favorites list and see a summary of feed content (RSS or other standard) on each feed enabled page on his favorites list, without requiring the user to link to the page in question.
US08739016B1
A system gathers information on important and influential people and uses an ontology to build a social graph. The information is organized based on this social graph and provided to users as a service. The system uses ontology models to identify connectivity between entities (e.g., people, organizations, events, and things) in the social graph. Through its ontology, the system can determine, interpret, and represent the relationships of people that occur in the real world.
US08739008B2
A method for determining a parity check matrix utilized in a flash memory system is disclosed. The parity check matrix comprises M×N blocks. The method includes generating a first set of candidate blocks as candidates of a first set of blocks of the M×N blocks; calculating a plurality of first estimated results corresponding to the first set of candidate blocks; determining content of a first block of the M×N blocks according to a best result of the first estimated results; generating a second set of candidate blocks as candidates of a second set of blocks of the M×N blocks; calculating a plurality of second estimated results corresponding to the second set of candidate blocks by considering the content of the first block; determining content a second block of the M×N blocks according to the second estimated results.
US08738999B2
According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives a fragment packet; an extracting unit that extracts checksum information of which packet has not been subjected to the fragmentation process, and causes the checksum information to be stored in a checksum storage unit; a calculating unit that performs a checksum calculation on each of the plurality of received fragment packets, integrates a calculation result of each fragment packet, and causes an integrated calculation result to be stored in a calculation result storage unit; and a determining unit that determines whether or not there is an error in a packet obtained as a result of combining based on the integrated calculation result stored and the checksum information stored.
US08738996B1
A system includes a flash memory, an encoder, a first interface, a decoder and a controller. The encoder is configured to (i) receive data, and (ii) encode the data based on an error correction code. The first interface is configured to (i) write the encoded data to a memory cells in the flash memory, and (ii) read the encoded data back from the memory cells. The decoder is configured to (i) decode the encoded data read back from the memory cells, and (ii) based on the decoded data, determine a number of decoding errors for the plurality of memory cells. The controller is configured to, in response to the number of decoding errors being greater than or equal to a first threshold, cease accessing the memory cells. The first threshold is less than a maximum number of errors correctable by the error correction code for the memory cells.
US08738991B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for reconfiguring an array of storage elements. A storage element error module is configured to determine that one or more storage elements in an array of storage elements are in error. An array of storage elements stores a first ECC block and first parity data generated from the first ECC block. A data reconfiguration module is configured to generate a second ECC block comprising at least a portion of data of a first ECC block. A new configuration storage module is configured to store a second ECC block and associated second parity data on fewer storage elements than a number of storage elements in an array.
US08738977B2
In a system including a processor and memory coupled to the processor, a method of device failure analysis includes the steps of: upon each error detected within a test series performed on a device, the processor storing within a table in the memory an address at which the error occurred in the device and storing a bit position of each failed bit corresponding to that address; for each unique address at which at least one error occurred, determining how many different bit positions corresponding to the address failed during the test series; and based on results of the test series, determining whether the device failed the test series.
US08738976B2
A memory error detecting apparatus for detecting an error of a subject memory, the memory error detecting apparatus includes a memory bus connected to the subject memory, a mirror memory connected to the memory bus so as to receive the same data as data to be written into and read from the subject memory, the received data being written into the mirror memory, an address acquiring portion configured to acquire an address related to the data written into the subject memory, a mirror memory controller configured to control data writing or reading to or from the mirror memory on the basis of the acquired address, a comparator configured to compare data read from the subject memory and data read from the mirror memory, and an error detector configured to detect a data error on the basis of a result of the comparison.
US08738972B1
A method of root cause analysis in a virtual machine environment includes receiving a plurality of events from a system monitoring the virtualized environment. The events may include alarms or alerts, such as alarms or alerts associated with a resource reaching or exceeding a threshold. The capacity manager consumes these events and performs event correlation to produce a set of correlated events. The capacity manager performs a root cause analysis on the set of correlated events to identify one or more root causes. The capacity manager further performs an impact analysis to determine how the root cause impacts the system, such as other virtual machines, hosts or resource in the virtual environment. Based on the root cause and impact analysis, the capacity manager makes one or more recommendations to address issues with or to improve the operations and/or performance of the virtualized environment.
US08738971B2
A data processing apparatus configured to operate in a voltage and frequency operating region that is located beyond a safe region where errors do not arise, but within operating region limits such that the errors are rare. The data processing apparatus comprises: error detection circuitry and error recovery circuitry; the error detection circuitry being configured to determine if a signal sampled in the processing apparatus changes within a time window occurring after the signal has been sampled and during a same clock cycle as the sampling and to signal an error if the signal does change. The data processing apparatus further comprises performance control circuitry configured to determine when the data processing apparatus is operating close to the operating region limits where an error rate is raised and in response to determining operation close to the operating region limits to modify a behavior of the data processing apparatus by at least one of: limiting speculative processing, and selecting timing insensitive processing paths and circuitry.
US08738968B2
An Availability Management Framework (AMF) configuration describes how configuration entities of a highly available system are grouped and includes information on service provision and service protection policies against resource failure. The AMF configuration defines a set of failure types for each component and each node, and specifies a failure rate and a recommended recovery for each failure type. A method for evaluating service availability receives the AMF configuration as input, and analyzes it to obtain an actual recovery that the highly available system is to perform when the given component fails. The method maps the AMF configuration to a stochastic model that captures the dependencies among the components and among the configuration entities at multiple levels of the hierarchy. The method utilizes the model to calculate the service availability of the AMF configuration based on the failure rate, the actual recovery and the dependencies.
US08738965B2
A test method for restarting a computing device communicating with a remote computer. The computing device is shut down and awakened by the remote computer. A second hardware information of the computing device after restarting the operating system of the computing device is compared with initial hardware information of the computing device when the computing device is initial started. Test results are stored to a predetermined storage path and displayed on a screen after the test ends.
US08738963B2
A system comprising a plurality of storage systems, which uses storage devices of multiple levels of reliability. The reliability as a whole system is increased by keeping the error code for the relatively low reliability storage disks in the relatively high reliability storage system. The error code is calculated using hash functions and the value is used to compare with the hash value of the data read from the relatively low reliability storage disks.
US08738962B2
Systems and methods to manage memory are provided. A particular method may include storing data in a primary memory that is in communication with a processor and storing in a mirrored data in a mirrored memory. The mirrored data may be compressed, and the mirrored memory may be in communication with the processor. A failure condition associated with the data of the primary memory may be detected. In response to the detected failure condition, the mirrored data in the mirrored memory may be accessed.
US08738960B2
The invention discloses a segment protection method for an Ethernet tunnel, there are two segment protection domains with a shared link in a Provider Backbone Bridge-Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) network, and at least one of the two segment protection domains works in a non-revertive mode, and when a simultaneous failures of working segments of two segment protection domains recover or a failure of the shared node of the working segments recovers, the shared node of the working segments switches all the FDB entries of bidirectional ESPs of all the TESIs protected by the protection domains to standby entries, and after switching, out ports of the FDB entries of the ESPs are the ports connecting the shared segment. The invention also discloses a shared node of working segments of protection domains correspondingly. The invention is able to ensure that the bidirectional ESPs are co-routed after the failure recovering.
US08738956B2
An apparatus comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); a frequency-domain equalizer (FDEQ); a time-domain interpolator positioned between the ADC and the FDEQ, wherein the time domain interpolator is coupled to the ADC and the FDEQ and configured to perform a time-domain interpolation to compensate a signal sample for a plurality of ADC induced changes.
US08738954B2
There is provided a power source circuit (100) which supplies power from a first power source (1) when the first power source that stops feeding upon consumption of a current of a predetermined value or more, and a second power source (9) lower in voltage than the first power source are connected simultaneously. The power source circuit includes a switching unit (5) which controls power supply from a control unit (2) for controlling feeding from the first power source, a charge accumulation unit (3) which accumulates charges between the control unit and the switching unit, and a charging detection unit (4) which outputs, to the switching unit, a signal for performing the power supply when it is detected that the difference between a voltage charged in the charge accumulation unit and a feed voltage from the control unit is equal to or smaller than a designated value.
US08738952B1
A device controller, such as a universal serial bus (“USB”) device controller, that is unattached to an external device is placed into a low power mode. During low power mode, interface components of the device controller are gated or placed into a reduced power state. For example, components such as a USB gadget PHY, which manages physical layer communication, USB direct memory access clock, secondary clocks, and so forth may be gated. Upon receiving a connection event indicating attachment of a device to the USB, the device controller resumes normal power operation. This device controller low power mode may work in conjunction with state retention modes or other low power modes affecting other components within an electronic device.
US08738941B2
A computer integral device includes a detection unit for detecting whether an external electronic device is in a determined position, wherein the external electronic device has been turned on; and a computer host, coupled to the detection unit. When the external electronic device is detected to be in the determined position, a power enable signal is sent to the computer host so as to activate the computer host to execute a computer turn on process. After the computer turn on process is executed by the computer host, the external electronic device may display image data received via a wireless communication link established between the computer host and the external electronic device.
US08738938B2
An information processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input data, and a control unit configured to control a power mode of the information processing apparatus. When the input unit inputs data while the information processing apparatus is operated in the second power mode and when the data input by the input unit is data to be immediately processed by the first processing unit, the power mode of the information processing apparatus is shifted from the second power mode to the first power mode. When the data input by the input unit is data not to be immediately processed by the first processing unit, the power mode of the information processing apparatus remains in the second power mode.
US08738930B2
The invention relates to a chip for processing a content, comprising at least a microprocessor. Said chip includes an integrated non-volatile programmable memory for storing protection data and protected data, said protection data being intended to be used for authorizing/denying access to said protected data by said microprocessor under execution of a program. The invention allows to protect program and data dedicated to a chip-integrated conditional-access system and to protect features as external connections and downloaded data directly on the chip.
US08738927B2
In order to further develop an arrangement for as well as a method of protecting at least one data processing device, in particular at least one embedded system, for example at least one chip card or smart card, against at least one attack, in particular against at least one side-channel attack, for example against at least one current trace analysis, the data processing device, in particular at least one integrated circuit of the data processing device, carrying out calculations, in particular cryptographic operations wherein an attack, for example an E[lectro]M[agnetic] radiation attack, or an analysis, for example a D[ifferential]P[ower]A[nalysis], such attack or such analysis in particular targeted on finding out a private key, is to be securely averted, it is proposed to blind all intermediate results of the calculations by at least one random variable, without inverting any operand of the calculations.
US08738919B2
A method for recording at least one information block in a first volatile memory external to a circuit, a first digital signature being calculated based on information and data internal to the circuit and a second digital signature being calculated based on first signatures of a group of information blocks and on a digital quantity internal to the circuit and assigned to said group. A method for checking the content of an information block recorded by this recording method.
US08738912B2
A public key encryption system exchanges information between a pair of correspondents. The recipient performs computations on the received data to recover the transmitted data or verify the identity of the sender. The data transferred includes supplementary information that relates to intermediate steps in the computations performed by the recipient.
US08738908B2
A security authentication method comprises establishing a user account associated with a login credential, generating an encryption salt, generating graphical key images of a plurality of sequences of values each beginning at a random point, generating encrypted key values by encrypting each value in the plurality of sequences using the generated encryption salt, incorporating the graphical key images and encrypted key values into a displayable input form, receiving user input including a plurality of encrypted key values, generating decrypted key values by decrypting the encrypted key values of the user input using the encryption salt, and verifying that the decrypted key values match the login credential.
US08738905B2
A system and method for providing third party secure hosting of an application. The system and method includes providing a host system with a main memory and a third party secured memory, the third party secured memory storing third party information; encrypting the third party information stored on the third party secured memory upon access by a user, the encrypting being via a security key, the security key being held at a customer location; and, enabling access to the third party information only to users having the security key.
US08738904B2
A method for sharing encryption settings in dual operating systems is provided. The method includes: activating and operating a first operating system; receiving system encryption settings from a user by the first operating system; recording a system encryption status value of the system encryption settings; switching to and activating a second operating system; checking whether a system encryption status value has been set when the second operating system attempts to enter a power saving mode, and when the system encryption status value has been set, temporarily switching to the first operating system and enabling the second operating system to enter the power saving mode; receiving a decryption input from the user by the first operating system; and if the decryption input matches the system encryption settings, switching from the first operating system to the second operating system and awaking the second operating system.
US08738900B2
A method for secure communications in a telecommunications network is disclosed. The network comprises a group of servers Si, referred to as Authorization Servers. For a transaction between an entity A and an entity B of this method comprises: a) entity A sends to one of the Authorization Servers Si an authorization request; b) the entity A declares to the Authorization Server Si its intention to communicate with entity B and the Authorization Server Si determines an individual secret key KSiB which it shares with entity B; c) the Authorization Server Si generates a session key KN,SiAB and sends the session key KN,SiAB to entity A; d) the Authorization Server Si generates a transaction identifier IDTRN,Si; e) the authorization server Si supplies entity B the transaction identifier IDTRN,Si; f) using this transaction identifier IDTRN,Si, entity B checks the validity of the transaction, and g) entity B generates the session key KN,SiAB.
US08738899B2
There is presented a system and method for unlocking a content associated with media. In one aspect, the method comprises identifying the media, generating an authentication key using at least one key data from a set of key data contained in the media, determining an address in the media of at least one content unit corresponding respectively to each of the at least one key data used to generate the authentication key; requesting the at least one content unit by providing the address; receiving user data in response to the requesting; comparing the user data with the at least one key data used to generate the authentication key; and unlocking the content associated with the media if the user data matches the authentication key.
US08738898B2
The present invention relates to communications, and in particular though not exclusively to forming a secure connection between two untrusted devices. The present invention provides a method of securely connecting a first device (A) to a second device (B) using a third party authentication server (AS) coupled to the second device, the first device and the authentication server both having first device shared secret data (SSDa) and the second device and the authentication server both having second device shared secret data (SSDb). The method comprises receiving a request from the first device at the authentication server; the authentication server and the first device both generating a first device key (K_A) using the first device shared secret data in response to a first device random number (RANDa) sent from the authentication server to the first device; the authentication server and the second device both generating a second device key (K_B) using the second device shared secret data in response to a second device random number (RANDb) sent from the authentication server to the second device; and the authentication server securely forwarding to the second device (B) and the first device (A) a common key (K_AB) using the second and first device keys (K_B, K_A).
US08738896B2
A program for causing an information processing device to execute a process is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. The process includes: obtaining an identification of a logged-in account; referencing information that associates an identification of an account with a virtual machine to be permitted to make a communication; recognizing a first virtual machine corresponding to the obtained identification by using the referenced information; executing one or a plurality of virtual machines on the information processing device that is a physical machine; determining whether or not a second virtual machine from which data is transmitted toward a network is the first virtual machine; allowing the data to pass through and transmitting the data toward the network if the second virtual machine is determined to be the first virtual machine; and discarding the data if the second virtual machine is determined not to be the first virtual machine.
US08738884B2
Machines, systems and methods for deploying one or more virtual machines on a host computing system, the method comprising: receiving mapping information from a data storage system, wherein the mapping information associates a first data chunk stored in the data storage system with a unique identifier; utilizing the mapping information to determine whether any copies of the first data chunk have already been loaded into a memory of the host computing system in association with deployment of a first virtual machine or a second virtual machine on the host computing system; and in response to determining that no copies of the first data chunk have already been loaded into the memory: retrieving the first data chunk from the data storage system; loading the first data chunk into the memory; and utilizing the first data chunk to deploy the first virtual machine on the host computing system.
US08738874B2
Difference information between two snapshots from a first point-in-time snapshot, which has been copied, to an N.sup.th point-in-time snapshot, which constitutes the latest point-in-time snapshot, is acquired to a memory module. The memory module stores two or more pieces of difference information. The two or more pieces of difference information comprise difference information that shows the difference between a first point-in-time snapshot and any snapshot other than the first point-in-time snapshot of N snapshots. Copy difference information, which is information that shows the difference between the first point-in-time snapshot and a specified snapshot from among N snapshots, and which is used in copying the specified snapshot, is created on the basis of the two or more pieces of difference information.
US08738868B2
A computing device employs a cooperative memory management technique to dynamically balance memory resources between host and guest systems running therein. According to this cooperative memory management technique, memory that is allocated to the guest system is dynamically adjusted up and down according to a fairness policy that takes into account various factors including the relative amount of readily freeable memory resources in the host and guest systems and the relative amount of memory allocated to hidden applications in the host and guest systems.
US08738853B2
A load reduction dual in-line memory module (LRDIMM) is similar to a registered dual inline memory module (RDIMM) in which control signals are synchronusly buffered but the LRDIMM includes a load reduction buffer (LRB) in the data path as well. To make an LRDIMM which appears compatible with RDIMMs on a system memory bus, the serial presence detector (SPD) of the LRDIMM is programmed with modified latency support and minimum delay values. When the dynamic read only memory (DRAMs) devices of the LRDIMM are subsequently set up by the host at boot time based on the parameters provided by the SPD, selected latency values are modified on the fly in an enhanced register phase look loop (RPLL) device. This has the effect of compensating for the delay introduced by the LRB without violating DRAM constraints, and provides memory bus timing for a LRDIMM that is indistinguishable from that of a RDIMM.
US08738850B2
Reliable storage for database management systems (DBMS) running on memory devices such as NAND type flash memory utilizes minimum I/O overhead and provides maximum data durability. A virtual page map is utilized between the flash memory and a page access component to record changes to the DBMS pages and prevent overwriting or data loss. There is no need for journaling and logging, and performance is increased by reducing the write and erase counts on the flash memory. The logical page numbers of the DBMS are mapped to physical page numbers in the page map, such that the virtual page map allocates an available page from the physical pages when changes to a page occur, and the updated information is stored in the allocated page. The allocated page number is mapped to the logical page number of the original page, thus maintaining a modified page representation while preventing physical in-place updates.
US08738847B2
A data writing method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module is provided. The rewritable non-volatile memory module has a plurality of lower physical pages and a plurality of upper physical pages respectively corresponding to the lower physical pages. The method includes determining whether a physical page is one of the upper physical pages before writing first data into the physical page; determining whether a backup area stores second data written into one of the lower physical pages corresponding to the physical page if the physical page is the upper physical page; reading the second data from the lower physical page corresponding to the physical page and backing up the second data into the backup area before writing the first data into the physical page when the backup area does not store the second data. Accordingly, the method may effectively prevent data loss due to a program failure.
US08738845B2
Concepts for enhancing operation of transaction-safe file allocation table systems are described. The concepts include writing a file to non-volatile memory media and rendering an update of file size to the TFAT storage medium; and receiving a request to locate data in a non-volatile memory having a TFAT file management system, selecting a sector of the memory to parse to locate the data, determining when the selected sector is a first sector of a directory or subdirectory of the memory and when determining reveals that the selected sector is a first sector, skipping reading data from the selected sector. The concepts also include flushing a cache and synchronizing FATs.
US08738844B2
A program method for a multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory is provided. The memory array includes a plurality of pages and a plurality of paired pages, which correspond to the respective pages. The program method includes the following steps. Firstly, a program address command is obtained. Next, whether the program address command corresponding to any one of the paired pages is determined. When the program address command corresponds to a first paired page, which corresponds to a first page among the pages, among the paired pages, data stored in the first page to a non-volatile memory are copied. After that, the first paired page is programmed.
US08738832B1
A micro grid apparatus and a method for forming the micro grid apparatus. A selected complex shape is placed on a circuit board. At least two irregular shaped modules are selected. Each selected irregular shaped module is inserted into a respective docking bay of the complex shape to form the micro grid apparatus on the circuit board. The micro grid apparatus includes a central area and at least three radial arms connected to the central area. The radial arms are external to and integral with the central area. Each radial arm extends radially outward from the central area. Each pair of adjacent radial arms defines a docking bay. The central area includes at least two processors that are linked together wirelessly or by direct electrical connection. The at least two processors are linked wirelessly or by direct electrical connection to each inserted irregular shaped module.
US08738829B2
An information system includes a configuration controller board having a capability to set, to each I/O bus bridge device in the alternative I/O board, the logical bus number set in corresponding I/O bus bridge device in the failed I/O board 20, and to set to the I/O bus bridge device in the system board 10 connected with the alternative I/O board, the same downstream side logical bus number as that of the I/O bus bridge device in the system board connected with the failed I/O board.
US08738827B2
An interface circuit provides communication between a memory card and a host device. The interface circuit includes first and second sets of pins and a control unit. The control unit enables the first set of pins and disables the second set of pins when transferring a first set of signals in a first mode via the first set of pins, and disables the first set of pins and enables the second set of pins when transferring a second set of signals in a second mode via the second set of pins. The control unit transfers a clock signal of the second set of signals by differential signaling in the second mode via a clock pin of the second set of pins. A signal transfer in the second mode is at a greater speed than a signal transfer in the first mode.
US08738826B2
A computing system that supports the use of multiple displays in display mirroring mode and extended display mode may automatically determine a display mode in which to configure the system (with little or no user input) based on various characteristics of the displays in the system. For example, the system may determine that a television, projector, or other presentation type display is connected in the system, and in response, may determine that the system should be configured in a display mirroring mode, rather than in an extended display mode. The system may also determine that the presentation type display is the preferred display, and may render image content in a best (or preferred) mode for that display using its native resolution, aspect ratio or color profile. The system may then scale the rendered image content for display on other (non-preferred) displays, such as an internal display, without re-rendering it.
US08738811B2
On embodiment includes a computer program product for performing a method including: obtaining information relating to an I/O operation at a channel subsystem in a host computer system; generating addressing information and forwarding the addressing information from at least one channel to a network interface between the channel subsystem and at least one I/O device, the addressing information specifying a location in a local channel memory; forwarding an I/O command message to the at least one I/O device via the network interface; responsive to the I/O command message, receiving a data transfer request from the network interface that includes the addressing information; responsive to receiving the data transfer request, accessing one of a plurality of address control words (ACWs), each ACW specifying an address of a location in a host computer memory; and routing the data transfer request to the host memory location specified in the ACW.
US08738809B2
An electronic device includes an HDMI output terminal connectable to one of a first HDMI input terminal and a second HDMI input terminal of an external device, the first and second HDMI input terminals having a first physical address and a second physical address assigned thereto, respectively, a detection means for detecting a connection of the HDMI output terminal to one of the first and second HDMI input terminals, a read means for reading the first physical address from the external device when the connection of the HDMI output terminal to the first HDMI input terminal is detected and reading the second physical address from the external device when the connection of the HDMI output terminal to the second HDMI input terminal is detected, and a transmission means for transmitting one of the read first and second physical addresses to the external device via the HDMI output terminal.
US08738792B2
Server time protocol (STP) messages and methods of exchange thereof are provided for facilitating synchronization of processing units of a timing network. The STP messages include exchange time parameters (XTP) commands and responses, and STP control (STC) commands and responses. XTP message exchange processing includes: generating an XTP message command at a first processing unit including a command transmit timestamp field set by the first processing unit and a command receive timestamp field which is unset by the first processing unit; transmitting the XTP message command to a second processing unit; setting the command receive timestamp field in the XTP command with the time the XTP command is received at the second processing unit; and generating an XTP message response at the second processing unit, the message response including the command transmit timestamp set by the first processing unit and the command receive timestamp set by the second processing unit.
US08738789B2
A system for protecting the digital rights of content owners allows digital media to be delivered to only those media rendering client devices that have been approved for the media content. Before delivering requested media, the media service provider may determine whether the media rendering client device that requested the media is the type of device that is authorized to receive the request media. If it is, the media service provider may transmit the media to a middleman server over a network (such as the Internet). A middleman server may then serve the media to the client device over a local network. By allowing the media content to be distributed to approved devices only, the media service provider can prevent a user from using the media in a way that is not authorized by the content owner.
US08738787B2
A method and system for providing a content object is disclosed with an in-stream ad unit inserted into the content object for a content object player. The content object is audio and/or video. A media services platform (MSP) knows of one or more in-stream slots in the content object where in-stream ad units may be placed. The MSP queries a display ad server (DAS) to specify the in-stream ad unit, however the DAS does not natively support in-stream ad units in this embodiment. The MSP maps one or more in-stream slots in the content object to corresponding display ad locations. The MSP places the in-stream ad unit into the slot of the content object to create a processed content object. The MSP optionally transcodes the processed content object. The processed content object is downloaded or streamed to the content object player.
US08738785B2
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for message exchange between software components. One method includes receiving a message request from a software component to send a message to a destination address. The method includes creating a message object which can be exchanged between software components, regardless of a transport mechanism or a protocol employed by one or more software components, upon receiving the request.
US08738780B2
A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support a hybrid solution that utilizes a centralized communication server as the main mechanism for communication between two clients (endpoints), but augments the server-based communication with an optional direct connection between the two clients whenever available while hiding the complexities and time spent dealing with the direct connection from the clients. The switch of the communication mode between the clients is kept transparent to them during their communication session without causing any inconvenience and/or disruption of the communication. When a direct endpoint to endpoint connection is not available the approach preserves the advantages of connecting through the intermediate communication server.
US08738778B2
Transfer policy management methods in a peer-to-peer networking environment such as BitTorrent are provided. A download TPM maximizes the usage of available bandwidth, while focusing on as few torrents as possible. For a given list of torrents, a peer in accordance with the present invention determines how many download connections to maintain at a given time in order to maximize usage of bandwidth. If the variance of per-connection bandwidths exceeds a threshold, more connections are added until either variance does not exceed the threshold or a maximum number of connections are established. A seeding peer determines when to reduce the number of files being seeded by monitoring its average upload rate per torrent. If its average rate falls below a threshold, then the peer stops seeding a file. The file that the peer stops seeding is one to which the peer is making the smallest overall contribution.
US08738774B2
A method for controlling session access within a cloud-based network license zone (NLZ) includes registering one or more virtual machines, modifying a zone-wide session license based upon the registration step and transmitting the modified license to the plurality of virtual machines. The method also includes periodically receiving a network access message from each of the other virtual machines, each network access message including a count of active sessions enumerated by service type currently processed by the other virtual machine, determining a summation of active sessions, the summation based in part on the network access messages and a count of active sessions currently processed by the virtual machine, and enforcing a total count of active sessions, each virtual machine configured to reject new session requests received at the virtual machine when the total count of active sessions exceeds a predetermined number of active sessions as defined in the modified license.
US08738766B1
Some embodiments implement systems and methods to monitor CDN performance from the end user's perspective. To achieve full end-to-end monitoring, the systems and methods monitor the performance of Anycast routing for routing an end user to the optimal PoP of the CDN and monitor the performance of different routes that deliver content from the optimally selected PoP back to the end user. Systems and methods are also provided to leverage the monitored performance in order to automatically optimize the performance of the CDN by optimizing or modifying Anycast routing and by performing route grooming as needed to ensure that the optimal route is selected to deliver content to different sets of end users that request content from a particular PoP.
US08738760B2
An approach for supporting automated fault isolation is provided. An alarm is received indicating a fault within a customer network that includes one or more network elements. The customer network being monitored by a service provider. A script is retrieved for specifying a dialogue with the network elements for data collection. A command is transmitted to the customer network according to the one script to obtain data from the network elements, wherein the data is utilized to determine the fault. Further, a workflow event corresponding to the alarm is generated, wherein resolution of the fault is automated according to the workflow event.
US08738756B2
A system and an article of manufacture for enabling co-existence of multiple machines with identical addresses within a single data center network. include assigning a unique pseudo identifier to each machine in the network that can be used for routing a packet to a destination machine, replacing a sender media access control address on an address resolution protocol request with a pseudo identifier of the sender at an edge network switch, retrieving a private network identifier from a mapping table based on the sender pseudo identifier and returning a pseudo identifier for the destination address based on the private network identifier, and replacing the pseudo identifier of the destination address with an actual identifier at a destination edge network switch for routing the packet to the destination machine.
US08738753B2
A plurality of modules and/or engines to manage the operation and health of a plurality of data center assets through the use of standard operating procedures (SOPs). Modules of the present invention are configured to assist IT Administrators to create, and thereafter store in an accessible memory resource, a plurality of SOPs. These SOPs define procedures to address various data center asset informational states. An asset's state information is monitored, collected and analyzed to determine, based either on a predetermined rule set or on manual input from an authorized IT Administrator, whether one or more SOPs will be applied to a particular data center asset. These SOPs can be combined and/or executed on the asset either automatically or manually.
US08738751B2
A system for generating instruction signals arranged in workflow for performing interventions on network equipment included in a communication network, wherein the equipment is associated with resource proxy agents, each responsible for managing a single equipment in the network. The system includes a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents to generate the instruction signals. The intervention management proxy agents are interactively coupled with the resource proxy agents, whereby the instruction signals are a function of the status of the equipment in the network on which the interventions are performed.
US08738743B2
A method, apparatus and computer-readable storage medium distribute a non-live content stream in a network. An initial meta-file is transmitted in response to a request for the content, which identifies a division of the content stream into blocks, and available sources for delivery of the blocks. The initial meta-file can identify a first multicast and a second multicast server, assigning a first and second portion of the blocks for delivery using the first and second multicast source server, respectively. The first and second portions are transmitted using the first and second multicast source servers, respectively. The first and second portions correspond to distinct non-overlapping portions of the non-live content stream. The initial meta-file can also identify a unicast source server, assigning a third portion of the blocks for delivery using the unicast source server, the third portion being transmitted by the unicast source server.
US08738742B2
A content management system (CMS) includes a value-add application with a first set of XML content services, one or more dedicated XML processing servers with a second and other sets of XML content services, and a core CMS with a third set of XML content services. The content management system may be designed to provide XML content services at any of these three tiers of processing. A first threshold is defined that allows the value-add application to determine when to offload XML content services to a dedicated XML processing server. A second threshold is defined that allows the core CMS to determine when to offload XML content services to a dedicated XML processing server. Callback services are included that allow each tier of XML content services to send or receive additional information to complete the XML processing. The result is a content management system that is very powerful and flexible.
US08738738B2
A file transmitting apparatus carries out accepting client information of a client as a transmission target from a transmitting terminal 300 used by a client who is to transmit a file, identifying the client-specific application use authority information of the client as the transmission target in the storing device using the client information as accepted as a key, and storing the client-specific application use authority information as identified, accepting the file to be transmitted from the transmitting terminal 300, and transmitting information of the file to be transmitted with the client-specific application use authority information concerning the client as a transmission target stored in the storing device to an address of the terminal as a transmission target, and transmitting the file to be transmitted to a terminal address of the client as a transmission target according to an instruction from the transmitting terminal 300.
US08738737B2
A portable media player and a car media player are disclosed. In either implementation the media player may be used to record digital content as it is streamed over a wide area network (WAN). The recorded digital content may then be played back using the media player and associated controls on the media player. In one implementation the media player makes use of a stored program and an external computer so that digital content recorded by the computer may then transferred from the computer on to the media player for storage and playback.
US08738733B1
Requests for content are received, for example, an HTTP request for a web page is received. Each request has a landing context, which may include information about the user sending the request, the request itself, the referrer, or another subject. This information can be found in the requests or external to the requests. The information of the landing context is compared to appropriate triggering criteria. For requests that satisfy the appropriate triggering criteria, a destination is provided based on one or more weighted treatments. The request is directed to the provided destination. The results of the requests are subsequently analyzed and used to adjust the treatments in an automated fashion.
US08738727B2
A request is received from a consumer of services to consult with a service provider having a service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes in a set of attributes that define a suitable service provider; an available service provider satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes is identified; and a communication channel is provided to establish a communication between the consumer of services and the identified service provider.
US08738712B2
An approach is provided for a messaging interface between applications and a user. A plurality of messages associated respectively with a plurality of programs is stored in a common message database according to timing information corresponding to the messages. A subset of the messages is retrieved based on the timing information. The subset of messages is filtered based on message type. The filtered messages are output to a non-visual communication program for presentation of the filtered messages.
US08738711B2
A method and apparatus for redirecting client-side storage operations to one or more remote storage devices. An HTTP message generated by a web server includes one or more client-side storage operations. Based on defined criteria, the client-side storage operations are replaced with remote storage instructions to generate a modified HTTP message. The modified HTTP message is sent towards the client device. A user agent on the client device receives the HTTP message and executes the remote storage instructions. The storage operations are implemented on the remote storage devices rather than on the client.
US08738710B1
Systems and methods of providing push-to-application services are provided. A network includes a push-to-application session controller that manages a push-to-application session between an application and a client. The network also includes a media controller, coupled to the session controller, that transfers media between the client and the application. The network further includes an application synchronizer, coupled to the session controller, that controls synchronization between media provided by the media controller to the client and data provided by the application to the client.
US08738703B2
A first support node and a third node provide online collaborative support to a customer node over a computer network. An online support session facilitating, at least in part, bi-directional communication between the customer node and the first support node is established. The third node is also connected to the online support session and receives support session information from the customer node. In addition, information is communicated bi-directionally between the first support node and the third node.
US08738696B2
System(s) and method(s) are provided that facilitate managing routing voice and data traffic, associated with a subscription, when there are multiple devices. A client component can manage which communication device of multiple communication devices of a subscriber is active on the network at a given time for the subscriber based in part on location of a mobile device associated with the subscriber, a subscriber profile, and predefined routing criteria, which can facilitate optimal device selection. The mobile device can communicate via a macro network when outside of an area served by consumer premise equipment of the subscriber; and when the mobile device is in the area served by the consumer premise device, voice and data traffic directed to the mobile device can be automatically routed to one of multiple communication devices connected to the consumer premise equipment. The subscriber profile can specify routing preferences of the subscriber.
US08738695B2
A method and apparatus is provided to analyze social and content networks, to identify new relationships among users and content, and to more effectively link users to content. Embodiments of the invention also facilitate more relevant searches over both social and content data. One embodiment is directed to analyzing integrated social and content networks, and includes specifying a social network comprising multiple user nodes, and specifying a content network comprising multiple multimedia content nodes. Data elements associated with respective nodes of the user and content networks are analyzed, in order to detect a set of nodes comprising at least first and second user nodes and first and second content nodes, and to further detect at least three commonality links that join all the nodes of the set together. It is also determined whether a further link is a valid commonality link. The further link is initially inferred to extend between two of the nodes in the set, and to cooperatively join with the three identified commonality links to form a closed loop.
US08738691B2
A web server and a shared caching server are described for serving dynamic content to users of at least two different types, where the different types of users receive different versions of the dynamic content. A version of the dynamic content includes a validation header, such as an ETag, that stores information indicative of the currency of the dynamic content and information indicative of a user type for which the version of the dynamic content is intended. In response to a user request for the dynamic content, the shared caching server sends a validation request to the web server with the validation header information. The web server determines, based on the user type of the requestor and/or on the currency of the cached dynamic content whether to instruct the shared caching server to send the cached content or to send updated content for serving to the user.
US08738690B2
An embodiment provides a method for implementing a service level agreement (SLA) in a network. The method includes: (1) providing one or more network devices in communication with a Network Credit Server (NCS), the NCS configured to: store a SLA of a customer, and maintain a database of topology information of the network; (2) receiving, at one of the network devices, a first plurality of packets associated with the customer and en-route to a destination; (3) transmitting, from the network device to the NCS, a request for credit when the first plurality of packets is more than a pre-configured threshold number; (4) thereafter receiving a second plurality of packets associated with the customer and en-route to the destination; and (5) forwarding, by the network device and depending on a status of a reply from the NCS, the second plurality of packets.
US08738689B2
A system and method for enabling the interchange of enterprise data through an open platform is disclosed. This open platform can be based on a standardized interface that enables parties to easily connect to and use the network. Services operating as senders, recipients, and in-transit parties can therefore leverage a framework that overlays a public network.
US08738686B2
Techniques for dynamic resource management are presented. A World-Wide Web (WWW) page is acquired on first access to a WWW site and rendered with a script tag. When a browser loads the WWW page, the script tag is processed to remotely execute a script on the WWW site. The script produces a single file having code for the resources that are referenced in the WWW page. The single file is provided back to the browser where it is cached so that when any of the resources are accessed via the WWW page, the needed code for those resources are available for execution within the cache of the browser.
US08738684B1
A system may include a technical computing client to define a job. The system may also include a group of technical computing workers that form a collaboration to perform the job. The group of technical computing workers may include a first technical computing worker that acts as a lead worker for the collaboration and one or more second technical computing workers that act as follower workers for the collaboration. The system may further include a third technical computing worker that is not a part of the collaboration when the group of technical computing workers begins performing the job. The third technical worker may join the collaboration during the performance of the job and aid in obtaining a result from performing the job.
US08738671B2
Systems. Methods, and Computer Program Products are provided managing a global cache coherency and reducing messaging traffic for coordination of access permissions in a distributed shared caching for a clustered file systems (CFS). The CFS manages access permissions to an entire space of the data segments by using the DSM module. In response to processing a request message from a remote DSM module to access one of the data segments, including in a response message permission to access the one of the data segments, and deciding if one of a transfer of ownership, and most recent contents of the one of the data segments should be included in the response message for the permission to access the one of the data segments. The last two components of the response message depend upon availability of the one of the data segments that is requested in a local external cache.
US08738666B2
According to one aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a method is provided for the association of conceptual and relational information. First, the structure information necessary to define types, relationships, attributes, and handlers is established. Then, the context in which the correlation of conceptual and relational information is to occur is established. Existing and/or new ontologies to be considered during the act of correlation are selected. Relational and conceptual information is recorded and source and/or content data is displayed.
US08738663B2
A computer automatically reads each object in a metadata that is descriptive of a database. Then the computer automatically applies a number of rules, to check if the object triggers a rule. If so, then the computer automatically changes the metadata as per an action identified by the triggered rule. After all rules are applied to the object, and after all objects in the metadata are processed, the resulting metadata is used to change the database's structure. The objects may be read from the metadata in an order (e.g. hierarchy) specified in meta-metadata that is descriptive of the metadata.
US08738639B1
Systems and methods provide an online directory service over a network. After receiving a request to view an online directory listing from a network-enabled user terminal, an online directory server may present to the user terminal a directory listing associated with an identifier of audiovisual content. In response to a selection by a user of the listing, the user terminal may provide the identifier associated with the selected directory listing to the directory server. Based on the identifier, the directory server may access the audiovisual content and provide it to the user terminal and may present it to the user in conjunction with the other information of the directory listing.
US08738636B2
The present invention relates to computer implemented methods and system for determining correspondences between terms in two or more ontologies. The methods and systems are designed to accept as inputs ontologies in Web Ontology Language (OWL) syntax or any other ontology syntax, to calculate a similarity measure between terms in the ontologies, extract an alignment based on this similarity measure, and verify this alignment according to the semantics contained in the ontologies. This process is designed to be executed iteratively until the similarity measures converge, or until another suitable finalization condition is met. The result of these methods and of the systems implementing these methods is an alignment between two or more ontologies establishing semantic correspondences between the terms in the ontologies.
US08738633B1
This disclosure relates to transformation invariant media matching. A fingerprinting component can generate a transformation invariant identifier for media content by adaptively encoding the relative ordering of interest points in media content. The interest points can be grouped into subsets, and stretch invariant descriptors can be generated for the subsets based on ratios of coordinates of interest points included in the subsets. The stretch invariant descriptors can be aggregated into a transformation invariant identifier. An identification component compares the identifier against a set of identifiers for known media content, and the media content can be matched or identified as a function of the comparison.
US08738626B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for storing documents that are being tracked in an on-demand service. These mechanisms and methods for storing documents in an on-demand service can enable embodiments to provide the sharing of documents and the storing of the documents in association with a tag. The ability of embodiments to provide the sharing of documents and the storing can enable an efficient searching for a shared document. In an embodiment, the shared document is categorized upon being stored.
US08738625B2
A log management system for analyzing and managing a log acquired in a computer is provided. The system generates log groups each formed of log records with reference to the log. The system identifies active periods, in each of which a display area is active, in the log groups, and compares a start-to-end period from a start time to an end time of a reference log group selected from the log groups with active periods of subject log groups other than the reference operation log group individually to identify one or more subject log groups having an active period included in the start-to-end period. The system individually determines whether to include the identified one or more subject log groups in the same first cluster as the reference log group, based on an active period length of each of the identified one or more subject log groups within the start-to-end period.
US08738620B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods for implementing enterprise level social and business information networking are provided. Users can receive relevant information about a database system and its users at an appropriate time. Users can then use this relevant information to reduce errors and limit redundant efforts. For example, an update of a record in the database can be identified, and a story created automatically about the update and sent to the users that are following the record. Which updates have stories created and which stories are to be sent to which users can be configured. Other events besides updating of records can also be tracked. For example, actions of a user that result in an event can be tracked, where such tracking can also be configurable. Subscriptions to follow an object can be automatic, and access checks can be used to ensure that unauthorized users do not see certain data.
US08738602B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining relevance scores for locations. In one aspect, a method includes storing a respective plurality of category-location relevance scores for each location of a plurality of geographic locations. A category-location relevance score is based on a plurality of category-entity-location relevance scores for a plurality of entities associated with the category at the location. A first category-location relevance score is determined for a first geographic location that is not one of the plurality of geographic locations. Determining the first category-location relevance score includes calculating the first category-location relevance score based on a second category-location relevance score for a second geographic location in the plurality of geographic locations and a physical distance between the first geographic location and the second geographic location.
US08738597B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for interleaving search results. A method includes presenting multiple first search results received from a first search engine. The first search results satisfy a search query directed to the first search engine and are presented in an order. A second search result from a second search engine is inserted at a position between two otherwise adjacent first search results. The second search result is received from a second search engine in response to the search query.
US08738587B1
A search request received at a computer of a search support system is processed by analyzing the received search request to identify request parameters and connecting to a system index of the search support system that is referenced in the request parameters. An external result provider (ERP) process is initiated that establishes communication between the search support system and a data source external to the search support system, for a virtual index referenced in the request parameters. Thus, the ERP process provides an interface between the search support system and external data sources, such as by third parties. The ERP process can operate in a streaming mode (providing real-time search results with minimal processing) and/or a reporting mode (providing results with a greater delay and processing extent) and can switch between modes. The search request results are received from the connected system indexes and the referenced virtual indexes.
US08738583B2
Techniques for compiled indexing and paginated reporting are described. Event messages, having sequential identifiers, are received and stored in a working table. The working table is renamed as a rollover table upon receiving a threshold number of the event messages and a new working table is created. A reference to the rollover table is stored in a management table. Summary data which summarizes each rollover table according to predetermined criteria is stored in a summary table with the reference to the corresponding rollover table. When a query to the event messages is received, a response to the query is generated based on the contents of the summary table and management table. The response may also include a predetermined quantity of event messages based on a dimension of a window of a graphical user interface of a client computer which issued the query.
US08738574B2
A computer-implemented method includes downloading data elements from a wireless device. The method includes determining whether a user account exists in storage and determining whether the user account currently has stored data elements of the same type as the downloaded data elements associated therewith. The method further includes comparing the downloaded data elements to the stored data elements. This method also includes storing any downloaded data elements not currently existing in the data elements associated with the user account and not in conflict with data elements associated with the user account. The method further includes resolving conflicts between downloaded data elements and currently existing data elements, to establish which of the conflicting elements is representative of a proper version of the element. Finally, the method includes storing the proper version of the element resulting from each conflict resolution.
US08738570B2
A file cloning mechanism allows for quickly creating copies (clones) of files within a filesystem, such as when a user makes a copy of a file. In exemplary embodiments, a clone of a source object is at least initially represented by a structure containing references to various elements of the source object (e.g., indirect onodes, direct onodes, and data blocks). Both read-only and mutable clones can be created. The source file and the clone initially share such elements and continue to share unmodified elements as changes are made to the source file or mutable clone. None of the user data blocks or the metadata blocks describing the data stream (i.e., the indirect/direct onodes) associated with the source file need to be copied at the time the clone is created. At appropriate times, cloned files may be “de-cloned.”
US08738568B2
A replication track is a designated group of transactions that are to be replicated at a destination database in a way that, with respect to any other transaction in the replication track, preserves transactional dependency. Further, transactions in a replication track can be replicated at the destination database without regard to transactional dependency of other transactions in another track. This facilitates concurrent parallel replication of transactions of different tracks. Replicating data in this manner is referred to herein as track replication. An application may request execution of transactions and designate different tracks for transactions.
US08738565B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for collecting data. The data is collected from a particular data source by an application portion of agent to form collected data. The application portion is associated with the particular data source in response to an event. The collected data stored in a temporary data store for transfer to a data storage system to form stored data. The stored data sent to the data storage system using a generic portion of the agent, wherein the generic portion of the agent is configured to send data to the data storage system.
US08738557B1
Aspects of the disclosure provide for detection of spam business listings. Aspects operate to identify business listing characteristics in trusted sources and untrusted sources. As untrusted sources are likely to contain more spam, characteristics that are present in untrusted sources but not present in trusted sources are typically indicative of spam listings, and vice versa. Thus, statistical analysis of the frequency of characteristics within each source may be used to identify common characteristics of spam listings. These characteristics may further be analyzed in specific listing contexts, as different listing contexts (e.g., different types of businesses) typically use different terms and vocabularies, such that terms that are indicative of spam in one context may not be indicative of spam in another. Various methods for leveraging this context-specific statistical information to improve spam detection operations are disclosed.
US08738556B2
The present invention is directed to a method of operating a knowledge capture program. The knowledge capture program has the steps of starting the knowledge capture program wherein a user can access content that is either existing content or creating new content. Once the content has been selected then a source subject matter can be selected and displayed, and then captured and incorporated into the content. The source subject matter can be edited and saved into the content. The content can then be retrieved and played in a desired mode of learning.
US08738546B2
Techniques for real-time pricing of electrical energy are provided. The techniques include receiving electrical energy data, wherein the electrical energy data comprises one or more energy pricing parameters specified by an energy supplier, measuring power grid frequency, wherein the power grid comprises the current frequency of the power grid, measuring current energy consumption, wherein current energy consumption comprises total energy consumption in a sampling period, retrieving consumption history, wherein consumption history comprises energy consumed by a customer over a time period, computing a unit energy rate as a function of customer type, the one or more pricing parameters, frequency and past history of consumption, and using the computed rate to compute a total charge as a product of the unit energy rate and the total energy consumption.
US08738543B2
A method for sharing business intelligence information includes creating a plurality of data visualization cards from business intelligence data in response to create requests from a plurality of user accounts. Each data visualization card is associated with the user account that requested its creation. Data visualization cards are also associated with user accounts that did not request their creation in response to collect requests from those user accounts. A social network is created amongst the user accounts using the data visualization cards such that user accounts associated with data visualization cards created from common business intelligence data are linked. A first data visualization card that was created in response to a create request from a first user account may then be provided to a second user account in response to determining that the first user account and the second user account are linked in the social network.
US08738523B1
A method for assessing risk associated with a driver of a vehicle includes receiving a plurality of risk variables associated with a driver, the plurality of risk variables being gathered when the driver operates the vehicle. A driver is then identified based on the plurality of risk variables, and a risk profile is developed for the driver. The development of the risk profile involves determining the risk associated with at least some of the risk variables and generating a risk index, the risk index being a collective measure of risk associated with the driver.
US08738519B2
A system and method of identifying one or more waivers for waiving a fee associated with an account of a customer at a financial institution. The system and method may include identifying, based one or more criteria of the account, customer, and the like, one or more waivers applicable to the account, customer, and the like. The applicable waivers may be provided for selection. In some examples, a history of all waivers associated with the account or customer may also be provided.
US08738513B2
A method includes receiving account information associated with a user. The account information includes an electronic mail (“email”) address associated with the user. The method also includes storing the account information in an account associated with the email address. The method further includes validating the email address associated with the user. In addition, the method includes allowing a plurality of computer systems to retrieve the account information stored in the account.
US08738510B2
A system and method for money management in an electronic trading environment are presented. According to one embodiment, a money management application intercepts an order before the order is sent to an exchange, and determines a plurality of P/L levels, based on which the money management application then selects a set of money management parameters to be used to control or modify order parameters before the order is sent to the exchange. The plurality of profit levels may include a net profit level determined based on a trader's net position and a current market level, a realized profit level determined based on trader's sells and buys associated with the tradeable object, or an open profit level determined based on the realized and net profit levels. The set of money management parameters may include a maximum order quantity and a maximum net position so that, for example, if the order quantity associated with the order is higher than the maximum order quantity associated with the applicable set of money management parameters, the order quantity may be modified to the maximum order quantity.
US08738505B2
A system and method for providing market information are disclosed. In this application, updates are received for a tradeable object at a price level from at least one exchange. To the extent that the updates do not include enough details to compute the number of orders resting at a particular price level in a market, estimation may be used to provide order queue information. As a result, the number of orders which are pending in the market at various price levels may be determined using the techniques described herein. The interface disclosed herein may be used to display the number and/or quantity of the orders in the order queue.
US08738503B2
The disclosed system makes available multiple interest rate futures contracts (“IRFC”) for a given set of interest rate securities, such as US Treasury Notes, which may be used to satisfy the delivery obligation. The terms on which the delivery obligation of each such IRFC are met are governed by an associated conversion factor yield (“CFY”) value which is associated, in turn, with a corresponding set of conversion factors (“CF”), each of which corresponds to one member of the set of securities eligible for delivery, and which may be used at the time of delivery of such eligible interest rate security, to determine the delivery invoice price. Offering different CFY's and corresponding CF's may enable a market participant who seeks to use such futures to acquire or shed financial risk exposure to select from such array of futures contracts the member contract that most closely mirror the participant's intended risk profile.
US08738496B2
A prepaid messaging solution that uses open networking standards and supports pre-payment of enhanced Internet messaging services. The prepaid messaging solution accurately determines if a subscriber has sufficient account balance to deliver a complete short message, prior to message delivery. Message delivery is prevented if insufficient funds are in the subscriber's account. A prepaid tariff engine, preferably extensible over a TCP/IP network, supports remote interaction with the SMSC and web chat servers to apply a real-time billing charge for each message. A service provider may create subscriber classes of service that define subscriber rates and/or tariffing plans used to apply real-time billing charges for sending/receiving messages. The prepaid short message tariff engine determines the appropriate message billing based upon, e.g., flat rate per message, character count, Time of Day, etc. The prepaid short messaging service preferably supports Internet web page access to subscriber's short messaging account balances and account status.
US08738494B1
The present invention provides a method for electronically splitting an original billing cycle into at least two billing cycles in an account by electronically changing the debiting timeframe of the original billing cycle and electronically switching on or starting at least one additional billing cycle, as well as a method for electronically replacing an original billing cycle with at least two additional billing cycles in an account by electronically switching off the original billing cycle and electronically switching on at least two additional billing cycles, wherein electronically switching on or starting one or more billing cycles is determined by an end user, and wherein electronic operations of the methods are performed by at least one computer.
US08738491B1
The invention provides a method for conducting a transaction between a first and second consumer, and a merchant using one or more electronic communication devices. The method includes issuing a first prepaid calling card to a first consumer and issuing a second dependent prepaid calling card dependent on the first prepaid calling card, to a second consumer dependent on the first consumer, based on a second specified criteria. In the invention, the second specified criteria is specified by the first consumer, wherein both the first and second specified criteria are stored as imbedded data in the respective prepaid calling cards. The invention further involves conducting, at a merchant network node a micropayment transaction and receiving into the merchant network node from the at least one consumer electronic communications device first prepaid—calling card data or second dependent prepaid—calling card data as payment for the item of value.
US08738480B2
A virtual electronic paymaster system and method for processing a paycheck utilizing a multi-function device. A virtual paymaster application can be configured in association with an EIP (Extensible Interface Platform) enabled multi-function device in order to render the paycheck with respect to an employee. An identification card having a bar code can be placed on a platen of the multi-function device in order to obtain authentication data with respect to the employee upon providing a PIN number via a user interface. The authentication data can be further provided to a remote application server via a network in order to retrieve the payment information with respect to the employee from a payroll database. The paycheck can be locally rendered based on the rendering instructions from the remote application server thereby enhancing the payroll processing within a business environment.
US08738478B1
Methods, systems and computer program products for paying tax owed with a refund through an intermediary when a taxpayer owes tax to one tax authority and is entitled to a refund from another tax authority. The intermediary may be an intermediate computer that electronically filed respective tax returns and may host the tax preparation application that was used to prepare the tax returns. The intermediate computer may wait to pay one tax authority until after a refund is received from a different tax authority.
US08738470B2
A method and system for creating of gift clusters of multiple items in a client/server environment by users, and for the ordering of such user-defined gift clusters of multiple items. In particular, a user can specify multiple items to be associated together as a gift cluster, and can also specify a variety of descriptive information about the gift cluster. That user or another user can then order the gift cluster as a gift for themselves or for another recipient, and may also order the gift cluster for the same or different recipients multiple times. When customers are later searching for appropriate gift clusters, the various categorization or other descriptive information can then assist is identifying appropriate gift clusters. The gift clustering functionality may be provided by and work in conjunction with a particular item ordering service, or instead may work independently from any particular item ordering service.
US08738451B2
A consumer is prequalified for a line of credit attached to a checking account by a lending institution computer responsive to consumer underwriting data. The lending institution computer makes available draws to the line of credit line in an authorization stream for a proposed payment from the checking account. When the line of credit is accessed, the checking account is credited with an additional value equal to one or more preselected loan increments so that the account then has a new amount totaling a previous amount plus the amount of value of the one or more preselected loan increments and so that the new amount exceeds or equals the value of a proposed payment. Next a new value for the line of credit balance available is determined, accounting for value credited to the checking account and a preselected loan advance fee for each loan increment credited to the account.
US08738441B2
A method and system provides a targeted advertisement on a package to be delivered to a recipient. The advertisement is specifically directed towards the recipient of the package. Advertisement information is received from an advertiser that includes one or more advertisements that the advertiser desires to be placed. The advertisement information is associated with advertisement selection criteria. A request for a package to be delivered to the recipient is received. The package has one or more package characteristics, and the recipient has one or more recipient characteristics including at least one location characteristic. The advertisement selection criteria associated with an advertisement are analyzed in conjunction with the package characteristics and recipient characteristics associated with the package and its recipient. An advertisement for the package is either selected or created in response to the analyzing of the advertisement selection criteria, package characteristics, and recipient characteristics. The advertisement is then placed on the package for delivery.
US08738438B2
The invention provides a method, system, and program product for increasing the effectiveness of a customer contact strategy. In one embodiment, the method includes assigning a value to each of a plurality of customer events; assigning each of the plurality of promotion events to a “bucket” having a predefined range of values, based on a value of each promotion event; and selecting a customer event from the bucket having the highest range of values.
US08738436B2
A computer implemented method comprises analyzing a plurality of attributes of a sample of online documents using a boosted decision tree and generating a model from it. The model is used to predict a click through rate (CTR) of an additional online document based on the analyzing. The predicted CTR is output to a display device, storage medium or network.
US08738419B2
In a system and method for conjoint analysis, corresponding utility values are determined for a plurality of individual concept elements and for combinations of multiple concept elements, e.g., pair wise combinations of concept elements. A regression technique, e.g., least squares linear regression, may be used to determine the utility values.
US08738410B2
Methods and systems for interfacing computer modeled design and manufacture data from an Manufacturing Process Planning (MPP) system to a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and allowing, via an integration server interface, electronic work instructions of the MPP system to be revised promptly and efficiently in mid-production manufacturing processes.
US08738409B2
A system and methods for prioritizing and processing updated inventory information for event listings are described. In one embodiment, a network-based system may receive updated ticket information from a seller for multiple event listings, categorize the updated ticket information from the seller by event, prioritize event categories comprising updated ticket information in accordance with a prioritization policy, and process a prioritized event category comprising updated ticket information for a particular event listing out-of-order with respect to one or more other event categories comprising previously-received updated ticket information for other event listings. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08738405B2
A payment system for spending accounts is provided. The payment system includes a qualified vendor system, such as a point of sale system at a doctor's office, that generates purchase data and point of sale data, such as a co-pay amount, a credit card number, and a point of sale device identifier. An account management system receives the purchase data and point of sale data and generates authorized purchase data, such as by determining whether payment of co-pay can be automatically authorized based on pre-qualification of the doctor's office as an authorized source.
US08738403B2
Based on a free-form narration of a patient encounter provided by a clinician, it may be determined that one or more clinical facts could possibly be ascertained from the patient encounter. One or more options corresponding to the one or more clinical facts may be provided to a user. A selection of a first option of the one or more options may be received from the user. The first option may correspond to a first fact of the one or more clinical facts. A textual representation of the free-form narration may be updated to identify the first fact as having been ascertained from the patient encounter.
US08738384B1
Grammars for interactive voice response systems using natural language understanding can be created using information which is available on websites. These grammars can be created in automated manners and can have various tuning measures applied to obtain optimal results when deployed in a customer contact environment. These grammars can allow a variety of statements to be appropriately handled by the system.
US08738378B2
A speech recognition apparatus includes a speech collating unit that calculates similarities at each time between a feature amount converted by a speech analyzing unit and a word model generated by a word model generating unit. The speech collating unit extracts a word model from word models generated by the word model generating unit, whose minimum similarity among similarities at each time or whose overall similarity obtained from similarities at each time satisfies a second threshold value condition, and whose similarity at each time in a section among vocalization sections of utterance speech and corresponding to either a phoneme or a phoneme string associated with a first threshold value condition satisfies the first threshold value condition, and outputs as a recognition result the recognized word corresponding to the extracted word model.
US08738367B2
A speech signal processing device is equipped with a power acquisition unit, a probability distribution acquisition unit, and a correspondence degree determination unit. The power acquisition unit accepts an inputted speech signal and, based on the accepted speech signal, acquires power representing the intensity of a speech sound represented by the speech signal. The probability distribution acquisition unit acquires a probability distribution using the intensity of the power acquired by the power acquisition unit as a random variable. The correspondence degree determination unit determines whether a correspondence degree representing a degree that power acquired by the power acquisition unit in a case that a predetermined reference speech signal is inputted into the power acquisition unit corresponds with predetermined reference power is higher than a predetermined reference correspondence degree, based on the probability distribution acquired by the probability distribution acquisition unit.
US08738366B2
A search query of a search word entered by the user is received, the received search queries are stored in accordance with reception order, a preceding search query whose reception order is earlier than that of the received search query is extracted on the basis of a preset search query extracting condition, a preceding search word constructing the extracted preceding search query and a search word constructing the received search query are stored as a character string set, a character string set having the search word which is the same or similar to the preceding search word is extracted in accordance with a preset character string set extraction start condition (S51), a character set as a related word is specified from the extracted character string set on the basis of a preset registration condition (S53), and the specified character string set is registered as related words into a related-word database (S54).
US08738360B2
A method of processing a sequence of characters, the method comprising converting the sequence of characters into a sequence of tokens so that each token comprises a lexeme and one of a plurality of token types. Each of the plurality of token types relates to at least one of a plurality of predetermined functions, wherein at least one said token type relates to multiple functions of the plurality of predetermined functions.
US08738359B2
The present invention provides a method for extracting relationships between words in textual data. Initially, a classifier is trained to identify text data having a specific format, such as situation-response or cause-effect, using a training corpus. The classifier receives input identifying components of the text data having the specified format and then extracts features from the text data having the specified format, such as the part of speech for words in the text data, the semantic role of words within the text data and sentence structure. These extracted features are then applied to text data to identify components of the text data which have the specified format. Rules are then extracted from the text data having the specified format.
US08738355B2
Methods and apparatuses for providing predictive translation information services to mobile stations
Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses to allow a mobile station to request and receive translation information associated with a location (e.g., a region, a point of interest, etc.). The translation information may be based, at least in part, on historical information associated with at least one other request associated with the location and previously obtained from at least one other mobile station.
US08738345B2
Plasma concentration of a compound of interest is measured in two or ideally 4 or more blood samples taken from a patient over a period of time following bolus injection. The measured values are input into a computer processor programmed to execute a computer program comprising an algorithm that uses the gamma variate (GV) function to model drug plasma concentration, then uses Tikhonov regularization to perform the fit, selecting a regularization constant so that the relative error in the plasma clearance is minimized. One or more output values representative of renal function are generated.
US08738342B2
Methods and systems are provided to improve design, manufacture and performance of oilfield equipment and well tools using three dimensional (3D) scanning technology and one or more feedback loops. Manufacturing processes and techniques associated with a well tool may be evaluated based on comparing “as built” 3D data with a design data file for the well tool. Based on differences between “as built” 3D data and the design data file, one or more changes in associated manufacturing procedures and/or techniques may be made. Computational fluid dynamic applications may be used to simulate fluid flow characteristics of a well tool using associated design data file, “as built” 3D data and/or after use 3D data. The associated design data file, manufacturing procedures and/or procedures for use of the well tool may be modified based on comparing simulated fluid flow data with desired fluid flow characteristics for the well tool.
US08738328B2
A computer processor implemented method of measuring, monitoring, comparing and diagnosing the power generated of at least two renewable power systems provided to at least two consumers and alerting at least one of consumers in the event of comparative underperformance, the method taking into account at least two diagnostic variables including weather and the renewable power system cover status (such as covered by snow), wherein the at least one computing device determines comparative information for a predetermined geographic area based upon at least two diagnostic variables, and at least two normalized performances to provide a comparative value; and informing the consumer of the comparative value in the event of an underperforming comparative value.
US08738322B1
An apparatus, method, and system comprising at least one transmission unit utilized as a weight measurement and transmission device in communication with a remote receiving and display unit and whereby the system allows for monitoring, tracking, and sorting of multiple weight measurements of fish as caught by a fisherman. The fish weight measurement data along with its associated fish identification data may be coded, sorted, and culled according to the lightest fish of the catch. The main components of the transmission unit include a transmitter, an actuator, a weight transducer, a control unit, and a signal processor. The main components of the receiving and display unit include a receiver, a display screen, and a signal processor.
US08738319B2
A sensor system for a host vehicle may detect whether another in-path vehicle is turning. The sensor system may include a transmitter, a receiver and a controller. Signals may be emitted by the transmitter over a detection area. The emitted signals may reflect off an object vehicle in the detection area and be received by the receiver. The receiver may include a number of channels, each corresponding to a different region of the detection area. The sensor system may determine whether the in-path vehicle is turning and in what direction based on the reflected signals received at each channel.
US08738317B2
The present invention relates to an inertial measurement device secured to a structure of a vehicle for which it is desired to measure speeds and/or accelerations, the device comprising at least one piece of moving equipment in rotation about a stationary axis of rotation Y relative to the structure, said moving equipment including at least two measurement device having respective sensitivity axes X′ and Z′ that are mutually orthogonal and that lie in a plane perpendicular to the stationary axis of rotation Y, a motor for driving the moving equipment in rotation, device for determining the angular position of the moving equipment, device for responding to the angular position of the moving equipment to determine the projection of the measurements taken in the rotary frame of reference axes X′ and Z′ by the said at least two measurement device onto a vehicle frame of reference X and Z.
US08738301B2
The present invention relates to a method for quantitatively analyzing gases as a monitor for on-load tap changers. The general inventive concept lies in selecting particular characteristic gases allowing an indirect subsequent association and a dimension for aging effects, excessive discharge, and/or heating of the on-load tap changer; measuring said characteristic gases, formed during the operation of the tap changer in the insulating oil thereof, at particular time intervals; forming indicative quotients from the measured values of the defined gases, said quotients allowing direct conclusions about aging effects, excessive discharge, and/or heating; displaying trends from a comparison of the currently derived value of each quotient to the most recently derived value for the same quotient; and inferring warnings for aging effects, excessive discharge, and/or heating if the corresponding quotients tend to change significantly over time or in the course of the switch changes made.
US08738296B2
Generating an index includes receiving a reference sequence and applying one or more key patterns to the reference sequence to obtain a plurality of keys in the index. Each of the one or more key patterns is derived based on a corresponding set of oligomer sequence relationships of a plurality of oligomer sequences that are expected to be generated from the reference, and the keys correspond to a plurality of candidate and/or validated locations in the reference sequence.
US08738287B2
A method of providing navigational information comprises processing destination information spoken by a user of a mobile processing system. The processed voice information is transmitted to a remote data center. The processed voice information is analyzed at the data center to recognize components of the destination information. The center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination by confidence levels as calculated for each component of the information analyzed. The hypothetical recognized component list is displayed with confidence levels at the data center for selective checking by a human data center operator. A set of hypothetical components is selected based on confidence levels in the list. The accuracy of the selected set of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information is confirmed though interactive voice exchanges between the mobile system user and the remote data center. A destination is determined from confirmed components of the destination information.
US08738272B2
Provided is a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can suppress deterioration of a catalyst that is ascribable to a control delay of a variable valve operating apparatus when transitioning to a valve stopped state accompanying a fuel-cut operation, or when transitioning from the valve stopped state to a combustion limit operating state. An intake variable valve operating apparatus capable of changing the operating state of an intake valve to a valve stopped state by continuously changing a lift amount and working angle of the intake valve is included. When the temperature of a catalyst is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, fuel injection is executed to supply fuel into an exhaust passage during a period in which the operating state of the intake valve transitions to the valve stopped state, during a period in which a fuel-cut operation is executed in the valve stopped state, or during a period in which the operating state of the intake valve transitions from the valve stopped state to a return limit operating state.
US08738271B2
Example methods of modeling a nonlinear dynamical system such as a vehicle engine include providing a model using linear programming support vector regression (LP-SVR) having an asymmetric wavelet kernel, such as derived from a raised-cosine wavelet function. The model may be trained to determine parallel model parameters while in a series-parallel configuration, and operated in the parallel configuration allowing improved and more flexible model performance. An improved engine control unit may use an LP-SVR with an asymmetric wavelet kernel.
US08738258B2
In a powertrain for a motor vehicle that includes an engine, a transmission driveably connected to the engine and wheels of the vehicle, an electric machine for transmitting power to at least some of the vehicle wheels, a method for controlling the powertrain includes operating the engine and transmission to produce a wheel torque at a desired vehicle speed with the transmission operating in a desired gear in response to a demanded wheel torque, increasing the demanded wheel torque due to the vehicle ascending a grade, determining a magnitude of wheel torque able to be produced in the desired gear, using the electric motor to provide a second wheel torque in combination with wheel torque whose magnitude is equal to or greater than the wheel torque being produced in the desired gear, and continuing to operate the transmission in the desired gear.
US08738250B2
Methods and systems for controlling a power source of a mobile machine having a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving, from an operator of the mobile machine, input selecting of one of a plurality of target travel speeds of the mobile machine and input indicative of a requested output speed of the power source. The method further includes calculating a difference between the selected target travel speed and an actual travel speed of the mobile machine. Finally, the method includes adjusting the requested output speed of the power source based on the calculated travel speed difference, and commanding the power source based on the adjusted requested output speed of the power source.
US08738238B2
A number of other vehicles that are moved on a number of paths that is substantially parallel to, and offset to at least one of a first offset side and a second offset side of, the path for the first vehicle. The number of other vehicles is moved along at least a portion of the path in the turn in response to a turn in the path of the first vehicle. The number of other vehicles may be moved from the path to a number of second parallel paths that are substantially parallel to the path after the turn of the first vehicle and offset to an opposite offset side of the first vehicle than the at least one offset side before the turn in response to the first vehicle completing the turn.
US08738231B2
A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle during operation in order to avoid an undesired situation based on a current driving scenario includes predicting if a first guiding force to a vehicle steering device is desired in order to avoid the undesired situation and, if the first guiding force is desired, predicting a total guiding force comprising the first guiding force, which would be applied to the steering device for avoiding the undesired situation, comparing the predicted total guiding force with a limit value, and if the predicted total guiding force exceeds the limit value, in advance, deciding whether to apply the predicted total guiding force to the steering device for avoiding the undesired situation or not.
US08738219B2
A controller for indicating whether a previously-detected, acceleration-sensor malfunction no longer exists. The controller includes an electronic memory and an electronic processing unit connected to the electronic memory. The electronic processing module includes a malfunction monitoring module, a failure handling module, and a signal checking module. The signal checking module performs a signal check after the malfunction monitoring module generates the fault signal. The signal check includes executing a signal check function with a longitudinal acceleration signal. Also disclosed is a vehicle including the controller, and a method executed by the controller.
US08738197B2
A vehicle controller includes a communications unit for performing data communications with local servers; a local path generation unit for generating, in response to an automatic vehicle guidance service request, a local path based on a driving control command and sensing information received from the local servers via the communications unit; a path-following control unit for generating actuator control signals for controlling actuators of a vehicle to drive the vehicle along the local path; and a vehicle driving unit for driving the actuators according to the actuator control signals. Each local server pre-processes and merges sensor data received from the infra-sensor to generate the sensing information. A global server generates the driving control command based on the sensing information and transmits the driving control command to the local servers.
US08738195B2
Methods and devices capable of measuring, analyzing, and monitoring electrical energy consumption of appliances and devices within a building are provided. Voltage sensors that are optionally connected to electrical socket outlets are employed within a building or section of a building to infer the identity of electricity-consuming devices and the amount of power the devices are consuming individually and collectively. Energy use inferencing devices according to embodiments of the invention provide ease of installation, simplicity, manageability, and ease-of-use that can engender deployment by electricity consumers, such as, home owners and businesses.
US08738189B2
The present invention provides methods for water conservation with irrigation controllers based upon the ambient temperature and extraterrestrial radiation of a particular geographical area. It receives a preliminary irrigation schedule from the operator and computes a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data, then modifying the preliminary irrigation schedule based upon that ratio. The present invention utilizes fewer variables, is less complex, and is much easier to install and maintain than the current evapotranspiration-based controllers.
US08738186B2
A thermostatic controller is configured for curtailing load when energy price rate is high. One or more energy price rates received by a receiver device are stored in an electronic memory. A microprocessor is operable to select from the one or more energy price rates the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate. The microprocessor is operable to determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate. In response to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor, the microprocessor is configured to select a first temperature offset corresponding to the first percentage or multiplier factor and change the set point temperature by the first temperature offset.
US08738183B2
An apparatus which provides various functions for physical and/or mental relaxation, as well as for health care of a user, and a method of implementing the apparatus, include downloading personal data of the user from a user terminal to a personally customized bed and controlling one or more functions of the personally customized bed based on the personal data.
US08738181B2
Methods, devices (such as computer readable media), and systems (such as computer systems) for defining and executing automated movements using robotic arms (such as robotic arms configured for use in performing surgical procedures), so that a remotely-located surgeon is relieved from causing the robotic arm to perform the automated movement through movement of an input device such as a hand controller.
US08738174B2
Provided is a substrate processing apparatus for loading substrates such as solar cell substrates on a tray in substrate processing equipment for processing a large number of substrates. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a tray carrying unit configured to receive and carry a tray; a substrate loading conveyor unit on which substrates to be loaded on a tray are arranged in a line; a substrate unloading conveyor unit on which substrates unloaded from a tray are arranged in a line; a first substrate carrying robot configured to pick up substrates from the substrate loading conveyor unit and carry the substrates to a tray placed on the tray carrying unit; and a second substrate carrying robot configured to pick up substrates from a tray placed on the tray carrying unit and carry the substrates to the substrate unloading conveyor unit.
US08738161B2
A mobile device and a method include setting a vibration intensity grade and activating a vibration sensor to detect vibration intensity of the mobile device. The mobile device and the method further include obtaining the output induced voltage amplitude, confirming a vibration intensity grade, and controlling a music adjuster to adjust a playing speed and a playing volume of a music player to the confirmed vibration intensity grade.
US08738159B2
A system for providing programmable logic data on demand includes a portion for receiving a plurality of data requests at the programmable logic controller and a portion for processing the plurality of data requests asynchronously. An interface enables asynchronous processing to enhance and extend capabilities of the programmable logic controller.
US08738151B2
Anchors for securing a therapy device such as a therapy catheter relative to a burr hole, and systems and methods for using the same. Anchors in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may include a connector for securing the therapy catheter to a delivery catheter, wherein the connector is independently and removably attachable to the anchor. The connector may secure the therapy catheter relative to the burr hole and isolate forces that may otherwise tend to disrupt the placement of the therapy catheter.
US08738131B2
A system and method for monitoring at least one chamber of a heart (e.g., a left ventricular chamber) during delivery of extrasystolic stimulation to determine if the desired extra-systole (i.e., ventricular mechanical capture following refractory period expiration) occurs. The system includes an implantable or external cardiac stimulation device in association with a set of leads such as epicardial, endocardial, and/or coronary sinus leads equipped with motion sensor(s). The device receives and processes acceleration sensor signals to determine a signal characteristic indicative of chamber capture resulting from one or more pacing stimulus delivered closely following expiration of the refractory period. A threshold optimization method optionally evaluates capture and at least one of: runs an iterative routine to establish or re-establish chamber capture for the PESP therapy, sets a logical flag relating to chamber capture status and stores parameter(s) relating to successful chamber capture for one or more subsequent cardiac cycles.
US08738129B2
A computer-implemented method for providing summary information for lifesaving activities is disclosed. The method involves sensing one or more activities that are repeatedly and cyclically performed on a victim by a rescuer; identifying a cyclical timing interval over which performance is to be analyzed for a integer number of cycles of the one or more activities, and gathering data from the sensing of the one or more activities during the time interval; generating, from analysis of the one or more activities, summary data that condenses data sensed for the one or more activities into a summary of the one or more activities; and providing, for display to a user, a visual summary of the performance of the one or more activities over the identified time interval.
US08738127B1
There is provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention a method of treating diabetic patients comprising measuring a triglyceride level in a diabetic patient and applying a diabetes treatment according to the triglyceride level. Optionally, there is provided a method of screening. Alternatively or additionally, there is provided a method of weight loss. Alternatively or additionally, there is provided a method of relatively reducing HOMA-IR levels. Alternatively or additionally, there is provided a method of relatively reducing blood pressure. An exemplary device to apply the treatment is described.
US08738122B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for reproducing a body motion via a network, and systems, devices and methods for identifying a body motion. In an embodiment, the system for reproducing a body motion via a network comprises a sensor configured to capture a surface electromyography signal generated by a body motion of a user at a first terminal in the network; a processor configured to receive the signal from the sensor and identify the body motion based on the received signal, and send information associated with the body motion to a second terminal in the network, the processor being located in the first terminal; and a mechanical member configured to receive the information associated with the body motion from the second terminal and reproduce the body motion based on the received information.
US08738110B2
A rigid spine-reinforced microelectrode array probe and fabrication method. The probe includes a flexible elongated probe body with conductive lines enclosed within a polymeric material. The conductive lines connect microelectrodes found near an insertion end of the probe to respective leads at a connector end of the probe. The probe also includes a rigid spine, such as made from titanium, fixedly attached to the probe body to structurally reinforce the probe body and enable the typically flexible probe body to penetrate and be inserted into tissue, such as neural tissue. By attaching or otherwise fabricating the rigid spine to connect to only an insertion section of the probe body, an integrally connected cable section of the probe body may remain flexible.
US08738105B2
A superconducting integrated circuit may include a magnetic flux transformer having an inner inductive coupling element and an outer inductive coupling element that surrounds the inner inductive coupling element along at least a portion of a length thereof. The magnetic flux transformer may have a coaxial-like geometry such that a mutual inductance between the first inductive coupling element and the second inductive coupling element is sub-linearly proportional to a distance that separates the first inner inductive coupling element from the first outer inductive coupling element. At least one of the first inductive coupling element and the second inductive coupling element may be coupled to a superconducting programmable device, such as a superconducting qubit.
US08738092B2
The display of a scrollable list of items is described. In one disclosed embodiment, a list of items may be displayed on a scrollable computing device display in such a manner that, upon receiving an input requesting movement of a select indicator to a different list item, the select indicator is moved on the display toward the different list item and the list is scrolled on the display in an opposing direction.
US08738090B2
A mobile phone includes a display, a touch panel provided on the display, etc., and can be set with a lock state. In a case that the lock state is set, a lock screen including a lock object is displayed on the display. Upon receipt of a mail, notification information of a newly-arrived mail is recorded in a notification table and the notification information of the newly-arrived mail is displayed in a notification area of the lock screen. If a user performs a sliding operation after touching the lock object, and then releases from the lock object within the notification area, the lock state is canceled, and a mail function is performed such that the above-described newly-arrived mail is displayed.
US08738080B2
A system, method, and computer program product for a smartphone docking station in digital camera and camcorder form factors. The docking station provides an attached smartphone a better lens, image sensor, and image stabilization system for capturing pictures and videos, as well as a more familiar and steady user gripping and aiming platform for such photography. Imagery and audio from the smartphone and docking station may be combined into three-dimensional stereo media. The docking station also provides additional battery, data processing, and buffer capacities for the smartphone, as well as an external connector for accessories such as lights and microphones. The smartphone may provide GPS and other data, and network connectivity that allows data that it and/or the docking station captures to be easily transferred to/from to the internet. The smartphone may be used as a display, and may be based on the Android™ operating system or other operating systems.
US08738069B2
Provided is a communication device which transmits a signal by setting appropriate transmission power under the situation that the communication device moves.The mobile communication device includes transmitting and receiving means for receiving a first signal transmitted from other mobile communication device; control means for holding first circumference information including transmission power setting information of the first signal, time information including receiving time when the transmitting and receiving means receives the first signal, and receiving power information of the first signal in the transmitting and receiving means, and deleting the first circumference information in a case where a predetermined period has passed from the receiving time; and transmission power control means for generating transmission power setting information of a second signal and outputting to the transmitting and receiving means, and providing a predetermined value to the transmission power setting information of the second signal in a case where the first circumference information is deleted.
US08738039B2
A selection of a category of interest and location information is used to determine categorical information that is provided to a device. In some implementations, the device includes a touch-sensitive display and presents the categorical information on a map using an indicator. In some implementations, the categorical information can be shared and/or updated by others.
US08738038B2
A method and system for implementing information interaction in a Next Generation Network are disclosed. The method comprises that: a Service Control Function (SCF) sends a location query request message to a ID/Locator Mapping Functional Entity (ILM-FE); the ILM-FE feeds back to the SCF a location query response message, which includes location information and/or information about a characteristic of an IP connection session accessing the service control function. The service control layer utilizes ID/locator separation technology to control the service layer, and uses the characteristic that the user identifier does not change along with the mobile location to provide a rapid transmission location management for a terminal in a moving process. Thus, the service control based on a user identifier is implemented in the NGN, and the continuity of user service is assured when the IP address of the user changes due to the mobility or the multihoming.
US08738033B2
Techniques and mechanisms relating to a basestation for a cellular communication system, and in particular to a method and a system for determining the location of the basestation, are disclosed. Methods are provided for use in a basestation of a mobile communications network, or in the network itself, for determining information about the position of the basestation itself, and/or for determining the position of mobile devices having a connection to the basestation. According to other aspects of the invention, there are provided basestations and network nodes for performing these methods.
US08738028B2
The invention relates to a method and a radio device for detecting a movement of at least one receiver, wherein the radio signals are sent from at least one stationary transmitter to the at least one receiver and the received signals are evaluated for determining a movement. The radio signals are designed as a specified bit sequence modulated onto a high-frequency carrier and are demodulated by the receiver to form a receiving sequence that is correlated to determine correspondence with the specified bit sequences stored as a reference sequence. Dependent on the correspondence or errors that can be determined by the correlation, quality indicators for the receiving field strength of the received radio signals are determined, wherein the radio signals having the specified bit sequence are sent from the transmitter having at least two different transmission powers in a series. The series is repeated at temporal intervals and the quality indicators of the received sequences of the series are evaluated to determine a movement of the receiver in relation to the transmitter.
US08738026B2
A wireless transmission system includes several candidate devices, a wireless transmission interface and a wireless transmission device. The wireless transmission device includes a storage unit, a transmission direction information generating unit and a processing unit. The processing unit receives the device information of each of the candidate devices from each of the candidate devices respectively through the wireless transmission interface. The processing unit calculates transmission direction range according to the transmission direction information, which is generated through the transmission direction information generating unit. The processing unit selects at least one of the candidate devices, which matches the transmission direction range. Wherein, the selected at least one candidate device is taken as at least one transmission target device. The processing unit transmits the information to be transmitted, which is stored in the storage unit, to the transmission target device through the wireless transmission interface.
US08738018B2
A communication method for a mobile station communicating with a communication network and an associated mobile station are provided, wherein the mobile station has a first subscriber identity and a second subscriber identity. The method includes: sending a connection setup request for registration of the first subscriber identity; sending a connection setup request for registration of the second subscriber identity; and receiving paging messages targeted at either the first subscriber identity or the second subscriber identity at paging blocks with the same block index.
US08738014B2
A VCC in a telecommunications network which also has an HLR, an S-CSCF, and an IMS mobile or UE. The VCC includes a network interface unit of the VCC which receives an indication that the mobile is registering with the network or attempting to make or receive an IMS communication session. The VCC includes a processing unit of the VCC which assigns a VDN or a telephony network routing identifier for the mobile, and assigns a VCC point code. The VDN is sent from the network interface unit through the network to the UE or the mobile. The VCC point code for the mobile or the UE is sent from the network interface through the network to the HLR to update the mobile's or UE's profile data in the HLR. A method for assigning a VCC to an IMS mobile or UE in a telecommunications network which also has an HLR and an S-CSCF.
US08738012B2
A method for supporting wireless connectivity of a mobile station to a cellular network, wherein the mobile station is located within the coverage area of a femtocell base station of which it is a non-CSG mobile station, and wherein the mobile station experiences interference which it indicates to the femtocell base station, is characterized in that the femtocell base station, upon receiving the experienced interference indication from the non-CSG mobile station, triggers the non-CSG mobile station to report interference related information, wherein, based on the interference related information, the femtocell base station performs a first check whether it is originator of the interference experienced by the non-CSG mobile station. Furthermore, a corresponding femtocell base station for supporting wireless connectivity of a mobile station to a cellular network is disclosed.
US08738010B2
For Wireless Communications Networks (WCNs) that support soft handover, cooperator receiver selection for a TDOA, AOA, TDOA/AOA, or hybrid network-based or network-overlay Wireless Location System (WLS) must contend with one or more network base stations as a serving cell. When the active set contains more than one member, two techniques for determining a set of cooperating and demodulating receivers to use in the signal collection for location estimation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the active set members are constructively reduced to a single member that is used as a proxy serving cell. In another embodiment, the information contained in the active set membership is retained and a new set of demodulating and cooperator receivers are generated based on the entire membership of the active set.
US08738005B2
Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions.
US08738000B2
In a method and an apparatus for indicating problems data from, typically automatically, entered cell relations is compared to site location information and mobile measurements, if available. An indication of a possible problem is triggered if the comparison indicates that the cell added as neighbors are not suitable as defined by one or many threshold functions. In accordance with one embodiment method of problem indication generation in a cellular radio system is provided. An apparatus receives a neighbor cell relation entries and site location information. The received information is compared and a problem indication is generated if the comparison indicates that cells entered neighbor cells are not close to each other as defined by at least one threshold values.
US08737990B2
A method for conditional access to a digital data stream encrypted with at least one control word and broadcasted to at least one mobile device, said transmitter also transmitting a control message stream containing control words and access conditions, said mobile device being connected to a mobile communication network via a mobile access point, comprises: receiving the control message stream by the mobile device; determining a location identifier for the said mobile device by either the identifier of the mobile access point or the identifier of the broadcasting network transmitter; verifying access conditions contained in the control message, said access conditions comprising a reception condition related to a mobile access point identifier and/or an identifier of one broadcasting network transmitter; comparing the determined identifier with the identifier(s) contained in the access conditions; and authorizing or blocking the access to said data stream depending on the result of the comparison.
US08737974B1
Items are sold via a wireless mobile telecommunications network in which multimedia presentations describing items offered for sale are broadcast for reception by wireless mobile devices. Users of the devices can transmit responses indicating requests to buy the items or bid for them in auctions.
US08737968B2
A service node in a telecommunication network is arranged to receive a Multi-Media video call setup for a terminal to be called. The called terminal is called by the service node according to either a video or a voice call setup, depending on a current allowed answer mode of the called terminal. Responding to the call setup will, depending on either answering or rejecting the call setup by the called terminal, and depending whether the call setup is for a voice or a video call, be handled by the service node according to a predetermined method. When a call setup is answered by the called terminal, the service node further supports a method of toggling between a video call and a voice call at the called terminal.
US08737955B2
Equipments and methods are disclosed for facilitating service provisioning in a system that comprises a payment processor, a number of service providers and a mediator that mediates information exchange between the payment processor and service providers, and a mobile terminal operated by payment card holder. In some implementations, service provisioning can be facilitated in cases wherein the payment processor must reside in a strictly regulated Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant environment and the service providers operate servers that are not PCI-compliant.
US08737951B2
Embodiments relating to an interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) system are provided for one or more users carrying one or more respective wireless personal communication devices (WCDs) that are capable of capturing and sending surveillance information (e.g., video, images, audio, sensor data, etc.) to one or more remotely located servers (RLSs). From the information, the RLSs can identify and secure dangerous environments, encounters, etc., and log events or take other actions. In some embodiments, the RLS is designed to follow user-definable parameters that establish the level or type of interactivity and that determine when alarms or messages to third parties are needed.
US08737945B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for measuring inter-frequency in a receiver including a plurality of reception antennas. The method may comprise the steps of: performing a service using a first frequency through a first antenna and/or a second antenna; measuring a second frequency using the first antenna while the service continues to be performed using the first frequency through the second antenna; and estimating the measurement result without the second frequency being practically measured through the second antenna by using the measurement result of the second frequency through the first antenna.
US08737935B2
A communications transceiver includes a shared multi-band mixer. Various configurations of the shared multi-band mixer include using suitable hardware/software in the form of circuitry, logic gates, and/or code functions to combine multi-band processing of RF signal conversion within a single shared mixer. Various configurations include separate or shared tuning and/or amplification of up-converted (mixed) multi-band communication bands. The communications transceiver processes each band separately within the single shared mixer.
US08737933B2
Detecting, with Bluetooth, wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) in proximity to a WTRU is disclosed. The WTRU may send a message to transfer of a selected media to a selected WTRU. The WTRU may receive an acceptance to transfer the selected media to the selected WTRU. The selected media is transferred to the selected WTRU.
US08737929B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of estimating a phase between radio-frequency (RF) chains. For example, an apparatus may include a power detector coupled between first and second RF chains; and a phase estimator to estimate a phase difference between the first and second RF chains based on a combined power value detected by the power detector responsive to simultaneous communication via both the first and second RF chains.
US08737917B2
A dual-mode BLE device identifies idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. The identified idle intervals are used by the dual-mode BLE device to concurrently perform various BLE activities. For example, advertising packet transmissions, advertising packet scanning, connection setup, and/or data packet communication may be concurrently performed within identified idle intervals within the Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. Packet transmission timing, advertising interval, scan window, and/or packet size are determined based on the identified idle intervals within the Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. A scan window is adjusted based on timing of expected advertising transmissions and/or advertising interval(s) for saving power. BLE packets and Bluetooth BR/EDR packets may be detected in a single advertising channel. Maximal payload size is set based on the identified idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. As a slave, the dual-mode BLE device updates connection parameters based on the identified idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.
US08737914B2
A communication system may include a near-field communication (NFC) device, and a mobile wireless communications device having different selectable keyboard configuration modes. The mobile wireless communications device may include an NFC circuit, and a controller coupled to the NFC circuit and determining a selected keyboard configuration mode, and selectively communicating a respective set of data from among different sets of data with the NFC device based upon the selected keyboard configuration mode.
US08737908B1
The current invention promotes accountability in reading, in terms of spatial, causal, temporal, protagonist, and intentionality elements of a story. A book with interactive maps was developed to emphasize the spatial and other dimensions of stories and encourage more spatial mental models, and generally more accurate situation models of the story. The interactive maps were printed on microdot paper and interspersed throughout the book, sometimes with successful completion of the activities required to obtain the page number of the next section of the book, which had been reordered in a non-sequential manner. Wireless electronic pens with cameras track X-Y location information from the microdot paper. Auditory feedback may be provided through a secondary device, like a personal computer, or directly using the electronic pen. The interactive book was tested on a group of sixth-grade students and found to reinforce spatial accountability.
US08737904B2
There is described a delivery member for use in an image forming apparatus. The delivery member includes a cylindrical support member and an outer layer. The outer layer comprises an outer surface. The outer surface comprises a first surface section and a second surface section. The first surface section comprises an elastomeric matrix having a functional material dispersed therein and the second surface section comprises a cleaning material.
US08737902B2
A printing apparatus to attach at least one tab sheet to a print document discharged by performing a print job may include a specifying unit and a control unit. N is integer of 2 or more and N tab sheets constitute one set of tab sheets. The specifying unit specifies a number M (M is an integer of 1 or more) of the tab sheet specified to be attached to the print document corresponding to one print document set in the print job. The control unit performs control so as to discharge a surplus tab sheet of a number corresponding to a difference between the N and the M after discharging an M-th tab sheet and before discharging a remaining print document to be discharged by performing the print job, during printing of the print document corresponding to the one print document set in the print job.
US08737901B2
Systems and methods are described that facilitate counterfeit deterrence in a printer or the like. A final image is scanned from a photoreceptor belt before or after transfer of the image to a print medium or from the print medium itself prior to output, and the scanned image data is assessed using a set of stored criteria to detect counterfeit signatures in the scanned image. Upon a determination that the scanned image includes a restricted image, and therefore contains one or more counterfeit image, the printer is shut down, electronically locked until serviced, and/or caused to damage or mark the printed counterfeit image(s).
US08737900B2
A cleaning member, for use in an image forming apparatus in which a developer image formed on an image bearing member is to be transferred onto a developer image receiving member to form an image, for removing a developer remaining on the image bearing member after the transfer includes an elastic blade portion, having flexibility, for removing the developer remaining on the image bearing member in contact with the image bearing member in a bent state; and a supporting portion for supporting the elastic blade portion. The elastic blade portion includes, in a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the elastic blade at a position in which the developer image is to be formed with respect to the longitudinal direction, a contact portion contacted to the image bearing member when the cleaning member is used in the image forming apparatus, a first connecting portion for connecting the contact portion and a portion of the supporting portion close to the image bearing member, and a second connecting portion for connecting the contact portion and a portion of the supporting portion remote from the image bearing member. The supporting portion, the contact portion, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion define a hollow area.
US08737896B2
A fixing device configured to heat a recording material bearing a toner image at a nip portion while conveying the recording material includes a tubular film, a nip portion forming member contacting an inner surface of the film, a pressure member forming the nip portion together with the nip portion forming member via the film, and a regulating member configured to regulate a movement of the film by contacting an end surface of the film. The regulating member includes, in a vicinity of the nip portion, a regulating surface inclined such that a distance from an imaginary plane including the end surface is gradually decreased as the regulating surface extends away from the nip portion to a circumferential direction of the film, and that the distance therefrom is gradually increased as the regulating surface extends in a radial direction of the film.
US08737890B2
An image forming apparatus including: an endless belt; a steering roller for supporting the endless belt and correcting a deviating motion of the endless belt; and a conveying section for conveying a recording material, wherein the conveying section has a position control mechanism of a recording material, and said mechanism conveys the recording material along a conveyance reference, established at a predetermined position in a width direction of the recording material, said width direction is perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording material, wherein the steering roller is configured to be supported on a supporting point at a side on which the conveyance reference is established, and to be tilted at a side which is opposite to the side on which the conveyance reference is established, with respect to the width direction of the recording material.
US08737878B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a temperature detector, and a support member. The fixing device is removably installable in the image forming apparatus and includes a rotary fixing member to fuse a toner image on a recording medium, a fixing frame to support the fixing member, and an outer fixing cover provided to cover the fixing member and the fixing frame and having an opening from which a portion of a surface of the fixing member is exposed to the outside. The temperature detector is disposed opposing the fixing member to detect a temperature of the surface of the fixing member without contacting the fixing member when the fixing member is installed in the image forming apparatus. The support member supports the temperature detector to introduce the temperature detector into the inside of the fixing cover through the opening upon installation of the fixing member.
US08737874B2
A shaft-receiving device connects a rotating member and a frame. The rotating member has a rotational axis extending in a first direction and at least one end in the first direction. The frame extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is formed with a through-hole having an inner peripheral surface. The shaft-receiving device includes a shaft-receiving portion and a pressing member. The one end is inserted into the shaft-receiving portion in the first direction. The shaft-receiving portion is inserted into the through-hole in the first direction and opposes the inner peripheral surface in the second direction. The pressing member opposes the inner peripheral surface in the second direction to press the rotating member toward the inner peripheral surface.
US08737872B2
In an image forming apparatus including a door 10 openable with respect to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a drum cartridge 8 detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main assembly, and detachably mountable developing cartridges 4k-4y provided above the drum cartridge 8, wherein the door 10 includes a positioning urging portion 26 contacting the developing cartridges in a state in which the door 10 is closed, the door 10 includes drum cartridge mounting and demounting guides 28R and 28L for regulating the drum cartridge 8 so as to pass along a non-interference path with the positioning urging portion 26 in contact to the drum cartridge 8 when the drum cartridge 8 is demounted from the image forming apparatus.
US08737870B2
An image-forming apparatus includes: a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum having a photosensitive surface and a rotational axis; an exposing unit having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, and an exposing surface formed on the first end and oriented in a predetermined direction; and a supporting member on which the process cartridge is mountable from a side of the second end. The supporting member has a pivotal supporting portion configured to pivotably movably support the process cartridge between an exposing position where the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum faces the exposing surface and a retracted position where the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum is offset from the exposing surface, the exposing surface being configured to expose the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image when the process cartridge is positioned at the exposing position.
US08737867B2
An endless belt confronts the photosensitive drum. A developing unit includes a developer accommodation portion that is configured to accommodate developer, and a developing roller that is rotatably provided and supplies the photosensitive drum with the developer. A collecting unit is configured to remove waste developer to be discarded from the endless belt and to collect the waste developer. A waste developer accommodation portion is provided integrally with the developer accommodation portion and is configured to accommodate the waste developer collected by the collecting unit. A conveying mechanism is configured to be connected to both the waste developer accommodation portion and the collecting unit and to convey the waste developer from the collecting unit to the waste developer accommodation portion. The waste developer accommodation portion is movable relative to the conveying mechanism.
US08737863B2
A developing cartridge having a memory unit and an image forming apparatus in which the developing cartridge is separably installed. Once the developing cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus, the memory unit of the developing cartridge is arranged to face a recording medium delivery path. The memory unit is connectable to a connection unit of a board placed in a lower region of the image forming apparatus.
US08737862B2
A method for operating a selectively interconnected modular printing system is disclosed. The method includes providing a selectively interconnected modular printing system that is responsive to an operational preference setting and associated configuration information for each module; communicating the associated configuration information for the selectively interconnected modules to a system controller; and using the system controller to automatically determine operational parameters based on the associated configuration information. The method further includes determining a set of operational preferences from the operational parameters; selecting at least one operational preference setting; using the system controller to determine specific operational parameters based on the selected operational preference setting; and storing the specific operational parameters so that the modular printing system is effective for operation.
US08737856B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form an image with one of a color unerasable developer and a color erasable developer, and a control part to automatically select the color erasable developer when test printing is selected.
US08737850B2
A special color specification area is subjected to inspection processing assuring that the special color specification area is higher in color reproducibility than an area other than the special color specification area.
US08737849B2
Many devices, such as printers, work with one or more removable unit. Often, the removable units have an electronic circuit that used to communicate with the device. It may be desirable to provide a replacement unit in these devices. The replacement unit must include an electronic circuit that is able to communicate with the original device. Disclosed is a method and apparatus where a replacement unit is provided with a new electronic circuit and a used electronic circuit. The new electronic circuit is electrically connected to the used electronic circuit and uses the used electronic circuit to facilitate communication with the host device.
US08737842B2
The invention relates to embedding data into a luminance output generated by an illumination system comprising a light source and a controller. The controller is configured to embed data by modulating a drive signal applied to the light source with an information signal comprising a shifted base code and a synchronization code. The synchronization code serves to provide synchronization for the receiver, while the shifted base code serves to carry the embedded data. A cyclic phase shift that is applied to a base code to generate the shifted base code corresponds to particular data, such as, for example, light source identification, that needs to be embedded into the luminance output of the illumination system. In this manner, data may be embedded into the luminance output generated by a light source without requiring synchronization of this light source with other light sources.
US08737837B2
A fiber optic network having a multi-level architecture is disclosed. A first level of the fiber optic network comprises a first branch. The first branch comprises a plurality of first branch optical fibers optically coupled to a distribution cable and a first branch fiber optic network device. The first branch fiber optic network device is configured to optically couple a first predetermined one of the plurality of first branch optical fibers to a respective first predetermined sub-branch optical fiber, and a second predetermined one of the plurality of first branch optical fibers to a second predetermined sub-branch optical fiber. A second level of the fiber optic network comprises a sub-branch. The sub-branch comprises a first sub-branch fiber optic network device and a second sub-branch fiber optic network device. The first sub-branch fiber optic network device is configured to optically couple a first drop cable with the respective first predetermined sub-branch optical fiber and thereby to the distribution cable. The second sub-branch fiber optic network device is configured to optically couple a second drop cable with the respective second predetermined sub-branch optical fiber and thereby to the distribution cable.
US08737835B2
An optical packet switching device (20) comprises an input section (9) able to receive an optical signal comprising data packets (60) carried by wavelength channels, a transit section (30) comprising optical paths (31) to ensure the transparent transit of the respective wavelength channels, several selector elements (34) which can be switched in packet mode to selectively block or allow an individual data packet to pass through, and a control unit able to receive signalling information about the data packets received in the input section and to control a selector element corresponding to the wavelength channel to block or allow said data packets to pass, said control unit maintaining the selector element (34) in a blocking state during the time windows in which no data packets are received on said wavelength channel.
US08737827B2
A high emissivity coating applied to a sauna heating element and a method for fabricating a sauna heating element with a high emissivity coating is described. In one illustrative embodiment, a sauna heating element comprises a substrate, and a film coating applied to the substrate, the film coating applied as a first liquid layer and a second powder layer. In another illustrative embodiment, a process is provided for fabricating a sauna heating element with a high emissivity coating.
US08737825B2
Some embodiments provide a video recording device for capturing a video clip. The video recording device receives a selection of a non-temporally compressed encoding scheme from several different encoding schemes for encoding the video clip. The different encoding schemes include at least one temporally compressed encoding scheme and at least the selected non-temporally compressed encoding scheme. The video recording device captures the video clip as several frames. The video recording device non-temporally encodes each of the frames as several slices. The slices of a particular frame are for decoding by several processing units of a video decoding device. The video recording device stores the video clip in a storage.
US08737822B2
The present invention relates to a playback apparatus, a playback method, a program, a recording medium, and a data structure that enable interactive operations when playing back AV content. A controller 34 obtains an order list of audio stream numbers in advance. In response to an instruction to switch audio by a user, the controller obtains the audio stream number subsequent to the audio stream number which is being played back. It is then checked whether a stream that is found to be playable by the playback apparatus is included in a main clip or a sub clip, and the main clip referred to by the Main Path is read together with the clip in which the corresponding audio stream is multiplexed. Then, the audio stream file of the corresponding clip and the file to be played back included in the main clip are selected by the switches 57 through 59, and 77. The selected files are combined by a video data processor 96 and an audio data processor 97, and the combined data is output. The present invention is applicable to playback apparatuses.
US08737820B2
A method for recording user content within a digital video is provided. The method may display a visual timeline associated with the digital video at a user interface, reserve one or more frames of the digital video for insertion of the user content, temporally indicate the reserved frames on the visual timeline using one or more visual tags, retrievably store the user content at a storage device, associate the user content to the reserved frames of the digital video, and enable the user content to be played back in parallel with the digital video at the reserved frames. The user content may include any one or more of text data, audio data, image data and video data. The reserved frames may be selected based on input provided by a user through the user interface.
US08737818B2
A scene segment playing system, a scene segment playing method and a recording medium thereof are provided. The system includes media supply equipment, a description generating server, a scene server, and an end device. The media supply equipment is used for supplying media data. Upon receiving the media data, the scene server supplies scene description data corresponding to the media data. The scene server acquires the media data and interval information supplied by the end device, and retrieves scene segment data from the media data according to a comparison result of the interval information and the scene description data, and outputs the scene segment data to the end device for playing.
US08737814B2
A moving image editing apparatus including: a storage unit configured to store a first moving image; a stack memory configured to, each time a reading request for reading range of a portion of the first moving image from the storage unit, or a writing request for replacement range of a portion of the first moving image with a second moving image is received from a terminal, store the request; and a sending processing unit configured to output, when the reading request is read from the stack memory, to the terminal, a moving image in which the overlapping range of the reading range with regard to the first moving image has been replaced with the second moving image when the second moving image with which a range overlapping a portion of the reading range specified by the reading request is to be replaced has been received.
US08737802B2
A method for providing a channel service is disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a fixed information including a BUMF information, an SF information and a playlist information and a variable information including a clip information associated with a streaming data of a selected channel service are transmitted to a playback apparatus supporting a BD-J specification, thereby enabling a Blu-ray player incapable of playing the streaming data to provide viewers with the streaming data of the channel service.
US08737800B2
A method includes receiving input at a media display control device generating a display of media content. The method includes executing a media control function in response to the input. Executing the media control function causes the media display control device to advance or rewind the media content displayed by a change amount. The method also includes displaying a progress bar based on progress bar settings. The progress bar settings include progress bar display options that depend on the change amount.
US08737790B2
Disclosed herein are a junction structure for wave propagation and a wave diode and a wave half-adder using the same. According to the present invention, the junction structure for wave propagation permits selective coupling of waves propagating through a junction plane between different wave propagation structures, whereby the wave junction structure, wave junction diodes and wave half-adders using waves including photons, surface plasmons, optomechanical phonons and their composite waves are realized to provide the same functions as those of electrical junction structures and application devices thereof.
US08737787B2
Cables are constructed with discontinuities in the cable jacket that allow the jacket to be torn to provide access to the cable core. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of material in the cable jacket. The discontinuities allow a section of the cable jacket to be pulled away from a remainder of the jacket using a relatively low peel force.
US08737784B2
A single-core bidirectional optical communication module and a single-core bidirectional optical communication connector are provided which can decrease in size without greatly changing the structure of the past optical connector housing. An optical communication module 1 includes an optical transceiver circuit unit 21 in which a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are arranged in parallel and an optical path changing component 25 having a structure in which the attachment and detachment direction of an optical fiber cable is perpendicular to the optical transceiver circuit unit 21. An optical communication connector 2 includes a single-core bidirectional optical communication module 1 and an optical connector housing 3 that houses the single-core bidirectional optical communication module 1 so that the optical axis of the optical fiber cable is perpendicular to the optical transceiver circuit unit 21.
US08737782B2
A dynamic optical circulator device applicable to UPC-type and PC-type optical connectors is provided, including a first UPC/PC-type optical connector, a second UPC/PC-type optical connector, a third UPC/PC-type optical connector, a passive optical circulator, a reflected light detector and a transform element. The first, second and third UPC/PC-type optical connectors provide connections to optical fibers for receiving and transmitting optical signals. The first UPC/PC-type optical connector, the second UPC/PC-type optical connector and the third UPC/PC-type optical connector are connected to the three ports of the passive optical circulator, respectively, with the reflected light detector placed between the second UPC/PC-type optical connector and the second port of the passive optical circulator, while the transform element can be placed between any port of passive optical circulator and corresponding UPC-type and PC-type optical port.
US08737781B2
A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide, includes preparing a light path conversion component including a structure in which a protruding portion having a light path conversion inclined surface is covered with a metal layer and the metal layer serves as a light path conversion mirror, and a structural body in which a core layer is formed on a first cladding layer and an opening portion is provided in an end side of a light path of the core layer, arranging the light path conversion mirror of the light path conversion component in the opening portion of the core layer, and forming a second cladding layer covering the core layer, wherein a light path of a light that propagates through the core layer is converted toward a first cladding layer side by the light path conversion mirror.
US08737777B2
The invention provides an optical waveguide and a method of making an optical waveguide. The waveguide has a curved section having an asymmetric refractive index profile, in which the refractive index varies asymmetrically across the waveguide cross-section in dependence on the radius of the curved section of the waveguide.
US08737762B2
Disclosed is a method for enhancing an image edge. An edge filter is applied to a photographed image, and the determination is performed with respect to whether pixels having edge possibility are noise or form an edge. The determination for the noise and the edge is performed once more with respect to pixels having vagueness for the noise and the edge by using a 3×3 mask. An edge enhancement process is performed through a simple algorithm.
US08737759B2
Systems and methods of blurring images may involve partitioning at least a portion of a non-separable finite impulse response (FIR) filter into a plurality of constant response sub-filters, wherein each constant response sub-filter has a rectangular aperture. In addition, the plurality of constant response sub-filters may be used to blur an image. In one example, the non-separable FIR filter may optionally be partitioned into one or more satellite sub-filters, wherein the one or more satellite sub-filters are also used to blur the image.
US08737752B2
A method and system for reducing the number of mathematical operations required in the JPEG decoding process without substantially impacting the quality of the image displayed is disclosed. Embodiments provide an efficient JPEG decoding process for the purposes of displaying an image on a display smaller than the source image, for example, the screen of a handheld device. According to one aspect of the invention, this is accomplished by reducing the amount of processing required for dequantization and inverse DCT (IDCT) by effectively reducing the size of the image in the quantized, DCT domain prior to dequantization and IDCT. This can be done, for example, by discarding unnecessary DCT index rows and columns prior to dequantization and IDCT. In one embodiment, columns from the right, and rows from the bottom are discarded such that only the top left portion of the block of quantized, and DCT coefficients are processed.
US08737746B2
A method of computerized searching for visual objects on an electronic document is disclosed. After receiving a selection of a template visual object, a template raster image is generated therefrom. The template visual object is comprised of one or more template object components. A document raster image is generated from the document, which includes document object symbols comprised of one or more document object components. A broad match candidate subset of document object symbols is generated based upon comparisons to the template object symbol. Then, a narrowed match candidate set is generated from those document object symbols of the broad match candidate subset based upon a comparison of the template object component to the document object components.
US08737745B2
Scene-based people metering for audience measurement is disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to perform people metering for audience measurement comprises segmenting image frames depicting a location in which an audience is expected to be present to form a sequence of scenes, for a first scene in the sequence of scenes, identifying a key frame representing a first sequence of image frames corresponding to the first scene, and processing the key frame to identify an audience depicted in the first scene.
US08737743B2
The present embodiments disclose a method of and a device for identifying the direction of characters in an image block. The method includes: performing optical character recognition processing on the image block by assuming various directions as assumed character directions, respectively, to obtain sub image blocks, recognized characters corresponding to the sub image blocks and correctness measures thereof in each of the assumed character directions; determining a language group to which the characters in the image block belong; adjusting a correctness measure corresponding to a sub image block which corresponds to a recognized character not belonging to the determined language group in each of the assumed character directions; calculating an accumulative correctness measure in each of the assumed character directions based on the adjusted correctness measure; and identifying the direction of the characters in the image block according to the accumulative correctness measures.
US08737737B1
Processes such as image matching can be improved by utilizing a Polar Accumulated Signed Gradient (PASG), a feature descriptor vector that utilizes polar coordinates. Such an approach is efficient because it avoids the costly image rotation and resampling of conventional processes. Further, the gradients can be sampled over different regions in order to achieve effective weighting without analyzing all gradients and applying a weighting factor. Such efficiencies enable image matching to be performed on devices with limited computing capacity, such as smart phones and tablet computers.
US08737735B2
A method includes generating a first principle bilateral filtered image component from a source image. The first principle bilateral filtered image component corresponds to a second pixel value of a set, the second pixel value greater than or equal to a first pixel value. The method includes selectively updating a result pixel of a result image based on the first principle bilateral filtered image component and deallocating the first principle bilateral filtered image component. After deallocating the first principle bilateral filtered image component, a second principle bilateral filtered image component is generated from the source image. The second principle bilateral filtered image component corresponds to a third pixel value. The third pixel value is greater than the second pixel value. The third pixel value is less than or equal to a fourth pixel value. The result pixel is selectively updated based on the second principle bilateral filtered image component.
US08737733B1
An image processing system using hyperspherical pan-sharpening. The image processing system of the present invention includes circuitry for converting the multispectral image into a hyperspherical color space, matching the intensities of the multispectral image to the intensities of the corresponding panchromatic image and then retransforming the color space back the original multispectral image. The intensity matching of the present invention includes modification of the intensities of the multispectral images based on dynamically generated statistical models and a selected sharpening parameter β.
US08737731B2
Light emitted from a lighting device including a white LED and RGB LEDs is sensed when the lighting device is driven based on a predetermined reference value, sensed data is converted into values corresponding to color coordinates, and a difference between the value and a reference value is calculated. It is determined whether or not the lighting device is corrected on the basis of the calculated difference, and the lighting device is selectively corrected depending on the determination result.
US08737726B2
When photographing images including a person's face at an event, photographers tend to photograph images so that features of the event appear in a region around the person's face. An image data processing device of the present invention extracts image feature information so that an image feature calculated based on pixels in the region around the person's face, which tends to represent features of an event, is reflected more than that calculated based on pixels in a region remote from the person's face, which tends not to represent features of an event. This allows the image data processing device to calculate image feature information reflecting features of an event more than that calculated by a conventional image data processing device. The image data processing device therefore improves classification precision compared to the conventional device when classifying images using the image feature information calculated by the image data processing device.
US08737720B2
A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity images based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene. The disparity images can be used to analyze a variety of agricultural features.
US08737717B2
A method of identifying defects including producing, with an imaging system, an original image of a fabricated article having a feature thereon, the feature having an intended height and extracting a contour image from the original image, the contour image having an outline of those portions of the feature having a height approximate to the intended height. The method also includes producing a simulated image of the article based upon the contour and creating a defect image based on the differences between the simulated image and the original image, the defect image including any portions of the feature having a height less than the intended height.
US08737713B2
An Angiographic X-ray imaging system provides enhanced image feature visualization. At least one repository includes data representing a sequence of X-ray images of a portion of patient anatomy acquired over a time interval and signal data representing electrical activity of the heart of the patient over the time interval. An image data processor determines for individual images of the sequence of X-ray images, characteristics of a portion of the signal data associated with a corresponding image. The characteristics comprise at least one of, (a) a peak to peak value of a portion of the signal data associated with a corresponding image and (b) an average value of a portion of the signal data associated with the corresponding image. The image data processor selects a set of images exclusive of particular images from the sequence of X-ray images in response to the determined characteristics and generates an averaged image from the set of images.
US08737708B2
A patient defines a patient space in which an instrument can be tracked and navigated. An image space is defined by image data that can be registered to the patient space. A tracking device can be connected to a member in a known manner that includes imageable portions that generate image points in the image data. Selected image slices or portions can be used to register reconstructed image data to the patient space.
US08737703B2
The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the detection of retinal abnormalities. More particularly, the systems and methods are used to analyze a fundus or other image of the retina. In some implementations, the image is analyzed by interdependently smoothing and segmenting the image. Using the smoothed and segmented image, retinal features can be identifying in the image. The systems and methods can then analyze the detected retinal features to identify retinal abnormalities.
US08737698B2
Methods and/or systems for scanning biometric objects and compiling 2-dimensional digital images thereof, such images as can provide enhanced resolution, with reduced distortion.
US08737691B2
A set of user content items, such as a set of photographs or audio or video recordings, is used to identify recommended locations. Each item of user content in the set includes a geographical identifier and a time-stamp indicative of the location and time of origin of the item. The items of user content are placed in time-order, and a route is determined that links, in time-order, the locations identified by the geographical identifiers. A recommended location is then identified, from a database of recommended locations, that is located near the determined route but is not geographically coincident with the locations of any of the items of user content. Information for a map containing the route and an illustration of the identified location are sent to a terminal device for presentation to a user.
US08737686B2
A 3D object tracking method and apparatus in which a model of an object to be tracked is divided into a plurality of polygonal planes and the object is tracked using texture data of the respective planes and geometric data between the respective planes to enable more precise tracking. The 3D object tracking method includes modeling the object to be tracked to generate a plurality of planes, and tracking the plurality of planes, respectively. The modeling of the object includes selecting points from among the plurality of planes, respectively, and calculating projective invariants using the selected points.
US08737682B2
A pipe thickness measuring device 10 is provided, including a luminance profile obtaining unit obtaining luminance profiles of radiographic images of a pipe to be measured in a direction crossing the pipe, an outer diameter point detecting unit detecting outer diameter points of the pipe based on the obtained luminance profiles, a region setting unit setting a predetermined region inside two of the outer diameter points of the pipe detected by the outer diameter point detecting unit, and an inner diameter point detecting unit detecting inner diameter points of the pipe based on a luminance profile corresponding to the set predetermined region from among the luminance profiles obtained by the luminance profile obtaining unit.
US08737672B1
A water resistant alarm system for providing an effective audible alarm in a water resistant housing. The water resistant alarm system generally includes a housing comprised of a base panel and a cover connected to the base panel, a speaker within an interior of the housing, and a sound vent within the housing that allows sound generated from the speaker to pass outwardly from the housing while preventing the entry of water into the interior of the housing. The cover is removably connected to the base panel to allow for increased access to the interior of the housing. The cover is further removably connected to the base panel in a waterproof manner without utilizing seals.
US08737660B2
An electric horn (1) has a coil bobbin (4) in a casing (2). A fixed iron core (3) is fixed in a hole (4f) in the coil bobbin (4) and is magnetized to define an exciting coil (C). A moving iron core (10) is at the center of a diaphragm (9) at the open end of the casing (2) and faces the fixed iron core (3). The moving iron core (10) is displaced relative to the fixed iron core (3) by a power supply of the exciting coil (C); thus beeping an alarm. The moving iron core (10) has an end face toward the fixed iron core (3) that strides over a reference position (N) within the amplitude (W) of the moving iron core (10). The end portion on the moving iron core (10) side of the wound portion (4e) of the exciting coil (C) is the reference position (N).
US08737636B2
An adaptive active noise cancellation apparatus performs a filtering operation in a first digital domain and performs adaptation of the filtering operation in a second digital domain.
US08737629B2
An audio signal processing system includes: a receiving section which receives a plurality of audio signals, a process period specifying section which specifies a silent period in other audio signals except a particular audio signal that are received by the receiving section, respectively, a sound volume level adjusting section which decreases a sound volume level of the particular audio signal, in a period specified by the process period specifying section as a silent period in any of the other audio signals, and an outputting section which outputs the particular audio signal whose sound volume level is adjusted by the sound volume level adjusting section.
US08737626B2
Disclosed is an audio signal decoding device and a method of balance adjustment that reduces a fluctuation of a decoded signal orientation and maintains a stereo perception. An interchannel correlation computation unit (224) computes a correlation between a left channel decoded stereo signal and a right channel decoded stereo signal, and if the interchannel correlation is low, a peak detection unit (225) uses a peak component of a decoded monaural signal of the current frame and a peak component of either a left or a right channel of the preceding frame to detect a peak component with a high temporal correlation. The peak detection unit (225) combines and outputs, from among the frequencies of the detected peak components, a peak frequency of a frame n−1 and a peak frequency of a frame n. A peak balance coefficient computation unit (226) computes, from the peak frequency of the frame n−1, a balance parameter that is used in converting a peak frequency component of the monaural signal to stereo.
US08737623B2
Systems and methods for remotely loading encryption keys in card reader systems are provided. One such method includes storing, at a card reader, a device identification number for identifying the card reader, a first magnetic fingerprint of a data card, and a second magnetic fingerprint of the data card, wherein each of the first and second fingerprints includes an intrinsic magnetic characteristic of the data card, encrypting, using a first encryption key derived from the second fingerprint, information including the device identification number and first fingerprint, sending the encrypted information to an authentication server, receiving, from the authentication server, a score indicative of a degree of correlation between the first fingerprint and second fingerprint, and receiving, when the score is above a preselected threshold, a second encryption key from the authentication server, the second encryption key encrypted using a third encryption key derived from the first fingerprint.
US08737622B2
A method for importing or moving a rights object (RO) is provided, a rights issuer (RI) receives a request message of importing or moving an RO to a target device, the request message including key information encapsulated by a public key of the target device; the RI generates the RO according to the request message, the RO including the key information encapsulated by the public key of the target device; and the RI provides the RO for the target device. An RI is also provided. In the present invention, the key information encapsulated by the public key of the target device is provided for the RI, and the real key is hidden from the RI, such that the un-trust RI cannot generate the illegal RO for other devices except the target device, thereby enhancing the security of importing or moving the RO through the RI.
US08737610B1
Supplemental content such as electronic advertisements may be previewed in situ. That is, supplemental content may be previewed in a context of a live and/or production environment along with the primary content available in that environment. In particular, electronic advertising that is still under development, that still requires testing and/or quality control, and/or electronic advertising that is unpublished may be incorporated into electronic pages by live and/or production electronic page generation computer systems. Furthermore, electronic advertising may be previewed in situ in a controlled and/or restricted manner.
US08737607B2
A first and second secure location indicators are electronically received at one or more servers from a first portable computing device and a second portable computing device, respectively, operating in a wireless communication network. Each of the secure location indicators is generated using the location of the corresponding portable computing device, and neither secure location indicator reveals the location of the corresponding portable computing device to the one or more servers. The first secure location indicator is compared to the second secure location indicator at the one or more servers and, in response to determining that the first secure location indicator is identical to the second secure location indicator, an indication of physical proximity of the second portable computing device is electronically transmitted to the first portable computing device.
US08737605B2
A privacy region-masking device of an automobile black box system includes a masking region configuration module for constructing a masking region on an internal image of a vehicle and a key management module for creating and managing a masking key which is used for masking the masking region on the internal image of the vehicle. The privacy region-masking device further includes a masking execution module for masking the masking region on the image using the masking key, thereby generating a masked image adaptable to protect the privacy of a passenger.
US08737603B2
To realize a common-key block cipher process configuration with increased difficulty of key analysis and improved security. In a configuration for storing in a register an intermediate key generated by using a secret key transformation process and performing a transformation process on the register-stored data to generate a round key, a process of swapping (permuting) data segments constituting the register-stored data is executed to generate a round key. For example, four data segments are produced so that two sets of data segments having an equal number of bits are set, and a process of swapping the individual data segments is repeatedly executed to generate a plurality of different round keys. With this configuration, the bit array of each round key can be effectively permuted, and round keys with low relevance can be generated. A high-security cryptographic process with increased difficulty of key analysis can be realized.
US08737602B2
A passive, non-amplified audio switch for a computer telephony system is provided. The passive, non-amplified audio switch provides a first telephone jack to receive audio in and send audio out to a first user. The passive, non-amplified audio switch provides a second telephone jack to receive audio in and send audio out to a second user. The passive, non-amplified audio switch further provides audio out and receives audio in from a voice platform, which transcribes audio using a speech to text engine. The passive, non-amplified audio switch provides that audio in from the second user is always provided to the voice platform for transcription.
US08737597B2
A contact center is provided. The contact center includes a processor; and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory includes computer code executable with the processor. The computer code is configured to place a phone call through a media gateway to a communication device, receive a tone message from the media gateway, the tone message including a call progress event that defines a type of tone that was detected in the audio stream, determine a call treatment as a function of the communication device status, and perform call treatment for the phone call.
US08737595B2
Methods are disclosed for routing callers to agents in a contact center, along with an intelligent routing system. One or more agents are graded on achieving an optimal interaction, such as increasing revenue, decreasing cost, or increasing customer satisfaction. Callers are then preferentially routed to a graded agent to obtain an increased chance at obtaining a chosen optimal interaction. In a more advanced embodiment, caller and agent demographic and psychographic characteristics can also be determined and used in a pattern matching algorithm to preferentially route a caller with certain characteristics to an agent with certain characteristics to increase the chance of an optimal interaction.
US08737594B2
The present invention provides a technique for facilitating emergency services via packet networks. Emergency service providers will implement emergency proxies to ensure that proper call setup requests for emergency services are forwarded to the appropriate entities, even if those entities are in overload conditions. The emergency proxies may authenticate and filter call setup requests to ensure that only proper call setup requests are forwarded to help prevent such overload conditions. The emergency proxies may operate solely in a packet network, as well as at the interface between a packet network and a circuit-switched network to assist in call setup requests originating from either the packet network or the circuit-switched network.
US08737573B2
The invention generally relates to systems, devices, and methods for testing communication lines. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems and devices that include a digital/analog converter configured to operate with a computer processor and memory to send or receive an analog signal over a communication line that includes a plurality of signals having known frequencies. Inbound receiving sub-systems or devices sample the analog signal and measure a quality of the sampled, digital signal to evaluate the communication line. The key differentiator is the recognition that the human mouth and ear are intrinsically analog without encryption. By locating the test device as close to the user as possible, this system incorporates testing of complex communication streams including numerous variables and transforms (e.g. encryption, Analog to digital, Voice over IP, packet switching, ATM, SONET). Ultimately, it provides a simple interface to convert qualitative analysis to quantitative (numerical) analysis.
US08737572B2
A method and device for transmission line testing are provided. A particular modem device includes a transmission line interface to connect to a transmission line. The modem device also includes a memory to store a plurality of transmission line tests. The modem device also includes a controller coupled to the memory and to the transmission line interface. The controller selects one or more tests of the plurality of transmission line tests from the memory. The controller also performs the selected one or more tests on the transmission line and detects an electrical characteristic of the transmission line.
US08737569B2
A radiography control apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire data of image-capturing mode and a change unit configured to change the number of times a correction image is captured, the correction image being used to correct a radiographic image in accordance with the acquired image-capturing-mode data.
US08737565B1
A compound zone plate comprising a first zone plate frame including a first zone plate, a second zone plate frame including a second zone plate, and a base frame to which the first zone plate frame and the second zone plate frame are bonded. In examples, two more zone plates are added to make a four element optic. In the assembly process, the microbeads are used to ensure the parallelism, dial in the distance precisely between the zone plates by selecting the microbead size, possibly in response to the width of the frames, and ensure low friction lateral movement enabling nanometer precision alignment of the zone plates with respect to each other prior to being fixed by the adhesive. That is, when the frames are pressed together to ensure parallelism, it is still possible to align them to each other since the microbead layer facilitates the inplane movement of the alignment process.
US08737559B2
A system and method for drying cavities loaded with spent nuclear fuel is devised. The invention utilizes a non-intrusive procedure that is based on monitoring the dew point temperature of a non-reactive gas that is circulated through the cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system for drying a cavity loaded with spent nuclear fuel comprising: a canister forming the cavity, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet; a source of non-reactive gas; means for flowing the non-reactive gas from the source of non-reactive gas through the cavity; and means for repetitively measuring the dew point temperature of the non-reactive gas exiting the cavity.
US08737545B2
Apparatuses, methods and systems of selecting a gain setting of a receiver chain are disclosed. One method includes bypassing a filter portion of the receiver chain and sampling a bypass receive signal while the filter portion of the receiver chain is bypassed. If the sampled bypass receive signal is determined to be saturated greater than a threshold, then selecting a gain setting of the receive chain as a function of the saturation. Further, the filter portion of the receive chain is included while sampling a receive signal with the selected gain setting.
US08737544B2
A method and an apparatus of estimating a frequency offset in a wireless communication system are provided. An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver performs envelope equalized processing (EEP) with respect to a reception signal and calculates a partial periodogram with a plurality of test values based on the reception signal which goes through the EEP. The OFDM receiver estimates a first frequency offset, a second frequency offset, and a third frequency offset based on two partial periodograms adjacent to each other among the partial periodograms for the plurality of test values.
US08737537B2
A system for processing signal communications between a frequency translation module and an integrated receiver decoder. According to an exemplary embodiment, the decoder and the frequency translation module comprise a signal processing apparatus comprising an input for receiving an frequency shift keyed modulated signal, an amplifier having negative feedback coupled to said input, wherein said input is further coupled to a first source of reference potential and a second source of reference potential; and a tank circuit coupled between said differential amplifier and an output. More particularly, the amplifier may comprise a first transistor having a first collector, a first emitter and a first base coupled to a signal source wherein said first base is further coupled to said first collector and a second transistor with a second base, a second emitter coupled to said first emitter, and a second collector, wherein said second collector is coupled to a bandpass filter and said bandpass filter is further coupled to an output.
US08737532B2
A method and apparatus for adjusting a sample rate for an asynchronous sample rate converter is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an asynchronous sample rate converter (ASRC) that is configured to receive a digital data stream provided at a first sample rate. The ASRC is configured to convert the digital data stream to a second sample rate at which it is output. The apparatus also includes a sample rate estimator coupled to an interface through which samples from the digital data stream are conveyed subsequent to conversion to the second sample rate. The sample rate estimator is further coupled to the ASRC, and configured to adjust the second sample rate based on information obtained from the interface.
US08737526B2
Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a transmitter system configured to predistort an input signal to generate a target output signal. An exemplary transmitter system includes a forward path including a predistortion device coupled with an amplifier, the forward path configured for predistorting an input signal to the predistortion device in response to a phase error compensation signal and an amplitude error compensation signal in order to generate a desired output signal for the output signal of the amplifier, and a feedback path including a processor configured for generating the phase error compensation signal and the amplitude error compensation signal based on a comparison of the input signal with phase and amplitude information of the output signal of the amplifier, wherein the phase and amplitude information of the amplifier are transmitted to the processor on a single path of the feedback path. Other methods and apparatuses are also presented herein.
US08737499B2
An interference cancellation receiver for a pre-coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) based system combines temporal interference cancellation within the OFDM framework. Multi-path equalization and inter-symbol interference (ISI) cancellation are performed on a time domain channel estimate of a received signal. An output from the multi-path equalization is transformed to the frequency domain. Inter-channel interference (ICI) is performed in the frequency domain on an equalized signal from the multi-path equalization after transforming the equalized signal from the time domain to the frequency domain.
US08737495B2
A digital broadcasting transmission and/or reception system having an improved reception performance and a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a randomizer to input and randomize data streams including a plurality of segments having at least one segment having one or more null packets, a null packet exchanger to create known data having a predetermined pattern and to replace the null packets at positions of the segments having the null packets of the randomized data streams to insert the known ‘data, an encoder to encode the data streams to which the known data is inserted, and a modulation/RF unit to modulate, RF-modulate, and transmit the encoded data streams. A digital broadcasting receiver detects the known data’ from a signal received from the digital broadcasting transmitter and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization, so that a digital broadcasting reception performance of the digital broadcasting receiver can be improved at poor multipath channels.
US08737494B2
Aspects of a method and system for utilizing Givens rotation expressions for quantization for a general beamforming matrix in feedback information. In one aspect of the invention, feedback information is computed at the receiving MIMO wireless device based on a geometric mean decomposition (GMD) method. The feedback information may include a matrix that describes a wireless medium. The matrix may represent a multiplicative product of at least one rotation matrix and at least one diagonal phase rotation matrix. Each of the rotation matrices may include at least one matrix element whose value is based on Givens rotation angle. The transmitting MIMO wireless device may subsequently transmit a plurality of signals via the wireless medium based on the received matrix information. The signal strength and/or signal to noise ratio (SNR) measurement (as measured in decibels, for example) associated with each of the transmitted plurality of signals may be about equal.
US08737487B2
An information processing apparatus includes a first processing circuit having a capability of decoding encoded stream data input to the first processing circuit and a capability of detecting tampering on encryption information, the first processing circuit being configured to, if tampering is detected, add a tamper flag to the tampered data, a second processing circuit configured to perform a predetermined process on data output from the first processing circuit, and, if the data includes the tamper flag, add tamper information indicating the fact being subjected to tampering to the processed data, and a third processing circuit configured to receive data output from the second processing circuit and process the received data such that when the received data does not include tamper information, the received data is processed in a normal manner, but when the received data includes tamper information added thereto, the received data is processed differently from the normal manner.
US08737485B2
A video system is provided including applying a transform to a picture for generating a transformed block of the picture; determining a type of the picture; selecting a coding mode with the transformed block based on the type of the picture; and applying the coding mode to the picture for encoding and displaying the picture.
US08737483B2
A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted.
US08737480B2
In one embodiment, a spatial merge mode or a temporal merge mode for a block of video content may be used in merging motion parameters. Both spatial and temporal merge parameters are considered concurrently and do not require utilization of bits or flags or indexing to signal a decoder. If the spatial merge mode is determined, the method merges the block of video content with a spatially-located block, where merging shares motion parameters between the spatially-located block and the block of video content. If the temporal merge mode is determined, the method merges the block of video content with a temporally-located block, where merging shares motion parameters between the temporally-located block and the block of video content.
US08737477B2
Motion estimation methods using multiple reference frames are provided. In the methods, motion estimation is performed on a current block using a single reference frame selected from the multiple reference frames or using the multiple reference frames in order of probability that each reference frame is an optimal reference frame for the current block. Accordingly, faster motion estimation is performed.
US08737472B2
Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation.
US08737468B2
A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted.
US08737466B2
Methods, systems, and computer programs for improving compressed image chroma information. In one aspect of the invention, a resolution for a red color component of a color video image is used that is higher than the resolution for a blue color component of the color video image. Another aspect includes utilizing a lower or higher value of a quantization parameter (QP) for one or more chroma channels as compared to the luminance channel. Another aspect is use of a logarithmic representation of a video image to benefit image coding. Another aspect uses more than two chroma channels to represent a video image.
US08737463B2
An image decoding method and device which decodes an encoded bit steam of a video object is disclosed. A VOP decoder decodes a VOP that is image data serving as an encoding unit of a video object; and a VOL header analyzing part decodes a 1-bit VOP rate flag, contained in encoded form in a header information part of a VOL layer composed of several VOPs, for indicating that a display rate in the VOL of the VOP to be decoded by the VOP decoder is a fixed rate. A coding parameter analyzer analyzes a parameter of the encoded bit stream to restore an information to indicate that temporal distance between any two successive video frames to be displayed is constant in the video sequence by the information only, the information being analyzed prior to a decoding process for a data area representing the video frames.
US08737461B2
Disclosed are a receiving equalization device and a method thereof, the receiving equalization device including a subtracter to output a first output signal, an eye monitor block to obtain a sampling timing by using the output first signal, and a slicer to generate a sampling signal by sampling the first output signal based on the sampling timing, and to return the generated sampling signal to the subtracter via a feedback filter or an algorithm determining block.
US08737449B2
A frequency hopping receiver circuit has a frequency converter (12) and a hopping control circuit (14) coupled to the frequency converter (12), and configured to control frequency hopping of the received frequency, by controlling changes in frequency shift applied by the frequency converter (12). The frequency change is applied in combination with a temporary reduction in conversion gain of the frequency converter (12) during the change in frequency shift. The frequency converter may contain a mixer (122), a local oscillator circuit (120) and a controllable amplifier (124) coupled between the input of the frequency converter (12) and the mixer (122) or between the mixer (122) and the output of the frequency converter (12), or between the local oscillator circuit (120) and the local oscillator input of the mixer (122). In this case the hopping control circuit (14) has outputs coupled to a gain control input of the controllable amplifier (124) and a frequency control input of the local oscillator circuit (120), to control the reduction in conversion gain and the change in frequency shift respectively.
US08737445B2
A laser diode assembly includes a housing having a housing part and a mounting part, which is connected to the housing part and which extends away from the housing part along an extension direction. A laser diode chip is disposed on the mounting part. The laser diode chip has, on a substrate, semiconductor layers with an active layer for emitting light. The housing part and the mounting part have a main body composed of copper and at least the housing part is steel-sheathed. A first solder layer having a thickness of greater than or equal to 2 μm is arranged between the laser diode chip and the mounting part. The laser diode chip has a radiation coupling-out area, on which a crystalline protective layer is applied.
US08737442B2
A shunt driver for driving an LD is disclosed. The shunt driver has the push-pull arrangement with the high side driver and the low side driver. The high side driver is driven by a positive phase signal superposed with a negative phase signal with a delay and a less amplitude with respect to the positive phase signal. The low side driver is driven by a negative phase signal superposed with a positive signal with a delay and a less amplitude compared to the positive phases signal. Adjusting the magnitude of the superposed signals, the driving current for the LD has the peaking in the rising and falling edges thereof.
US08737438B2
A laser crystallization apparatus and method are disclosed for selectively melting a film such as amorphous silicon that is deposited on a substrate. The apparatus may comprise an optical system for producing stretched laser pulses for use in melting the film. In still another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a system and method are provided for stretching a laser pulse. In another aspect, a system is provided for maintaining a divergence of a pulsed laser beam (stretched or non-stretched) at a location along a beam path within a predetermined range. In another aspect, a system may be provided for maintaining the energy density at a film within a predetermined range during an interaction of the film with a shaped line beam.
US08737434B2
An IP network includes a central entity and at least one customer premises equipment (CPE) device. The central entity generates a program clock reference (PCR) clock and provides audio-visual packets to a CPE based on the PCR clock. The CPE sets a first clock based on the PCR clock for decoding operations. The CPE sets a second clock that is independent from the first clock for audio and video output operations. For example, the CPE can process the audio-visual packets using the second clock.
US08737430B2
A method, performed by a computer device, may include identifying Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance nodes associated with a customer's network; querying particular pairs of the identified Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance nodes for physical rates to obtain reported physical rates for the particular pairs of the identified Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance nodes; and querying particular ones of the identified Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance nodes for supported Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance versions. The method may further include determining a maximum bandwidth for the customer's network based on the reported physical rates and based on the supported Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance versions.
US08737428B2
Random access operation is performed under a communication environment in which a plurality of communication modes having different transmission rate coexist with small overhead. A high-grade communication station spoofs information of a packet length and a rate in a decoding portion so that a value of (packet length)/(rate) corresponds to a duration where the communication is hoped to be stopped. The other station receiving the spoofed information receives the rest of the packet with the designated rate during the interval designated by the value of (packet length)/(rate). In this case, the packet length and the rate are not those of actually transmitted packet so that this packet is discarded.
US08737423B2
A method (300) for pre-empting data transmissions in a discovery channel. The method comprises scanning the discovery channel to detect at least one data beacon transmitted in beacon slots (230) of a superframe (S310); determining if at least one data beacon was detected (S320); and transmitting a pre-empt beacon if the at least one data beacon was detected (S330).
US08737421B2
A method for wireless communication using MAC PDUs. The method includes determining one or more characteristics of a service flow and selecting on the basis of the one or more characteristics a MAC PDU header type among a plurality of MAC PDU header types. The service flow data is encapsulated in MAC PDUs with a header of the selected type. The MAC PDUs with the encapsulated service flow data are then wirelessly transmitted. Also, a method for communication between a Base Station (BS) and a Subscriber Station (SS). The method includes generating at the BS a plurality of MAC PDU packets with a payload component holding service flow data and a plurality of MAC PDU packets without payload component, carrying control information. The method also includes transmitting wirelessly the MAC PDU packets with the payload component and the MAC PDU packets with the control information to the SS.
US08737407B2
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for using a distributed hash table to maintain the same configuration and resource persistency across a plurality of cores in a multi-core system. The distributed hash table includes a plurality of partitions, each partition being owned by a respective core of the multi-core system. A core may establish resources in the partition it owns. A core may request other cores to establish resources in the partitions they own and send resource information to the core. The core may locally cache the resource information.
US08737403B2
A pipelined reorder engine reorders data items received over a network on a per-source basis. Context memories correspond to each of the possible sources. The pipeline includes a plurality of pipeline stages that together simultaneously operate on the data items. The context memories are operatively coupled to the pipeline stages and store information relating to a state of reordering for each of the sources. The pipeline stages read from and update the context memories based on the source of the data item being processed.
US08737402B2
The invention provides a scheduling of data blocks on multiple data carriers and a selection of data carrier to listen to. A transmitting unit simultaneously transmits, during a communication session with at least one participating receiving unit, at least a first data block on a first data carrier and a second data block on a second data carrier. The receiving unit selects which of these data carriers to listen to, i.e. whether to receive the first or second data block, based on a reception quality of a previously received data block. Furthermore, at least one of the first and second data block is based on information common to the data block and the previous data block, e.g. the first or second data block could be re-transmitted version of the previous block.
US08737396B2
A server associates a permitted terminal identifier that identifies a permitted terminal permitted to perform tunnel communication to a first router with an endpoint address of a tunnel used in the communication of a permitted terminal. A second router that encapsulates a packet received from a requesting terminal, which requests the tunnel communication, inquires the server about an endpoint address associated with an identifier of the requesting terminal. The server notifies the second router of the target address that is the endpoint address associated with the identifier of the requesting terminal. The second router transmits the encapsulated packet to the target address. The first router to which the target address is allocated regards a received packet received at the target address as a packet used in the tunnel communication of the permitted terminal and decapsulates the received packet and then transmits the decapsulated packet to a communication destination.
US08737390B2
In one embodiment, a converged protocol stack can be used to unify communications from a first communication protocol to a second communication protocol to provide for data transfer across a physical interconnect. This stack can be incorporated in an apparatus that includes a protocol stack for a first communication protocol including transaction and link layers, and a physical (PHY) unit coupled to the protocol stack to provide communication between the apparatus and a device coupled to the apparatus via a physical link. This PHY unit may include a physical unit circuit according to the second communication protocol. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08737386B2
Apparatus includes a communication predelivery receiver, configured to communicate with and relay both IP addressed overhead and IP addressed payload data from an originating communication device. The communication predelivery receiver includes a screener configured to, when the communication predelivery receiver is in communication with the originating communication device, receive certain data including first IP addressed data and second IP addressed data of corresponding first and second initiated communications. The communication predelivery receiver is configured and connected within a network so the first IP addressed data and the second IP addressed data are processed differently. For the first initiated communication, the first payload data is converted, after the point in time at which the screener received the first IP addressed data, from IP addressed first payload data to another network signal. For the second initiated communication, the second payload data is delivered without so converting the second payload data.
US08737368B2
Devices, systems and methods may provide control of traffic streams before transition to another frequency band, during a transition and after a transition is completed and the devices are active in the other frequency band or in multiple frequency bands. The provided solution cover the transparent mode when the devices have the same Medium Access Control (MAC) addresses in both frequency bands and the non-transparent mode when at least one of the communicating devices has different MAC addresses in the different frequency bands.
US08737361B2
When a plurality of sectors transmit the same signal in a communication system, the same signal is transmitted after a weight is applied to the same signal. At this time, defective reception of the same signal in a terminal may be reduced by setting a weight pattern differently according to a symbol transmission time and a sector number.
US08737356B2
A wireless communication system includes a plurality of base stations, a mobile wireless communication device which makes wireless communication with the base stations, a terminal device, and a router through which the base stations make communication with an IP network. The terminal device transmits an address thereof to the mobile wireless communication device, before the mobile wireless communication device makes link with one of the base stations. The terminal device fabricates a frame addressed to an address of the router, and transmits the frame to the router, after the mobile wireless communication device has made link with one of the base stations. The router transmits an address thereof to the base stations, before the mobile wireless communication device makes link with one of the base stations. The router fabricates a frame addressed to an address of the terminal device, and transmits the frame to the terminal device, after the mobile wireless communication device has made link with one of the base stations.
US08737348B2
An ASN coding unit of a mobile station apparatus generates mobile station component carrier capability information including information that defines a component carrier that supported by communication with a base station apparatus. A transceiver device transmits, to the base station apparatus, mobile station component carrier capability information. A control unit controls a communication with a base station apparatus, the control being made by using a component carrier allocated by a base station apparatus, the allocation being made based on mobile station component carrier capability information.
US08737346B2
A method for controlling channel signaling between a UE and a wireless network access node is described. The method includes determining whether an examined sub-frame of a plurality of sub-frames in a first resource region is unused. The index of the examined sub-frame is a last index of the plurality of sub-frames allocated for use in a first channel. The plurality of sub-frames is organized in a reverse indexing manner such that a last indexed sub-frame is adjacent to a second resource region. The second resource region is allocated to a second channel. In response to determining that the examined sub-frame is unused, the examined sub-frame is re-allocated for temporary use in the second channel. The method also includes providing an indication of the allocation. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.
US08737345B2
A wireless transmission method includes providing a commanding node and a plurality of sub-networks. Each of the sub-networks includes at least one responding node. Corresponding ones of a plurality of time slots are assigned to individual ones of the sub-networks based on at least one operational characteristic of the sub-networks. The time slots are disposed within a plurality of frequency channels. Communication is conducted between the commanding node and the sub-networks within the assigned time slots of the sub-networks.
US08737340B2
A power control method and a base station are disclosed. The method includes obtaining, by a base station, INPUCCH(i). The INPUCCH(i) is an average interference noise power of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) carried by radio resources that are allocated by the base station at a subframe i. The base station sends a parameter P0—NOMINAL—PUCCH(i) for power control at the subframe i.
US08737335B2
A reference signal transmission scheduling device, which performs scheduling on uplink transmission of a reference signal (SRS) from a mobile terminal to a base station in a wireless communication system, is designed to appropriately allocate an SRS transmission resource to the mobile terminal in consideration of the current circumstances of the mobile terminal. Herein, the maximum value of an SRS bandwidth is calculated based on the maximum transmission-enabled power of the mobile terminal, while the minimum value of the SRS bandwidth is calculated based on the mobility of the mobile terminal. Additionally, the SRS bandwidth, which is actually used by the mobile terminal subjected to SRS transmission resource allocation, is determined within the range between the maximum value and the minimum value of the SRS bandwidth.
US08737325B2
The invention provides a method and system for automatically managing one or more operations of one or more IPTVs located in a femtocell network. The femtocell network includes one or more femtocell base stations. The one or more femtocell base stations determine presence information of one or more mobile stations located in the femtocell network. Thereafter, the one or more femtocell base stations transfer the presence information to a controller. In response to receiving the presence information of the one or more mobile stations, the controller manages the one or more operations of the one or more IPTVs.
US08737321B2
Channel reservation in time division duplex for devices in systems involving, for example user devices and access points, may be accomplished using channel reservation request messages, such as request-to-send (RTS) messages and channel reservation grant messages, such as clear-to-send (CTS) messages. A method for channel reservation may include preparing a frame including at least one channel reservation request message and at least one channel reservation grant message. The preparing may include multiplexing the at least one channel reservation request message and the at least one channel reservation grant message at least by frequency-division multiplexing. The method may also include transmitting the frame from a first node to a second node, wherein the channel reservation request message and the channel reservation grant message relate to communications between the first node and the second node.
US08737316B2
Aspects relate to allowing peer nodes that establish a communication through a home agent to move that session to a directly connected link. Thus, the directly connected nodes can exchange packets natively without encapsulation. Further aspects allow a node that does not have any home agent entity to switch from a local network to a global network without losing ongoing sessions.
US08737315B2
A communication apparatus for communicating via a frame containing a plurality of first type blocks into which pilot information is inserted and a plurality of second type blocks into which control information or data is inserted, the communication apparatus including a channel estimation accuracy predicting unit for predicting channel estimation accuracy of each of the plurality of second type blocks based on channel estimate values of the plurality of first type blocks in the frame. The communication apparatus includes an allocation determining unit for determining an allocation based on priority information containing a priority of each type of the control information and data such that control information or data of a higher-priority type is inserted into a block among the plurality of second type blocks with higher channel estimation accuracy.
US08737311B2
A system and method for mitigating the delay associated with using GPS technologies to determine the location of a mobile device. The system utilizes a two-stage location determination process. During the first stage, an estimated position of the mobile device is immediately provided based on the most accurate stored location information that is available to the system. If greater accuracy is still required, during the second stage a more accurate position of the mobile device is provided using GPS-based technologies.
US08737307B2
An apparatus for performing coordinated multiple point (CoMP) communication using a precoded sounding reference signal, and a method for same are discussed. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a base station receiving, from a terminal in a neighboring cell, a sounding reference signal (SRS) precoded by a first matrix; acquiring an effective neighboring channel matrix using a hermitian matrix of the first matrix from the received SRS, and a downstream link channel matrix between the terminal and base station; and determining a precoding matrix to be transmitted to one or more terminals served by the base station on the basis of the effective neighboring channel matrix. Here, the effective neighboring channel matrix indicates a direction toward which a receiving beam should be directed such that the terminal can receive data from a serving base station thereof.
US08737301B2
The invention relates to a message for reporting a channel quality of a communication system, a corresponding method and apparatuses performing such method. The invention is inter alia applicable to a 3GPP LTE and LTE-A system as standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The invention provides a structure (message) that allows conveying channel quality information in a manner allowing an unambiguous identification of the size channel quality information. This is achieved by defining a message comprising a first channel quality field consisting of a known number of bits, and a second channel quality field consisting of a variable number of bits. The number of bits and structure (of the content of the bits) of the second channel quality field is indicated by the content of the bits of the first channel quality field.
US08737296B2
Systems and methods that designate a control attachment point(s) during transmission of data in a Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) system. The control attachment point is represented by an anchor cell to address control signaling and represent a User Equipment's (UE) interaction with the wireless communication system from a perspective of control (e.g., supplying/sending grants to the UE, transmitting/receiving ACKS on the downlink/uplink to the UE, control information (CQI), and the like.) The cells can further engage in backhaul transfer of information therebetween, and dynamic switching/change of anchor point based on criteria such as control loading, channel quality, and the like can further be implemented.
US08737280B2
A mobile wireless device adapts receive diversity during discontinuous reception based on downlink signal quality, page indicators and page messages. When the downlink signal quality exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the mobile wireless device decodes a page indicator channel through an initial antenna, and otherwise, decodes a paging channel through the initial antenna without decoding the page indicator channel. The mobile wireless device switches to decoding the paging channel through an alternate antenna when a page indicator decodes as an erasure. When a paging message received through a single antenna decodes with an incorrect error checking code, the mobile wireless devices enables receive diversity through multiple antennas for subsequent decoding. The mobile wireless device switches between single antenna reception and multiple antenna reception based on tracking multiple consecutive error checking code failures and successes.
US08737273B1
Systems and methods for dynamically configuring and optimizing a multimedia conference session. An exemplary method of the invention may include providing a plurality of services to be used in the multimedia conference session, wherein each of the plurality of services may be hosted by and independently executable through at least one service endpoint in a communications network. Further, a plurality of users may be enabled to participate in the multimedia conference session. In particular, each user may participate in the conference session through a respective user endpoint in the communications network, where the respective user endpoint may be hosted by and independently executable through at least one service endpoint. Each service endpoint is configurable as an authentication service and a presence service such that the at least one service endpoint is operable to authenticate and publish a presence of each user endpoint.
US08737268B2
Various embodiments implement a set of low overhead mechanisms to enable on-demand routing protocols. The on-demand protocols use route accumulation during discovery floods to discover when better paths have become available even if the paths that the protocols are currently using are not broken. In other words, the mechanisms (or “Route Optimizations”) enable improvements to routes even while functioning routes are available. The Route Optimization mechanisms enable nodes in the network that passively learn routing information to notify nodes that need to know of changes in the routing information when the changes are important. Learning routing information on up-to-date paths and determining nodes that would benefit from the information is performed, in some embodiments, without any explicit control packet exchange. One of the Route Optimization mechanisms includes communicating information describing an improved route from a node where the improved route diverges from a less nearly optimal route.
US08737263B2
An apparatus and method for assigning a Physical Cell Identity (PCI) of a Home eNodeB (HeNB) are provided. The apparatus may distribute PCIs into a plurality of PCI groups, and may enable a PCI group to be assigned to a cell so that the assigned PCI group may be different from a PCI group assigned to a neighboring cell, and that an unassigned PCI in the assigned PCI group may be assigned to an HeNB within a single cell.
US08737262B2
A system for providing a zero copy transmission with raw packets includes an operating system that receives an application request pertaining to a data packet to be transmitted over a network, where the data packet has already gone through networking stack processing invoked by the application. The operating system queries a driver of a network device on whether the network device has a zero copy capability. Based on the query response of the driver, the operating system determines whether a zero copy transmission should be used for the data packet. If not, the operating system copies the data packet from the application memory to a kernel buffer, and notifies the driver about the data packet in the kernel buffer. If so, the operating system refrains from copying the data packet to the kernel buffer, and notifies the driver about the data packet in the application memory.
US08737259B2
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for receiving an encoded data packet, one or more activation commands, and a communication identifier, decoding the received data packet, validating the decoded received data packet, and executing one or more routines associated with the respective one or more activation commands.
US08737257B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for adjusting sounding reference signal transmission power. A terminal a plurality of transmit powers used for transmitting a plurality of sounding reference signals (SRSs) in a sounding reference symbol. If a total transmission power for the plurality of SRSs exceeds a maximum transmission power, the terminal scales each transmission power by the same scale factor.
US08737250B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for tracking a position of a fixed node. The position tracking apparatus of the fixed node may include: an interface to extract, from a database in response to the occurrence of an event about tracking the position of the fixed node, packet data corresponding to a mobile node associated with the event; and a processor to analyze a received signal strength of the packet data and a position of the mobile node from the packet data, and to track the position of the fixed node using the analysis result.
US08737245B2
The present invention relates to a method for measuring link cost metrics and evaluating their accuracy with respect to reference measure of link quality in a communication network, said method comprising the steps of: during a given time interval, simultaneously transmitting several types of probe packets and data traffic, and estimating a plurality of link cost metrics (metricA, metricB, . . . , metricN) and a reference measure of link quality for a set of communication links; evaluating the accuracy of the estimated link cost metrics (metricA, metricB, . . . , metricN) by computing their correlation with the reference measure of link quality; and collecting cross-layer information for each probe packet.
US08737243B2
Properties of data transmission are measured in a telecommunications network (2) comprising an access network segment (6) and a core network segment (4). A packet switched network endpoint device (10) in communication with the access network segment passively monitors data throughput between the telecommunication network and the endpoint device and conducts active tests of data transmission latency and data transmission loss by exchanging active test data packets with an active test server (8). Test result data is transmitted to the active test server in active test data packets (106, 118), avoiding additional network traffic. Active tests are conducted from the application layer. The resulting metrics accurately represent the experience of users of the endpoint devices.
US08737237B2
A method of detecting media plane faults within a communications network. The method comprises, following the establishment of a media plane connection between first and second end point nodes within the network, where the connection transits one or more intermediate nodes within the media plane, sending session test requests from the first end point towards the second end point across a supervision session established over the media plane, and sending session test acknowledgements from the second end point to the first end point, the session test acknowledgements identifying a first border of the supervision session. The method further comprises, in the event of a media plane fault, responding to the sending of a further session test request by returning a further session test acknowledgement identifying a second border of the supervision session. The media plane fault can be detected by comparing the first and second supervision session borders contained in session test acknowledgements.
US08737235B2
A real-time network-analysis system comprises a network appliance and a plurality of management devices. The network appliance continuously monitors an object network and synthesizes a current network image comprising contemporaneous indicators of connectivity, occupancy, and performance of the object network. A management-client device may gain access to the network image for timely control and for use in producing long-term network-evolution plans. To enable the creation of a real-time network image, optimized topology synthesis algorithms are devised to minimize the computational effort. The real-time network-analysis system is adapted for use with an object network employing a variety of routing protocols, such as link-state protocols, and network-management protocols, such as the Simple-Network-Management protocol.
US08737230B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates automatic adjustment of logical channels in a Fiber Channel (FC) network. During operation, the system receives FC data frames. A respective data frame is associated with a logical channel. The bandwidth on an FC link can be allocated into a plurality of logical channels, and a respective logical channel is associated with a dedicated buffer and can transport a plurality of data flows with data frames of variable length. The system then identifies a slow data flow in a first logical channel. Next, the system assigns the slow data flow to a second logical channel, thereby preventing the slow data flow from slowing down other data flows in the first logical channel. The system subsequently forwards the data frames in the slow data flow on the second logical channel onto an outgoing link.
US08737213B2
A method for measuring degree of packet congestion on a channel of a packet communication network. The method includes: during a training mode, generating an mathematical relationship between the degree of packet congestion on the channel and a plurality of measurable features of the network over a plurality of network conditions; and, during a subsequent normal operating mode, periodically measuring the plurality of measurable features and applying the generated mathematical relationship to such periodically measured plurality of measurable features to determine actual degree of congestion on the channel; and comparing the actual degree of congestion on the channel with a predetermined channel congestion threshold level. The degree of packet congestion on the channel is saturation level. The measurable features include: time delay between transmission starts and terminations of the previously transmitted packet; the fraction of time the channel is busy; and, average number of packet transmission retries.
US08737212B2
Methods and apparatus relating to distribution of intelligence across a network are described. In one embodiment, one or more content processors may be provided at the edge of a computer network (e.g., prior to a point where data is aggregated or routed by the network). Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08737209B2
Various methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for determining effects of non-network elements on a subscriber experience. For example, a method may include receiving traffic data. In some implementations of the invention, the method may include associating the traffic data with one or more non-network elements, which may operate on the mobile network but are not part of an infrastructure of the mobile network. The method may include determining a subscriber experience for the one or more non-network elements based on the traffic data that is associated with the one or more non-network elements.
US08737190B2
A method and system for wireless communication in a wireless station including a transceiver with multiple antennas, is provided. In one implementation, the wireless station performs multiple modulation communication by multiplexing different signal carrier modulation formats by antenna cross polarization multiplexing, including mapping the modulation formats to multiple antenna cross polarization branches. Communication power is allocated for each polarization branch by selectively distributing power to each of the polarized antennas based on at least one of: application data rate requirements, communication link quality indication (LQI) and delay spread of cross polarized channels. Data is transmitted utilizing the modulation formats simultaneously at the same frequency over multiple cross polarized antennas.
US08737188B1
Crosstalk reduction and/or cancellation systems and methods are provided herein. In exemplary embodiments, a far-end acoustic signal may be delayed by M samples. Additionally, a crosstalk estimate value for the delayed far-end acoustic signal may be subtracted from an input acoustic signal. The crosstalk estimate value is a scaled version of filter outputs generated by a finite impulse response filter that utilizes predetermined filter coefficients. The filter outputs are scaled using a dynamic gain value.
US08737184B2
An optical pickup device includes a galvanometer mirror that changes an incident angle of a reference beam to an optical information recording medium, an image sensor that detects a diffracted beam from a region to be reproduced upon irradiation of the recording medium with the reference beam, and sets the detected diffracted beam to a reproduction signal, and a photodetector that detects the diffracted beam generated from a plurality of recorded regions upon irradiation of the recording medium with the reference beam. The photodetector includes a plurality of light receivers, and generates an angular error signal indicating positional shifting of the incident angle of the reference beam from a differential signal of a plurality of signals derived from the respective light receivers so as to control the angle of the galvanometer mirror.
US08737172B2
A hull-mounted sonar array is provided. The array comprises a linear arrangement of hydrophones disposed within a generally D-shaped housing. The D-shaped housing comprises a generally flat portion having a first and second end and a curved portion extending from the first end to the second end. The hydrophones are arranged along the generally flat portion of the housing, equidistant from the curved portion. The housing is mounted to the hull of a vessel by, for example, a marine adhesive.
US08737169B1
A dog repelling device for bicyclists that includes a housing that houses a battery-powered timer-controlled ultrasonic pulse emitter and that is releasably attached to a bicycle handle bar with an attachment body, including a hook and loop strip which removably inserts through a slot within a second member of the housing.
US08737155B2
Some embodiments include a voltage generator to generate a voltage to apply to a line used to access a memory cell of a memory device in which the voltage is applied to the line when the memory cell is not being accessed, and a power controller to cause the voltage to change during a time interval after a refresh operation of the memory device. Other embodiments including additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08737153B2
A method of operating a memory device includes masking at least one bank among a plurality of banks in response to a mode register writing command; and performing a refresh operation on a plurality of rows in one of unmasked banks in response to a first per-bank refresh command.
US08737146B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a first bank including a plurality of cell matrices a second bank including a plurality of cell matrices and a shared-fuse set, which is shared by the first and second banks, configured to output a defect indication signal when the first bank or the second bank is enabled and a defective cell matrix is included in the enabled bank.
US08737139B2
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for determining soft data for combinations of memory cells. A number of embodiments include an array of memory cells including a first and a second memory cell each programmable to one of a number of program states, wherein a combination of the program states of the first and second memory cells corresponds to one of a number of data states, and a buffer and/or a controller coupled to the array and configured to determine soft data associated with the program states of the first and second memory cells and soft data associated with the data state that corresponds to the combination of the program states of the first and second memory cells based, at least in part, on the soft data associated with the program states of the first and second memory cells.
US08737135B2
A Flash memory device operable under a single-bit or multiple-bit serial protocol is provided with a capability to determine the address boundary condition of an application from the address field of an address boundary configurable (“ABC”) read command. Based on the identified address boundary condition, the Flash memory device may perform multiple sensing of the memory array as required by the ABC read command using optimal internal sense times for each sensing. The number of dummy bytes may be specified for the read command in advance by the user, based on the address boundary of the application and the desired frequency of operation of the Flash memory device. Therefore, Flash memory device read performance is improved both by minimizing the number of dummy bytes in the read command and by optimizing the internal sense times for the read operation.
US08737134B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment includes a drive circuit. A voltage applied to a dummy wire connected to a first dummy cell adjacent to a memory string is defined as a first dummy wire voltage, a voltage applied to a selection wire connected to a first memory cell adjacent to the first dummy cell is defined as a first selection wire voltage, and a voltage applied to a selection wire connected to a second memory cell adjacent to the first memory cell is defined as a second selection wire voltage. When the second selection wire voltage is lower than the first dummy wire voltage in an erase operation, the drive circuit controls voltages so that a difference between the first dummy wire voltage and the second selection wire voltage is less than a difference between the first dummy wire voltage and the first selection wire voltage.
US08737129B2
A nonvolatile memory device has improved reliability by compensating a threshold voltage of a flash memory cell. A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array and a voltage generator for supplying a select read voltage to a select word line and an unselect read voltage to unselected word lines when a read operation is performed, and supplying a verify voltage to a select word line and the unselect read voltage to unselected word lines when a program operation is performed. The voltage generator supplies a first unselect read voltage to at least one between an upper word line and a lower word line adjacent to the select word line when the program operation is performed, and supplies a second unselected read voltage to at least one between the upper word line and the lower word line adjacent to the select word line when the read operation is performed.
US08737124B2
There is provided a semiconductor device including a word line, a bit line, a power supply node, a memory element, and a capacitor. The memory element includes at least first and second regions that form a PN junction between the bit line and the power supply node, and a third region that forms a PN junction with the second region. The capacitor includes a first electrode provided independently from the second region of the memory element and electrically connected to the second region of the memory element, and a second electrode connected to the word line.
US08737117B2
A system and method to manage leakage of a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) read transistor in a memory cell. In a particular embodiment, a memory cell is disclosed that includes a storage element and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) read transistor. The CMOS read transistor includes a first terminal coupled to a read word line, a second terminal coupled to a read bit line, and a third terminal coupled to the storage element. During a non-read operating time, the read word line and the read bit line are both maintained at substantially the same voltage level. During a read operation, the read word line is maintained at a particular voltage level until after a voltage representing data stored at the storage element is sensed by the CMOS read transistor.
US08737108B2
A 3D memory that is configurable for performance and power. An embodiment of a memory device includes a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) including multiple memory dies, each memory die including multiple memory arrays, each memory array including peripheral logic circuits and a configurable logic. The memory device further includes a system element coupled with the DRAM, the system element including a memory controller. The memory controller is to provide for control of the configurable logic to provide for separate or shared peripheral logic circuits for one or more memory arrays, the configurable logic being configurable to enable or disable one or more of the peripheral logic circuits and to enable or disable one or more I/O connections between the memory arrays.
US08737107B2
A memory circuit includes at least one memory cell for storing a datum. The memory cell is coupled with a word line, a bit line, a bit line bar, a first voltage line, and a second voltage line. The memory circuit includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer coupled with the first conductive layer, a third conductive layer coupled with the second conductive layer. The third conductive layer is routed for the word line and is free from including the bit line, the bit line bar, the first voltage line, and the second voltage line within the memory cell.
US08737105B2
Bridge device architecture for connecting discrete memory devices is disclosed. A bridge device is used in conjunction with a composite memory device including at least one discrete memory device. The bridge device comprises a local control interface connected to the at least one discrete memory device, a local input/output interface connected to the at least one discrete memory device, and a global input/output interface interposed between the local control interface and the local input/output interface. The global input/output interface receives and provides global memory control signals and also receives and provides write data to and read data from the at least one discrete memory device.
US08737099B2
In a controller for a power converter, a control terminal can provide a control signal to control a power converter. A cycle of the control signal includes a first time interval and a second time interval. The control circuitry can increase a primary current flowing through a primary winding of transformer circuitry and a secondary current flowing through a secondary winding of the transformer circuitry in the first time interval, and can terminate the increasing of the primary current in the second time interval. The control circuitry can also control the first time interval to be inversely proportional to an input voltage provided to the primary winding.
US08737093B1
A power converter is disclosed including a switching converter having a switching node, a first quasi-resonant multiplier stage having a resonant input coupled to the switching node, and a second quasi-resonant multiplier stage having a resonant input coupled to the switching node. In another embodiment, a power converter includes a switching converter having a switching node, a first quasi-resonant multiplier stage having a boost input coupled to the switching node, and a first clamp coupled to the first multiplier stage.
US08737091B2
An example integrated circuit for use in a power supply includes a feedback terminal, a controller and a clamp. The feedback terminal is to be coupled to receive a feedback signal that is representative of a bias voltage across a bias winding of the power supply. The controller is to be coupled to control switching of a power switch included in the power supply in response to the feedback signal. The clamp is coupled to clamp the feedback terminal to a voltage for at least a time that the bias voltage is negative with respect to an input return of the power supply.
US08737090B2
A rack mounted computer system includes a rack, a plurality of modular servers, at least one network switch, a plurality of cables and a cable management mechanism. The rack includes a frame assembly and an interior. The modular servers and the network switch are installed in the interior of the rack. Each of the cables is connected with a corresponding modular server and the network switch. The cable management mechanism is integrally formed with the frame assembly for managing and securing the cables connected between the network switch and the modular servers and includes a polygonal column having an inclined sidewall and a receptacle. The inclined sidewall has a plurality of through holes and an opening arranged apart from each other. The through holes are in communication with the receptacle and respectively configured to contain a corresponding cable extending therethrough. The opening is in communication with the receptacle and configured to collect and contain the cables inserted therethrough. The receptacle is configured for housing the cables.
US08737077B2
A linkage device includes a shell, an active arm, a linkage lever, a random arm and at least two fixed poles. The shell includes two side plates and an upper plate interconnecting the two side plates. The active arm and random arm are both arranged horizontally under the upper plate and between the two side plates. The active arm and random arm each comprise a slide rail inclined to a horizontal surface. The slide rail of the random arm has an inclined direction opposite to that of the slide rail of the active arm. The linkage lever is arranged outside the shell. The linkage lever comprises a central portion pivoted to one of the side plates and two ends respectively pivoted to the active arm and random arm. Two of the at least two fixed poles respectively slide into the slide rails of the active arm and random arm.
US08737073B2
A Light Emitting Diode (LED) module includes a circuit board having a front side and a back side, a heat sink coupled to the back side of the circuit board, a thermal pad disposed on a front side of the circuit board, an LED disposed on the front side of the circuit board. The LED is in thermal contact with the thermal pad. The module further includes a heat spreading device placed over the thermal pad and in thermal contact with the thermal pad.
US08737069B2
An electronic device includes a cage and a fan module. The cage includes a mounting plate defining a ventilation hole. A positioning portion is located in the ventilation hole. A restriction is located on an inner surface of the positioning portion. The height of the restriction is such as to strictly require the fan module to be in the correct orientation when it is fitted to the electronic device.
US08737067B1
A rack system may include a first plurality of line cards, where a particular one of the first plurality of line cards receives or sends packets via ports; a plurality of fabric cards, where a particular one of the plurality of fabric cards includes a switching fabric; a second plurality of line cards, where a particular one of the second plurality of line cards receives or sends packets via ports; a first backplane that connects the first plurality of line cards to the plurality of fabric cards; and a second backplane that connects the second plurality of line cards to the plurality of fabric cards.
US08737064B2
An electronic device stand comprises mechanically coupled first and second members. The stand is couplable to an edge of an electronic device. The first and second members rotate relative to each other, thus changing a viewing angle for the electronic device. The stand transmits data and power to and/or from the electronic device. This can allow the stand to be used to synchronize data between the electronic device and a support device. In some cases, the stand is detected as being coupled to the electronic device, and one or more applications are executed on the device as a result of the detection.
US08737060B2
A computer system includes a computer case, a receiving tray, and a bracket. The computer case includes a front plate with a plurality of air intakes and a first side plate. The receiving tray includes a retaining wall. The bracket includes a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate. A plurality of first through hole is defined in the first mounting plate, and a plurality of second through hole is defined in the second mounting plate. The airflow guiding duct includes a first guiding plate and a second guiding plate. The first guiding plate is located between the front plate and the first mounting plate, the second guiding plate is located between the bracket and the first side plate; the plurality of air intakes, the airflow guiding duct, the plurality of first through hole second through hole together form a path for the air to flow.
US08737059B2
A method and apparatus for controlling and monitoring an air-conditioning system of a data processing installation includes at least one server switchgear cabinet for accommodating electrical units. Controlling of the cooling power of an air-conditioning unit is performed in at least two distinct defined modes, wherein in a first mode the air volume capacity of a blower is controlled to a minimum value at a maximum defined temperature difference between sucked hot air and supplied cold air, and in a second mode the cooling power is controlled such that a maximum defined temperature for the cooling medium flowing from a heat exchanger is not exceeded. The method and apparatus provide energy-saving cooling of such data processing installations.
US08737052B2
Disclosed is a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal of the present invention comprises: a front case having a keypad-accommodating portion; a rear case attachably/detachably coupled to a rear surface of the front case such that a component-accommodating space, in which a main PCB is arranged, is interposed between the front case and the rear case; and a keypad which has a plurality of key buttons, and which is made of a flexible material, and which is accommodated in the keypad-accommodating portion of the front case. The keypad has an edge on which a water-resistant blade extends toward the keypad-accommodating portion. The keypad-accommodating portion has a bottom surface on which a blade insertion rain is formed to enable a portion of the water-resistant blade to be inserted into the rail. The mobile terminal of the present invention has a simple structure to enable easy manufacture and assembly, and in particular prevents water or moisture from entering a keypad area.
